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Friday, March 29, 2024

Nigerian newspapers headlines Thursday morning

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Insurgency: Northern Govs Seek Probe Of Mailafia’s Allegations [Leadership]

Governors of the 19 northern states have called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate allegations made by a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Obadiah Mailafiya that one of them is a Commander of the Boko Haram sect.

Their position is contained in a statement issued in Jos by chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) and governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong.

Speaking during ‘Morning Crossfire’, a programme on Nigeria Info Abuja 95.1FM on Monday, Mailafia had alleged that he had a chat with two repentant terrorists who identified a serving northern governor as a Boko Haram leader.

But reacting to the claim, the northern governors said they were concerned about the weighty allegations made by Mailafiya which he said must be thoroughly investigated.

In the statement made available to LEADERSHIP by his director of press affairs, Mr Simon Makut Macham, Governor Lalong said the northern governors’ forum which has been working with the federal government, security agencies, community, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders as well as development partners to defeat terrorism, banditry and other forms of crimes in the region finds the allegation by Dr Mailafiya very weighty and deserves further investigation.

Lalong said, “We as Northern Governors have met severally to discuss insecurity in the Northern Region and the nation at large where we did not only condemn the activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, bandits, armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminals, but also engaged the President and all heads of security agencies in finding solutions to the problem.

“To now say that one of our members is leading Boko Haram in Nigeria is a serious allegation that cannot be swept under the carpet. We demand immediate and thorough investigation”.

The forum urged Mailafiya and all citizens with useful information on the activities of criminals and terrorist groups to assist security agencies and governments at all levels with such intelligence for proper action.

Governor Lalong said the forum was also hoping that such allegations are not smear campaigns or attempts to discourage the northern governors who are putting in their best to bring an end to insecurity in the region.

He reiterated that the forum does not and will not support the activities of any criminal group because they, as governors, and their families are also not spared as was recently witnessed when the convoy of Governor Babagana Zullum of Borno State was attacked.

Meanwhile, the former CBN deputy governor, Mailafia, was yesterday invited and interrogated by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Jos.

Mailafia arrived in Jos, the Plateau State capital, to honour the invitation by DSS to make clarification on the statement credited to him that a governor from the North was a leader of Boko Haram.

Mailafia who arrived some minutes past 12noon went straight to the DSS office, while his supporters and well-wishers remained outside the gate offering prayer to God for his safe return.

Some of them left the vicinity while some were seen in groups waiting for his release after the interrogation.

Speaking to our correspondent at the DSS gate, Ambassador John Pofi of the Middle Belt Youth forum said the problem of Nigeria was insecurity, stressing that the government at all levels deliberately refused to find a lasting solution to the security challenges.

“We are here in solidarity with our leader. We are going nowhere until he is released. They have no choice other than to release him or else we are going to pitch a tent here until he is released,” Pofi said.

In the same vein, Abraham Dogo, chief executive officer of a registered non governmental organisation (NGO), Southern Kaduna Initiative, said they were in Jos to make the world know that a touch on one affects all.

“We are in Jos in solidarity with our leader, Dr Obadiah Mailafia. We want the genocide in Southern Kaduna to stop. He has been invited to the SSS office here in Jos. We are waiting to see the outcome,” he said.

But Mailafiya who was released on bail yesterday said he was ready to die for his people.

Speaking to journalists shortly after his release, Mailafia said he was treated with great respect and decorum during his interrogation by the security operatives.

According to him, all the killings in Southern Kaduna and other states in the country must stop with immediate effect, adding that every Nigerian child either from Daura, Katsina, Manchok, Zaria and other places are his children.

The former deputy governor further said he was not talking politics like Nelson Mandela, noting that the struggle for the emancipation of the people is his concern and that he is not afraid to die for the sake of the people.

He pointed out that it is the duty of the government to protect the lives and property of its citizens.

He urged his supporters never to give up on one Nigeria, stressing that those who know him are aware of his stand on national issues.

 

FG Okays States’ Participation In Mining [Leadership]

The federal government yesterday gave state governments the nod to participate in mining activities as corporate entities.

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed disclosed this to State House correspondents after the virtual federal executive council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa.

He said the approval followed a memo presented by the minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite seeking council’s approval to address the major challenges the mining industry was facing. Mohammed, however said, states cannot participate in mining activities as sub-national authorities since mining is still on the exclusive list.

