NIGERIA: FG Sets up Trauma Committee to Manage Terror Attacks

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Read Time:1 Minute, 10 Second

In response to the increasing cases of Boko Haram attacks in the North-east region as well as other parts of the country, the federal government yesterday set up a Ministerial Committee for the Management of Victims with Trauma resulting from cases of Boko Haram insurgency.

According to the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, the committee was constituted because of  the current security challenges in the country and also, in realisation of the emotional and psychological trauma it has on the victims.

Chukwu stated that the constitution of the ministerial committee would help to bring succour to victims of insurgency.  
He said the emotional and psychological management of victims of all recent hazards from bombing and kidnapping, particularly those likely to occur from the schoolgirls abducted in Borno State was imperative.
Also, the committee is made up of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists from 40 federal tertiary health institutions, traditional rulers, faith based organisations, National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), federal ministries of education, women affairs, youth and sports and non-governmental organisations working in the health sector.

“The committee is to determine the plethora of psychological disorders occasioned by the current challenges to include among others post traumatic disorders, depressive disorders, behavioral changes in children and obsessive compulsive disorders,” he said.
  He added that the Standard Operating Guidelines and Intervention Strategies are being developed for the management of these cases.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Convention: Ikimi, Sheriff Have No Reason to Quit, Says APC

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Read Time:1 Minute, 53 Second

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is not true that two of its prominent leaders, former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff,  and Chief Tom Ikimi, were on their way out of the party in protest of the outcome of last weekend’s national convention.

The duo was reported to have expressed discontent over the way the substantive national officers emerged during the party’s convention in Abuja, threatening to leave the party.

But THISDAY gathered that the point of disagreement between Sheriff and other power brokers in the party was his interest in heading the Board of Trustees  (BoT) which would soon be constituted.
A source confirmed to THISDAY that the BoT positions had been shared out as part of the horse trading that went with the zoning of party offices before the just concluded convention.

However, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, who reacted to the alleged move, said nothing known to the party leadership suggested that Ikimi and Sheriff were  harboring any ill-feeling.

“That is mere speculation. They are strong men of our party, that will not be enough reason for them to leave the party, I can assure you.

“The leadership has already set in motion plans to reach out to all aggrieved persons. I know that the  party chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, is busy reaching out to everybody,” he said.

An aide of Oyegun also confirmed that the chairman had been busy holding consultations to ensure that all aggrieved leaders  are reached  before the formal inauguration of the new executives.

When THISDAY tried to get Ikimi to comment on the matter yesterday, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs said he was disposed to discussing the issue.

He said he was still putting together a statement which would be made public at the appropriated time.
“I have told you I am not speaking on the issue now. I am working on a statement, when it is ready, I will let you know, “ he said.
Similarly, efforts made to get the former governor of Borno State to state his own position was not successful as his telephone line could not go through.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Guber Poll: IG Defends Massive Deployment of Personnel, Equipment to Ekiti

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Read Time:6 Minute, 3 Second

The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has said the highest number of support personnel and equipment being deployed from the Force Headquarters to Ekiti state for the governorship election is to avoid a repeat of 1983 Omoboriowo violence in the state.

In 1983, the old Ondo State was thrown into  crises, where many people were killed and properties   destroyed as a result of election violence.

The security equipment included more than 50 vehicles among which were trucks, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), ambulance, patrol vans, one bomb detector robot and three helicopters, and a large number of personnel.
Addressing journalists shortly before the massive deployment yesterday, Abubakar said it was to prevent violence and ensure free and fair election in the state on Saturday

He said: “Knowing what  the state used to be during elections, we have gone a step further to do all the things we are supposed to do in terms of materials and human resources. Do not ask the number of personnel I am going to use, in security business, we want to keep that to our chest so that we can do our best.

I tell you it is one of the highest numbers we can ever expect to deploy more than any other state that we have been because we must look at history.”

The IG assured that the police and other security agencies would do everything possible to prevent recurrence of election violence as it was witnessed in the old Ondo State in 1983.

“Some of us who were opportune to be in Ondo State in 1983 during Omoboriowo election, we know what happened, and we are doing everything to ensure that it is prevented. We want this election (June 21 governorship election) to be free and fair, without violence,” he said.

According to the police boss, security agencies in the last three months had carried out surveillance and information gathering towards ensuring a free and fair election in the state.

He assured the people of the state that adequate security would be provided to enable them exercise their franchise and called on politicians to prevail on their supporters to maintain peace.
Addressing the personnel to be deployed, Abubakar charged them to abide by the code of conduct, and be fair and firm in the discharge of their duties.

“We have already made plans to ensure that you are paid your allowances in the state, and therefore, I do not expect you are to do anything stupid. Remember, you going to be watched not only by our own officers, but by other organisations including civil organisations and international monitors, who will be in the state.

“I expect you, as good ambassadors of the Nigeria police, to obey the code of conduct and at the same time, respect the rule of law and all other regulations guiding the election,” he said.

