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Sokoto Gov’t Approves Education Initiative, Payment Of N150m Counter Funds

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By Ibrahim Goronyo, Sokoto

The Sokoto State government has approved the commencement of The AGILE Project and payment f N150 million.

State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Muhammad Tukur Alkali announced this during Ministerial Scorecard press briefing.

He said the N150m was meant the state counter fund while another N50m was for the take-off of the programme.

Another achievement recorded by governor Ahmad Aliyu within the year in education sector was strengthening collaboration through engagements with development partners such as UNICEF, USAID, LEARN To Read, PLAN-International,USAID-State2State project and LEAP Africa towards improving delivery in the state.

Reliably, Alkali also enumerated collaboration with UNICEF Nigeria to introduce Learning Passport Nigeria, Girls Employability and Skill Partnership Program, REACH Project as another achievement of governor Sokoto.

He further asserted that the governor has sponsored the program on Training of Mastet Trainers, Teacher and Facilitators on Early Grade Reading techniques and similarly procured teaching and learning material for both formal and non-formal learning centres in the state.

Another milestone of achievements is collaboration with UBEC to train 145 education Managers and 2,718 teachers amongst other achievements executed by the state government under the leadership of Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto in Education sector.

Court Slams MultiChoice N150m Fine, Orders One Month Free Subscription For DSTV, GOTV Users

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The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria to provide one month of free subscription for raising the prices of its DStv and GOtv services.

Additionally, the court imposed a N150 million fine on MultiChoice Nigeria for contesting the jurisdiction of an Abuja court that had previously restrained it from increasing its subscription prices.

The verdict, delivered on Friday, June 7, was handed down by a three-member panel led by Thomas Okosu. The court cited Section 39(2) of the FCCPC Act, which grants the tribunal jurisdiction throughout Nigeria over all profit-oriented commercial activities.

Okosu clarified that the tribunal’s jurisdiction covers all business activities within Nigeria, and he noted that there is no requirement for an aggrieved consumer seeking to enforce their rights to file a complaint with the President of Nigeria or the Price Control Board. He observed that the claimant had written to the FCCPC before filing the case.

“I conclude that this tribunal has the jurisdiction to preside over consumer rights in this case and resolve this issue against MultiChoice,” Okosu stated.

The tribunal also determined that the claimant’s lawsuit was not challenging the price hike itself but the illegality of MultiChoice’s eight-day notice to customers. It noted that MultiChoice had already disobeyed its interim orders and condemned the company’s action of raising DStv and GOtv prices.

The tribunal dismissed MultiChoice’s preliminary objection for disobeying interim orders and imposed an administrative penalty for failing to comply with the tribunal’s directives.

“The first defendant is hereby mandated to pay a N150 million penalty. MultiChoice is hereby ordered to give Nigerians one month of free subscription,” Okosu added.

Previously, the tribunal had restrained MultiChoice from increasing its subscription rates pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed by Barrister Festus Onifade. Onifade had sued MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), accusing the PayTV company of unjustly increasing subscription fees without giving customers a one-month notice and seeking interim orders against the organization. (News Direct)

N180 Billion Debt: EEDC To Disconnect S/East Govt Houses, Offices, Army, Others

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By CHARLES ONYEKWERE, ABAKILIKI

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) says it will be disconnecting South-East government houses/offices, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offices, Nigerian Army and others to recover a whooping over N180 billion electricity debt.

This is contained in a statement issued by the EEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh, on Friday in Enugu.

Ezeh said that some of the indebted customers to be disconnected included: Enugu State Government, Ebonyi State Government, Anambra State Government, Abia State Government, Imo State Government; Innoson Technical and Industries; University of Nigeria (Enugu and Nsukka Campuses) and Nigerian Bottling Company.

He said that others are: Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Air-Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Railway Corporation, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; UNTH Ituku-Ozalla; Ebonyi State University; Coal Corporation Quarters and Federal Secretariat and Establishments.

“We are also disconnecting GMO Rubber Division; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Ebonyi State Government’s Ecumenical Centre One; Nigeria Prisons Training School; Central Bank of Nigeria offices; M/S Concorde Hotel, Owerri and Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

“Others are Enugu High Court; Reliable Steel and Plastic Industries Ltd; Jilnas Industries; BENGAS Nigeria Ltd; CIFO Petroleum Ltd; STANEL Filling Station, Highlift Pumping Station; FINOC Industries Ltd; Aluminium Extrusion Industries Ltd and VIN VAL Limited.