He also noted that the issue of double taxation in the mining industry was addressed at the FEC meeting.

The minister said, “On the issue of double taxation whereby mining companies are taxed by local and state governments, two decisions were taken. One is that the council directed the minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning to deduct directly from federal accounts’ allocations of states which have deprived the federal government of Nigeria of revenue due to it by imposition of illegal taxes and levies on mining companies in their states.

“In other words, if a particular state engages in double taxation, you are imposing illegal taxes on a duly registered mining company. If it is reported to the government, the Ministry of Finance will deduct that money from your allocation.

“The intent is to ensure that we don’t scare away investors, be they local or foreign. This will go a long way to reassure the investors that Nigeria is a safe place to invest now.

“It was also directed that the National Economic Council (NEC) should also dialogue with the governors and let them understand that states can participate in mining as corporate bodies. In other words, states can register companies and participate in mining. But they cannot come there as sub-national authorities because the law is very clear.

“The federal government has the exclusive right to mine and manage all mineral resources. Those are the major approvals that the minister of Mines and Steel Development got today on his memo”.

Mohammed also said among the challenges the industry was facing is insecurity in certain parts of  the country.

Notably, he said in the Northwestern part of the country, mining had been suspended because of the activities of bandits and kidnappers.

He said the industry was also faced with the problem of collision between some stakeholders, especially traditional rulers.

The minister also explained that the issue of double taxation was actually driving a lot of investors out of the country.

He also reported certain decisions of past governments in the area of storage of explosives that are used for mining. He continued: “Before now, the position is that any miner that wants to use explosives for mining must store them in either the military barracks or police facilities. So, he asked for special dispensation to build special facilities at least one in each of the geo-political zones of the country. He also complained about extortion, the position of community development agreement, and the issue of many illegal miners.

“But the council directed that the National Security Adviser (NSA) should set up a special unit domiciled in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and coordinated by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) to carry out targeted operations at identified and confirmed illegal mining sites nationwide.

“The council also directed the Office of National Security Adviser to facilitate the erection of central magazines (special storage facilities) across the geo-political zones of the country for mining purposes as storage of explosives in military barracks in some parts of the country is grossly unsafe and the establishment of Control and Command Centre for remote monitoring of such explosives.

“The council also directed the minister of Interior and the Nigerian Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB) to work closely with the minister of Mines and Steel Development”.

 

Kashamu: South West Leaders Chide Obasanjo [Leadership]

South West leaders yesterday berated former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his derogatory comments against the late Senator from Ogun State, Buruji Kashamu.

Obasanjo had in a swift condolence message alleged that Kashamu who represented Ogun East in the 8th National Assembly used the instruments of law and politics to evade justice.

He said, “The life and history of the departed have lessons for those of us on this side of the veil. Senator Esho Jinadu (Buruji Kashamu) in his lifetime used the manoeuvre of law and politics to escape from facing justice on alleged criminal offences in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

“But no legal, political, cultural, social or even medical manoeuver could stop the cold hand of death when the creator of all of us decides that the time is up,” he said while praying that Allah forgive Kashamu’s sins”.

Obviously not amused by such comments from a former Nigerian leader, Human Rights lawyer, Chief Femi Falana (SAN), noted that although Obasanjo did not abuse African tradition by criticising the late ex-Senator, his hypocrisy should not be encouraged.

According to him, Obasanjo’s message was rather, against the African culture to aid and abet a criminal suspect in his lifetime, only to turn round to attack him in his grave.”

The learned silk urged the former head of state to “stop insulting the collective intelligence of the Nigerian people.”

In his reaction titled, ‘Matters Arising From Chief Obasanjo’s Condolence Letter,’ Falana stated: “Some people have said that it is against the African culture to speak ill of the dead. That is far from the truth. In the past, Africans spoke ill of the dead and exposed the dead if they were found to have engaged in abominable activities that brought shame to a community. In fact, the bodies of dead men and women who were found to have brought pestilence to a community were buried in the bush.

“Therefore, Chief Obasanjo has not abused the African culture by attacking the late Senator Buruji Kashamu for allegedly manipulating the law to escape justice at home and abroad. However, it is the hypocrisy of his message that should be criticised because it is against the African culture to aid and abet a criminal suspect in his lifetime only to turn round to attack him in his grave.