Meanwhile, with few days to the election, the state chapter  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said it has lost confidence in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible election in the state.

Besides, the party also accused the police of not being fair to it since the beginning of the current political dispensation.

Addressing a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, a chieftain of the party and minister- designate, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, said the police and INEC had not been fair to the PDP in the preparation for the election.
According to him, “While the police have been protecting the APC thugs, the INEC too has not been carrying us along, “adding that” the body language of INEC has not shown that it can conduct credible election for the people of the state.” Adeyeye, also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to import party governors from other states to Ekiti State to influence the conduct of the election.
Besides, the party also alleged  that it had it on good authority  that the APC had imported thugs and militants from Lagos State  and other South-west states as well as Rivers and Edo States to wreak havoc  on the electorate during the election, calling the police to act fast and botch the plan.

He warned the APC governors against interfering in Ekiti election, saying doing so could provoke the people to taking spontaneous reaction that could cause crisis in the state.

Adeyeye, who was joined by other chieftains of the party, including former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Biodun Olujimi, also called on the police to act promptly and dislodge the militants he alleged are being kept in the Government House.

“We had that each of the 16 APC governors will be posted to the 16 local governments of Ekiti State, warning that APC governors must not be allowed to invade our state.

Refuting the allegation, the APC Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Segun Dipe, said the allegation actually represent what the PDP was planning.

Dipe likened the PDP’s allegation to what he termed “revised psychology.”
He said: “We know that Fayose cannot win election without using thugs. “We are aware that they have started bringing in thugs in trickles.

“They are trying to draw the attention of security agents away from their evils,” he said.
But, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Victor Babayemi said at a public enlightenment programme in Ado-Ekiti that there won’t be room for fake police or soldier to perpetrate evil during the election.
Babayemi said only the constitutionally recognized security outfits in the country would be allowed to mount the roads as well as polling areas.

He said, any individual or group who accept to work either as fake policemen or solders for politicians in the poll will regret his or her action.

Babayemi also warned politicians as well as public office holders, especially the party candidates to be wary of a section of the Electoral Law which forbid them from moving about with security agents or other personal aides attached to them on the polling day, saying doing so would trigger criminal case against them.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the APC in the state, Mr. Ayoleke Adu, has cautioned the police and other security agencies against being partisan in the June 21 governorship election.

He also advised INEC to ensure that the election is conclusive and that results are announced promptly in a transparent manner, immediately after the polls.
Adu, who during an empowerment programme and campaign rally the held in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government, said all eyes are on the security agencies and INEC to provide a level playing field for all the parties and allow people’s vote to count.

He expressed optimism that Governor Kayode Fayemi will win convincingly because of his track records and the determination of Ekiti people to vote for performance and continuity.
According to him, “The only thing we are asking for is that the Police and other security agencies in the state should be impartial and allow free, fair and credible election to hold on Saturday.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Presence of Four Suspended Lawmakers Aborts Edo Assembly Sitting

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Read Time:2 Minute, 57 Second

Efforts member of the  Edo State House of Assembly to sit yesterday morning was aborted following the presence of the Deputy Speaker of the assembly, Mr. Festus Ebea, and three others, who were suspended last week.

The suspended lawmakers, Ebea, Patrick Osayinmen, Jude Ise-Idehen and Friday Ogierhakhi, shunned the ruling of the High Court in Benin-City, which restrained them from entering the premises of the assembly.
Following security reports that the lawmakers were mobilising thugs and arms to storm the assembly, the police searched the offices of the lawmakers as early as 6a.m. while their cars were all parked outside the premises before they were allowed to enter the premises.

The lawmakers, including the Speaker, Uyi Igbe, entered the hallowed chambers at exactly 10:15a.m. but could not commence sitting when the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers insisted that the four suspended members should leave the premises.

Tension heightened when a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, Rasaq Momoh, took over the seat of the Sergeant-At-Arms and refused to vacate the seat. The APC lawmakers insisted he should vacate the seat, but Igbe calmed down the situation while the lawmaker remained on the seat.

Speaking to journalists, Chairman of the assembly Committee on Information, Kabiri Adjoto, explained that: “We could not sit because the suspended four lawmakers were in the hallowed chambers. We told them that we have visitors in the assembly as a result, the Sergeant-At-Arms could not come out with the mace.

“They went to the Federal High Court initially and court said we should not declare the seat of those who decamped to the PDP vacant. We obeyed the court and we did not declare their seats vacant. Now, they committed misconduct, they were suspended, then a high court restricted them from entering the assembly, yet they defied the order of the court by showing up today. Because we believe in the sanctity of the assembly, we said we  could not sit having strangers in our midst.”

Also reacting, one of the suspended lawmakers, Friday Ogierhakhi, asserted that their suspension remains illegal and would not be respected.
According to him, “If they refuse to revert to status quo, the situation will remain the same. That is why we are in a stalemate.”

