Christians PRAYING For Buhari's DEATH - SGF Babachir

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr David Babachir Lawal has been accused of saying Christians in Nigeria and praying fervently for the death of President Muhammadu Buhari's death to pave way for the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo emerges as the President. 

The SGF has even bungled his attempt to deny reports that he accused Christians of praying for the death of ailing President Muhammadu Buhari, Daily Post reports

The SGF was quoted, according to Daily Post to have said during a service over the weekend, that “Christians all over the country are praying for the president to die, so that the vice-president, Osinbajo, can take over.”

Lawal was speaking during a Prayer meeting for Nigeria on Mount Zion, Jerusalem, to conclude the Christian pilgrimage.

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The SGF warned Christians to desist from what he described as “pull him down syndrome.”

According to him, it was appalling to hear Christians complain about the Federal Government despite occupying prominent positions in the government.

Reacting yesterday, Babachir called for “sanity and objectivity” in the representation of his true speech.

But his reaction made available to newsmen in Abuja, failed to successfully retract his the “analogy” he tried to deny.

Lawal said: “All I was trying to say highlight was the fact that we love each other, as well as our leaders.

“If we truly love each other, we would not be happy that so-and-so is ill and for so-and-so to take over, for some reasons.

“That is not in the spirit of national unity. These are the things which divide us and we must not let them continue. That was what I was trying to underline.

“I was, in no way, accusing Christians of being hateful; I merely made an analogy. I did not kick against Christians. I have no reason to”.

At the one-day prayer organized by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, Rev. Tor Uja, for pilgrims to pray for the perfection of President Buhari’s health, Uja Nigerians should be happy that a honest man like Buhari is president of the country.

He noted that a country like Nigeria with all the symbols of greatness could only be built to last by those who have been established on the enduring virtues of Christ.

He called on Christians to live up to their calling in Christ and lead by example in being strategic in their reasoning and planning.

“I feel sad that people come on pilgrimage and when they leave here, their character is even worse.

“I want you to make up your mind to follow Jesus Christ”, Uja urged.-

The Yoruba Media War Against President Buhari and His Aides, By Okanga Agila

Nigerians frequently abuse the liberties democracy confers on the citizenry, especially the freedom of expression. Hardly do people realize that their inalienable right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution of Nigeria, places on them the responsibility of truthful engagements of other Nigerians, which excludes and frowns at the brazen infringement of the rights of other citizens.

The media trial of public officials in the present dispensation over alleged corruption has gained currency in Nigeria. Very often, equally senseless and baseless civil societies blow empty trumpets, without facts to justify the sweeping allegations on personalities they desperately seek to defame.  

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And the group, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, (CSNAC) strikes like an organization in blind search for prominence in overtly  ethnic activism. It days back, submitted a petition to the  Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami which contained trumped-up allegations of corruption against some top officials of President Muhammadu Buhari’s (PMB) administration.

The President had earlier directed the AGF to investigate allegations of corruption leveled against top officials of his government, promising to prosecute any official implicated in corrupt acts. It became the grounds for CSNAC to raise a fresh petition, listing names of certain Buhari’s appointees allegedly engaged in corrupt acts, claiming it was its contribution to the AGF’s assignment and the fight against corruption.

Among the high profile personalities the report mentioned, included, the President’s  Chief of Staff , Abba Kyari; the minister of interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir David Lawal  and Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah among others.

The group noted: “Since President Muhammadu Buhari had already given a directive for your office to investigate all top government officials accused of corruption, as a mark of our contribution to this process, in addition to allegations against the Acting EFCC Chairman and Secretary to Government of the Federation, listed below are some of the reported allegations of corruption and some of our reported petitions against officials of this government bordering on corruption, for your appropriate investigation and necessary action.”

It is dumfounding that the CSNAC’s petition signed by its Executive Director, Mr.  Olanrewaju Suraju, which labeled top public servants as corrupt is very amusing. It also smacks of the most debasing form of media trial, which first casts’ doubts on the integrity of the group and whoever licensed them to operate as such.

In some instances quite irritatingly, CSNAC only quoted media reports as evidence of their reason for alleging something as serious as corruption against the listed officials of government. There is nothing as disgraceful like this sort of outing by a group which is supposed to be the conscience of the society.  So, an unsubstantiated media report has become the basis for singing to high heavens about the alleged corruption of senior government officials, without one single extra step to verify the veracity of the issues contained in the report before proclaiming them guilty.