“In 1999, the British government had initiated moves for the extradition of Kashamu to the United States for trial for drug-related offences. But the evidence given in favour of Kashamu in 2003 by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration cleared the suspect of drug charges. Consequently, the British Court rejected the request to extradite Kashamu on grounds of uncertainty about his identity and freed him after five years in jail. Thereafter, Kashamu returned to the country as a free man and was admitted to the PDP as a full-fledged member. He funded the party and became a political leader.

“The national leadership of the party acknowledged Kashamu’s immense financial contributions to the PDP. In 2014, as a result of political disagreements in the Ogun State chapter of the PDP, former President Obasanjo asked the national leadership of the PDP to stop extolling Kashamu as a political leader because he was “a habitual criminal wanted abroad to face criminal charges levelled against him…” But following the resolution of the intraparty feud, Chief Obasanjo mounted the rostrum in Ogun State, extolled Kashamu as a political leader and prayed to the Almighty God to reward him for his generosity.

“Upon Kashamu’s sudden demise last weekend due to complications arising from COVID- 19 attack, Chief Obasanjo sent a sarcastic condolence letter to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State. While praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased Chief Obasanjo said that in his lifetime he had maneuvered “law and politics to escape from facing justice on the alleged criminal offence in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. But no legal, political, cultural, social or even medical manoeuvre could stop the cold hands of death when the Creator of all of us decides that the time is up.”

 

FG flays non-adherence to protocols at rallies, burials [Sun]

  • FEC approves N8.49bn for COVID-19 testing equipment

The 11th virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council  (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N8.49 billion for the procurement of 12 items for the testing of Coronavirus by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The memo was presented by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on behalf of the centre at the Council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking to State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting alongside ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Environment, Muhammad Mahmood, Ehanire said the procurement was  part of the preparedness for community transmission which was going on and had affected over 586 local government areas, adding that the materials were needed to expand testing capacities and diagnostic capabilities.

“We have already made plans to have at least one sample collection centre in every local government, minimum of 774 and these resources will be necessary to go around the 774 local government areas to ensure that persons in rural areas and small towns are not excluded and to ensure that not only the big cities are the ones that are being attended to.”

On why the PTF was reluctant in introducing rapid test kits, which makes results available in minutes as against PCR (polymerise chain reaction) tests, Ehanire said: “It is not that nobody is thinking of rapid diagnostic test, it is being used all over the world even in Nigeria today but the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other experts have said that this test is not very reliable and that it also delivered a significant number of false positive or negative result. So, if you go to a place where a percentage of test result can give you a wrong result, then you have to be careful. Whereas the PRC test, that is the polymerise chain reaction test is accurate and reliable. So if you want to know how accurate a person is positive, that is the test you ought to do, that is the recommendation of World Health Organisation.”

On the disregard for COVID-19 protocols at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign flag off in Edo State and the funeral rites of Senator Buruji Kashamu, the health minister said: “There is something the laws says; it says you must hold election at certain time.  Nobody was anticipating that COVID-19 will pop up and the dilemma where INEC and the ministry of health face now is not peculiar to Nigeria, there are many other countries that are facing thiskind of problem. Just a few days ago, Belarus held presidential election because their constitution gives them a deadline within which it must be held. Other countries have held elections, some have defied elections depending on how each country assesses its own risk. And in Nigeria where the case infection rate is relatively low compared to other countries which is about two per cent, globally is nearly four per cent and then the weight of distribution of the cases is not even. There are some states that do not have that heavy infection rate and others have high infection rate. So, you have to weigh the benefits if you can manage the risk, because it is the same risk like  opening the skies, the borders, going to churches, mosques, markets – there is a lot of risk communications we are dealing with. But there are things that need not be, for example, a football match were people can crowd in the stadium, you can say this one can wait, it is not compulsory. In churches where it is more organised, if it cannot be, then you pray at home. For market, we gave advisory, make sure you put on mask, and ensure it is arranged in a way that you can control the crowd.