Asked if their action does not amount to contempt of court, he declared that: “There is nothing like contempt because the federal high court has sat over this matter before they went to the high court.”
Meanwhile, in an effort to clarify the issues that led to the breaking into the state assembly by the suspended lawmakers, the state  chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and some persons of having a hand in the crisis.  In a statement signed by its state

chairman, Anselm Ojezua, the party called on President Goodluck Jonathan and other concerned well-meaning citizens, “to prevail on the suspended lawmakers, their political leaders and their uniformed collaborators to stop these acts of needless defiance and impunity and show due respect to the judiciary, the rule of law and our respected royal fathers.

“The APC believes that the actions of the suspended members and the police at the prodding of hierarchy of the PDP is a clear and present threat to the peace and order of the state and constitutes a calculated slap in the face of the judiciary.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Ex-Minister: Bafarawa Not Working against Shagari’s Interest

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Read Time:2 Minute, 21 Second

A former Minister of Solid Minerals, Alhaji Ahmed Mauhammad Gusau, yesterday said former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa had no reason to work against the interest of Sokoto State Deputy Governor and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari, adding that there was no animosity between them.

He also asserted that there was no division whatsoever in the PDP, as the party leadership was united and determined to win the 2015 election.

Speaking in an interview with THISDAY in Sokoto yesterday, Gusau maintained that the relationship between Bafarawa and Shagari was cordial and as such there was no cause for acrimony in the party.
He stated that there was no reason for Bafarawa to work against the leader of the party, as he was not seeking for any position.

Gusau explained that there was an understanding between Bafarawa and Shagari that all members should work with unity of purpose in order to achieve the set objectives.

“We have a structure in the PDP and the leader of our party according to party norms and convention is Shagari. The leader of the ‘new PDP’ that recently joined us is Bafarawa and there is no dispute over that.
“Before the merger between the supporters of the former governor and the founding members of the PDP in the state, there was an understanding between Shagari and Bafarawa that the ultimate objective is to work together in harmony to establish government in 2015.

“You cannot have a negotiation or marriage without somebody spearheading it. There is nothing wrong for somebody to come to a place and aspire to take a position. This is a healthy development and we are here to bring various interest groups into one in order to achieve our objective of establishing government come 2015,”he said.

He stated that detractors were behind the wicked rumour making rounds that Bafarawa was at logger heads with the leader of the party.

“The kind of imaginary division and acrimony that some people are propagating about Bafarawa and Shagari only exist in their imagination. I believe they will get disappointed because there is no animosity between the two leaders,”Gusau stressed.

Gusau pointed out that the recent ward congresses of the PDP was conducted without rancour which was an indication that there was no division in the party.
“The recent ward congresses has shown the world that we are united in PDP and poised to take over the reign of leadership come 2015.

“There is unity now in PDP and we are coming together to dialogue and discuss on the way forward. This is to show our followers that our determination is unquestionable and we are committed to ensuring that PDP wins 2015 election in the state,” Gusau added.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Reactions Trail Suspension of Plateau PDP Chairman

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Read Time:3 Minute, 6 Second

The suspension of the Plateau State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Haruna Dabin, is currently generating ripples in the state as many have described the action as wielding a big stick on the man without  fair hearing.

Reacting, a chieftain of the party, who preferred anonymity said: “Although I am not so much a fan of Dabin, the fact cannot be contradicted that he was suspended without being heard. This is in breach of his right to fair hearing as provided by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Chapter 10(6) of the PDP Constitution provides that, ‘Any decision taken against a member who has not been informed of the charges against him or has not been given any opportunity to defend himself shall be null & void’.”
Dabin, on his part, simply asked rhetorically, “Can you shave a man in his absence?”

The state chapter of the party had suspended Dabin in a manner that could be described as draconic.
The party, which arrived at the decision to suspend Dabin at an extra-ordinary State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting yesterday in Jos, also expressed readiness to receive all the people of the state willing to join the party.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting at the Presidential Lodge of the Government House in Rayfield behind closed-doors, the party said: “In view of the deliberate refusal by the party chairman, Haruna Dabin, to call meetings of the various organs of the party for an unduly long period of time, and the consequent failure to render financial accounts to the party; and given the convincing indications that the said chairman instigated some members of the party to institute a lawsuit against the party, the SEC is constrained to suspend the chairman pending full investigations by the party’s disciplinary committee within two weeks from 16/06/2014.”

Announcing that the party had asked its deputy chairman to take over from Dabin, the communiqué said: “The Deputy Chairman of the party, Hon. Raymond Dabo, has been mandated to take over the affairs of the party as acting state chairman pending outcome of the disciplinary processes.”

Dabin had on Sunday disowned the meeting that eventually suspended him the following day.
The meeting was however attended by notable government and party officials, including Deputy Governor, Ambassador Ignatius Longjan, Speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Titus Alams, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Joyce Ramnap, Senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Gyang Pwajok, four House of Representatives members from the state, as well as nearly all party chairmen and executive council chairmen of the 17 local government areas of the state.