That President Buhari has ordered the  AGF to  investigate public officials alleged to have engaged in corrupt acts is not any reason to give anyone  sleepless nights because there appears to be an orchestrated campaign by the Yoruba  elements in the southwest of Nigeria to discredit and discolour the administration of President Buhari using the media. No doubt, it is a covert war the Southwest has wedged against the North and it is their sworn determination to ensure, every personality from the North  around Buhari is defamed and rubbished.

Abba Kyari for instance has been accused of abusing his office for personal gains. But the reasons advanced are as puerile and as shallow as the thoughts of the authors.

It stated, “He was alleged to have abused his membership of NNPC Board to influence the award of contract to a highly-indebted company, Valiant Offshore Contractors Limited, against the recommendation of AMCON and at the expense of the country. He was also accused of interfering in EFCC investigation of a fraud involving Sahara Energy…”

Antagonists of Buhari know that the office of the Chief of Staff is a very powerful one.  Expressed differently, the occupant of the office wears the President’s shadows like perfume. He has the capacity to influence appointments’ or recommend sack of government appointees deemed to have fallen by the wayside.

Therefore, the occupant of such a powerful office by a Northerner appears to be the Southwest’s greatest dilemma and they have engaged in pranks to ensure he is sacked by Buhari . Or alternatively, his personality rubbished by nailing him on the cross of corruption to denigrate President Buhari’s unrelenting anti-corruption campaigns.

So, in the past few months, Abba Kyari has had to contend with a barrage of criticisms and mindboggling allegations of corruption against his person. They initially accused him of collecting N500 million bribe from MTN to help negotiate the over N1 trillion fine imposed on them by the federal government. Southwest politicians’ through the southern press celebrated this allegation like a feast in a manner one would easily be tempted to conclude a court of law has convicted him.

Betraying their motive, they also sponsored announcement of his sack by Buhari for corruption, when Abba Kyari had merely gone on leave. And Buhari injured their feelings the more, when he added another responsibility on the shoulders of Kyari  by appointing him member of the NNPC Board.

Having lost the battle on all fronts, the opponents have resorted to new tricks. They are claiming Kyari used his position on the NNPC board to influence the award of contract to Valiant Offshore Contractors Limited,  in violation  of the  recommendation of AMCON. But if Kyari could influence an NNPC contract to an incompetent company, it means the deal was done in collaboration with others in the NNPC management. But why is everybody silent about the complicity of others in the scam, but Kyari’s name keeps reverberating?   It exposes this plot.

The same interests against the North or a Buhari presidency and personalities close to him also claim, Kyari shielded EFCC’s investigation of alleged fraud perpetrated by Sahara Energy. But when the Senate refused confirmation of EFCC Acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, no one cited the compromise of his duties so as to confirm the involvement of Kyari in frustrating investigations. The EFCC is not answerable to Kyari and it is puzzling as to the extent of overbearing powers or influence he possesses to exert and blackmail the anti-graft agency for concessions in its assignments.

In effect, the discreet cold war the south has continued to launch on the North by the desperation to upstage Buhari  has assumed a dimension that is very dangerous. They loud corruption allegations against northern appointees of government, as though Southwestern appointees are saints. But this too, like the Holy Scriptures say would 'one day pass away’. It will certainly fade  into oblivion.

But it should be understood that President Buhari cannot be blackmailed or cajoled into acting unjustifiably. And the opponents may thicken the war of attrition, but it doesn’t’ translate into substance.

It now behooves on banana civil societies like CSNAC, which offer themselves as platforms for the promotion of southern ethnic interests against the North to know that their illicit intent can no longer be concealed. With time God shall vindicate the innocent. And that time will come sooner than later.

N108m IDP Fraud: Senate Sanctions Buhari's SGF, Babachir's SACK, Threatens The President They Would Shut Down Nigeria If...

Following the involvement of the SGF, Babachir Lawal, in N108 million contractS scam at the IDPs in the Northeast, the Senate had in its resolution on Wednesday, urged the SGF to eat the humble pie and resign his appointment.

The Senate threatened that it would shut down the nation, if for any reason, the executive fails to effect its resolution of removing Babachir.

The development followed a point of order raised by Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, stressing that the velocity of SGF’s action is a clear breach of the oath of office he took.

