News
It is now clear why more members of the National Executive Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) backed out of the tenure elongation gambit championed by the party leadership.
It followed the unearthing of the party’s financial records indicating a breach of all known rules and personalization of party funds in “the most opaque manner.”
A top leader of the party allegedly authorized the disbursement of party funds into personal account of another senior member of the NEC.
It was discovered that savings of over N1b handed over in 2014 by the interim executive headed by Chief Bisi Akande was “hastily decimated without care for transparency.”
State chapters of the party were equally short changed in the disbursement of fund they are statutorily entitled to.
Hopes of party officials from the national to the ward levels having their tenure extended by a year suffered a setback last week when President Buhari bluntly described such a move as a breach of both the party constitution and the provisions of the 1999 constitution.
The President’s new position is at variance with the NEC’ resolution in February which had favoured tenure elongation on the grounds that extending the stay of the current executives (whose subsisting four-year tenure ends by June) would spare the party of possible internal acrimony that might jeopardize its chances ahead of the 2019 general polls.
Some members of the party national executive committee were said to have become crest-fallen when they got wind of the classified reports detailing consistent transfer of party funds running into billions of naira to personal bank accounts of a party chief over the years for purposes not stated in the covering memo.
It was further discovered that there was no clear paper trail on what all the funds were used for.
Said one member of the national executive committee who craved anonymity: “My brother, someone like me who initially was among those canvassing tenure elongation became dumb when I saw the reckless way party money was being used. If you don’t have anything to hide, why put party’s money in personal accounts? As if that is not bad enough, once money got released, no one bothered to explain for which purpose and no retirement was made in line with the principles of book-keeping.
“So, the conclusion one could draw is that these people asking us to support the extension of their stay in office by all means are only out to continue this financial recklessness.”
For instance, in the report sighted by The Nation, two “suspicious” transactions on a single day resulted in the transfer of N143.8m via two letters addressed to the manager of the Maitama, Abuja branch of a leading new generation bank. The cash moved in two instalments of N100 million and N43,880,000 ended up in the account of another member of the party’s executive committee who hails from the Southeast.
In another transaction, a letter entitled “Authority to Transfer the Sum of N50,000,000 from our account number (figure withheld)” was issued with the instruction to transfer the said amount to the same official.
On yet another day, another transfer of N48,470,000 from the party’s account with the Area 3, Abuja branch of a First Generation bank was carried out involving the two top executives of the party.
In total, the report indicated that “a whopping N671,640,000 was transferred to the personal account of the party executive alone under such suspicious circumstances”.
The transfers had continued when administrative workers at the national secretariat of the party were complaining of being owed salaries and wages.
The Nation
Two final-year Mass Communication students at the Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, identified only as Dorcas and Deborah, on Saturday, abandoned their wedding receptions to take their final exams.
The final paper is codenamed, Com 402: Media Law and Ethics. The newly-weds left their husbands behind with their bridal trains and came into the examination hall in their wedding gowns.
The course lecturer, Dr. Benjamin Ogbu, told our correspondent on the telephone that the two brides entered the examination hall amidst jubilation and excitement.
Ogbu stated that he could not ascertain the surnames of the two ladies because there were other students with similar names.
He said, “The timetable for the exam was earlier fixed before their weddings were fixed and interestingly, both were on April 7, 2018. Since the exam couldn’t be shifted, the two brides left their various reception venues for the examination hall to sit for the exams in their wedding gowns.
“I was with the deputy vice-chancellor (academic) when both women stormed the examination hall. It was a moment of joy for all of us as students and lecturers. We were happy that our students got married and they (students) were happy too that they got married and also took their last exams same day. It was a double joy for them.”
Ogbu said as a member of the varsity’s Examination Monitoring team, he was elated to see the two female students in their weddings gowns with utmost desire to graduate.
Punch
The Buhari administration has not spent N500 billion annually on social investment programmes for Nigerians as it has led the public to believe, as that claim has not been cash-backed, the government has confirmed.
The government announced the initiative in 2015 as it came into office, and in last week’s response to American billionaire, Bill Gate’s criticism of the government’s low spending on human capital, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the yearly N500 billion social investment package was the biggest in sub-saharan Africa, and unprecedented in Nigeria.
