GEORGE OJI AND TORDUE SALEM

The scandal rocking the aviation min-istry over the pur-chase of N255m armoured cars for the minister, Ms. Stella Oduah, by the Nige-ria Civil Aviation Author-ity, NCAA, got messier yesterday.

At the ongoing public hearing of the House of Representatives Commit-tee on Aviation investigat-ing the scandal, it was re-vealed that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy,

Vol. 3 N0. 657 Thursday, July 4, 2013 N150

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Vol. 3 N0. 712 Thursday, October 31, 2013 N150

Senate threatens zero budget allocation to SURE-P

PDP set to discipline erring members nationwide

GEORGE OJI ABUJA

The Senate has threat-ened to stop appro-priating funds for Subsidy Reinvestment Em-powerment Programme, SURE-P, projects if the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, can-not defend the application

of the funds so expended.The threat followed the

inability of some minis-ters to appear before the National Assembly to de-

FG pays N294.51bn as severance allowance, pension to workers

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

L-R: Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, during the presentation of a book titled: Through life and justice, in honour of Justice Salami in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Mr. Bill Gates; President Goodluck Jona-than; former UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan and Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, at the meeting of the Eminent Persons Group, an advisory body on Agricultural Transformation Agenda, in New York recently.

Labour threatens nationwide blackout

P.2

P.6

Six naval personnel beat teacher to coma in Ogun P.9

P.8

Fashola presents N489.6bn 2014 budget to Assembly

chides Works Minister for shunning invitation

Oduah: Okonjo-Iweala linked to cars scandal

Reps summon Finance Minister for granting N10m waiver on vehiclesCoscharis boss, Maduka, defends action, says NSA, SSS approved deal

Kolade Tukur

GENCOs, DISCOs handover:

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, granted import waiver for the armoured cars.

It was also revealed that the Federal Airports Au-thority of Nigeria, FAAN, bought two armoured Lexus cars that cost N120m (N60m per one) for Oduah. This is aside two other Toy-ota Prado cars whose costs were yet to be known.

There were also rev-elations that Coscharis Mo-tors lied to the Minister of Finance, the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the Nigerian Cus-toms Service about the real owners of the cars, ostensi-bly to evade paying customs duty.

Documents revealed that the armoured cars were meant for Lagos State gov-ernment whereas they were the property of Oduah/NCAA.

The Committee, which began sitting yesterday, was told that Okonjo-Iweala approved a customs duty waiver of over N10m for the importation of the two ar-moured cars in the process of importing 300 cars for Lagos State Government for the National Sports Fes-tival (Eko 2012).

Oduah shunned the House Committee yester-day.

The Committee, how-ever, warned that the Min-isters of Finance and Avia-tion may attract sanctions from the Committee if they failed to appear today to re-

spond to the allegations of contract inflation, wrongful approvals and waiver for the said cars.

The Comptroller of Cus-toms, Mr. Abdullahi Dikko represented by a Deputy Comptroller General, Mr. Manasseh Daniel Jatau testified that about 300 ve-hicles, including the two armoured cars imported by Coscharis for Lagos State Governments use for Eko 2012 enjoyed waiver from the finance ministry, be-fore the two armoured cars were eventually sold off to NCAA.

The vehicles you (the committee) mentioned were imported and con-signed to Coscharis through the Tincan 2.

A duty fee of N10, 133, 174, 00 should have been col-lected as duty if the Federal Ministry of Finance did not grant waiver to Coscharis, he said.

The waiver letter in re-sponse to Coscharis appli-cation reads: To your letter dated 23rd June 2012 in the above subject matter and to convey the approval of Mr. President and Commander in Chief to the Lagos State Government for the waiver of Import Duty, Value Add-ed Tax, VAT, ETLS, CISS and other port charges in respect of the importation of 300 units of BMW, Ford, Land Rover, Range Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Escalade, Jaguar and buses (Petrol/Diesel) for use during the 18th National Sports Festi-

val (EKO 2012) to be import-ed through Messrs Coscha-ris Motors Nigeria Limited, as indicated in the duly at-tached list.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Cos-charis Motors, Mr. Cosmas Maduka, who caused a stir at the hearing by describing it as political witch-hunt, in-sisted that the price of the vehicles was not inflated.

He said the Committee was free to double-check the prices with the company abroad.

But a preamble of his submission before the Com-mittee was combative. Mad-uka said he had been in the business for over 20 years.

He said: It takes 20 years to build a reputation, but it takes one day to ruin it. I am of the old school, and I would like to continue do-ing my business the way I have been doing it. We (Cos-charis) dont inflate con-tracts.

He said the high cost of the cars which were sold at about N127m per unit, were factory-built and beefed up to level B7 to merit the high cost.

Maduka stuck to his guns, despite contrary views from the lawmakers, especially Hon. Nasir Ali Ahmed (APC-Kano), that from the Committees find-ings, the vehicles couldnt have been more than N36m apiece.

He told the Committee that his company (Cosha-ris) was grilled by the State

Security Services, SSS, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, be-fore approvals were given to supply the cars.

But the Committee after a thorough scrutiny of the documents signed by Cos-charis and the NSAs office found that the NSA did not approve the waiver, as the car company did not pro-vide details on the country from where the bullet-proof cars were made.

The Committee in its findings also claimed that the Chassis numbers for the two cars inspected at the Ministry of Aviation were different from the chassis numbers availed the office of the NSA.

In its testimony, First Bank of Nigeria, FBN, represented by its Head of Retail Services in Lagos, Mr. Seyi Oyefeso, told the Committee that the bank received an earlier loan application of N564m, but later approved N643m for NCAA and duly paid Cos-charis N255m and the rest to Cosmopolitan Motors for the delivery of the 298 other cars.

In response to queries raised by members of the Committee earlier, Oyefeso said the bank was not in a position to know the prices of bullet-proof, factory-built cars, because the bank was not using any.

We dont use bullet-proof vehicles, so we dont know the price of bullet-

UDEME AKPAN, SAM OLUWALANA, ROTIMI FADEYI AND CHIDI UGWU

The planned hando-ver of Power Hold-ing Company of Nigeria, PHCN, successor companies to the new own-ers tomorrow may plunge the nation into total black-out. The aggrieved work-ers have vowed to shut down operations over the non- settlement of their outstanding matters.

These include the non-completion of the payment of severance benefits, the pension and gratuity to workers of the Generation Companies, GENCOs, and Distribution Companies, DISCOs.