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He said, “Mr Senate President, distinguished colleagues, it should reflect in Senate’s resolutions that the SSG, Babachir Lawal should resign because he has breached his oath of office,” he said.

The motion which was sustained by a voice vote also added that the Senate would protest and shut down the nation if the executive takes its resolution for granted.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki explained that the current Senate has nothing to hide, hence will not cover any public official who is involved in contract scam.

He was optimistic that Buhari-led administration would not take the issue for granted in the interest of the nation.

” My distinguished colleagues, it should be clear to everyone now that the 8th Senate would not cover any corrupt government functionary and I hope our resolution will not be taken for granted,” he maintained.

Tinubu 'Penetrates' Presidency To Oust Oyegun, To Push Him Out With Ambassadorial Appointment

The national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have penetrated the Presidency in his bid to ensure the ouster of the embattled National Chairman of the party,Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, report according to Vanguard News reveals.

According to Sunday Vanguard, the subterranean plots to remove the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is reportedly gaining some traction, with the forces working towards his removal angling to get the president to name him an ambassador. Past efforts to ease him out of the party through such appointments had failed as Chief Oyegun himself is said not to be well-disposed to such appointments. 

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Some party insiders accused the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir Lawal of working in cahoot with the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu camp to remove the chairman.

However, the SGF has denied the allegation, saying such appointments are the prerogative of the president. In a text message to Sunday Vanguard, Lawal said; “I do not know anything about the chairman’s ambassadorial as such are made by the president. Did you see his name on the list read out on the floor of the Senate?”, he queried. 

It was learnt according to our source that the plot by the contending camps to remove Odigie-Oyegun as the party’s National Chairman before the completion of his four-year term guaranteed by the APC Constitution is a veiled attempt to hijack the APC political machinery in the leadup to the 2019 general elections

The “sins” of the chairman are not far-fetched. In the aftermath of the failed imposition of candidates in the National Assembly, Chief Odigie-Oyegun had refused to kowtow to the demands of a contending camp in the party to sanction the “rebels” Saraki and Dogara, instead toeing the line of caution to ensure that APC did not lose grip of the National Assembly leadership to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

Also, the decision of the Odigie-Oyegun-led APC to pick Yahaya Bello over Abiodun Faleke (Tinubu’s candidate) in the aftermath of the Kogi governorship debacle following Abubakar Audu’s death is another “sin”. 

His third major “sin” is his handling of the recent primary election in Ondo state whose outcome had forced Mr Tinubu to call for the resignation of the chairman.

Vanguard has more.

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BREAKING: Buhari SACKS ICPC Chairman

President Muhammadu may have sacked the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, as he has been ordered to go on COMPULSORY leave, report according to Vanguard News suggests

Insiders said the order for Nta to proceed on compulsory leave can only mean his sack by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Vanguard Newspaper,  a letter from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, informed Nta that he should proceed on compulsory leave beginning from October 26.

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The source told Vanguard that the Chairman had earlier received two letters from the office of the SGF informing him to proceed on compulsory leave, which he allegedly ignored.

Nta was appointed by President Jonathan in acting capacity in 2011 and was confirmed a year after by the Senate.

Vanguard said it gathered that at a meeting with President Buhari earlier this year, Nta had argued that his tenure would end on November 17, 2017, to which the President allegedly retorted that by his records, the tenure of the ICPC head ends on November 17, 2016.

Vanguard said it learned that the Chairman plans to formally inform staff of the commission about his formal exit on Wednesday morning (today).

Although no reason was given for the abrupt sack of the ICPC boss, Vanguard said it gathered that his handling of corruption cases against former governors may have nailed him.

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SHOCKER: Reps Angry As Buhari's SGF Claimed He Used N270m To Clear Grass In IDP Camps, Another, N188.69m For Refugees

The House of Representatives Committee on IDPs and the North-East Initiatives is currently investigating how the Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE) which is under the supervision of the Office of the Secretary General of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, spent N270 million on just clearing of grasses in some IDP camps.  Also being investigated by house committee is the purported allocation of N188.69 million for Nigerian refugees living in Minawao, Republic of Cameroon‎.

At a public hearing on IDPs which held at the National Assembly yesterday October 6th, the Chairman of the committee, Sani Zorro, berated the SGF for failing to honor their invitation to explain how such a huge amount of money was spent.