“…We also decided to put in place an audacious Social Investment Programme to the tune of N500 billion, the largest pro-poor programme in our nation’s history, and the largest social safety net, at least in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Mr Osinbajo said at the Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos March 29.
The initiative aims to provide easy-to-access jobs for the unemployed, feeding for school children and a N5,000 monthly handouts to some of the nation’s poorest people.
The government claims more than 7.4 million primary school pupils in 22 states have been fed, while almost 300,000 poor Nigerians are also receiving N5000 monthly cash transfer. It said almost 300,000 Nigerians benefited from micro-credit loans of between N10, 000 to N100,000.
The figures have not been independently verified. If implemented as it repeatedly claims, at least N1 trillion would have been expended between 2016 and 2017 when the government fully administered the national budget. The amount would be more if a part of 2015, when the SIP started, is considered. In announcing this purported achievement, administration officials often cite the government’s ability to do so despite low oil receipts and generally dwindling revenues.
But the administration has been economical with the truth, and failed to clarify that only a comparatively small chunk of the amount was released.
As at February 3, the administration said it had spent N109 billion of total budget release of N110 billion for the programme.
By this week, the government spent only N175 billion in three years as against N1.5 trillion many Nigerians are led to believe.
That confirmation came Friday after the Senate Appropriations Committee questioned the programme, with lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress expressing doubts about its value.
At a session on Thursday with the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, Maryam Uwais, members of the Senate committee picked holes in the implementation of the initiative, and challenged Mrs. Uwais to provide names of the beneficiaries of the social intervention programme from their various states.
“You have N500 billion every year, which is unprecedented, totalling N1.5 trillion in three years. I am from Gombe State, and I’m yet to see one single boy or girl that has benefited from the programme. I have been active and politicking for 40 years. As far as a I am concerned, I don’t know of anybody who has benefited from your programme and this is N13 billion every month,” chairman of the committee, Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe) said.
Mr Goje’s comments infuriated Mr Osinbajo, and his spokesperson issued a statement condemning the remark as “irresponsible.”
But the Senate’s query served another value: it triggered a disclosure of the the actual amount spent on the programme over three years.
“To restate the facts, while indeed we have budgeted a total of N500B for the 2016 & 2017 Budgets each, including the N100B for the Family Housing Fund in the 2017 Budget, only a total of N175B has so far been released since the commencement of the historic Buhari Social Investment Programme.
Odilim Enwagbara, an economist, told PREMIUM TIMES the administration’s admission that only N175 billion had gone into the policy was typical.
“This is similar to what they did with the fuel subsidy matter. They lied that fuel subsidy had been abolished, but when its expenses became too much and they could no longer cover it up, they opened up to Nigerians that the subsidy is still in place,” Mr. Enwagbara said. “There’s absolutely no accountability or transparency in this government.”
The analyst called on the National Assembly to immediately conduct a public hearing on the matter in order to unravel potential sharp practices that might have characterised the scheme.
“The government has been giving Nigerians the impression that N500 billion was being spent annually on their welfare, but clearly that turned out to be false and I appeal to the House of Representatives and the Senate committees on social policies to conduct a public hearing without delay,” he said.
Laolu Akande, a spokesperson for Mr Osinbajo, dismissed allegations of wrongdoing on the part of the administration, saying the fact that money was not released was not sufficient to jump into conclusion.
“What I know is that this is the amount that the government could afford at this time,” Mr Akande told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Saturday afternoon.
He said the government would continue to budget N500 billion as projected annual expenditure for the programme, even though it couldn’t implement half of it in the last two budget cycles and without assurances that much would change within the next fiscal year.
“You don’t know what is going to happen in future,” Mr Akande said. “It is the intention of the Buhari administration to spend a significant part of our resources in investing in our people. This is our own plan. This is our own projection and we will continue to push.
“The fact that we were unable to get the money in the past does not mean we would lower our ambition and aspiration for the Nigerian people. It is important that the resources of this country is spent on the generality of the Nigerian people,” he added.
But Mr Enwagbara slammed the government’s resolve as indicative of its alleged criminality and incompetence.