National President, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Workers, Mr. Bede Okpara, who confirmed the deci-sion of the workers to shut operations, said that many workers had not collected their severance benefits.

He said: Besides sever-ance benefits, none of our members have been paid pension. Those who retired recently have not also col-lected their gratuity.

These show that the Federal Government has not yet complied with agree-ment it reached with labour to resolve all outstanding issues before handing over the companies to private investors.

Okpara said a crucial meeting held yesterday in Abuja between labour unions, the ministries of power, and the Presidency officials to resolve the mat-ters was inconclusive.

The national president said: The engagement will continue tomorrow (Thursday). We hope that these will be resolved ami-cably. But it will be better for the government to shift its planned handover tar-get from November 1, 2013 to another date to enable it conclude outstanding is-sues.

This is very important because we will resist any attempt to handover the pri-vatised firms without meet-ing the demands of workers in the sector.

The Federal Govern-ment had promised to en-sure the payment of sever-ance benefits to all PHCN workers before handing

over the assets of the distri-bution and generation com-panies unbundled from the power utility to their new owners.

But while the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said over 70 per cent of the PHCN employees had been paid, the union claimed that over 55 per cent of its workers were yet to get their pay.

The Chairman, Nation-al Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, had said on a radio programme yester-day that from today elec-tricity consumers would be dealing with the new own-ers.

From tomorrow, con-sumers will be dealing with the new owners. For instance, if you are in Ikeja, you will be dealing with Ko-rea Electric Power Corpora-tion, KEPCO, he said.

He, however, noted that there would be no disrup-tion in the system as the ex-isting PHCN workers would still be allowed to carry on until such a time the new owners deem it fit to layoff some and retain those who they want to retain.

The mould of delivery remains, nothing changes it is just transfer of shares, he said.

Amadi decried the pur-ported planned blackout, saying it was not a civilised way of resolving the issues on ground.

He said: The blackout, I do not think it is a civilised way of doing things. This transition has been on for two years, labours knew this day would come and it has come. Joe Ajero is my very good friend and broth-er, sincerely if I were in that position I will devise a new strategy. There is no point blacking out. The transi-tion is irreversible. Govern-ment has sold its assets so blackout is just a strategy probably to push govern-ment to do lot more.

Amadi advised that the option left for the union leaders was to continue to engage government to en-sure fair treatment of their workers, stressing that gov-ernment had exercised its sovereign right to sell its assets.

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, has called on the Federal Government to defer the proposed handover date of PHCNs successor compa-

nies to their new owners until agreements with the unions are met.

TUCs Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Simeso Ama-chree, made the call in La-gos yesterday.

He said: It will be unfair if the government went

ahead with the handover, without first settling all the workers.

What is the hurry? We are not opposed to privati-sation if it is in the best in-terest of Nigerians and the country.

But the workers must

be paid their entitlements before the handover, he said.

Amachree said that the government must be seen to deal fairly and transpar-ently with the workers, to avoid unpleasant conse-quences.

We will not hesitate to call out our other affiliates in other sectors to join in the struggle because an in-jury to one is an injury to all, he said.

Amachree said the unions would engage in

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net2 Thursday, October 31, 2013News

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Oduah: Okonjo-Iweala linked to cars scandal

Labour threatens nationwide blackout

Vice-President Namadi Sambo (right) and the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mr. Sam Ortom, at a meeting on the scheduled handover of PHCN successor companies in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 3Thursday, October 31, 2013

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Photo News National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, October 31, 20134

EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

The immediate past President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Sa-lami, yesterday declared for the umpteenth time that for-mer Chief Justice of Nige-ria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, instructed him to direct the panel of jus-tices that sat on the Sokoto State governorship election appeal to dismiss a petition lodged by the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Alhaji Moham-mad Maigari Dingyadi.

Justice Salami said the appeal in which Dingyadi challenged the decision of the Sokoto State Election Pe-tition Tribunal that upheld the election Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko was the source of disagree-ment between him and Justice Katsina-Alu, which culminated in his suspen-sion for alleged gross mis-conduct.

This was contrary to Jus-tice Katsina-Alus position that the issue at stake then

bordered on the leakage of the judgement of the Sokoto State governorship matter and attendant petitions aris-ing from it.

The former PCA spoke in Abuja during the public pre-sentation of a book in his honour entitled: Isa Ayo Salami: Through Life and Justice

The presentation of the book, which took place at the prestigious Nicon Lux-ury Hotel, preceded Justice Salamis valedictory court session which holds today at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

Dignitaries that attended the event included a presi-dential candidate of the defunct Congress for Pro-gressive Change (CPC), Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); National chieftain of the All Progressives Con-gress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the par-tys Interim National Chair-man, Chief Bisi Akande.

Other personalities were Governors of Zamfara (Al-haji Abdulazeez Yari), Ekiti (Dr. Kayode Fayemi) and

Osun (Alhaji Rauf Aregbe-sola).

Also in attendance were former Edo State Governor, Chief John Oyegun; for-mer Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari; for-mer Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and the Interim National Public-ity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Governor Yari, on behalf of the progressive gover-nors, launched 250 copies of the book with N55 mil-lion.

Recalling the circum-stances which he said led to his suspension, Justice Salami said: I was invited by the then CJN, Justice Katsina Alu, to his cham-bers on the 8th of February, 2010 using Justice Dahiru Nusdaphers phone, and when I got there, I met them together...He (Katsina-Alu) instructed me to direct the justices on the Sokoto Ap-peal to dismiss the appeal of the Democratic Peoples

Party (DPP) governorship candidate and I responded that I could not do so.

Contrary to the deposi-tion of Justice Katsina-Alu that he called me into his chambers in respect of leak-age in the judgement of So-koto matter which he gath-ered from petitions, there were no petitions against me or the justices in the So-koto Appeal Panel as at 8th day of February, 2010...

Ironically, the petitions in question only emerged on the 15th of February, 2010...after I had unequivocally in-formed the CJN that I would not direct a competent court on what its judgement should be.

After showing me the petitions...,he asked to dis-band the Sokoto Appeal Pan-el in view of the petitions, I responded that I would not disband the panel as the pe-titions did not contain any allegation of impropriety against the members.

The investigating panel set up by the NJC under Justice Umaru Abdullahi...

rejected his (former CJNs) claim that there was allega-tion of leakage in the peti-tions as well as his defence that the judgement had leaked. In spite of this, they concluded that he was act-ing in good faith.