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“The SGF who was slated to have appeared hasn’t showed up. He did not write to intimate us on why his office would not come to explain why issues of internally displaced persons‎ have remained disencouraging, in spite of the billions of naira claimed to have been spent. The PINE officials said he’s at the village. But, as the secretary to the government under whose office the rehabilitation of the North-East was placed, we had expected him to come to throw light on the financial expenses made by his office. 

We also expected him to explain the implementation framework being used to spend money. We have been inundated by reports of diversion of materials and funds meant for the rehabilitation of the IDPs, and the North-East and the scandal had led to international embarrassment for the country. Given the issues of credibility and integrity raised against the agency in charge of the North-East Initiative (PiNE) which falls under the SGF office, we had expected him to respect the invitation.” he said.

However, Executive Secretary in charge of the Presidential Initiative, Umar  Gulani, who testified before the committee,  said that N270 million was awarded as contract for the removal of 250 kilometres of “invasive plant species along river channels and simplified village irrigation scheme (phase II) in Komadugu Basin in Yobe’’.

The House committee chairman expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation saying:

"We are of the opinion that the expenditure of the magnitude you have made‎ is not justified. It’s not acceptable that you would spend such a huge amount of money on the clearing of weeds while 2.5 million internally displaced victims of terror go hungry. They have no shelter and medical care.”

Buhari SACKS Niger Delta PHCN Management

The Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Executive Management of Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria Limited.

Notice of the dissolution is contained in a statement issued by Mr Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in Abuja on Friday.

He then directed the Managing Director of the company, Mr James Olotu, to handover immediately to Mr Chiedu Ugbo, who had been appointed as acting Managing Director of the company.

According to the SGF, all Executive Directors of the company and the General Manager, Audit, are to handover immediately to the most senior officers in their respective departments.

He stated that the Federal Government appreciated the services of the disengaged officers during their tenure.

 (NAN)

SHOCKER: N50m Bribe-For-Job, Board Appointments FAUD Takes Over Buhari's SGF Office

The Yoruba would say in a popular proverb; "A n je ekuru ko tan lawo, awon kan tun n gbon e si", literarily mean, as at when efforts are made to end a war, some are beating fresh war drum'. This is purely the case of Mr. President.

As at when this administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is leaving no stone unturned at ensuring this country is corruption free, some are bent on ensuring it is bussiness as usual.

A fresh report by Daily Sun on Saturday made a very shocking revelation of some top officials in the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal are collecting as much as N50 million from candi­dates seeking appointments into the Boards of Grade A federal agencies and parastatals.

The Daily Sun in it this laudable investigation confirmed that a lady, Hajia Mohammed (first name withheld), suspected to be a lawyer coordinates the syndicate on behalf of some top officials working in the SGF’s office that pad lists for Board appointments still being compiled by a presiden­tial committee in the same office. Another woman simply identified as ‘Olori’ assists her

Beside the appointment of Heads of about 26 federal para­statals waiting for the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, there are hundreds of vacant Board membership positions equally waiting to be filled.

The Sun's under­cover investigation reveals that the syndicate has a number of trusted recruiters and canvassers who scout for people with means that want to serve on the Board of some federal agencies. Reception and poolside areas of top hotels in Abuja such as Sheraton Hotel and Nicon Hilton Hotel are usually used as venues for negotiations and collection of cash deposits for the appointments.

While negotiating with leaders of the syndicate for a membership position at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja recently, our undercover reporter was told that appointment into the Board of Grade A agencies like the Nigerian Maritime Ad­ministration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Nigerian Ports Author­ity, NPA and Niger Delta Devel­opment Commission, NDDC, among others will cost a whoop­ing N50million. The syndicate will also not accept a kobo less than N25million for appointment into the Boards of other less lucra­tive agencies.

Further investigations into the modus operandi of the syndicate shows the only qualification re­quired from Board job seekers is the membership card of the ruling party, the All Progressives Con­gress, APC, in addition to ready cash. It was further gathered that between February and now, when the syndicate has been carrying on with its secret recruitment drive, over a billion naira has been gen­erated from their collections from prospective candidates with addi­tional millions of naira outstand­ing payments already made in post dated cheques.

The exact amount so far raked in by the syndicate could not be established because it was difficult to verify how much each of the over 76 names on the list of can­didates that had paid as at the 20th of March when our undercover reporter penetrated the syndicate actually deposited. But from the list sighted briefly at one of the meetings, no fewer than 18 per­sons must have paid for Grade A Board appointments.