“The Appropriation Act is a a law, so how could the government continue to put amounts into it indiscriminately without proper projection all in a bid to swindle the citizens?” Mr Enwagbara said. “This government is the most fraudulent and incompetent I have seen since 1999.”
PT
The move to recall Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) from the upper chamber of the National Assembly has gathered fresh momentum with the recent timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the exercise.
Over 188,000 constituents across the Kogi West senatorial district had reportedly signed signatures sometimes in June 2017, indicating their readiness to recall Melaye on account of his poor representation and performance.
INEC commenced the recall process but stopped along the line, following legal actions instituted by Senator Melaye against the exercise.
On March 24, 2018, the INEC released the timetable and schedule of activities for the recall of the senator.
The electoral umpire said it had proceeded with the move pursuant to a judgment by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, delivered on March 16 , 2018 which gave the Commission leave to continue with the recall process.
A statement released by INEC, which was signed by its Secretary, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu, contained the timetable and schedule of activities for the recall process.
The schedule of activities is expected to commence with the posting of the notice of verification at the commission’s office in Lokoja, Kogi State and end with the declaration of the outcome of the verification on April 29, 2018.
The statement said, “Pursuant to the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division , delivered on March 16, 2018, the Independent National Electoral Commission hereby issues this timetable and schedule of activities for the recall of the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Kogi State.
“The process will begin on March 27 , 2018, with the posting of the notice of verification at the commission’s local government area office in Lokoja, Kogi State and end with the declaration of the outcome of the verification on April 29 , 2018.”
The commission stressed that it was exercising its powers as conferred on it by “Sections 69 and 110 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 ( as amended); Section 116 of the Electoral Act 2010 ( as amended) and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf. ”
Also, according to the statement, April 4 was set as the last day for submission of application by interested observers, while April 20 is set as the last day for the submission of the names of verification agents for the member sought to be recalled and the petitioners.
Furthermore, there is a stakeholders’ meeting on April 25 at INEC’s state office; conduct of verification on April 28 in all polling units in the constituency and declaration of the outcome of verification on April 29 at the commission’s local government area office in Lokoja.
Meanwhile, there are discordant tunes from some Kogi West constituents as the electoral umpire braces up to bring the recall exercise to its climax.
While some of the constituents have expressed delight with the recall exercise, others have misgivings, saying the process was being prosecuted by “external forces” and not Kogi West constituents.
A constituent from Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, Segun Modeyin, said the recall exercise was not in the best interest of the people of Kogi West.
Modeyin described Senator Melaye as someone who is loved by the people and that any attempt to recall him would fail.
“To me, it will be an exercise in futility because Dino Melaye is someone who is well accepted amongst people in his senatorial district. He has been representing us well.
“In recent times, he has done a lot in impacting lives in his senatorial district through the execution of various constituency projects.
“In fact, he has touched virtually every community within his senatorial district.
“Our rural people have enjoyed electricity, water and road construction projects from the same Dino.
“Our people have resolved that whichever party that Dino Melaye chooses to contest for a second term, they would vote for him because of their confidence in him.
“I believe the recall exercise is purely a political vendatta from the Kogi State government. I believe the APC as a party needs to wade into the face-off between the senator and the governor.
“The Senator is performing and I don’t believe any recall would work against him.
According to him, if the INEC should go ahead with the recall exercise, they would make sure that each of the signature they have collected are duly authenticated.
“I doubt if they (INEC) can authenticate those signatures. We are surprised that INEC which is supposed to be an unbiased umpire is the one pushing for the recall of our senator.
“It is unfortunate that those who are supposed to protect the rule of law are the ones doing otherwise. Our call on INEC is to ensure that each of the signature gathered is confirmed to be truly those of the constituents, if not, we will make issue out of it”, he said.
One of the constituents from Lokoja, who has been in the forefront of Dino’s recall, Mr Suleiman Abdulmalik, however, expressed confidence that the exercise will be successful.
“We are going to succeed. Dino can only run but he cannot run forever; the law must surely catch up with him. We are getting close.
“He is using the judiciary to frustrate the process but we will surely get there. Even within the judiciary, we are winning. He has gone to the Supreme Court. And once we defeat him there, the recall would be a done deal,” Abdulmalik also said.