I thank God that I re-fused to pervert the course of justice. Disbanding the panel or persuading them to dismiss the appeal was not the right thing to do. It would have offended the principle of the indepen-dence of judges which I so much respect and believe in. As a matter of fact, I will simply say that if I had done what the then Head of the Nigerian judiciary had wanted me to do, I would not have this honour and if at all this book was published, it would be shameful and hypocritical of me to stand before you and talk about honour and integrity - two things which define a fine judicial officer alongside the grasp of the law.

I have no regrets about what I did and the God of truth has vindicated me. All the NJC committees re-

ports have said Salami did no wrong as well as the com-mittee set up by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).

Meanwhile, a former CJN, Justice Muhammed Lawal Uwais, said that Jus-tice Salami has been unfair-ly treated by the NJC.

He added: It is disturb-ing that the NJC, whose membership consists of em-inent and experienced judg-es and lawyers, should act in the manner they treated Hon. Justice Salami. With his retirement taking effect on the 15th October, 2013 his suspension from office auto-matically came to an end.

Citing section 153 (2) of the 1999 constitution, Jus-tice Uwais concluded that it is the NJC, not the presi-dent, that exercises disci-plinary powers over judicial officers.

In his keynote address, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, charged the Fed-eral Government to resolve high-profile killings, includ-ing that of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige (SAN).

I was persecuted for refusing to pervert justice Salami

L-R: Head of Sales for Governance, Risk and Compliance, Thomson Reuters Africa, Alex Me-nage; Managing Director for Africa, Keith Nichols; Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri and Head of Primary Markets, London Stock Exchange, Mr. Ibukun Adebayo, at the 4th Annual Capital Markets and Regulations Seminar in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: National Secretary, Education Rights Campaign, Mr. Micheal Ogundele; National Co-ordi-nator, Mr. Hassan Soweto and Deputy National Co-ordinator, Mr. Lateef Adams, briefing news-men on the lingering ASUU strike in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (right) presenting the 2014 budget estimates to the state House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Pastor-in-Charge, His Grace Assembly, UMCA Church, Dr. Akindeji Falaki; Permanent Sec-retary, Ministry of Information, Dr. Sade Yemi-Esan and Chapel Director, Mr. Tosin Oladimeji, during the press conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the church in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National News

NJC treated ex-PCA president unfairly Uwais

peaceful and legal means to compel the government to honour its agreement with them.

We have decided to stage protests and eventu-ally embark on total strike, if the government reneges on its agreement, he said.

The contending issues include the non-payment of retirement savings to pen-sion fund administrators and non-remittance of dues of two per cent deducted from workers salaries to the unions.

Others are the non-payment of benefits of re-tirees who disengaged in 2011, non-regularisation of the service of some casual workers and the non-pay-ment of the severance pack-age to some of the workers.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government yesterday said it had paid N294.51bn to 40,093 disengaged staff of PHCN.

Out of this amount, N214.22bn was paid as sev-erance allowance while N80.290bn had been paid as pension and gratuity.

Briefing State House cor-respondents at the end of a meeting of stakeholders in the power sector held at the Presidential Villa, Igali explained that government would ensure that all PHCN

workers whose record had been validated were paid.

He noted that the pay-ment was coming ahead of the handover of the assets of the PHCN by private in-vestors tomorrow across the country.

According to him, re-cords of additional 605 workers have also been validated on Tuesday and their payments have just been made.

He explained that gov-ernment had taken steps to certify that authentic work-ers of PHCN were paid.

Igali added that the gov-ernment had issues with 1,478 workers in the Enugu DISCO as their biometric captures were corrupted by virus, stressing that a consultant had been en-gaged to recapture them.

The permanent secre-tary also explained that an additional 929 other PHCN workers in the country had their biometric data cor-rupted because of the large number of people involved.

Igali stated that those affected would be brought to Abuja at the expense of government to be recap-tured.

He said that 1,000 work-ers had duplications in their names and bank ac-counts while about 2,500 had no record that they

were PHCN workers, even though they had been iden-tified as casual workers that had been in the sys-tem.

Igali said that govern-ment had set up a technical committee to ensure that bonafide staff got their en-titlements.

He noted that the Nige-ria Labour Congress, NLC, had been cooperating in the payment exercise.

Investigations, however, showed that the new own-ers were in high spirit to take over the companies. For instance, four power companies were already set to take over the Port Harcourt Electricity Dis-tribution Company, PHED, as its new owners and op-erators.

According to the media office of the new owners, the handover ceremony will hold at the PHED head office in Port Harcourt and is expected to be presided over by the Permanent Sec-retary, Federal Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali, who will be representing President Goodluck Jona-than.

The new companys core functions will continue to be distribution and market-ing of electricity in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states.

proof cars, he responded. Members of the Com-

mittee who were miffed by FBNs account, said in the face of revelations that the cars prices were inflated, the bank shouldnt have ap-proved that much for NCAA.

The Committee mem-bers also allowed the Direc-tor General of NCAA, Mr. Fola Akinkuotu, to brief them, but later said they were unsatisfied with his submission, thereby order-ing the Ministers of Avia-tion and Finance to appear today at 10a.m., failure of which they would be sanc-tioned.

Section 89 of the 1999 Con-stitution allows parliament to exercise such powers.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Nkei-ruka Onyejeocha (Abia-PDP), in a commencement speech at the hearing, said the ministrys transaction with Coscharis and other partners was a serious dent on whatever efforts the government was putting in place to reform the system.

Its a sour point against the transformation agenda of Mr. President, and this Committee is determined to get to the bottom of this matter and unravel who did what and why, he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Aviation has assured Nigerians that it will

ensure a thorough investiga-tion of the alleged purchase of two armoured vehicles for the Minister of Aviation without due process.

The outcome of the probe will also lead to the punishment of anybody in-dicted in the deal.

Chairman of the com-mittee, Senator Hope Uzondinma, disclosed this yesterday at the resumed preliminary hearing on the crashed Associated Air-lines plane last month at the National Assembly.

He also said that FAAN told the committee that it bought 202 vehicles and another two armoured Lexus cars as well as two armoured Prado jeeps for the aviation minister and the managing director of the authority.

The lawmaker added that the FAAN manage-ment told the committee that each of the two ar-moured Lexus cars cost N60million while that of the two Toyota Prado cars was yet to be known.