“The same advisory is given to politics and in some area, it is difficult like in cases of funerals. We gave the number of people who can attend, or even  marriage. So the same advisory is given to all political parties,  organisers and we are looking to them for the necessary sense of responsibility to comply. But it is also difficult going by observation for people who are under emotions to actually follow the guidelines and scenes like what you described came up. But in places of worship and other kinds of gatherings, they follow the guidelines. So it is that situation where you are balancing what the constitution says and then start enforcing things that people will read another meaning into.”

Also speaking on the issue, the information minister said: “As a matter fact this matter came up at the last PTF briefing, and the coordinator said that we will continue to advise social distancing in whatever gathering. It has been proven that wearing mask saves many lives and we will continue to harp on it that people should take personal responsibility.

 

PENGASSAN begins 3-day warning strike [Sun]

  • Health workers threaten industrial action

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), yesterday, began a three-day strike over unpaid salaries.

Similarly, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has said there would be “war” if the Nigerian government did not fulfil its promises to the health sector.

PENGASSAN national public relations officer, Fortune Obi, said the salaries were withheld because of the workers refusal to enrol into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS).

The strike will affect the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) and the Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR).

As the action began, the striking senior staff staged a protest in Abuja, displaying various placards with inscriptions such as “IPPIS is a pandemic than COVID-19, the President should act fast” and “IPPIS office, respect your agreement and come for negotiations” among others.

They insisted that the government had not done enough to convince them that IPPIS was robust enough to handle the peculiarities of the environment they work, noting that it was wrong to lump them with civil servants on the IPPIS platform.

National President of MHWUN, Biobelemoye Josiah, told newsmen after receiving an award from the Ethics Resource Center of Nigeria for the medical worker of the decade (2011-2020) in Abuja, yesterday, that government should not to lead medical workers into “temptation”, saying that any strike in this period will be terrible for the country.

He said: “We entered into agreement with the Federal Ministry of Health where the ministry agreed that there was error in the implementation of the COVID-19 allowances. People who are earning N5,000 that ought to have been prepared on 50 per cent were given 10 per cent. Well, in our traditional way, we didn’t immediately rush on to strike, we engaged government and they have seen that reason. We are believing and hoping that before they pay the third batch, that correction will be made.

“I want to make a very bright appeal to the Federal Ministry of Health as well as the Nigerian government. Do not lead us into temptation.Because if you lead us into temptation when we have expressed very high level of patience, you will not be forgiven by nature, God and the people. That correction should be made and every other demand we have made peacefully should be given to us so that they don’t push us into embarking on strikes that we know will be negatively impactful on Nigerians.

“I am not going to close the door on dialogue, but dialogue cannot be inexhaustible. Dialogue must have a mark where it starts and ends, but where we begin to see that they are igniting our appetite to distrust them, that will be the signal for war,” he said.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, expressed his endorsement of the MHWUN President saying that the award was well deserved for all his  efforts in the health sector over the years.

“The COVID-19 has exposed some challenges in two critical sectors of the economy. These two sectors are education sector and health sector and they shape development everywhere around the world. Therefore, we need more investment in health and education. Our people need to be healthy and educated to be productive,” he said.

 

Police arrest IPOB herbalist, 67 others in Imo [Sun]

  • ‘Leave our members alone

The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 67 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), including their herbalist at Mmahu Egbema.

According to a press statement by the state police image-maker, Orlando Ikeokwu, the members were arrested for unlawful gathering, among other crimes.

He recalled that the arrested IPOB members had converged somewhere in Owerri North area of the state on August 9, before moving in groups to Egbema, where they were said to be arrested at a checkpoint by soldiers.

Ikeokwu said the soldiers called the police for reinforcement and the IPOB members were arrested and taken to the state police command, Owerri.

Ikeokwu alleged that the arrested Igbo group were heading to the residence of one Cyprian Amadi in Abashieke, Egbema in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area said to be a herbalist to fortify themselves against bullet penetration.

The police public relation officer also claimed that the group was planning an attack on security agencies with the aim of snatching weapons.

He recalled that the suspected herbalist had removed bullets from one of the IPOB members who had gunshot injuries in the past.

Ikeokwu added: “It is also noteworthy that the group attacked and snatched two rifles from police operatives during a violent protest in 2018, of which the rifles were later recovered from a kidnap gang in a robbery operation.”

He, however, warned that the police would not tolerate any form of gathering from the group, which he said has been proscribed by the Federal Government.

However, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, has debunked police allegation that those arrested were going for spiritual fortification exercise at the residence of a herbalist.

