Abia Governor Sets Up Committee To Determine Amount Owed Workers, Manage State N14 Billion Bailout

September 17, 2015

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has set up a Committee to manage the N14.152 billion being expected from the Central Bank of Nigeria as Federal Government approved Bailout Funds for payment of outstanding salaries in the State.

The seven-member committee is being charged with determining the exact amount the state is owing the public servants in Abia State the actual duration of backlogs owed the workers and to apply the Bailout funds for its original intendment. The committee will also determine any other issue incidental to salary arrears in the state

A statement by Sam Hart, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on public communication said that though the funds were yet to arrive in the State but that the Bailout fund committee will be inaugurated by the Secretary to the Abia State Government by Monday, September 21, ahead of the funds arrival.

“Information available is that the money has been released to the designated Abia State account but it is undergoing normal internal banking processes before it is credited as cash.

“The Governor in keeping with his pledge that the money will be deployed solely for the original intendment of defrayment of salary backlogs has therefore taken this step to ensure that the process of disbursement of the funds is transparent.

“It is also pertinent to note that the Integrated Payroll Verification System which was introduced by the Ikpeazu administration upon assumption of office has so far saved the State over N300million from incidences of Ghost Workers, padding of salaries and other underhand practices during computation of wages.

“The practice in the civil service, whether money is available for payment or not, salaries are computed monthly and sent for payment. Thus, all the outstanding salaries previously computed in the past and sent in without payment which presently constitute the bulk of these backlogs will contain these anomalies and discrepancies that have been observed in recent times.

“It is therefore the work of this committee to take a second look at these outstanding salary claims and pass them through the fine comb that has enabled the state save N300million so that all excesses and irregularities are combed out before payment is made.

“The Okezie Ikpeazu administration is committed to using the bailout funds for the purpose of payment of salary backlogs. But only genuine salary backlogs owed to actual Abia State workers will be paid at the end of the exercise.

“The bailout fund is not free money. It is actually a loan with a 20-year repayment period at low interest rate so the Governor has a responsibility to ensure its judicious utilisation for the benefit of the people of Abia State.

“The Governor has given a commitment that by Friday, October 30, 2015, all outstanding arrears would have been offset. This is therefore a call to all concerned to support the Governor in this noble quest to rid the system of all unscrupulous elements who collude with themselves to defraud the system.

“In the event that any section of the workforce chooses to make trouble in the course of this process, chances are that they are being instigated by the elements who want to stampede the government to pay backlogs that include salaries to Ghost workers and outrageous paddings of salary claims.”

The Bailout fund committee is made up of the representative of the Head of Service of Abia State,. Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abia State Chapter, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Abia State Chapter, state Auditor-General or his Representative, state Accountant General or his Representative, state Statistician-General and Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Affairs. [myad]

Nigeria Labour ‘Polices’ Governors On How They Spend The N338 Billion Bailout Fund

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2015

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed the leadership of its States outlets to be on the lookout and immediately report to its headquarters any attempt by State governors to divert their share of the N338 billion bailout funds provided to them by the federal government to offset salaries of workers.

NLC said in Abuja that it will also partner with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor the disbursement of the N338 billion bailout funds in the 27 affected States, to ensure that salaries owed to workers are completely paid off.

The central labour house said in a statement that was signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba, that its members in the States are now expected to serve as ‘whistle blowers’ in the disbursement process, to ensure that none of the 27 governors misappropriates the fund.

NLC’s vigilance call on its members also came at a time members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) indicated their intention to go on strike in demand for payment of salary arrears owed its members in some states.

ASUP in a press briefing also raised several issues it claims affect its members and Nigeria’s polytechnics, and which it wants the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari to address in his expected reform of the country’s education sector. [myad]

Court Disgraces Lawyer: Remands Him In Prison, Seizes His Certificate, Over N13 Million Alleged Fraud

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2015

A Lagos Magistrates’ Court sitting at Tinubu, has ordered a 49-year-old lawyer, Shina Ibrahim to be remanded in prison even as it also seized his certificate of call to Bar, over an swindling of one Mrs. Idowu Ayodeji of N13 Million under the pretence of selling a landed property located on Lagos Island to her.

The lawyer was also accused of threatening the life of his victim and was remanded alongside his alleged accomplice, Falilulai Sarumi, 67. The two were arraigned on seven counts.

In the charge before the court, the police alleged that Ibrahim and Sarumi, with others at large, conspired among themselves and committed the offence at about 10am on September 2, 2015.

According to police prosecutor, Francesca Okere, the landed property which the accused purportedly offered for sale to Ayodeji belonged to one Mrs. Elizabeth Olajide.

Ibrahim was accused of tricking the victim into paying N13m into his bank account while presenting Mrs. Olajide’s property to the victim, with the full knowledge that the said property was not for sale.