He, however, assured that his committee would get to the root of the purchase, stressing that investigation was ongoing on the matter.

Uzodinma said: Investi-gation is still ongoing and it will not be fair for me to pre-empt it. FAAN did confirm that among the operational vehicles they purchased,

four of them are armoured vehicles, two for the manag-ing director and two for the minister.

We told them to go back and put everything in writ-ing and make a comprehen-sive statement on all ve-hicles purchased, that they bought 202 vehicles for dif-ferent operations. So, until they come back on Monday, we cannot rush into conclu-sion. The MD of FAAN said they did a funding arrange-ment with a commercial bank.

This investigation will be a very deep one so that at the end of the day, we do a holistic approach and look at how the sector will be re-positioned so that all anom-alies will be corrected.

This was just as the two agencies in the aviation sec-tor pledged that they were not involved in the scandal-ous purchase of any vehicle.

Appearing before the committee yesterday, the Director-General, Nigeria Metereological Agency, Mr. Anthony Anuforom, and his counterpart in the Acci-dent and Investigations Bu-reau, AIB, Capt. Mukhtar Usman, denied before the probe committee any in-volvement in the scandal.

They made the denial separately under oath while responding to questions on how many armoured vehi-cles they bought.

Labour threatens nationwide blackout

Senate threatens zero budget allocation to SURE-P CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Kayode Opeifa; Chairman, Yaba Local Community Development Area, Mr. Jide Jimoh; newly-elected Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Building, Lagos State, Mr. Asimiyu Bashir and his predecessor, Mr. Jelili Akinpelu, during the investiture of Bashir in Lagos, yesterday.

Oduah: Okonjo-Iweala linked to cars scandal

fend the use of the funds appropriated under the programme.

A visibly enraged Chair-man of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on SURE-P and Deputy Senate Leader, Ab-dul Ningi, while address-ing journalists at the Na-

tional Assembly yesterday chided the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onoleme-men, over his inability to appear before the commit-tee following an earlier in-vitation.

The minister was to ap-pear before the committee to explain how his minis-

try expended N30bn SURE-P funds, appropriated to the ministry in the 2013 Appropriation Act.

But Onolememen, the Minister of State, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda and the permanent secretary did not show up, after keeping members of the committee

waiting for over one-and-half hours and without any reason.

Ningi said: A huge amount of money, totalling over N30bn, was allocated to the Ministry of Works under the SURE-P. We ac-cordingly invited the min-ister to render an account

of the activities of his min-istry under the SURE-P from 2012 to 2013.

Today, we sat from 2p.m. till about 3:30p.m., waiting to hear from them. But neither the minister, his minister of state or the permanent secretary showed up till now.

We sent a letter to them on October 22 which they acknowledged on October 23. This showed that they are aware of todays meet-ing.

The President has ap-pointed the wrong people into public offices. We take strong exemption to any minister who thinks he or she is above the law. What they did was a display of crass lawlessness.

I want to assure you that these ministers will not frustrate this commit-tee. They are trying to un-dermine the government. By their failure to appear, they are trying to under-mine the President and the Senate that cleared them.

The job of this commit-tee, by inviting the minis-ters, was for them to render an account of their activi-ties and also state their dif-ficulties.

We take a strong ex-emption to any minister who thinks he is above the law. We are going to use ev-ery available legal instru-ment against them.

This is last time this committee will condone such an act from any min-ister who fails to honour our invitation without any genuine reason.

By failing to appear, they are trying to shroud their activities in secrecy. We may not appropriate fund to the SURE-P any longer because of these people.

It is no longer business as usual. People must be accountable for their ac-tions, he said.

Ningi, however, said an-other invitation would be sent to the minister and his deputy.

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 5Thursday, October 31, 2013 News

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net6 Thursday, October 31, 2013 News

OBIORA IFOHABUJA

In a move seen to deal with rebels in its fold, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday ordered the inauguration of disciplinary committees at the state and zonal levels in the country.

The party leadership said the inauguration be-came imperative in order to ensure discipline and loyalty at all levels.

The PDP National Pub-licity Secretary, Chief Oli-

sa Metuh, disclosed this in a statement.

He said: In keeping with the focused deter-mination of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to ensure discipline and loyalty at all levels, the National Chairman, Al-haji Bamanga Tukur, has directed the party leader-ship at the zones, states, local government areas and wards to establish dis-ciplinary committees in accordance with the pro-visions of Section 57(1) (2)

constitution of the party.The committees are to

strictly comply with the pro-visions of the PDP constitu-tion and the principles of equity and fair hearing in dealing with all disciplinary cases at their various levels.

Meanwhile, the new PDP said that investiga-tions had traced the ru-mour that the Niger State Governor, Babangida Ali-yu, has resigned his mem-bership from its fold to the faction loyal to Tukur.

In a statement, the new PDP spokesperson, Chief

Eze Chukwuemeka, said the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led faction was firmly united and that there was no crack whatsoever in its ranks.

He said: This reassur-ance has become necessary in view of the antics of de-tractors desperate to deceive the public and to sow the seed of discord in our midst.

These enemies of de-mocracy routinely plant sto-ries in the media to the effect that our ranks have become depleted but such stories inevitably end up being ex-posed as mere tissues of lies.

Crisis: PDP raises disciplinary committees at all levels

TORDUE SALEMABUJA

The House of Represen-tatives has passed a bill seeking to punish any form of discrimination or stigmatisation against People Living With HIV/AIDS, PLWHA, in Nigeria.

The sponsor, Hon. Joseph Kigbu (APC-Nasarawa), presented the report of the proposal entitled: A Bill for An Act to make Provisions for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS-Based Stigmatisation, Discrimination and to pro-tect the Human Rights and

Dignity of People Living with HIV/AIDS.

The clause by clause consideration of the bill, which was done at the committee of the whole, was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, as the 35 clauses of the bill were adopted.

Kigbu, a medical doctor, said the bill would go very far in improving healthcare for PLWHA as it addressed issues of stigmatisation and discrimination against victims of the disease.

He said: The bill, if passed, will have a huge

positive impact on HIV/AIDS healthcare in Nige-ria since it seeks to address the issue of discrimina-tion and stigmatisation of PLWHA both in the work-place and our homes.

According to the lawmak-er, the bill gives increased commitment to donor fund-ing from bilateral partners in fighting the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the country.