Powerful urged the Nigeria security operatives to leave IPOB alone and face their challenges at the Southern Kaduna.

“Nigeria security operatives are deriving joy in arresting and slaughtering of IPOB family members  since 2015 while their brothers Fulani terrorists herdsmen and their Boko Haram counterpart are busy causing mayhem throughout Nigeria without security officers struggle to stop them.

“Every day, Nigeria government, police and other security agencies support all killings going on particularly the recent ones in Southern Kaduna and Azikoro town in Bayelsa State.

 

Magu writes Salami panel on probe timeline, eight other issues [Nation]

The suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has asked the Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing his tenure to clarify the 45-day timeline given to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the instrument establishing the judicial commission was dated July 3, but he was served on August 8.

He said it was unclear whether proceedings of the panel before the date of the issuance of the instrument of mandate will be deemed to be part of the 45 days’ timeline.

He asked the commission to clarify whether its proceedings will be deemed to commence when he was served the instrument of mandate on August 8.

He raised eight other issues including the fact that tribunal has consistently sat in private (camera) and not in public.

Other complaints include alleged failure of the commission to reveal its mandate and terms of interest;  inviting witnesses without Magu’s knowledge; most witnesses not placed on oath; lack of Magu’s counsel right  to cross-examine his client’s accusers; no access to documents forming the basis of witnesses’ testimonies before the panel; his detention; and suspension of 12 top EFCC of officials without query.

But, he said if the commission’s timeline is retroactive, he is ready to defend himself.

Magu’s position was contained an August 11 letter to the Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, by his counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu.

He said he was shocked that the commission had been entertaining matters already pending  before superior courts.

He raised the following observations:

“In summary, we have concerns regarding the legality of the honourable tribunal in the areas highlighted above such as;

  • The tribunal has consistently sat in private (camera) and not in public of the applicable law;
  • The tribunal has held proceedings and invited and entertained witnesses to the exclusion of our client and his counsel in violation of the applicable law on rules of fair hearing.
  • The tribunal has sat and conducted proceedings in the absence of our client in violation of the applicable law and rules of fair hearing.
  • The detention of Mr. Magu and subsequent denial of Mr. Magu’s detention by both your panel and the police.
  • The suspension of twelve officials (investigators and prosecutors) of the EFCC without query, interrogation, or any other expected standard treatment for such an action.
  • The appearance of several conflicting reportage in the media without any official statement from your committee.
  • Failure to allow Mr. Magu’s counsel to cross-examine our client’s accusers and witnesses.
  • Failure of the committee to reveal its mandate, terms of reference and timeline until 8th August 2020(35 days after the panel was expected to have commenced public sitting by virtue of the instrument of mandate.
  • Witnesses appearing without being on oath.

Magu was more specific on the actual sitting timeline of the commission.

The letter reads in part: “Please, be further advised that by the instrument of appointment signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 3rd of July, 2020 and served on our client on 8th August 2020, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is to conclude all proceedings of the inquiry within 45 days unless given express extension in writing by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Paragraph 5 of the instrument of instruction provides as follows

“And I hereby direct the judicial commission to submit its interim reports to me from time to time, but the judicial commission shall in any case submit its final report not later than forty five days from the date of its first public sitting or within such extended period as may be authorized by me in writing

“In view of the above, we humbly require clarification on the judicial commission of inquiry’s timeline for sittings. This is in the context of the fact that our client was not formally invited to the proceedings of the judicial commission of inquiry until the 6th of July, 2020, even if the Judicial Commission of Inquiry was supposed to have been constituted since the 3rd of July, 2020.

“It is also unclear whether proceedings of the panel before the date of the issuance of the instrument of mandate will be deemed to be part of the 45 days’ timeline prescribed in the instrument of mandate or proceedings will be deemed to commence when our client was served the instrument of mandate on 8th August 2020.

“We observe that our client is the principal subject of the judicial commission of inquiry not only in relation to his person but also connected to the office he occupied at the time of the inquiry and thereby making our client the principal suspect in the proceedings.

“In the circumstances our client is entitled to be served with the copies of the allegations against him or at best a copy of the terms of reference of the judicial commission of inquiry immediately upon the commencement of this proceedings or timeously upon his appearance before this judicial commission of inquiry on the 6th of July 2020.