As for Sarumi, the police alleged that in connivance with some persons still at large, he aided Ibrahim in defrauding Ayodeji, by obtaining, through his sky bank account, a sum of N12.3m from Ibrahim, while posing as the agent on the landed property purportedly put up for sale.

The two were also accused of making an attempt on the life of the victim, when upon suspicion, she demanded for the refund of her money.

They were also accused of storming Mrs. Olajide’s house, threatening to kill her tenants, and in the process vandalising the doors, windows and the roof of the house in a bid to eject the occupants.

The seven counts leveled against Ibrahim and Sarumi bordered on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining under false pretence and threat to life.

The prosecutor said: “My Lord, the accused have violated sections 409, 312, 285, 337 and 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011 and are liable to punishment under the same laws.”

The two accused however pleaded not guilty.

They were subsequently admitted to bail in the sum of N750,000 each with two sureties in like sum.

The presiding magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, said the sureties must be up to 40 years of age, a blood relation, to show evidence of tax payment for three years and with their addresses verified.

He also ordered Ibrahim to deposit his certificate of call to the Nigerian Bar into the custody of the court.

The magistrate ordered the remand of the accused pending the perfection of their bail terms.

The matter was adjourned to October 6 for mention. [myad]

Boxer Dies After First Round Knockout In South Africa

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2015

A South African boxer, Mzwanele Kompolo has died after being knocked out in the first round of a bout with Siphenathi Qampi.

The South African sports ministry said yesterday that Kompolo died in the hospital in the town of Frere in the Eastern Cape province.

Kompolo, who the ministry described as an “up and coming'” fighter, lost by TKO in the first round against Siphenathi Qampi.

The ministry said Kompolo then collapsed in the ring and was taken to Frere hospital, where he went into a coma. He died on Tuesday. The ministry did not say how old Kompolo was.

The sports ministry is still investigating the death of another boxer, a female, Phindile Mwelase late last year. Mwelase died after being in a coma for two weeks following a fight in the capital, Pretoria. [myad]

Nigeria Commercial Banks Face Liquidity Challenges, As They Move N1.2 Trillion To Single Account

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2015

Commercial Banks in Nigeria are set to face liquidity drain as they transferred in bulk, a total sum of N1.2 Trillion to the Central Bank of Nigeria in line with the Federal Government directive on Treasury Single Account (TSA).

President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered that all revenues be paid into the “Treasury Single Account” (TSA) as part of efforts to aid transparency.

The deadline for the implementation of the Treasury Single Account for MDAs elapsed on Tuesday, September 15, and as such, Nigerian banks scurried to sort out accounts of MDAs the CBN circulated among banks to identify which of the accounts was domiciled in their banks.

As a result, of this, there was no trading between banks and no bids made on the inter-bank money market yesterday.

“No trading is currently going on because no bank was willing to put out quotes until there is a clearer direction with the implementation of the Treasury Single Account,” one dealer said.

“The market is frozen right now, as no trading is going on,” a bank treasurer said.

Meanwhile, analysts have predicted that implementation of the government policy will drain liquidity from the banking system, potentially putting some banks in a dire situation. [myad]

Kidnappers Free Deputy National Scribe Of Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2015

Kidnappers have today, Thursday, freed the Deputy Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sheikh Adam Idoko, a week after he was kidnapped.

Sheikh Idoko, who is also the Chief Imam of Central Mosque of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was kidnapped last Thursday at Ogurite town of Igboeze-North Local Government Area of Enugu State, while attending a meeting.

The kidnappers had earlier demanded payment of N20 million ransom for his release but was not immediately known how much was eventually paid before he was left off the hook.

Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Ishaq Oloyede confirmed the release of his second-in-command, saying that he was released this morning in Enugu and has been taken to a hospital.

Oloyede would not speak on how much was paid as ransom to get him released, saying: “at this time, what is important is his release.” [myad]

Kidnappers Let Toyin, The Sun Deputy MD’s Wife, Off The Hook

Greenbarge Reporters

September 17, 2015

Mrs. Toyin Nwosu, wife of the Deputy Managing Director of The Sun newspapers, Steve Nwosu, has been set free by her abductors.
Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters showed that the kidnappers dropped Mrs. Nwosu off near Zenith Bank by Festac Bridge in Lagos State at about 2.30am and sped off in their boat. Festac shares a boundary with Amuwo Odofin.
Mrs. Nwosu was taken away in a boat by armed kidnappers who stormed their residence in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos at about 2am on Monday, September 14.
The kidnappers had on Tuesday, demanded N100 million ransom but it was not known how much was eventually paid to secure the release of the mother of four whose kidnap sparked outrage across Nigeria.
The Management of Sun has confirmed that Mrs Nwosu was released in the early hours of today. [myad]

Welcome From France, Sir, Osinbajo Shakes Hand With Buhari

Greenbarge Reporters

September 16, 2015

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja today, Wednesday, to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari from his three-day official visit to Paris, France. [myad]

Cholera Outbreak Kills 16 In 3 Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps

Greenbarge Reporters

September 16, 2015

No fewer than sixteen people have been reported dead in a cholera outbreak at the three internally displaced persons’ camps by Boko Haram insurgency.