He added: The bill draws inspiration from modern law as similar laws have been ad-opted in other countries.

Highlights of the bill are that PLWHA will not be com-

pelled to reveal their HIV/AIDS status before gaining employment and breast-feed-ing mothers living with the virus will be afforded rea-sonable accommodation in the work place.

It also proposes that if passed in a country belong-ing to a specific sub-region it remains acceptable within countries of the same region.

Similarly, the bill for an act to establish the Fed-eral Capital Water Board was adopted.

The board is expected to wield powers to acquire loans for development activities.

OBIORA IFOHABUJA

The Federal Govern-ment is making ef-forts to reduce the cost of internet accessibili-ty by Nigerians and to boost access across the country.

The Minister of Com-munication, Ms Mobolaji Johnson, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, when she visited the Peoples Demo-cratic Party, PDP, National Working Committee, NWC.

Johnson visited the NWC to present a score card of the ministrys ac-tivities under her leader-ship in the last one year.

Meanwhile, she blamed the high cost of internet accessibility on the de-mand which she noted ex-ceeded its supply.

The minister, however, added that efforts were being put in place to reduce the cost.

She said: If demand exceeds supply, it makes it very expensive and what we are trying to do is to increase the supply to match the de-mand. This would certainly bring down the price.

This, Johnson said, could be related to SMS which used to cost N10 per SMS at the inception of GSM service in the country, but today, it cost only N4 be-cause of increased competi-tion among operators.

The minister, however, decried the low pace of importation of software into the country.

Johnson said if improved, it would boast activities in the

ICT sector as well as bring down the cost of internet ac-cessibility in the country.

He said: The software importation into the country has really not moved much because we are just starting and it would take some time before it is developed.

She therefore called for more participation of local companies in the software importation to increase supply.

Johnson said the minis-try was presently subsidis-ing cost of roll out of infra-structure to rural areas.

This, according to her, is to make it commercially valuable to would-be glob-al network investors in ru-ral communities.

She also said efforts were being made to get the rural population to benefit from financial services, adding that NIPOST was being used to achieve this objective.

The minister added that the ministry had created a National Research Educa-tion Network to connect universities in the coun-try to university commu-nities across the world.

She said the first phase of the project was being funded by the Step-B proj-ect of the World Bank.

The minister disclosed that about 10,000,000 dollars had been committed to the project by the World Bank.

She said that contrary to speculations, the ministry was not phasing out fixed lines but stressed that de-mand was more on mobile telephoning and mobile lines.

Reps pass bill curbing discrimination against PLWHA

FGll soon reduce internet accessibility cost Minister

L-R: Director-General, Budget Office, Mr. Bright Okogwu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali and Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, briefing newsmen after a preparatory meeting on the scheduled handover of PHCN successor companies in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

The latest of such fic-tions was the report which made the rounds yester-day purporting that Dr. Babangida Aliyu, gover-nor of Niger State, had re-signed from the new PDP.

Of course, Governor Aliyu, who is also leader of the Group of 7 (G7) Progressive Governors, was quick to rubbish the reports and to restate his commitment towards the actualisation of our lofty vision to reclaim the PDP from the hands of the anti-democratic forces that have hijacked it and reform the party in keep-ing with the vision of its founding fathers.

Chukwuemeka said the PDP faction noted with hap-piness the short-lived cel-

ebration by the Tukur fac-tion over the false report, which betrayed their culpa-bility in the fabrication of the discredited report.

He said: For the avoid-ance of doubt, the new PDP under the leadership of Alhaji Aubakar Kawu Baraje is made up of self-less and committed patri-otic Nigerians desirous of building a new Nigeria as envisaged by the founding fathers, using our great party as the starting point.

Contrary to the belief in some quarters, we are not in this struggle for personal gains. Therefore, anyone waiting to see one new PDP leader or the other dump the party for pecuniary consid-erations should be prepared to wait forever.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Moham-med Abubakar, yes-terday appealed to commer-cial banks not to delay the payment of police salaries.

The Force Public Rela-tions Officer, FPRO, CSP Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

Mba said Abubakar

made the appeal at a meet-ing with representatives of First Bank, Skye Bank, United Bank for Africa, UBA and Zenith Bank.

The IG described as unacceptable, a situation where government re-leased money meant for police salaries as early as middle of the month, only

for the banks to deliber-ately delay payment till the following month.

He said the delay ex-posed the officers and men of the force to undue pressures and extreme difficulties, saying that it was worst conspiracy against the force.

Abubakar informed the

banks of the dire conse-quences; including but not limited to a reconsid-eration of the existing re-lationship between the po-lice and the banks, if the trend is not corrected.

Mba disclosed that the banks apologised and pledged to ensure speedy dis-bursement of police salaries.

Stop delaying police salaries, IG tells banks

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 7NewsThursday, October 31, 2013

ROTIMI FADEYIABUJA

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that the pres-ent security challenge and other crises facing the country have greatly af-fected the pace of the na-tions development.

Speaking while receiving the 2013 Africa Peace Award from the United Religions Initiatives (URI) at the Presi-dential Villa in Abuja yes-terday, President Jonathan said no one can talk of eco-

nomic development without internal stability.

The award ceremony was held on the day the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting didnt hold as some of the ministers were yet to return from their trip to Israel.

According to Jonathan, Nigerians must embrace peace so that the country would not be left behind in terms of development and progress.

This crisis is a major stumbling block to achiev-ing our target at the time

we want to achieve it, we will get there, but we may use a longer period to get there if we continue to have crisis, he said.

The President noted that; You cannot talk about de-velopment when you are fighting; even when coun-tries are fighting, at the end of the day, they will still come to the dialogue table to resolve their differences.

Crises are hardly solved through the barrel of the gun, even if you have the most sophisticated weapons to fight, the parties will still come to negotiate, other-wise there wont be peace.

Let me call on Nigerians, especially our youths, if you come to the southern part of this country, you hear about militancy, kidnapping etc and if you go to the north, you have Boko Haram.

For us to develop our

country, we must all em-brace peace. There is no way the government can perform magic when the people are shooting guns, because economic growth and development is in the hands of the private sector.

It is no longer in the hands of government all over the world, it is not a socialist system where gov-ernment provides every-thing, he added

According to him, gov-ernment provides the en-abling environment for the private sector to drive the economy, stressing that gov-ernment cannot create jobs without the private sector.