On the question of people wishing to join the party, the party stated in the communiqué of the meeting: “The PDP remains the party of the great people of Plateau State and therefore its doors are wide open for membership by all and sundry. All wards of the party in the state are directed to ensure that the numerous people wishing to join the party are encouraged to do so in line with the constitution of the party.”

The communiqué was signed by Caleb Mutfwang (Mangu council chairman who represented the chairmen), Hon. Simon Mwadkon, House of Representatives member from Riyom/Barkin Ladi who represented the National Assembly caucus on the communiqué committee), Hon. Noel Maiyaki (chairman, PDP Qua’an Pan, representing council party chairmen), Hon. Timothy Golu (House member from Kanke state Constituency, representing state House of Assembly members), and Hon. Gyang Badung (a PDP state executive member representing the state party executives on the communiqué committee.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Politics of the Oronsaye Committee Report

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Read Time:7 Minute, 46 Second

For reasons no less than political considerations, the federal government may have rejected some of the recommendations proposed by the Stephen Oronsaye-led Committee on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies, writes Ojo M. Maduekwe

On June 4, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) with the support of the Federal Public Administration Reform Programme (FEPAR) organised a workshop on the Cost of Governance. About 30 participants, including representatives of the civil society organisations, sector experts and the media attended the workshop held at the Grand Ibro Hotel, Abuja.

A part of the communiqué released at the end of the meeting by the organisers, read that the workshop was “convened with the objective of reviewing the White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Committee on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies, known as the Oronsaye Committee to determine whether the positions of the White Paper are in accordance with the original mandate of the Oronsaye Committee.”

Presentations at the workshop were made on an overview of the entire White Paper with regards to specific sectors such as Agriculture, Aviation, Education, Extractives and the Oil and Gas Sector, Fiscal Governance and Taxation, ICT, Science and Technology as well as Trade and Investment.

The whole idea was to further seek avenues of proffering new insights into how to reduce the costs of governance in accordance with national and international best practices. The costs of governance, many believe, has been incurred because of the presidential system that Nigeria practises.

Amidst the bickering and politics that divide Nigerians across political lines, tribes and religion and sometimes threatens the fragile unity of the country, there is an issue that every Nigerian – including past and present leaders, even President Goodluck Jonathan – have reached a consensus on; it is the wastefulness inherent in the nation’s presidential system of government.

Former Secretary-General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, in early April, at the fourth edition of the Emeka Anyaoku Lecture series on “Good Governance” in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said: “I agree with people urging our young ones to go out, register and vote to bring about the change we need but I must confess that the present structure of governance in this country is not one that will make for peace and stability of this country. We should look at the structure of this country. We were a lot better when we had a federation of four regions.”

Same April, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), took the same position as Anyaoku when its’ Chairman, Elias Mbam appeared before the National Conference Committee on Public Finance.

“The presidential system of government is much more expensive than parliamentary system of government as practised in the First Republic. This is characterised by large executive cabinet consisting of personal assistants, special advisers, senior special advisers and large legislative set up on full time basis,” said Mbam.

Underlining all the disapproval for the presidential system of government are corruption and waste.
According to a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke during the Anyaoku lecture, “Our problem really is not about structure or no structure, it is about implementing what we have; about political will and I think the major thing we must tackle now is corruption.”

To stop the leakages in the system, while some said the presidential system should remain but that the anti-corruption laws must be strengthened, others have advocated for a different type of government in exchange for the presidential system.

Suggestions ranged from the Parliamentary system of government which was practiced for at least five years before and after Nigeria’s independence in 1960, and was believed to have worked effectively until the military intrusion in January 1966.

Anyaoku wants a return to regional system of government where the country would run along six geo-political zones. “We were a lot better when we had a federation of four regions,” said Anyaoku.

One thing everyone agrees to is that there is the need to check the waste in government by pruning the ever-growing parastatals and agencies.

Even President Jonathan while inaugurating the Oronsaye Committee on August 18, 2011, supported prudence in government and mandated the committee “to study and review all previous reports/records on the restructuring of the federal government parastatals and advise on whether they are still relevant; to examine the enabling Acts of all the federal agencies, parastatals and commissions and classify them into various sectors; to examine critically, the mandates of the existing federal agencies, parastatals and commissions and determine areas of overlap or duplication of functions and make appropriate recommendations to either restructure, merge or scrap to eliminate such overlaps, duplication or redundancies.”

One major work of the Oronsaye Committee, according to President Jonathan was to “advice on any other matter(s) that is incidental to the foregoing which may be relevant to the desire of government to prune down the costs of governance.”
After the federal government released its White Paper in response to the Oronsaye Committee report, many stakeholders have come to question the government’s genuineness in setting up the committee.

A critical look at the White Paper in relation to the recommendations in the Oronsaye Report was what formed the CSJ workshop in Abuja.
At the workshop, one stakeholder voiced the position of many participants and probably most Nigerians when he found to be suspicious, the federal government’s rejections of most of the recommendations without giving reasons for its action.
“Government should either reject or accept. For the government to say that it ‘notes’ makes their position confusing. Also, everywhere government was advised to reduce board members from 36 to 7, it said ‘government notes’. I believe this confusion in government’s unclear stand in some of the Committee recommendations means there is politics in the mix somewhere.”