He expressed the optimism that constituents across the senatorial district who appended their signatures for the recall would turn out during the verification exercise to authenticate them.
“We are sure we will secure the over 50% signatures required for the recall. It would be verifiable and at the end of the day, we will succeed.
“The recall is our project. We cannot continue to support a senator that will be deriding his own party, the president and governor of his own state. His acts are always un-parliamentary and the recall is to enable us correct that,” he said.
Abdulmalik, who said that the recall exercise was on course, added that “there will be no going back on it.”
According to him, the people would not welcome any political solution at this point.
Meanwhile, Senator Melaye has urged the Supreme Court to declare the petitions submitted to the INEC, seeking his recall as illegal.
The Senator, in an appeal he filed against the March 16 , 2018 judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, also urged the apex court to declare the recall process as illegal.
The suit filed at the Supreme Court by Melaye’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) is contending that the three Justices of the Court of Appeal who delivered the unanimous judgment dismissing his suit erred in law.
In the meantime, the INEC office in Kogi has already posted the notice verification for the recall exercise.
Our correspondent observed that the notices were posted at INEC’s state headquarters office and that of Lokoja local government office.
Head of Voters Education and Publicity of INEC in the state, Mr Biambo Bagudu, told Daily Trust that the commission would follow the timetable released for the recall exercise.
Bagudu said NYSC members, staff of federal tertiary institutions and the commission’s staff were expected to be used for the exercise.
He assured that the commission as an umpire would ensure transparency and credibility of the entire recall exercise.
On the suit filed by Melaye at the Supreme, he said the Commission is law abiding and would be ready to halt the process once there is court judgement to that effect
DailyTrust
Aides of senators, Reps under the aegis of the Conference of National Assembly Legislative Aides (CONASSLA), have asked President Muhmmadu Buhari and the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to make their running cost public.
The request followed controversy trailing the statement by Senator Shehu Sani that senators receive N13.5 million as monthly running cost.
CONASSLA, a forum of current and former aides to members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, appealed to the Presidency, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, and all other Ministers to disclose to the Nigerian people how much the President, Vice-President, ministers and heads of agencies and parastatals of the federal government receive as running costs.
The statement was signed by Abdullahi Almustapha and Funmi Oyekan, CONASSLA’s chairman and secretary, respectively.
“In the interest of full disclosure, and in-line with the transparency agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari government, we call on the executive branch to publish the running costs of all the offices and individuals within its purview within seven days.
“Failure to do this will be an infringement on the trust of the Nigerian people who elected this government into office to curb excessive spending and official largesse by public office holders,” part of the statement read.
DailyTrust
The General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministries (MFM), Dr. Daniel Olukoya, has revealed that the greatest conflict Nigerians are facing at the moment is war against satanic witchcraft.
He stated this at the church’s monthly “Power Must Change Hands” conference held at the Prayer City, Ogun State, on Saturday.
According to him, “Anywhere you see any bloodshed or massive death of people it is not terrorism but the work of satanic witchcraft. An evil force is the one behind all those bloodshed.
Hide quoted text
“Do you expect a sane human being to just slaughter another human being who is still alive when he will even think twice when killing a hen or cow?
“Nigerians need to wake up from their slumber as there is a massive resurgence of witchcraft all over the world. Nigeria is in the era of the great wrath where so many mysterious things have occurred; I mean unexplainable sexual perversion, unavoidable terrorism, emergence of kidnappers who are hungry for blood and terrible accidents.
“I urge all Nigerians to watch and pray and be vigilant as we are in the end time. So many things are happening.”
DailyPost
The planned visit of former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, to Ekiti State has been rejected by the Ayo Fayose-led State Government.
The government advised the former governor to, “take his advocacy for peace to other parts of the country where security of lives and properties of Nigerians is under threat, not Ekiti State that even the Police adjudged as the most peaceful State in the country.”
Kalu, who is acting as the Chairman, Advisory Board for the National Movement for Re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, has embarked on a tour of the South West purportedly to advocate for peace, fairness and unity of the country with a view to rallying support for the President’s second term bid in 2019.