The President said his government would en-courage small and me-dium scale businesses in order to create jobs and achieve economic devel-opment.

TOLA AKINMUTIMIABUJA

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday said that the ongoing investigation of allegations of corporate governance breaches at Ecobank Transnational International (ETI) had not been concluded.

SECs position on the investigation was despite the announcement by the bank that its Chairman, Mr. Kolapo Lawson, would step down.

The commission, in a statement by its management, said the clarification became necessary in the face of persistent inquiries from domestic and foreign investors and stakeholders about the state of the investigations.

The commission had on September 3, confirmed that the bank was being investigated on grounds of corporate governance after its

Executive Director, Risk and Finance, Laurence do Rego, informed the regulator that the Chief Executive Officer, Thierry Tanoh and Chairman, Kolapo Lawson, planned to sell some assets below market value.

Do Rego said she had been pressured to write off debts owed by a business headed by Lawson among other allegations bordering on corporate governance, which necessitated the ongoing investigations over its 2012 Annual Report and Accounts.

The bank had in March this year said its 2012 pre-tax profit rose to its highest level of $348 million. The core element of the SEC ordered investigations is on alleged material misstatement of facts on the banks performance during the financial year.

All the banks executive directors were reportedly asked to explain their roles in the allegations levelled against them by Do Rego, who was suspended earlier.

Security challenge, threat to development Jonathan

Ecobanks investigation not yet concluded SEC

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nige-rian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mr. Mustafa Bello, has sought the inclusion of Joint Ven-tures (JV) in the regulatory scope of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

ICRCs focus on Public Private Partnership (PPP) to the exclusion of joint ventures is something that should be reviewed in the interest of the nation.

JV should be seen as a specie of PPP and should not be left unregulated, the NIPC boss said yester-day, when the leadership of ICRC paid him a courte-

sy visit in his Abuja office.He said his commission

was working on some in-formed opinion on how government agencies could integrate their op-erations in such a manner that would attract foreign investments.

The opinion, which he said would be made avail-able to ICRC, would help to shape the governments in-vestment drive process and also make the job of both NIPC and ICRC easier.

We tried the same ap-proach with the Nigerian Custom Service and today, the outcome is not just ef-ficient business facilita-tion, but also enhanced revenue, he said.

CHARLES OKEKEAWKA

Anambra State gover-nor, Peter Obi, yes-terday, moved to ful-fill his promise to spend N40 billion in what he termed the final push towards ac-celerating the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the release of another batch of 100 buses to public and mission-owned second-ary schools in the state.

The governor had earlier

on disbursed N2 billion for the rehabilitation of gov-ernment-owned primary schools; another N1.5 bil-lion for the rehabilitation of missionary-owned pri-mary schools.

Also, the governor has released N20 million each for the rehabilitation of all secondary schools in the state; N1billion for equipping libraries and laboratories in all the secondary schools in the state.

NIPC boss wants joint ventures in PPP programmes

Obi releases another batch of 100 buses to schools

PUBLIC NOTICEIDERA UNIVERSAL MARKET, MAGBORO

THE attention of our Clients have been drawn to a radio jingle and handbills issued by some unknown persons and companies advertising the above market and inviting innocent members of the general public to make money deposits for subscription to same.

WE HEREBY issue this notice on behalf of our Clients-Addright Investment Limited of No, 4 Adeshina Adeleke Street, off Admiralty Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State, who is the Financier of the above project by virtue of a Tripartite Development Agreement entered into by our Clients, Noble BC Nig Ltd (Developers) and Idera Universal Marketers Ltd (Project Owners) that the said radio jingle and handbills does not emanate from it.Our Client is the Financier of the project and make haste to state that all the claims in the said handbills including the pictures displayed are false and calculated to mislead and defraud the members of the public.

The names cited in the publication as the purported Owners/Developers of the said market, viz Phaseplus Property Development Ltd, Maverick Equinox Ltd and Adeyemi Ashaolu-Fowowe & Co has no relationship whatsoever, let alone title to the market in question.

ACCORDINGLY, we hereby warn the members of the general public to discountenance the said publication and stay off anything that have to do with the said companies in relation to the market.

Whosoever deals with them in relation to the said market does so at his or her own risk.Lekan Awolusi Esq.

(Counsel to the Financier of the project)Lekan Awolusi & Co. Suite 14, Otunba Actor Plaza,

Behind AP Petrol Station, Awoyaya 08033068927, 08051263885lekanawolusi @gmail.com

LOSS OF DOCUMENTThis is to inform the general public that the original Certi cate of Occupancy in respect of plot No.65 /65 / 1990AB dated 8th of September, 1990 in respect of Land situate at Alhaji Mutiu Aluko Street, Ago Palace Way, Oshodi / Isolo, Lagos is missing. Whoever nds it should contact Se atu Itelia Osikhekha of No. 53, Moronfolu Street, Akoka, Lagos

Signed: Se atu Itelia Osikhekha

L-R: Former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo; President, Wawa Peoples Congress, Chief Emeka Ani and Secretary-General, Chief Yahaya Ndu, during a presentation to the National Dialogue Advisory Committee in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

MURITALA AYINLA

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday presented a budget of N489.69 billion to the state House of As-sembly for ratification.

This was as the governor faulted the Federal Govern-ment over what he called late approval of the $200 million World Bank loan to fund some capital projects in the state.

The 2014 budget esti-mates show a drop by N10 billion from 2013 budget,

which is N499.604 billion. Fashola described the

drop as part of the state governments policy since the budget, according to him, marks the last finan-cial estimates that will be fully implemented by his administration.

This is the first time the government recorded a drop in its budget in 14 years since the democratic dispensation in 1999.

A summary of the bud-get showed that N234.665

billion goes to recurrent expenditure while the capi-tal expenditure will gulp N255.025 billion.

According the budget proposal, the capital to re-current ratio will be 52:48 as against 58:42 in the 2013 budget.

The sectoral allocation showed that general pub-lic service takes N100.215 billion; public order and safety, N17,977 billion; eco-nomic affairs, N160.046 billion and environmental

protection, N39.727 billion.The sum of N50.537 bil-

lion is budgeted for housing and community amenities; health, N37.8 billion; recre-ation, culture and religion, N3.482 billion; education, N77.423 billion and social protection, N2.466 billion.