“The rest are Local Government Council offices; Saint Davids Porter Nigeria Ltd; Gees Denver Company Limited;the Federal Controller of Works, Hospitals Management Board, and DONLINK Plastic Industries among many others,” he said.

The EEDC spokesman noted that effective from June 10, 2024, the company would commence massive disconnection of electricity supply to these indebted aforementioned customers and other customers with outstanding electricity bills indebtedness.

“This exercise has become necessary considering the huge (over N180 billion) unpaid electricity bills and accrued arrears, which has consistently put the company in a precarious revenue deficit position, making it difficult to meet up with its power purchase obligations.

“For EEDC to continue providing services to its esteemed customers, it is pertinent that electricity bills, which are for energy already consumed, are paid in full.

“If this is not done, it will be difficult for the company to keep up its operations to serve customers and enhance the quality of service,” he said.

Ezeh, therefore, appealed to the affected customers to endeavour to clear their arrears on or before June 10, 2024, to avoid having their supply disconnected.

He noted that the notice of disconnection applies to all categories of customers (Maximum Demand and Non-Maximum Demand) that are indebted to EEDC. For further enquiries, please call: 0815 082 4157.

Major shake-up In Police Force As PSC Appoints New DIG, Promotes 122 Senior Officers

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The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Friday approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Yahaya Sahabo Abubakar as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG).

Abubakar was until his appointment the AIG in charge of Zone 14 Katsina.

The police said he will represent the North East in the Police Management Team, replacing DIG Habu Sani who recently retired as DIG Force Intelligence Bureau and representing the Zone.

The Commission also approved the promotion of 122 other senior Police Officers; 10 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of AIGs; 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police to substantive Commissioners and 36 Assistant Commissioners of Police to Deputy Commissioners. Sixty-one Chief Superintendents of Police were also elevated to the next rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police.

The decisions, according to a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani were taken at the extraordinary Management Meeting of the Commission held on Thursday, June 6th, 2024 and presided over by the Chairman of the Commission, Solomon Arase.

The 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police; 10 Commissioners and AIG Abubakar appeared before the Commission in session for the compulsory interactive promotion interview which is one of the requirements for their promotion to the next rank.

The Commission Chairman at the interactive sessions told the Officers that in the emerging dynamic and ubiquity of crime and criminality within the revolution in Information and Communication technology, ” charting out pathways for effective policing and internal security management would have to necessarily orient from informed crafting and employment of applicable mix of strategies, standard operating procedures and tactics by the Police, other law enforcement and regulatory agencies of the state, mainstreaming a knowledge driven Police Force staffed by mentally mobile work force refined for optimum service delivery “.

Arase charged them to be genuinely committed to their sacred responsibility of securing the Nigerian nation by effectively protecting lives and property, preventing and containing crimes and criminality across the nation.

He pledged the Commission’s readiness to ensure that promotions of Officers and Men are regular and predictable.

The Commissioners of Police promoted to the new rank of AIGs are: Ahmed Ammani, former CP Enugu and currently in ICT Department, Force Headquarters; Mohammed Dankwara Adamu Deputy Commandant Police Academy, Wudil Kano; Gumel Mohammed Usaini, CP Kano State Command; Hamzat Adebola Ayinde, CP Oyo State Command; Okuoma Idegwu Basil, CP Elections, Force Headquarters Abuja; Achinyan Zachary’s Fera; CP FCID Enugu; Baba Zango Ibrahim, CP DFA, FCID, Abuja; Mohammed Isyaku, CP Admin, FCID Annex Lagos and CP Margaret Agebe Ochalla, CP Police Special Fraud Unit Annex Lagos.

DCP Bassey Samuel Ewah, DC Admin, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters; Osagie John Agans-Irabor, SCID, Benue State Command; DCP Edem Ita Selong, Admin and Finance, Zone 9 Umuahia and DCP Monday Agbonika, Interpol Annex Lagos were promoted to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police.