However, Ekiti State Government, in a statement issued on Saturday, by the Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said that, “There is no threat to peace and unity of Nigeria from Ekiti State for anyone, including Orji Kalu to address. Therefore, he should not expect to be welcomed to any palace in Ekiti State.”
The government urged traditional rulers in the State to ignore the former Abia State governor, saying; “it is an insult on the collective sensibilities of Ekiti people, whose only benefit from the government of President Buhari is hardship occasioned by the government’s cluelessness for anyone to hide under advocacy for peace to canvass support for the President.”
The government said it was unspeakable that because of his EFCC case, Orji Kalu saddled himself with the task of doing image laundering for a President whose government is inflicting sufferings on Nigerians.
The statement reads further; “If he has sold his own conscience to the agenda of selling an already rejected product to Nigerians, we in Ekiti State have not, and we are telling him categorically that such advocacy is not welcome in our State.
“He should rather take his peace and unity advocacy to his own State, where he is already rejected and other States where Nigerians are being killed on daily basis by armed bandits.
“It is also ridiculous that instead of joining Nigerians to tell the President the truth about the state of affairs in the country, Kalu is castigating Nigerians that have summoned courage to speak out against the President through letters and public comments.”
DailyPost
President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has criticized the approval given by President Muhammadu Buhari for the withdrawal of $1billion for the purchase of security equipment.
Saraki spoke at a retreat on “Strengthening Executive -Legislature Relations” organised by the Senate Press Corps held in Jos, Plateau state on Saturday.
He also expressed regret over the delayed passage of the 2018 budget, saying there must be collaboration and engagement between the Executive and the Legislature.
The Senate President said: ”So long as the process for the passage of the budget is not based on participation, engagement and collaboration, much will not be realised.
“The Executive and the legislature are partners. We need each other: the constitution does not allow one arm to work alone, that is why there is checks and balance.
“There is no security architecture of this country that can work without a strong synergy between the executive and the legislature.
“When you see certain agencies, who by their actions and utterances frustrate the relationship between the two arms, you begin to wonder.
“What do we need to do? Do the police need more funding or more powers? Do they need new legislations to strengthen them. These are the issues where the executive and the legislature must work together.
“Just few days ago, there was the issue of providing funding for the purchase of security equipments. In a good environment, such an issue needed to have been discussed with lawmakers.
”Already, some senators are angry. They said they were not consulted by the executive before such a decision was taken. These are the issues we are talking about.
“I needed to be here to speak on these issues. It is not just about today. Posterity will be here to judge us that what I am saying is true. If we do not change the way we behave, we will remain like this for many years to come,” he said.
According to the Senate President, for democracy to be strengthened, the priority of everybody should be to strengthen the legislature.
“If you do not defend the legislature, there is no way that our democracy will be strengthened because government is not built on individuals. It is built on institutions.
“That is why in developed countries, governments can change, but it does not affect the stability of their democracy because their institutions are strong.
“We decided to run a presidential system of government. By its nature of checks and balances, there are bound to be frictions. The question now is how healthy is that friction,” he said.
DailyPost
The Lagos State Government said on Saturday it would deploy over 800 buses soon to start operations at the newly inaugurated Ikeja Bus Terminal.
The government said the terminal will cater for four million people across the state daily.
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Ladi Lawanson, stated this during a visit to the terminal and the Oshodi Transport Interchange construction site.
According to him, the newly procured buses will ensure efficient and effective transportation to people of the state.
“The state government is coming with multimodal and integrated transportation system which will take care of about four million people on a daily basis across the state.
“The idea is to cater for Lagos residents especially lower and middle classes, who cannot afford to fund their own cars every day.
“We should be expecting some buses like over 800 that Lagos State Government has procured to kick-start operation for the benefit of the residents,” he said.
He said Ikeja, the state capital, has about 900,000 inhabitants.
“It is also a major transport hub on the Lagos mainland, as it is a major node of very important corridors in Lagos such as Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Agege Motor Road, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Oba Akran Way and Awolowo Way.
“Ikeja Terminal is a key transport infrastructure constructed to improve efficiency in system connections, reduce traffic congestion caused by ongoing street loading and dropping off of passengers, reduce environmental pollution and improve security and safety of the commuting public,” the commissioner added.