Fashola said during the presentation that the budget had total personnel cost/total revenue of 19 per cent; total personnel cost/IGR, 27 per cent and person-nel cost as percentage of re-

MURITALA AYINLA

Officials of Lagos State Health Fa-cility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, have arrested a 46-year-old man for pa-rading himself as a doctor and operating a hospital.

The arrest came barely a week after the state gov-ernment discovered 675 unregistered medical fa-cilities and announced the closure of 80 substandard hospitals.

The fake doctor, Mr. Billy Nkechinyere, who hails from Imo State, until his arrest, allegedly oper-ated a nameless health fa-cility where he employed the services of auxiliary nurses to treat people.

It was learnt that the combined team of HEFA-MAA led by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Jimmy Asu-ni, other government of-ficials, stormed Bucknor Street at Jakande Estate, Isheri-Olofin area of La-gos, to arrest the man, fol-lowing a tip off from mem-

bers of the public.It was leant that the

auxiliary nurses fled when they saw HEFAMAA and task force officials within the hospitals premises while Nkechinyere was arrested along with the guard in the house that was allegedly converted to a hospital.

The suspects were de-tained at the task force office at Alausa, while the hospitals premise was shut by the government officials.

Confirming the arrest, the task force Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, Chief Su-perintendent of Police, said the guard that was arrested with the suspect had been giving useful in-formation that would be used as evidence against the suspect in court.

Sulaiman added that the suspect had told his nurses to run away be-fore the task force could get to the location of the hospital, saying that the mans house was also vis-ited where the police got

MURITALA AYINLA

Lagos State Gover-nor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday expressed sadness over the death of former Vice President and one-time military administrator of Lagos and Kano states, Rear Admiral Mike Okahi Akhigbe.

In a letter of condolence to the family of the de-ceased, Fashola described the late Akhigbe as a true patriot who served the na-tion with distinction in several important capaci-

ties.He said: I can state

without equivocation that his contribution to the de-velopment of Lagos State and the development of Nigeria as a whole cannot be quantified.

While praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased, the governor said: On be-half of my wife, Dame Emmanuella, the gov-ernment and people of Lagos State, please ac-cept my condolences and be assured that we are in prayers.

current expenditure of 37 per cent, saying that a zero deficit financing require-ment was proposed for the 2014 budget.

He said: Because this is the last full year budget that my administration will implement, it represents a slight reduction in budget size when compared with the 2013 budget. Its focus will be to complete ongoing projects and consolidate on the gains we have made.

According to him, the sectoral highlights of the 2014 budget are: General public service, pensions, residents registration and issuance of permanent res-idents cards, implementa-tion of public procurement law, public order and safety, computerisation/automa-tion of judicial procedures including e-filing, comple-tion of on-going High/Magistrate Courts projects, renovation/rehabilitation of courtrooms and judges chambers and improving safety and disaster manage-ment.

Meanwhile, the governor bemoaned the delay in the approval of the World Bank loan, saying 2012 and 2013

useful documents to prove that the suspect was oper-ating an illegal hospital without name.

He said: His guard has been arrested and he has given us evidence that the man operated an illegal hospital. We went to his house on Tuesday and we got useful documents.

Sulaiman, however, warned the public to be

wary of fake medical personnel parading them-selves as doctors, assuring that the task force would not relent in dealing with such criminals.

He said the suspect would be charged as soon as the magistrates resume from their training, add-ing that he would be ar-raigned at the Special Of-fences Court at Alausa.

Says FGs delay of World Bank loans hampers progress tranches of the loan were frustrated by Federal Gov-ernment agencies.

While thanking the Fed-eral Government for giv-ing the approval, Fashola frowned over the timing of the endorsement, say-ing the state had to borrow money at shorter tenures of seven years and higher interest rates of 17 per cent and 14 per cent, instead of one per cent and 40 year tenure.

The governor, however, reiterated his administra-tions commitment to deliv-ering dividends of democ-racy to the people.

He added that the budget would also focus on imple-mentation of various IPP projects, development of enterprise zone in areas such as: Gberigbe, Ikorodu and Upgrading of Yaba In-dustrial Park, advancement of 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway/Blue Rail Line Corridor, comple-tion of other ongoing road construction projects and pedestrian bridges, Agric-YES, Accelerated Food Ex-pansion Programme: rice, animal husbandry, root crops, among others.

KUNLE AZEEZ

Nigerias leading telecoms GSM service provider, Globacom, has slashed the tariff on Blackberry plans by half to liberalise access to the modern tool for so-cial and business network-ing.

Announcing the new tariff in Lagos yesterday, the company said in a statement that in addition to the drastic tariff drop, there is also considerable increase in the data allow-ance for both Blackberry 10 plans and the generic Blackberry plans.

The companys Coor-dinator, Marketing, Ad-eniyi Olukoya, disclosed in the statement that the Absolute Month platform which hitherto was N2,800 with 3GB data, was now N1,000 with 3GB data.

The Absolute Week plan goes for N500 with 700MB and the COMO-NTH and COWEEK plans go for N899 and N400 with data allowance of 3GB and 700MB, respectively.

He said: Globacom is

the first network to intro-duce Blackberry service in Nigeria and we have continued to maintain the lead by offering sub-scribers the best and most pocket-friendly Blackber-ry rates. Glo always has exciting offers for both existing and potential cus-tomers.

We are offering these new tariffs to encour-age Nigerians to use data more frequently. This will make life more abundant for our subscribers.

According to Olukoya, the new Blackberry sub-scription tariffs are for both old and new custom-ers.

He added: Nigerians will recall that Globa-coms entrance into the nations telecommunica-tions brought about dy-namic changes. We have a commitment to continue to delight Nigerians and make telephone services not only available but also affordable.

The drastic reduction in the subscription tariffs for all Blackberry plans is one of such.

Fashola presents N489.69bn 2014 budget to Assembly

46-year-old fake doctor arrested in Lagos

Akhigbes death sad, says Lagos gov

L-R: Former Oyo State Governors, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the 8th day Fidau prayer for Olunloyos mother, Madam Tejumola Bintu Olunloyo, in Ibadan, yesterday. Glo slashes Blackberry tariffs

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.netThursday, October 31, 2013South West8

KEMI OLAITANIBADAN

The Alarere resi-dence of the Peo-ples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ibadan, Senator Lekan Balogun, was on Tues-day evening razed by fire.

The fire, it was learnt, destroyed property worth several millions of naira.