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said today that its official had recorded 172 cholera cases and 16 deaths. The MSF, which is also known as Doctors Without Borders, said in an emailed statement that the camps hit by the outbreak were in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, worst affected by six years of Islamist violence that have left at least 15,000 dead and more than two million homeless since 2009.

Ghada Hatim, in charge of MSF operations in Nigeria, and Chibuzo Okonta, head of emergency projects for the charity in Paris, said other international aid agencies needed to help.

“In September 2014, MSF treated more than 4,000 patients after a cholera epidemic broke out in Borno State,” said Okonta.

“The living and hygienic conditions in the camps were and remain ripe for the outbreak of this type of epidemic. We need more support.”

The first cases of the latest outbreak of cholera, which causes acute diarrhea, appeared last month in one camp around the restive city, which is now home to some 1.4 million displaced.

Two other camps were later affected.

Cholera outbreaks are common in areas such as urban slums and camps for refugees or internally displaced persons, where there is often a lack of clean water and sanitation.

In the four days to Monday, 132 people were treated in an isolation unit, while less serious cases received oral rehydration medication as outpatients, said MSF, whose teams have been in Maiduguri since May last year.

A clean-up operation was launched after the first cases emerged and identified a contaminated water source in one of the camps, it added.

Nigeria’s main relief agency the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said only that there had been “one or two cases” in one camp and the outbreak had been “contained”.

NEMA’s northeast coordinator Ibrahim Abdulkadir said the disease “was brought to the camp by some people who were recently liberated from Boko Haram by the military”.

“We have been able to manage the situation with the distribution of vaccines and drugs. We are also ensuring that the camps are kept clean at all times.” [myad]

We Are Tired Of This War, Boko Haram Insurgents Reportedly Say, As 200 Of Them Have Been Captured

Greenbarge Reporters

September 16, 2015

A number of Boko Haram insurgents were said to have confessed that they were tired of fighting the war with the Nigerian Government and indicated their readiness to quickly end the war, even as the Nigerian Army has captured over 200 Boko Haram members in Adamawa State.
The Executive Secretary, Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd.), who made this known today in a statement in Abuja, said that many of them said that they were simply tired of fighting and being fugitives in a war that they were deceived into joining.
“None of the suspected Boko Haram elements that spoke with the CCC asked for any form of monetary inducement or compensation as a pre-condition for laying down their arms. In fact, many of them said that they were simply tired of fighting and being fugitives in a war that they were deceived into joining,” Anas said.
Below is the text of the statement by CCC, which previously claimed to have established contact with genuine Boko Haram members willing to help in bringing the six-year insurgency to an end:
“The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) has noted with satisfaction, the pronouncement by President Muhammadu Buhari that some members of the Boko Haram terrorist group are in negotiation with the Federal Government over the possibility of releasing the Chibok Secondary School girls abducted on April 14, 2014.
“We recall that while briefing the press on August 4, 2015, the Executive Secretary of CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (retired) had disclosed that some Boko Haram elements approached the Centre for dialogue as a way of ending the seeming intractable insurgency in parts of the country.
“While expressing support for the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that the Federal Government was willing to dialogue with genuine leaders of the terrorist group, the CCC believes the new position had become imperative in view of the fact that military option alone has failed to resolve the issue.
“The Centre believes that there is nothing wrong in exploring and exploiting every opportunity that will lead to freeing of not only the innocent school girls but every other Nigerian under shackles of the deadly insurgents.
“As we stated on August 4, 2015 on this matter, which was widely and extensively published by the media, every window of dialogue should be open but ONLY for genuine leaders or representatives of the sect who are committed to keeping to their side of the bargain.
“We urge both parties to approach the said negotiation with open mind and with utmost consideration of the interest of humanity.
“To Nigerians, we urge that we continue to trust and support our President even when he has to take tough decisions such as this knowing that what is upper most in his mind and in our minds is the freedom of our girls and all other captives.
“The Centre views this gesture as good. It has opened a window of opportunity for dialogue for those insurgents that are willing and ready to lay down their arms. This position is predicated on calls made to this Centre by some members of the Boko Haram requesting for genuine and comprehensive dialogue that could lead to hundreds of them coming out to renounce their membership.
“We want to note that none of the suspected Boko Haram elements that spoke with the CCC asked for any form of monetary inducement or compensation as a pre-condition for laying down their arms. In fact, many of them said that they were simply tired of fighting and being fugitives in a war that they were deceived into joining.
“Nevertheless, the Centre will continue to support and encourage all efforts towards bringing insurgency to an end in our country.”
And the Commander of the Task Force Brigade, Mubi, Adamawa State, Brigadier General V O Ezugwu, said however that those captured were not immediately available but that they have been de-radicalized. [myad]

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