“In spite of the repeated request by our client and his counsel, the instrument embodying the terms of reference was not served on our client until 8th of August 2020 (35 days) after the sitting of the judicial commission of inquiry.

The embattled Acting Chairman of EFCC also objected to the conduct of the commission’s sitting in private.

The letter added: “We observe that contrary to the above, the proceedings of this Judicial  Commission of Inquiry constituted since 3rd July, 2020 by virtue of the instrument of appointment has consistently been conducted in private and most of the witnesses examined without the presence of our client who is the subject matter of inquiry until recently when our client was allowed limited access to the proceedings with his counsel who was not allowed to cross-examine the witnesses called to testify against our client.

“Specifically our client and his counsel were excluded from the proceedings of 11th, 12th ,13th of July 2020 amongst others in spite of presence at the venue of the sittings.

“In all the days of exclusion from the proceedings of the judicial commission of inquiry, witnesses were called, testified, interrogated and documents tendered and admitted in the proceedings in the absence of our client and his counsel. It should be emphasized that the nature of allegations against our client is that is criminal.

“Consequently, his right under the Constitution to fair hearing ought not to have been crassly violated in the circumstances so far demonstrated by the Commission.

“This runs contrary to the instrument of appointment stipulating that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is designated as ”instrument constituting a Judicial Commission of Inquiry for the investigation of Mr. Magu Ibrahim, the Ag. Chairman of the EFCC for alleged abuse of office and mismanagement `of Federal Government recovered assets and finances from May 2015 to May 2020″.

 

Fed Govt pumps N8.5b to boost COVID-19 tests [Nation]

  • NLC seeks funding for education, health sectors
  • Rusia to produce 5m vaccine doses monthly

Nigeria is to spend N8.49 billion on COVID-19 testing.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the money at Wednesday’s meeting for the purchase of 12 assorted items by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

But the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said  on Wednesday that the country needs “more investments in education and health. Our people need to be healthy for them to be productive. If we don’t do this, then certainly all the 17 goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be difficult to achieve.”

President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed the challenges in Nigeria’s education and health sectors.

He spoke at the investiture/award for the President, Medical an Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Josiah Biobelemoye by the Ethics Resource Centre, Abuja.

He said: “COVID-19 has exposed the challenges in the two critical sectors of our economy and those sectors actually shape development everywhere around the world – health and education sectors.

Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire, told reporters after FEC meeting that the cash will help the country address community transmission of the pandemic, which has affected 586 Local Government Areas.

“The Ministry of Health presented a memo on behalf of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control to procure materials for preparation for the COVID-19 pandemic, which is ravaging every part of the world including our country.

“This is part of the preparedness for community transmission which is going on now and has affected over 586 Local Government Areas and we need the materials so as to be able to expand our testing and diagnostic capabilities.

“This memo is as a result of the Presidential task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and the Special Intervention Funds managed by the PTF, which allocated these resources for the NCDC preparedness,” he said.

The Health Minister said the materials to be procured include sample and other kits for diagnostics, for use by laboratories.

“We are procuring these materials to be able to respond properly to community transmission phase,” he added.

On why the PTF was reluctant in introducing rapid test kits which make results available In minutes as against PCR (Polymerise Chain Reaction) tests, Ehanire said: “It is not that nobody is thinking of rapid diagnostic test, it is being used all over the world even in Nigeria today but the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other experts, have said that this test is not very reliable and that it also delivers a significant number of false positive or false negative results.

“So, if you go to a place where a percentage of test result can give you a wrong result, then you have to be careful. Whereas the PRC test, that is the polymerise chain reaction test is accurate and reliable. So if you want to know how accurate a person is positive, that is the test you ought to do, that is the recommendation of World Health Organisation.

“Now, science is never certain, there are many ways and avenues by which the quality of the rapid test is still being improved. And as I speak to you now, the Medical Laboratory Science of Nigeria, which is responsible for validating this test, for telling us whether they are reliable or not, whether we should use it or not, they are verifying such test now and they will give us their result, whether it is reliable enough or not reliable enough.

On the disregard for COVID-19 protocols at the All Progressives Congress campaign in Edo State and the funeral rites of Senator Buruji Kashamu, the health minister said “there is something the laws says, the law says you must hold election at certain time and then watch what the needs of health has brought forward.