He drew reference to the point that many government agencies and parastatals were created by different governments with no concrete functions.

“This looks like they were created for political purposes,” he said, adding that serving Ministers being a part of the members of the White Paper Committee have cast grave doubt on government’s sincerity.
“Ministers were members of the White Paper and not one Minister would want his Ministry’s agencies to be scrapped. The Minister of Labour was a part of the Whitepaper. I think that all of the “notes” has 2015 as the deciding factor and government is worried of losing political capital.”

In a bid to save cost, part of the recommendation reached during the workshop includes but not limited to the following:
“In accordance with the Oronsaye committee report, the federal government should reduce the number of members on each of the governing boards or councils of all agencies, parastatals and commissions to not more than seven and the membership and composition of boards and commissions should be based on merit and competence; a single seven-member board should be appointed to serve and oversee all the River Basin Development Authorities as against the current practice of one board per River Basin Development Authority;

“The federal government should expeditiously roll out the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to cover all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government; the proliferation and duplication of research institutes and agencies should be redressed through the mergers recommended by the Oronsaye Committee and the establishment of the National Research Development Fund and all research institutes should access competitive research funding from the Fund;

“The federal government should conduct staff and management audit in all tertiary institutions including teaching hospitals in the light of the administrative staff outrageously outnumbering the core staff of these institutions; the continued public funding of the Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board and the Lagos International Trade Fair Management Board after they have been concessioned is a waste of public resources and should be discontinued immediately;

“The federal government should reduce the size of the federal cabinet through the amendment of the Constitution to ensure that ministers do not exceed 15 in number and also limit the number of assistants to the President to a reasonable number; all Bills pending before the National Assembly seeking to set up new agencies of the federal government should be reviewed for duplicity or overlap of functions and an evaluation of the cost of implementation;

“Considering the secular/multi religious nature of the Nigerian society, the federal government should immediately scrap the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission and the National Hajj Commission; the federal government’s continued direct investment in aviation infrastructure is a waste of public resources and should be stopped in favour of funding under public private partnerships.”

At the end of the workshop, participants noted that these recommendations do not cover the entire gamut of the Oronsaye committee recommendations as well as the White Paper and therefore called for deeper engagement with the recommendations and with authorities in the Executive and the Legislature with a view to drastically reducing the costs of governance.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: Face-off That Threatens the Rule of Law

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Read Time:16 Minute, 7 Second

The current face-off between the Rivers State Government and the National Judicial Council (NJC) is a potential threat to the rule of law, writes Davidson Iriekpen

The crisis between the Rivers State Government and the National Judicial Council (NJC) deteriorated further last week when Governor Chibuike Amaechi signed into law, the Rivers State High Court (Amendment) Law 2014 after the state House of Assembly had in the afternoon passed the bill.

The law, which is still part of the effort by the state government to ensure that Justice Daisy Okocha does not take over the state’s judiciary as the administrative judge of the state as directed by the NJC, empowers the Chief Registrar of the state High Court to assign cases to any judge and perform other administrative duties until an acting Chief Judge or a Chief Judge is appointed.

The assembly, in passing the state High Court (Amendment) Law 2014, amended Section 40 of the Principal Law of 2001. Section 40 of the Principal Law, which was passed by the fifth legislative assembly, was amended by the addition of a new sub-section 2, to read: “Where the office of the Chief Judge is vacant and it is impracticable to appoint an acting Chief Judge or a Chief Judge, the Chief Registrar shall assign cases to any judge and perform other administrative duties until an acting Chief Judge or a Chief Judge is appointed.”

The assembly, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Leyii Kwanee, sat at the old executive chambers of the Government House for about one hour after its committee on judiciary held a public hearing on the bill. All the 18 members present voted unanimously in favour of the amendment.

Addressing his colleagues after the amendment, Kwanee said no amount of sacrifice was too much to ensure the peace and progress of the state. He said the amendment of the High Court Law would create way for the resolution of the crisis that had impaired the state judiciary.

“I want to thank my colleagues for your support and sacrifice in the quick passage of the bill. I want to assure you that no amount of sacrifice is too much to pay. It is for the peace and progress of this state that we took the decision. All of our constituents are suffering and the judiciary has to function,” he said.

Before the latest development, as part of the effort to counter the imposition of Okocha on the state by the NJC, Amaechi had penultimate week, allegedly ordered the stoppage of the salaries of the state judicial workers. The order followed the state government’s threat to deal with any staff of the state judiciary who obeyed the directive of the NJC, which was that Okocha should act as the Administrative Judge of the state pending the appointment of a chief judge.

In a letter dated June 5 and jointly signed by the Accountant-General of the state, Ngozi Y. Abu and the Director, Treasury, Office of the Accountant-General, Dagogo R. Abere, the state government ordered the General Manager, Zenith Bank Plc, at Plot 1/2, Presidential Estate, Aba Road, Port Harcourt, to stop the payment of salaries of the judiciary workers until further notice.