Other Deputy Commissioners promoted to CPs were Michael Okoh, Department of Operations, Zone 9 Umuahia; Ayodele Oluyemi Sonubi, State CID, Oyo State Command; Iyama Daniel Edobor, Operations Department, Bayelsa State Command; Isa Danladi Nda, SWAT, FCID Abuja; Akaniyene Ifebem Ezima Zonal CID, Zone 17 Akure and Livingston Ikioye Orutugu, Commandant PMF Training School Ende Hills Jos.

Others are DCP Bello Rashid Afegbua, Admin, Department of Training, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Hycenth Azuka Edozie Force Operations FCID, FHQ Abuja; Haruna Alaba Yahaya, Interpol, FCID Abuja; Peter Ozigi Umoru, Zonal CID, Zone 8, Lokoja; Ayotunde Godwin Omodeinde, Operations Department, Cross Rivers State Command.

The 36 Assistant Commissioners of Police promoted to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners include; Obo Ukam Obo; Musibau Adeola Adedoyin; Lawal Bamidele Adeshina and Anthony Okon Placid. Others are Onyeamu Akaeme Onyeamu, AC, Ops, Enugu State Command; Suleiman K. Bayonle, Commander PMF 20, Lagos; Asuquo Effiong, Special Investigation Unit FHQ, Abuja; Mustapha A. Rufai, Area Commander Auchi; Victor Akongtendor Bepeh, DFA, BPF, Force Headquarters Abuja; Chinedu Ugwu, Area Commander, Oji River Enugu Command; Kingsley Ifeanyi Woke SCID Ebonyi State Command; Issah Onize Lawal, Zonal CID Zone 2 Lagos and Ifeanyi Aham Ohuruzo, Commander PMF 21 Abuja.

The statement said the list of the promoted officers has been conveyed to the IGP for implementation and further necessary action. (The Nation)

BREAKING: N60,000 Too High – 36 States Governors Reject Minimum Wage Proposed By FG

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By Caleb Ishaya

The Nigeria Governors Forum NGF, have rejected the N60,000 minimum wage earlier proposed by the Federal Government.

The Director Media and Public Affairs of the NGF, Hajiya Halimah Salihu Ahmed, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, and the Trade Union Congress TUC, had on Monday embarked on indefinite strike action after rejecting the federal government’s N60, 000 offer as minimum wage.

But they later announced that they would relax the strike action for one week to give room for further negotiations with the federal government, which had promised to increase the wage from N60,000.

However, the governors said the N60, 000 wage is not realistic and unsustainable, arguing that if implemented, it would force some states in the country to be borrowing to pay workers’ salaries.

The statement reads in part, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is in agreement that a new minimum wage is due. The Forum also sympathises with labour unions in their push for higher wages.

“However, the Forum urges all parties to consider the fact that the minimum wage negotiations also involve consequential adjustments across all cadres, including pensioners.

“The NGF cautions parties in this important discussion to look beyond just signing a document for the sake of it; any agreement to be signed should be sustainable and realistic.

“All things considered, the NGF holds that the N60,000 minimum wage proposal is not sustainable and can not fly. It will simply mean that many states will spend all their FAAC allocations on just paying salaries with nothing left for development purposes.

“In fact, a few states will end up borrowing to pay workers every month. We do not think this will be in the collective interest of the country, including workers.

“We appeal that all parties involved, especially the labour unions, consider all the socioeconomic variables and settle for an agreement that is sustainable, durable, and fair to all other segments of the society who have legitimate claim to public resources.”

Good Partners Would Boost Nasarawa’s Development – Governor Sule Says

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Abdullahi-Sule

The Nasarawa State Government on Friday, commended a mining company, Hasetins Commodities Ltd, for constructing roads and digging boreholes to communities within its area of operation.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, made the commendation remarks at the inauguration of the commencement of work on roads and boreholes in Uke, Karu Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Kwanta Yakubu, who represented the governor, said the projects being executed for the communities is in line with the state government’s seven-point agenda and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to touch the lives of rural dwellers.

“I want to commend them because this is the kind of investment and industrialisation that we are looking for; they are not only building facilities, they are engaging about 80 per cent of our indigenes.

“We will be visiting and inspecting the project to support it,” he said.

The Director Corporate Affairs, Hasetins Commodities Ltd, Mr Peter Butt, in his remarks said the company decided to bring a different approach to its engagement with host communities of solid minerals with an engagement that ensures both sides benefit.
“We will train people, employ and engage them.
“We will build roads to enable farmers, traders to have access to markets.
“Nigeria has the second lowest life expectancy at 52 years, which is caused by 56 deaths per 1000 births.
This is due to poor drinking water and we will drill boreholes to get clean drinking water to the communities.”