“Nobody was anticipating that COVID-19 will pop up and the dilemma where INEC and the ministry of health face is not peculiar to Nigeria, there are many other countries that are facing that kind of problem.

“Just a few days ago, Belarus held presidential election because their constitution gives them a deadline within which it must be held. Other countries have held elections, some have deferred elections, depending on how each country assesses their own risk. And in Nigeria where the case infection rate is relatively low compared to other countries which is about two percent, globally is nearly four percent and then the weight of distribution of the cases is not even.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and  the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) have expressed sadness over the death of the Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Babatunde Oke.

Sanwo-Olu in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Oke’s demise was a big loss to the state.

Oke, a second term chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, died in the early hours of yesterday.

The governor described him as a fine gentleman; a loyal party man and a committed democrat, who had a deep understanding of local government administration and political landscape.”

ALGON President, Kolade Alabi, said Oke’s  invaluable contributions to the national development would be missed.

CONFERENCE 57 Chairman, Mrs Omolola Essien, also described the late Oke as one of the most experienced council bosses in the state.

”He was kind-hearted, intelligent and industrious. He will be sadly be missed in the Conference 57 house,” Essien said.

Russia may be able to produce five million doses of its new COVID-19 vaccine monthly by December, the Director of the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Alexander Gintsburg, said on Wednesday.

“We expect them [manufacturers] to reach the target capacity by December or January. The target is about five million doses per month, and perhaps more,” Gintsburg said at a news conference.

Andrei Savenkov-Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian state agency responsible for the promotion of humanitarian cooperation, is interested in showcasing Russia’s vaccine against COVID-19 to the foreign community, Yevgeny Primakov, the new head of the agency, said.

The vaccine, named Sputnik V, was developed jointly by the Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry.

“This is one of the most important stories that we can export because we have surprised the world with a low death rate.

“And thanks to our high-quality healthcare and the fact that we have vaccines, not even just one, is already our strong side.

“Let the various tests, licensing, certification and approval end, and I would like through the Rossotrudnichestvo network, to present this vaccine to the world and show its effectiveness,” Primakov said.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) CEO, Kirill Dmitriev, has said that Moscow has already received preliminary requests for one billion doses of its vaccine against COVID-19 from more than 20 countries.

 

UNILAG VC rejects removal by council [Nation]

  • ASUU to meet as Senate backs Ogundipe

Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe on Wednesday rejected his sack by the institution’s Governing Council.

The Council announced Ogundipe’s removal after a meeting yesterday at the Abuja headquarters of National Universities Commission (NUC).

Prof. Ogundipe said his removal did not follow due process as enshrined in the University’s Act.

The Federal Government said it had not been notified, but affirmed that the Council has the power to hire and fire as long as the due process is followed.

Members of the Senate on the Council said Wednesday’s decision did not follow the due process.

The local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) condemned Ogundipe’s sack and summoned an emergency congress for today at the varsity campus in Akoka.

Condemning Ogundipe’s sack in a statement, the Chairman, ASUU-UNILAG, Dr. Dele Ashiru, said the removal was illegal as it was against Section 17 of the University of Lagos Act.

The statement reads: “Our union condemns in the strongest terms this illegal reckless and destructive action by the pro-chancellor Dr. Wale Babalakin.

“Our Union affirms its confidence in the leadership of Prof. Toyin Ogundipe as the vice chancellor of a great University.”

A statement by the Ministry of Education’s spokesman, Ben Goong said: “The Federal Ministry of Education wishes to state that it is yet to be briefed on the developments at the University of Lagos regarding the purported removal of the VC.

“While the ministry awaits the proper briefing from the university authorities, it is important to reaffirm that Council has the power to hire and fire, but that due process must be followed in doing so.”

How VC was removed in Abuja

Wednesday’s Council’s meeting, initially scheduled to hold between July 15 and 17 was moved to Abuja by Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Babalakin.

He moved the venue, following a warning by the UNILAG ASUU chapter that he should not visit the campus having been declared persona non grata because of his role in the suspension of the university’s 51st Convocation in March.

The Nation learnt six members of the 10-member Council voted for the VC’s removal at Wednesday’s meeting.