The letter obtained by THISDAY read in part: "Sequel to the directive of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, we write to request your bank to stop the May 2014 salaries of all staff of the state judiciary till further notice.” The letter further warned that "strict compliance in this respect is solicited …"

By the development, all the judiciary workers who had vowed to comply with the directive of the NJC would remain without their salaries and allowances until Amaechi decides otherwise.

The NJC had recommended Okocha to act as the administrative judge of the state High Court because according it she is currently the most senior judge in the state high court.

A statement by NJC’s acting Director, Information, Mr. Soji Oye, said the absence of a chief judge in the state had brought untold hardship to litigants. The council said its decision was to ensure that there was no vacuum and that the administration of justice runs smoothly, adding that it considered the pains and frustrations which the state judiciary and litigants in the state are facing following the vacuum created by the absence of a substantive or acting chief judge in the state.

Oye explained that the council at a meeting held on May 27, deliberated on the current state of affairs in the Rivers State judiciary and noted with concern, the non-appointment of a substantive chief judge or acting chief judge for the state and its attendant consequences on the general administration of justice, particularly the assignment of cases and other related administrative duties in both the high court and the Customary Court of Appeal of state.

“Consequently, in the exercise of its constitutional powers, council decided as follows: (i) that the most senior judge in the High Court of Justice of Rivers State Judiciary should perform the functions of assigning cases to all the judges of the court and also carry out other related administrative duties. (ii) that the most senior Judge in the Customary Court of Appeal of Rivers State Judiciary should perform the functions of assigning cases and also carry out other related administrative duties,” the council said.

The state government had warned it would take disciplinary action against any judiciary officer in the state that recognised or worked with Okocha as administrative or chief judge of the state. The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wogu Boms, said the warning became necessary because of rumours making the rounds that Okocha had been appointed administrative judge of the state by the NJC.

While dismissing the rumour, Boms said both the NJC and the Rivers State Judiciary were incapable of making such appointment and urged the general public to disregard such rumours, and equally warned those peddling the rumours to desist forthwith, or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

“The Rivers State Judicial Service Commission is a body established by the constitution, which is equivalent to the NJC at the national level. While the NJC takes care of federal Judges, the state judiciary takes care of the state judges and staff of the judiciary.
“We are not aware of such development that Justice Okocha has been appointed administrative judge in the state. And our attention has not been drawn to such development, either by the Chief Registrar who is like the secretary of the Judiciary or anybody at the NJC level. It remains a rumour.

“However, the state JSC attention has been drawn to a publication by the Rivers State Government that they are aware of such possible development by the National Judicial Service Commission (NJC).  This is because NJC met last week, and it may be possible that they are working on such issues, but, right now, there is no official report or communication to that effect by the NJC to anybody in that matter.

“The NJC does not have the powers to make such appointment in Rivers State for the judiciary, whether they call it chief judge or acting chief judge or administrative judge, however described.  It is illegal and the NJC is practically incapable of making such appointment.”

The lack of a substantive or recognised head in the state judiciary has really affect justice administration in the state in the last 10 months. New cases are not being filed. The ones filed have not been assigned because there has not been anybody to play the role.
Lawyers and litigants have been frustrated. With the new law now empowering the chief registrar to assign cases, the state government may be seeking to further complicate the feud between it and the NJC and ridiculing the judges in the state who are far higher than chief registrar.

Trouble started when Amaechi nominated Justice Agumagu as a replacement for the retired chief judge of the state, Justice I. Ndu, last year. The nomination, which did not go down well with the NJC was subsequently rejected by the council which preferred Okocha in his stead because she is the most senior judge from the state High Court. But Amaechi disregarded the council’s directive by appointing Agumagu who was the president of the state Customary Court of Appeal to act for three months as specified by law.

To make Amaechi comply with the constitutional requirement, the NJC wrote to the state judiciary last year and warned judges not to accept the appointment of Agumagu as the acting chief judge. Even the quarterly assessment report of judges in the state that should be signed by the chief judge had been in disarray with the decision of the council to deal directly with individual judges in the state, since it was taken that there was no CJ since August 2013.

To compound the situation, Agumagu has never been invited to any official functions by the council in his capacity as the state’s acting CJ for the said three months.

In one of the letters responding to the request of Amaechi for official recognition for Agumagu, the council had replied him that since Amaechi, by choice, decided to opt for the customary court headship, the law which prefers the most senior judge of the High Court was explicit enough to show that Okocha was the lawful successor to Ndu.

Presently, the state high court is at a standstill. Hardly do the courts sit. Litigants and their lawyer hardly file cases because there is no chief judge to assign them. On two occasions, lawyers in the state had embarked on protests.

In one of the protests, the lawyers, under the aegis of Forum of Concerned Lawyers of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt branch, appealed to the NJC to adopt the principle of necessity and appoint a chief judge for the state in concert with judges in the state.