Welcoming the mining firm, the Sarkin Uke, His Highness Ahmed Abdullahi pledged the maximum support and cooperation of the community towards the achievement of the objectives of the investment.
He said the community has diverse ethnic and religious groups from across Nigeria who have continued to live together in harmony, adding that they will work together for the protection of our community through the investment and other facilities provided to the

Prince Harry Wins Right To Appeal Rejection Of Publicly Funded Security Detail In UK

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Prince Harry has been given permission to appeal the British government’s rejection to provide him with publicly funded police protection in the UK

The Court of Appeal gave the Duke of Sussex the go-ahead to challenge a ruling earlier this year in the High Court. The permission was granted in May but only reported Thursday.

Judge Peter Lane ruled in February that a government panel’s decision to provide “bespoke” security on an as-needed basis after Harry quit as a working member of the royal family was not unlawful, irrational or unjustified.

“Insofar as the case-by-case approach may otherwise have caused difficulties, they have not been shown to be such as to overcome the high hurdle so as to render the decision-making irrational,” Lane wrote.

The long-running fight began more than four years ago when Harry first challenged the panel’s decision, arguing that he and his family need an armed security detail because of hostility directed toward him and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on social media and relentless hounding by the news media.

Harry, 39, the younger son of King Charles III, has bucked royal family convention to challenge the government in court and sue the tabloid press.

He won a big victory in December after a judge found phone hacking at Mirror Group Newspapers was “widespread and habitual.” He has two similar cases remaining against the publishers of The Sun and Daily Mail.

The security case appeared to be dead after the High Court in April rejected his first request to appeal Lane’s decision. But Justice David Bean on the Court of Appeal said on May 23 that he could challenge the lower court decision.

Alia Swears In Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen, Charges Them On Quality Service Delivery

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By Henry Ibya, Makurdi

Benue State Governor,Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has charged Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen in the state, to ensure they deliver quality services to people of their Local Government Areas.

The governor who gave the charge during the swearing in of the newly appointed caretaker committee chairmen for the 23 local government councils at a ceremony Thursday, held at Government House Makurdi, emphasized the need for the appointees to serve the people with diligence, warning against unnecessary excuses that would hinder their service to the people.

Governor Alia in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula,stated that for them to ensure that their work reflect the manifestoes of the All Progressives Congress, APC,in the state,they must be prepared to do their best, especially that his administration has granted autonomy to the third tier of government for effective performance.

He urged the new appointees to put in their best, remain at their duty post to enable them attend to the yearnings and aspirations of the people as well as ensure that those at the grassroot also enjoy dividends of democracy.

He encouraged the new caretaker committee chairmen to replicate the giant strides of the Alia administration at the local government level, expressing determination of his government to improve infrastructural development at the local areas.

It could be recalled that Governor Hyacinth Alia had written to the Benue State House of Assembly, requesting for extension of the tenure of the caretaker committee chairmen to allow the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC, enough time to prepare and conduct the local government council elections in the state.

The State House of Assembly had on Thursday, screened and confirmed the list of nominees sent to them by the governor, replacing only Timothy Hembaor, the earlier nominee from Ushongo Local government area, with Mvendaga Atetan

Other Caretaker Committee Chairmen inaugurated include Guda Terkimbi Dennis- Vandeikya, Philip Achuah- Konshisha, Shaku Justine- Katshina Ala,Neji Vitalis- Kwande, Avar Verlumun- Gboko,Roy Terna Ashirga- Tarkaa, Agber Cephas- Buruku,James Dwem- Makurdi, Comfort Agbo- Gwer East, Henry Agba -Gwer-West), Unongo Simon- Guma, and Iorzaa Victor -Ukum.

The governor also swore in Benjamin Uzenda for Logo LGA, Gloria Ogebe-Ado, Philip Ebenyaku- Agatu,Ochai Alidu- Apa, Adekpe Onum-Obi, Emmanuel Agada- Ogbadibo, Adugbo Fred- Ohimini, Wilson Eche- Otukpo, Onyilo Douglas-(Okpokwu), Ire Arubi-Oju respectively.