At one of the meetings with the two female leaders of the syndi­cate in March, our undercover re­porter who negotiated for a less lu­crative agency’s Board, was asked to pay a cash deposit of N20mil­lion and issue a post dated cheque of N5million which will be cashed when the list of appointment even­tually comes out. When asked about the terms of payment for a Grade A Board job, Hajia Moham­med declared that those who have the option of choosing the agency of their choice would make a cash deposit of N40million and the bal­ance of N10million paid through a post dated cheque when the feder­al government issues appointment letters.

Pleas for a downward review of the costs were rebuffed because there were more people waiting to pay than the number of slots they have to fill. A reliable source in the SGF’s office who confirmed the development to SATURDAY SUN however said, “the practice has been going on since and not some­thing that has just started under the Buhari administration.” The top official said it is practice similar to budget padding discovered by President Muhammadu Buhari during the presentation of the 2016 budget to the National Assembly. “It’s more or less a normal trend in government just like you have budget padding or the ghost work­ers menace on workers payroll”, the source added.

The official further said “be­yond what you have just discov­ered, party leaders also sell the slots for their constituencies to highest bidders, so it is not only a practice within public service, it’s equally deep within the ruling po­litical parties, not just about APC but even more in PDP when they were in power.”

President Buhari had on Thurs­day, July 16, 2015 approved the dissolution of the Governing Boards of Federal Parastatals, Agencies and Institutions with im­mediate effect.

The syndicate went scouting for job seekers with means as soon as a presidential committee in the SGF’s office began compilation of names for Boards appointments. It was gathered that most of the names compiled by the syndicate must have been smuggled into the lists of agencies under the Minis­tries of Education and Agriculture.

Some of them include National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja, National Board for Techni­cal Education (NBTE), Kaduna, National Commission for Colleg­es of Education (NCCE), Abuja, Universal Basic Education Com­mission (UBEC), Abuja, National Commission for Nomadic Educa­tion, (NCNE), Abuja and National Commission for Adult Education Mass Literacy and Non Formal Education (NMEC), Abuja.

Others include Nigerian Edu­cational Research Development Council (NERDC), Sheda, FCT, Joint Admissions and Matricu­lation Board (JAMB), Bwari, Abuja, West African Examination Council (WAEC), Lagos, National Examination Council (NECO), Minna, National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), National Institute for Educational Planning & Adminis­tration (NIEPA), Ondo, National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna and Nigerian Mathematical Centre (NMC), Sheda, FCT.

Others are Nigerian French Lan­guage Village (NFLV) Badagry, Lagos, Nigerian Arabic Language Village (NALV) Ngala, Borno, National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN) Aba, Abia, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Abuja, National Li­brary of Nigeria (NLN), Abuja, Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Abuja and Com­puter Professionals Registration Council of (CPN), Lagos.

Those under the Ministry of Ag­riculture and Rural Development include Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Na­tional Fadama III Programme, Commercial Agriculture Devel­opment Programme (CADP), Agricultural Development Proj­ect (ADP), Bank of Agriculture, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Nigerian Ag­ricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), National Institute for Stored Products Research Institute, Cocoa Research Institute of Nige­ria (CRIN), Forestry Research In­stitute of Nigeria (FRIN), Institute of Agricultural Research & Exten­sion Services (IAR) and National Animal Production Research In­stitute (NAPRI), National Institute of Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), National Veterinary Re­search Institute (NVRI), National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), National Institute for Horticul­tural Research (NIHORT), Rub­ber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN), National Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Maiduguri and National Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR).

All efforts to get a detailed offi­cial reaction from the office of the SGF failed as at press time. While the Director of Press in the office, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi was said to be on leave, his deputy, an Assistant Director, Nakorji Moh’d in a brief response to text messages from Saturday Sun said he was not aware of the scam. He refused to give further explanation or com­ments.

Credit: Saturday Sun Newspaper

FUEL Hike: TUC Dumps NLC, Opts Out Of Strike As Wabba-led Labour Stages A Walkout On FG

In the continued dialogue with the Federal Government where the Ayuba Wabba-led Nigeria Labour Congress reportedly staged a walkout on the FG, while the Trade Union Congress, TUC has also opted not to embark on the planned strike slated to commence today, Wednesday 15th May 2016.