Addressing journalists at the premises of the state high court, the Coordinator of the forum, Mr. Chris Itamunoala, said there was need for the NJC and judges in the state “to act with regards to the doctrine of necessity and the independence of the judiciary as an arm of government to urgently facilitate the appointment and swearing into office of whosoever is the most senior judge of the high court of Rivers State in order to assume the functions and responsibilities of the chief judge of Rivers State and forestall any possible breakdown of law and order due to frustration of litigants and lawyers.

“We are gathered here today to protest the refusal of Amaechi to appoint a substantive chief judge that can perform the statutory constitutional duty of assigning cases that are properly filed at the state high court.

“For the records, over the past five months, no single case file has been assigned in consequence of the challenges at hand. Litigants who have briefed their lawyers have been denied their right to fair hearing. To those who care, the judiciary remains our principal place of work as lawyers.

“A stitch in time saves nine. The continued failure of the Rivers State Government to appoint a substantive or acting chief judge in accordance with the provisions of the law has gravely affected the fortunes of the lawyer and the common man in the dispensation of justice at the ‘fishing pot’ of our high court.”

Though constitutionally, the governor of a state has the power to appoint a state chief judge, that power cannot be complete without the approval of the NJC and subject to the confirmation by the state House of Assembly. For the NJC, its input is required to avoid a situation where the governors would abuse due process.

The situation was further complicated when Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, while ruling on the suit filed by the state government seeking an interpretation of Section 271 (3-5) of the 1999 Constitution as regards the appointment of chief judge of the state, declared that the NJC erred in its recommendation that Okocha was the most qualified judge for appointment as chief judge of the state.

Akanbi said the argument by the NJC that Okocha was the oldest judge of the state High Court and more qualified to be chief judge of the state because the Chairman of the state Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Peter Agumagu, was of a different arm of the judiciary was wrong. He also stated that the state governor could not be compelled to accept whoever the NJC sent to him, because the governor is not a rubber stamp.

As soon as the court made the pronouncement, the state House of Assembly, sitting at the old executive council chambers of Government House, immediately proceeded to screen and confirmed Agumagu as the chief judge of the state. This was immediately followed by his swearing-in by Amaechi.

Angered by the development, the NJC suspended Agumagu. A statement signed by NJC's acting Director, Oye, said the decision to suspend Agumagu was taken at an emergency meeting held on March 26. The council cited section 271 (1) of the Constitution which gave it the power to recommend a judge for the appointment of the chief judge of a state and said at no time did the council recommend Agumagu for appointment as chief judge.

The statement states: “The NJC under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar, considered the purported appointment, confirmation and swearing-in of Justice Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State on the 18th Day of March, 2014.

"In the course of deliberations on the matter, council noted as follows: That it is expressly provided in Section 271 (1) of the 1999 Constitution  (as amended) that ‘the appointment of a person to the Office of the Chief Judge of a state shall be made by the governor of the state on the recommendation of the NJC, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the state;'
"That the NJC did not at any time make any recommendation to the Governor of Rivers State that Hon. Justice Agumagu, President, Customary Court of Appeal be appointed the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State. Council therefore resolved as follows: that the National Judicial Council does not and will not recognise Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State.

"That the general public and all concerned in the matter, particularly the Governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Judiciary in Rivers State, be notified and informed that the NJC will not deal with Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State;

"That a query be issued to Justice Agumagu to explain in writing within four days why he should not be removed from office as a judicial officer for his failure to abide by his oath of office to uphold the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
"In the meantime, council in exercise of its powers under paragraph 21 (d) of part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution has suspended Justice Agumagu from office as a judicial officer with immediate effect."

But the state government frontally rejected the suspension of Agumagu and described it as illegal and unconstitutional, insisting that Agumagu remains the substantive chief judge of the state. Boms accused the NJC of constituting itself into a court.

“The position of NJC which is very unfortunate, gives equally unfortunate and misleading impression to the public that the appointment of the Hon Justice Agumagu as Chief Judge of Rivers State, occurred in nibubus (ie from the skies) and with no contribution of the NJC to it or that there is no history behind it. The Hon Justice Agumagu, the NJC wants the world to believe, just woke up, walked to the State House and got appointed and sworn in as the Chief Judge. This impression is misleading, self-serving and diversionary.

“It is important to state from the outset that the NJC has always preferred the doctrine of the Most Senior Judge of the High Court, in the appointment of the Chief Judge of Rivers State and in particular, the Hon Justice Okocha, as its candidate for the position.
“In its single-minded pursuit of the actualisation of this doctrine and preference, it enunciated further the doctrine that only a Judge of the State High Court is qualified for consideration for the office and that the Justice Agumagu, then, President of the State’s Customary Court of Appeal, could not be allowed to cross over to become the State Chief Judge.”

Agumagu had since filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja to challenge the suspension and while the suit is still pending, the NJC went ahead to appoint Okocha as the state’s Administrative Judge.

With the development, the state judiciary has also suffered a major blow in the hands of the executive arm of government in the state. The state House of Assembly is currently under lock with only the lawmakers loyal to Amaechi sitting at Government House.