Responding on behalf of the Chairmen, caretaker committee chairman of Konshisha Local Government Area, Philip Achuah assured the governor that they would do their best to relocate his efforts at the Local Government level.

He expressed appreciation to the governor for the privilege to serve as well as granting quasi autonomy to the Local Government system in the state, promising not to fail in their respective duties.

ANC Leans Towards Unity Government As Uneasiness Gains Grassroots Supporters

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Can a unity government like that of 1994 help South Africa now?

ANC officials say it is the first option on the table after the party lost its parliamentary majority.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior party officials were in a critical meeting Thursday, June 6, in Johannesburg to decide how to go about forming a government.

“We have already held constructive discussions with a number of parties. Economic Freedom Fighters, Inkatha Freedom Party, the Democratic Alliance, the National Freedom Party and the Patriotic Alliance. We’ve also engaged our alliance partners to brief them on the process and will continue to seek their invaluable views and guidance.”

Any unity government plan would still have to be taken to those other parties, some of whom are more opposed to each other than ANC. The Democratic Alliance, DA, has pledged never to work with EFF or MK, for example.

Ramaphosa who seeks a second and final term acknowledged the challenges laying ahead.

“The ANC notes that we do have ideological and political differences with several parties in our political landscape. However, we will not preclude the possibility of working with any party so long as it is in the public interest, and it is in keeping with the principles that they have articulated,” Ramaphos said.

More than 50 parties contested the election with at least eight of them receiving significant shares of support.

“We want to bring everybody on board,” ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said of the unity government proposal. He said the ANC meeting, which would decide whether to back that idea over a narrower coalition with one or two parties, was likely to last all day.

In addition to staying true to its core principles, the ANC leadership must reassure grassroots party members.

Some protested outside the venue of the committee’s meeting.

An agreement of some sort needs to be in place by June 16, the deadline for South Africa’s new Parliament to sit and elect a president.

South Africa is seeking to minimise any uncertainty through what promises to be a complex process that is likely to run well into next week. It is keeping South Africans on tenterhooks at one of the most important times in their young democracy.

A government of national unity evokes South Africa’s transition from apartheid’s white minority rule to a democracy.

NASRDA Mulls Geo-Stationary Satellite To Fight Maritime Insecurity

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…decries lack of patronage of homegrown technology

By Abdullateef Bamgbose

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), declared in Abuja on Thursday that 90% of security challenges facing the maritime sector in Nigeria can be tackled by Geo – Stationary Satellite.

The declaration was made by the newly appointed Director General of the Space and Research Agency, Dr Olumide Mathew Adepoju during screening exercise of his appointment by the Senate Committee on Innovation, Science and Technology.

Dr. Adepoju at the Screening appointment screening exercise, however, lamented non patronage of Home grown technology in the country by relevant authorities and Nigerians .

He told the committee chaired by Senator Aminu Iya Abbas ( PDP Adamawa Central), that the Geo – Stationary Satellite if embraced by all stakeholders in the maritime sector will fill in the gap for the needed Maritime Domain Awareness for all manner of planned crimes and possibility of nipping them in the bud.

“For us at NASRDA, we are ready to collaborate and synergize with critical stakeholders in the maritime sector on the need to curb all manner of crimes in the sector”

“The most important thing device to use is Geo – Stationary Satellite , which would help to give the required Maritime Domain Awareness for the various key players through synthetical factor reading”

“For effective use of the Geo – Stationary Satellite, cooperation and synergy are already being worked on between us and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA), Nigerian Communication Satellite System ( NigComSat) , National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) etc,” he said .

He however, lamented that homegrown technologies put forward through innovations and inventions, are seldomly patronized by relevant authorities and Nigerians.

“We have inbuilt capacity at NASRDA but the culture of not patronizing ourselves in Nigeria, make results from such capacities, uncelebrated.”

“We can work together with the security agencies through our home grown solution which is not patronize” he insisted.

“Aside that the problem of acute shortage of office space for about 70 % of NASRDA staff, is also inhibiting them from giving their best because out of 5, 200 staff, less than 30% has office space,” he lamented.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Aminu Iya Abbas, told the nominee, that when confirmed by the Senate as substantive Director General of NASRDA, he should make the Space Center a Centre of Excellence.

“Go for talent hunting because we have not seen much in the area of human development. Develop in – house capacity. Pay attention to staff development,” he said.

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