Earlier, the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the NLC, the private sector workers union, PENGASSAN, NUPENG and others have already agreed not to join the strike.

The Trade Union Congress representatives, who also attended the meeting, however, said the TUC would not join the strike.

At the last night meeting, Comrade Aliyu Wabba led own faction of the NLC workers delegation, while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, led the Federal Government delegation at the talks held in the SGF’s office in Abuja 

“The National Industrial Court has given an injunction that no strike by NLC and TUC should hold tomorrow (Wednesday). It is, therefore, clear that anyone embarking on strike tomorrow (Wednesday) is doing so illegally and the government is assuring all Nigerians to come out and do their jobs tomorrow (Wednesday).

“It the duty of government to provide security for her citizens and anyone who tries to coerce any worker to do their bidding would be made to face the law of the land. We had full cooperation with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and they said they are not going on strike. For them, it is a complete return to work tomorrow (Wednesday). It is not the same with the NLC however. They have two factions, one agreed completely with the position of the TUC.” the SGF said after the meeting.

On the labour side, Wabba briefing journalists said, his team arrived at its decision to proceed on strike following the inability of the Federal Government to meet up with its demand to revert to the N86.50K old pump price of fuel.

Officials of NLC, who pleaded not to be named, said they were angered by the decision of the Federal Government to proceed to court, despite existing negotiation which was at the instance of the government.

The Joe Ajaero faction of the NLC had initially on Tuesday said it would not join the strike while the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, as well as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Association of Nigeria had last week also dissociated the associations from the strike.

The action of the NLC followed the failure of the parties to resolve the dispute over the increase of the pump price of petroleum by the Federal Government from N86.50 to N145 per litre.

But the Federal Government has threatened to apply the ‘no-work-no-pay’ rule against workers who join the NLC strike.

The SGF, Babachir Lawal, in a statement on Tuesday, directed all ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to invoke the provision of rule against errant workers.

Lawal advised civil servants to shun the exercise in their own interest, which, he said, was called by the NLC despite a ruling of the National Industrial Court, which restrained labour from going on strike on Wednesday.

The SGF added, “This notice is regrettably given in spite of an order by the industrial court against the strike.  Government, therefore, calls upon and advises all workers to respect the laws of the land and to desist from participating in an illegal action.

“Government undertakes to guarantee the safety of workers and their workplaces, and expects that normal work will continue in the interest of the nation.  Accordingly, security agencies have been directed to ensure unimpeded access to offices, workplaces and markets.

“Accordingly, all ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies are hereby directed to invoke the provision of ‘no work no pay’ in respect of any staff member who absents himself or herself from work to join the strike.”

“Attendance registers are required to be opened in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.”

There were indications on Tuesday that organised labour would defy the ruling of the National Industrial Court on the strike called to protest the fuel price increase.

While the Nigeria Labour Congress said it was not aware of the court order stopping the strike, the Trade Union Congress flayed the Federal Government for obtaining it.

The General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Tuesday, said, “I am not aware of any court injunction. As far as I am concerned, I am not aware of any court injunction.”

The  President of the TUC, Mr. Bala Kaigama, in an interview with The PUNCH, described the action of the Federal Government in heading for the National Industrial Court as panicky.

“That is what we are going to the meeting to find out. Who instituted that? So, we would find out if it is going to stop our negotiations. They are doing it through panic.  I think they are scared.

“We have not been served. Can you talk of what you have not seen?” he asked.

The NIC had, in its ruling on Tuesday, stopped the TUC and the NLC from embarking on their planned strike scheduled to start on Wednesday.

Related Post: BREAKING: Court Restrains NLC, TUC From Going On Strike Tomorrow

Related Post: FUEL HIKE: NLC Faction Opts Out Strike, Oil & Electricity Workers Too

Related Post: Fuel Hike: NLC, TUC Planned STRIKE Cripples As Private sector, Aviation Workers, Back Out 

STRIKE: 2 NLC Factions In Separate Dialogue With FG, Here Is What They Really Discussed Last Night

The dialogue between the Federal Government and workers unions; the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and their affiliates over the impending industrial action planned to begin tomorrow due to the sudden hike in petroleum pump price reportedly ended in stalemate.

An account by Punch Newspaper suggests that the government actually discussing with the two factions of the Nigeria Labour Congress-led by Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero respectively.