Reacting to the new law, the state chapter of the PDP in a statement issued by the state chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, said: “The purported amendment of some sections of the Rivers State High Court rules and the hasty signing into law in the midnight by the State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, is highly condemnable, a rape on democracy and a premeditated effort to lord it over the judiciary which is the third arm of government that is as important and indispensable as the executive, thereby dragging it into partisan politics.
“The PDP avers that constitutionally, the Chief Registrar, who is not a judicial officer, cannot by a state law be vested with the authority to perform functions inextricably connected with judicial duties, such as the assignment of cases to judicial officers.

“The PDP observes that the amendment which seeks to make an ass of the law also seeks to unconstitutionally appoint the Chief Registrar of the State High Court as the Chief Judge in the circumstances described in the said amendment. Can a Chief Registrar therefore query a Judge who refuses to obey his instructions pursuant to the powers of the Chief Registrar under the said amendment?”

He therefore maintained that the law was in violation of the 1999 Constitution and an abuse of the rule of law.
“The PDP also seeks explanation on the situation in which the Public hearing to amend the High Court Rules was fixed to hold on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, same day members of the House of Assembly loyal to Governor Amaechi were at the High Court gate protesting; same day a purported Public Hearing was said to have taken place, same day report was submitted, same day bill passed and same day it was signed into law,” he said.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Former Minister Of Aviation Stella Oduah Donates N85m To Anglican Church Projects

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Former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, on Sunday , donated N85 million to various church projects of Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, in Onitsha Anambra State 

Princess Oduah, who was among the dignitaries who attended the concluding session of the 29th Synod of the diocese at St. Monica Anglican Church, Onitsha, said affluent Nigerians  should remember that they hold their positions in trust for God, who is the giver of all good things, and should not hesitate to support the work of God.

 

 

In a breakdown of the donation, Oduah  donated N15 million for a duplex for the proposed Camp of Light Retreat Village envisioned by the bishop of the diocese; N20 milion for women empowerment; N25 million for youth empowerment;  N20 million for farmers and N5 million to support the synod in the diocese.

 

 

 

 

A guest preacher, Rt. Reverend Ezekiel Dahunsi of the Diocese of Idoani, in a homily, lamented that Christians had been entangled and carried away by cares and worries of life, rather than the things of God that lead to eternal bliss.

The Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Reverend Owen Nwokolo, called on Christians to preach and live out the teachings of the gospel in their lives.

 

He described his project, the Camp of Light Retreat Centre, to be sited in Umunya, Anambra State, as a spiritual refreshing centre that would address the various problems confronting Nigerians and a place that would accommodate at least 30,000 people for purification and strength.

 

The parish priest of St. Monica Anglican Church, Onitsha, Reverend Mike Egbuonu, described the synod as the best meeting of the church.

 

Egbuonu, however, thanked God for a successful synod and prayed that it would be a grace to the diocese.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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We Won’t Allow Boko Haram In South East -Obiano

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Barely 24 hours after security operatives discovered bombs planted in the premises of a branch of Living Faith World Bible Church, a.k.a. Winners Chapel, in Owerri, Imo State, Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State on. Monday said Boko Haram sect would not be allowed to operate in the South East.

Obiano spoke with State House correspondents shortly after state governors from the geo-political zone met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said state governors in the state were alert and watching events as they unfold.

He assured stakeholders that members of the sect would not be given room to survive in the zone.

He said, “No, they (members of Boko Haram) can’t get there (South East); I can assure you of that. We will not allow that to happen.

“I can’t tell you in any material details about bombs found or not found. All I can assure you is that we are very alert in the South East and we are watching what is going on.

“I can assure you that Boko Haram cannot come to the South East.”

Obiano said the governors decided to meet with Jonathan to assure him of their support as he faces the challenges of nation building.

He claimed the President is under immense pressure and that some unnamed persons are making his work more tedious for him.

He said those in that category of making Jonathan’s job more difficult kept “adding kerosene to fire” instead of supporting him to take the nation out of the woods.

He said, “The President is a human being and he is under a lot of pressure and some other people are making the work a lot more difficult for him.

“Instead of supporting him to steer us out of these stormy waters, they are adding kerosene to fire.

“So we are here to tell him that we are here supporting him and that he should count on us.”

On the menace of erosion ravaging states in the zone, Obiano disclosed that the World Bank with the state governments are working on a lot of erosion sites already.

He said the four erosion sites they are working on have been expanded to 12.

He said the intervention which is a 50150 per cent contribution would go a long way in helping to tackle the erosion sites in the states.

“We are also tackling erosion from the legal point of view. Bush burning will no longer be allowed, so also is cutting roads to lay pipes to houses.

“These are some of the factors that lead to erosion. We want people to do the necessary things that they should do; we want people to stop termination of drainages abruptly.

“We are putting a law in place to ensure that anybody that violates the law will face the consequences,” he added.

Other governors who attended the meeting were Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State; Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State and Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was absent at the meeting.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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