The Provost, College of Medicine UNILAG, Prof Afolabi Lesi; President, UNILAG Alumni Association, Dr. John Momoh and two representatives of the Senate on the Council, Prof. Bola Oboh and Prof. Olukemi Odukoya, kicked against the VC’s sack.

Two posts, credited to Prof. Oboh and Prof. Odukoya, which claimed that Ogundipe was not allowed to defend himself, were circulated on various social media groups of the UNILAG community.

They urged the Senate to resist the removal, which they insisted did not follow due process.

The post by Odukoya, a professor of Pharmacy, reads: “Dear Senate members, It is with great regret that I announce to you that the Pro-Chancellor has had his way in actualising his machinery to remove the vice chancellor.

At today’s (12th August 2020), emergency meeting of Council in Abuja, Dr. Babalakin asked the VC and DVC (DS) to leave the meeting and by vote of six to four, announced that the Vice Chancellor has been removed.  Members, arise, this is unacceptable. We must defend the management of the university.”

The post by Prof. Oboh reads: “Dear Senate members, the University of Lagos regulation has been stepped on and ridiculed. Babawale Babalakin, the Pro-Chancellor waited for the tenure of Prof. Chukwu and Prof. Familoni to end, to call an emergency Council meeting.

“Based on the Dagari report, without allowing the VC to defend himself, the Pro-Chancellor called for a vote for the removal of the VC. I (Prof. Oboh), Prof. Odukoya, Prof. Leshi and John Momoh voted against the removal of the VC. Six persons (excluding Babalakin) voted for. Babalakin then went ahead to announce the removal of the VC.

“Dear Senate members, the procedure for removal of persons in office is clear and this was pointed out to Babalakin several times but he turned the deaf ears. He said he will announce the Ag. Vice Chancellor at 5pm. I have excused myself that I need to report to Senate members the shameful act currently ongoing. Please let us arise to fight this.”

Council’s position

The Council said Ogundipe was removed for misconduct and financial recklessness among others.

A statement by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Oladejo Azeez, titled: “Notice to the General Public on the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos”, noted: “The general public is hereby notified that at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday 12 August 2020 and in accordance with the statutory power vested in it by law, the Governing Council of the University of Lagos removed Prof. Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS from office as Vice Chancellor of the University with immediate effect.

“The decision was based on the Council’s investigation of serious acts of wrongdoing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness, and abuse of office against Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe.”

Ogundipe fights back

Ogundipe signed a statement issued by the “UNILAG Management” affirming that he remained Vice-Chancellor as his purported removal did not follow the due process.

He said: “The attention of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Management has been drawn to the ‘Notice to the General Public on the Removal of the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos’ dated August 12, 2020 and signed by Oladejo Azeez, Esq, Registrar and Secretary to Council, stating that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS has been removed from office with immediate effect.

“The purported removal is an illegality and cannot stand as it is in clear violation of the University of Lagos Act as amended. Assuming without conceding, that the purported removal is true, the extant provisions of the law have not been complied with.  For the avoidance of doubt the University Act states that:

“If it appears to the Council that there are reasons for believing that the vice chancellor…should be removed from his office… on the grounds of misconduct or inability to perform the functions of his office… the Council shall –

(a) Give notice of those reasons to the person in question;

(b) Make arrangements – for a joint Committee of council and the Senate to investigate the matter where it relates to the vice-chancellor… and to report on it to the council;

“Therefore, members of the University of Lagos community and the general public are advised to disregard the information about the sitting Vice-Chancellor of the University contained in the notice. Professor Oluwatoyin Temitope Ogundipe remains the Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos.”

The Babalakin/Ogundipe rift

Ogundipe’s removal may not come as a surprise. To many, there is no love lost between the embattled vice chancellor and the pro-chancellor. The feud between Babalakin and Ogundipe has created camps devoted to the two of them – up to the administrative level.

It is believed that the Registrar, Mr. Oladejo Azeez, and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, Prof. Ben Oghojafor are loyal to Babalakin. The others have pitched tent with Ogundipe. The membership of the Council is also split into camps.

The quarrels led to the intervention of the Education Ministry and the House of Representatives Committee on Education last year.

The House Committee on Public Procurement visited the university to investigate the collapse of the formwork of a library under construction, which the Council had previously questioned how the contract was awarded.

It cleared the vice chancellor of wrongdoing and permitted the contractor to continue with the construction.

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