NAN
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara has once again explained why he is clamouring for restructuring of the existing federal system of Nigeria.
Dogara said the call for restructuring became imperative because it will give a sense of belonging to all Nigerians.
He said this while speaking on the topic, “Reforming the Nigerian Federation: Which Way Forward”, at the 3rd annual Political Summit organised by the Save Democracy Africa in Abuja on Monday.”
The Speaker noted that, “The talk ofNigeria’s success or genuine federalism can no longer hold waters giving the state of internal insurgencies, divisiveness, ethnic and religious schism witnessed in several parts of Nigeria. Efforts at wishing away the problem associated with Nigerian federation have only resulted into several tribal, ethnic and religious movements that have even metamorphosed into terrorist syndicates.
“One can, therefore, no longer fold his arms but engage some of the issues that have confronted us as a nation and threatened the Nigerian federation. This forum provides one of the opportunities for such interrogation. Accordingly, I commend the organisers for bringing this issue to the front burner once again.
“That Nigeria could survive despite predictions to the contrary by the World Powers not only portrays a ray of hope but also demonstrate that Nigerian Federation has come to stay.
“Nigeria is far behind many Nations and everything possible should be done to takeNigeria to where it rightly belongs among the comity of Nations given her huge and rich minerals and agricultural resources, and population.
“It is therefore incumbent on us to fashion out our own type of federalism that is best suited to our people and to local circumstances. There should be genuine efforts to build the nation. Therefore ethnic, religious and sectional agenda should take back place. The essence of federalism is to foster unity and development. This has however, not been achieved.
“Consequently, the recruitment processes of our elective office holders are being re-visited in the Electoral Amendment Bill to ensure that the system is able to recruit the best at all strata of leadership. We need leaders who are visionary, selfless, prudent, intelligent and indefatigable and having integrity and honour.”
He added that the current National Assembly had shown enough determination to ensure that the federation of Nigeria is managed effectively for the good of every citizen in its several initiatives to address imbalances.
Hon Dogara stated, “There should be massive awareness to change the mindsets of the rulers and the ruled. This is where there is the need for proper education and awareness for both the rulers and the ruled. I challenge our tertiary institutions to break the disconnect between them and the political institutions and industries not only to fashion out the appropriate curriculum to drive this new orientation to confront our political and economic malaise but also to lead cutting edge research in providing correct local solutions to our diverse of problems.”
The speaker also identified some emerging issues in Nigeria’s federation political gerrymandering, corruption and nepotism, state creation and boundary delimitation, electoral boundary manipulation that discriminates against voters on account of tribe, language, religion, or related status.
“The same is also true of boundary adjustments, state creation and Local Governments in Nigeria. The minority tribes have complained of being short-changed. The issue of fiscal federalism and resource control.
“The allocation of revenue in Nigeria is presently heated as there are always allegations and counter-allegations of manipulations against the federal government by states. There are also allegations of zero allocation to local governments by states despite very clear constitutional provisions. In addition, there has been complaint of total neglect of the states that generate the revenue as such the derivative formula has been very contentious. There is over concentration of powers and responsibilities on the federal government. There are several responsibilities that can better be handled by the states.
“The power sharing between the Federal Government and the states will have to be revisited and the issue of the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria which state Houses of Assembly keep voting against,” he further stated.
Dogara added, “The issue of resource control must be properly addressed. The communities where those resources are found should be adequately compensated. The Host Community Bill initiated by the House of Representatives on the Oil and Gas industry will be a test case. The call for resource control may by implication have a semblance of territorial devolution.”
DailyPost
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New research indicates more than $4008million in public funding collected to expand internet access in Africa is sitting dormant in public coffers.
The research from the Web Foundation, Alliance for Affordable Internet and United Nations Women, released at the 62nd UN Commission on the Status of Women, found many governments are failing to take action to connect women and other offline populations, despite funds earmarked for it.
UN Women calls on government to invest at least half of the Universal Service and Access Funds (USAFs)—communal public funds dedicated to expanding internet connectivity—to enabling women access and use the internet.