At the end of the four-hour meeting on Tuesday morning, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, briefing journalists  said the two parties had “a fruitful discussion and will continue from where we stopped.”

The meeting, which ended at about 12 midnight, will resume at 3pm on Tuesday (today).

Lawal, however, refused to answer further questions from newsmen.

The Federal Government, however, began another round of meeting with the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the labour movement at about 12.15am on Tuesday after its meeting with the Ayuba Wabba-led Nigeria Labour Congress.

Wabba confirmed that discussions with the Federal Government would continue by 3pm on Tuesday (today).

Sources at the meeting said the labour leaders were not convinced by the figures presented by the government team.

Those who attended the meeting included Wabba;  NLC General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Esun; NUPENG president, Igwe Achese; PENGASSAN President, Olabode Johnson; TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang; and the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

Earlier on Monday, the Federal Government said it had no choice but to liberalise the price of petrol.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who stated this at a news conference in Abuja, justified the increase in the price of petrol to N145.

He also faulted a claim that the new price regime was about removal of subsidy.

He stated, “We have no choice but to liberalise the price of petrol if we are to end the crippling fuel scarcity that has enveloped the country, ensure the availability of the product and end the suffering of our people over the lingering scarcity.”

Debunking a claim that the new price regime was about removal of subsidy, he said, “There is no subsidy to remove because no provision was made for subsidy in the 2016 budget. Last year, the government paid out N1tn in subsidy, and that’s one sixth of this year’s budget. We can’t afford to pay another N1tn in subsidy.”

Justifying the government’s action, he said the fall in the price of crude oil had led to the reduction of foreign exchange available in the country.

This, he explained, had forced marketers to stop the importation of the product, thus making the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation the supplier of over 90 per cent of petrol.

Mohammed stated, “With the drastic fall in the price of crude oil, which is the nation’s main foreign exchange earner, there has also been a drastic reduction in the amount of foreign exchange available.

“The unavailability of forex and the inability to open letters of credit have forced marketers to stop product importation and imposed over 90 per cent supply on the NNPC since October 2015, in contrast to the past where NNPC supplied 48 per cent of the national requirement.”

He dismissed critics, who were comparing ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s fuel price increase in 2012 to the recent one by the Buhari administration.

Mohammed added, ‘‘Our answer to that is that there is no basis for comparison. The conditions in 2012 were vastly different from the conditions now.

 “Then, oil was selling for over 100 dollars a barrel, compared to just a little over 40 dollars a barrel now. Then, the country was awash in forex, thanks to the high earnings from oil. Then the foreign reserves were high.

“The new price regime is simply inevitable.”

The minister also disclosed that the renewed insurgency and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta had drastically reduced national crude oil production to 1.65 million barrels per day, against the 2.2 million barrels per day planned in the 2016 budget.

He noted that the resultant fuel scarcity had created an abnormal increase in price, resulting in Nigerians paying between N150 and N300 per litre because hoarding, smuggling and diversion of products had reduced volumes made available to citizens.

He stated, “The liberalisation of petrol supply and distribution will allow marketers and any Nigerian entity, willing to supply PMS, to source for their forex and import PMS to ensure the availability of the products in all locations of the country.”

In a similar vein, Christians in the 19 northern states and Abuja on Monday backed the deregulation of the petroleum industry and cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress against the proposed nationwide strike.

Under the aegis of the Northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the association called on organised labour to shelve its planned nationwide strike over the increase in the price of petrol.

Northern CAN’s Public Relations Officer, Reverend John Hayab, who spoke to our correspondent in Kaduna on Monday, said the deregulation of the downstream oil sector was the best option for now in stimulating the nation’s economy.

Hayab noted that the proposed nationwide strike by organised labour could not be in the interest of Nigerians as according to him, “strike has never and will not be the option to revamping the economy.”

The cleric also proposed dialogue between organised labour and the government in order to find a common ground in solving the current problem.

He noted that the association was, however, not happy with the way the Federal Government removed the fuel subsidy without due consultations with other stakeholders.

The spokesman added, “We understand the pains and difficulties Nigerians are passing through. We share the pains and difficulties with them. This is a period of sacrifice.

“We don’t think going or embarking on strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress is the best option. The best option is a roundtable discussion.”

Source: News Punch: Excerpts From Punch Newspaper