USAFs offer “an incredible and vastly underutilized opportunity for making real progress, an opportunity we cannot afford to miss,” said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Director of UN Women.
“Every day that these funds remain unused is another day women and girls are sidelined in the digital revolution. We call on governments to take immediate action to put these funds toward their intended purpose, and to work to make the digital divide history—starting with women and girls.”
The connection could bring six million women online, provide digital skills to 16 million women and girls, according to the report Universal Service and Access Funds: An Untapped Resource to Close the Gender Digital Divide.
It noted that failure to utilise the funds risks widening global inequality and undermining global development.
“We can’t reduce global inequality without closing the digital divide and online gender gap,” said Sonia Jorge, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Internet and head of digital inclusion programmes at the Web Foundation.
“We must act now to stop the online world from entrenching offline inequalities. We call on governments to make effective and timely use of available funds, and to invest at least 50 per cent of them in projects aimed at bringing more women online.”
Up to four billion people are not connected online globally. Only around 2 in 10 people in Africa are online.
The continent has the widest gap in internet use between men and women.
This is even though 37 African countries have a USAF in place, and 62% of the funds considered active, the research found.
But, most governments are failing to spend the USAF funds collected. In 2016, USAFs across Africa disbursed just 54 per cent of funds collected.
Few countries are focused on improving women’s internet access and use — despite the worsening digital gender gap.
Just three of the 37 countries with USAFs have universal access policies guiding the USAF that explicitly aim to connect women and girls through the fund.
Analysis in the report shows that in order to reduce the growing global gender gap in internet use—a gap which is widest in Africa—USAFs should boost investments in programmes that aim specifically to tackle obstacles to internet use and access faced by women.
DailyTrust
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said the party will deploy every available resources to win the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.
Describing the election as a ‘must-win’ for the party, he promised that the APC would conduct a free, fair and credible primary to choose its candidate.
The state Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe, who had taken cover outside the state since Governor Ayodele Fayose assumed office, made a surprise appearance at the event on Monday.
The state government has obtained a bench warrant against Awe over his alleged complicity in the death of one Mrs. Juliana Adewumi and Ayo Jeje, who were killed in Erinjiyan on May 30, 2014 during the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Odigie-Oyegun said the delegates’ list that would be used to conduct the primary had been compiled, promising to make copies available to eligible aspirants.
The former Edo State governor added that the party was not oblivious of the importance of the Ekiti election in the history of politics in Nigeria.
He said,“We will work hard to ensure that Ekiti returns to the progressives’ fold. Though, we are in power at the centre, but that doesn’t mean we should not work hard.
“President Muhammadu Buhari as you know him will not rig or compromise or subvert the will of the electorate, so we must work hard to deserve the victory that will come to us.”
Odigie-Oyegun spoke in Ado Ekiti on Monday during the commencement of the party’s continuous registration, at the APC secretariat in the Ajilosun area of the capital city.
Later, Odigie-Oyegun moved to the Eagles Civic Centre along Ado-Ikere Road where he addressed the party faithful on the seven points agenda set for the National Working Committee by the Ekiti APC members to make the primary a success.
Odigie-Oyegun was received by party chieftains, including the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni, and members of the State Working Committee.
Other aspirants at the event were Senator Gbenga Aluko, Senator Ayo Arise, Wole Oluyede, Wole Oluleye, Capt. Sunday Adebomi (retd.), Bimbo Daramola, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, Victor Kolade, Mr. Kola Alabi, Mr. Diran Adesua, Dr. Bayo Oriire and Femi Bamisile.
Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Bamidele Faparusi sent representatives.
Addressing the party members, Odigie-Oyegun dispelled the rumour of an alleged plot to impose a particular candidate on the party.
“We have listened to your demands and we also want to tell you that we expect something from you too while giving you assurances that there will be no imposition and that the primary shall be free, fair and credible.
“To all the aspirants, you must not campaign as if there won’t be tomorrow. Don’t campaign in a way that breeds enmity. I learnt that you are above 30, but the large number shouldn’t be a source of discord.
“Let me say this clearly, anybody who wants to fly the flag of our party must maintain decorum. But we shall be fair to you as much as possible because there can’t be peace when justice is denied. We must not also have bad losers; you must work with whoever the electorate pick as their candidate.”
Odigie-Oyegun appealed to the aspirants to ensure that there was no division before and after the primary.
He said members of the State Working Committee would not be allowed to campaign for any of the aspirants.
Odigie-Oyegun added, “We must know that Ekiti is facing one of the most important elections in our history. God has put the victory on our laps, He has put it in our hands and we must not lose it.
“We at the national headquarters have decided that this election is one that we will work hard, leave no stone unturned, because to us it is a must-win election,” he stated.
Punch
The absence of a prosecution witness yesterday stalled the trial of former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja, for alleged N4.7 billion money laundering charge at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ladoja alongside a former Commissioner for Finance, Waheed Akanbi.
Both men were arraigned on December 14, 2016, before Justice Mohammed Idris on an eight-count charge bordering on N4.7 billion money laundering.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.
But at the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the EFCC Prosecutor, Mr Oluwafemi Olabisi, apologised that he could not proceed because of the absence of his witness, a director in the employ of Oyo State government.
Olabisi said the witness was attending a meeting with the World Bank in Lagos but pleaded to be in court today.
He urged the court to adjourn the matter till today and tomorrow as the dates were set down for the continuation of the trial.
Mr Bolaji Onilenla and Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, counsel to the first and second defendants, did not object to the request for an adjournment.
But the lawyer urged the prosecuting counsel to ensure that his witnesses were in court on the agreed dates.
Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned the matter till March 20 and March 21 for continuation of trial.
The defendants are said to have conspired, siphoned and laundered N4.7 billion from the coffers of Oyo State.
The EFCC is also accusing the defendants of converting N1.9 billion belonging to the state to personal use, through the account of a company — Heritage Apartments Limited — to commit the crime.
The Nation
The Police have charged Senator Dino Melaye and three others with criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms before a Federal High Court in Lokoja.
Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, an assistant commissioner of police, told reporters in Lokoja yesterday that the case was filed on March 16, following the confession of a “wanted criminal” that the senator gave him arms and cash.
Moshood said the senator failed to cooperate with the police investigators having failed to report for questioning even after the Police wrote to Senate President Bukola Saraki seeking the release of the senator to answer to the allegations.
Melaye who is battling to retain his senate seat, last week lost his bid to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from proceeding with his recall at the Court of Appeal.
The suspects, Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama (31), Nuhu Salisu (25 ) aka small, and Alhaji Muhammed Audu, a politician, who is now at large, are charged along with Melaye, who is representing Kogi West.
The Police said Kabiru and Salisu were arrested on January 19 at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, after a shootout and they confessed to being hired by Melaye to cause mayhem in the state.
The police said they seized from the thugs and their gang members, two AK47 rifles, five pump action guns, two locally made pistols and heaps of charms.
According to the police, the men not only confessed to have been involved in several kidnappings in the state and environs, they also claimed to be hired thugs for politicians.
“According to the gang leader, Osama, he had been working as a political thug for Alhaji Mohammed Audu .
“ He said Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport road, Abuja inside Senator Melaye’s car in the month of December, 2017.
“The suspect further confessed that Sen. Dino Melaye told him that they should start working for him as his political thugs and they should recruit and train other thugs to work for him in preparation for the 2019 general elections to enable him ( Sen. Dino Melaye ) challenge his political opponents and disorganise Kogi State.”
The police said Osama also confessed that Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the N430,000.00 to share with his boys.
Senator Melaye however described the allegations against him as framed-up and an orchestrated attempt by the Kogi state government to discredit him.
He said he had never set eyes on the suspects in his life.
He described the move an attempt by the Kogi State government to shut him up.
He said: “This is an attempt to shut me up and stop me from speaking the truth, but they have failed. It is an orchestrated lie by the governor and the police. I have tweeted about six weeks ago that they want to set me up because I got information from the Government House when they met to set me up
“You can see the conflicting statements by the criminals. I heard one said I gave two AK47 and pump action, while the other said I gave only one rifle and that I gave N430,000 to train militia and that I met them on Airport Road, in December 2017, but they didn’t give a date and time.”
The Nation