National Mirror learnt that the inferno,

which started at about 6:35pm, lasted for about an hour before it was fi-nally put off.

Though no life was lost in the incident, the cause could not be ascer-tained as at the time of filing in this report.

It took neighbours and other sympathisers, who stormed the residence of the Ibadan High Chief, many minutes to put out the fire.

Balogun, a political bigwig, opposed the sec-

ond term ambition of former Oyo State Gover-nor Adebayo Alao-Akala.

During a visit to the house yesterday after-noon, many sympathis-ers were seen discussing the incident.

Addressing journal-ists over the incident, Balogun said: I wasnt there. I got a call from my guard who said the fire was much. got in touch with the police sta-tion in the area.

The Divisional Police

Officer (DPO) called the fire brigade. I also got in touch with the fire brigade. I had about 40 phone calls. Within 10 minutes, everybody in Alarere trooped out with buckets of water.

Before the fire bri-gade came, the people had put off the fire. Ev-erything was completely destroyed. It happened around 6.15p.m. Every item of furniture in the living room and other things got badly dam-

aged. The deck was also affected because the irons are now exposed. I cant really estimate the property I lost to the in-cident.

I thank God that the incident didnt happen in the night. It would have been very disastrous if not for the neighbours that came to help me. I enjoyed the love of my neighbours. They were simply wonderful. May God be with all of them too.

ADEOLU ADEYEMO OSOGBO

Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commis-sion (OSSIEC), Mr. Segun Oladitan, yesterday assured that the forthcoming local government election would be credible and transpar-ent.

Oladitan, who spoke at a meeting with member of the newly inaugurated board of the electoral body in Osogbo, the state capital, urged politicians to abide by the rules guiding the conduct of the poll.

Stressing that OSSIEC would not let the people down, the chairman said: Transparency and cred-ibility are our watchwords; we re-affirm that we will not, in any way, disappoint the people of Osun.

We are set to conduct a free, fair and transparent local government election and we will not let our peo-ple down. We are committed to the state and its advance-ment and we will uphold all the rules and principles of the election to ensure that things are done properly.

Oladitan noted that OSSIEC members had made their marks in their various callings and as such would not engage in acts that would tarnish their image.

He stressed that the Com-mission would adhere to the principle of one man, one vote with a view to making the peoples votes count.

Oladitan said: The Com-mission will not serve the interest of any person or group no matter the pres-sure from either politicians or any self-seeking individ-ual.

He, therefore, solicited for the support of all stake-holders, particularly the media to ensure the success of the poll.

FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

Six naval ratings at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School lo-cated along the Onikolobo Road in Abeokuta, the Ogun State, yesterday beat one of the schools teach-ers to coma.

The victim, identified as Rasidi Ibrahim, a Se-nior Food and Nutrition teacher, was beaten for al-legedly disrespecting one of the naval personnel.

The quick intervention of the Commandant of the school, Commodore M.A Olatunji, saved the teacher from being killed by the

naval personnel.The Commandant also

ordered that the teacher should be transferred from the schools sickbay where he was initially admitted to the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, for comprehensive treat-ment.

The schools Sports Mas-ter, Mr. Mathew Oduronbi, who witnessed the inci-dent, said trouble started when Ibrahim and the na-val personnel were lurked in an argument before one of them, identified as Ali-yu, attempted to drag the victim out of his car.

Oduronbi said: I saw them arguing; it happened

around 7:15am and the ar-gument dragged for a short time. I felt that it was a mi-nor argument, so I did not intervene. I later saw Aliyu dragging Mr. Ibrahim out of his car.

The sports master added that one of the naval per-sonnel, who was simply identified as Oyerinde, lat-er instructed Aliyu to beat the teacher up.

According to the wit-ness, another personnel, identified as Shodiya, alighted from his vehicle and joined his colleagues to pounce on Ibrahim with their belts and other harm-ful objects.

Narrating his ordeal,

Ibrahim, who spoke from the excruciating pains at the hospital bed, demanded justice from the authority.

He complained of pains in all parts his body, par-ticularly on the head, back and ribs.

When contacted, the Schools Commandant, Olatunji, told journalists on phone that he needed to get a clearance from the authority before he could make any com-ment.

He said: Before I can talk on any incident, I have to get a clearance from the authority and I also need to see the per-son I am talking to.

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

The Federal Govern-ment is planning robust exit pack-age for beneficiaries of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) to make them self-reliant.

Chairman of SURE-P Implementation Commit-tee in Ekiti State, Hon. Femi Akinyemi, said the exit strategy, which would be carried out before the end of the year, was ini-tiated to enable the ben-eficiaries have something doing by the time they exit from the programme.

In a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, Akinyemi said: Already, 24 of them have benefited from training by the Fed-eral Government and after the training, they are to be empowered to start their own trade so that they can be self-reliant and also become employers of la-bour.

The SURE-P boss said Ekiti youths would be grateful to President Good-luck Jonathan over his transformational agenda, according to him, impact-ed their lives positively.

He said the Federal Government had begun payment of the arrears of three months stipend owed the 3,000 beneficia-ries of the SURE-P Com-munity Services, Youths and Women Employment Scheme in Ekiti State.

Akinyemi, who stated that one month stipend of N10, 000 had already been paid into the bank accounts of the benefi-ciaries, assured that the remaining two months ar-rears would be cleared be-fore the end of next week.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, yes-terday gave reasons Gov-ernor Kayode Fayemis administration should be allowed to continue be-yond October 16 next year.

She said the governor has kept faith with the pact he signed with the electorate in 2007 and at the rerun in 2010.

The pact, according to her, was encapsulated in the administrations Roadmap to Ekiti Recov-ery tagged: Eight-Point Agenda.

ADEOLU ADEYEMOOSOGBO

Six persons arrested by the Osun State Police Command in connec-tion with the recent crisis that occurred penultimate Sunday between Oba-Oke and Oba-Ile were yesterday arraigned before a Magis-trates Court sitting in Os-ogbo for alleged arson.

The palace of Oloba of Oba-Oke was alleged to have been razed during the violence.

The accused persons - Oladele Tunji (28), Azeez Onifade (60), Raaji Abdula-hi (47), Salami Kayode(46), Olarewaju Adekale (40) and Azeez Ogunbola(40) - were also accused of attempt-ing to take the lives of some residents - Suliamon

Taofeek, Durojaye Saheed, Rahman Abiona and Kosa-motu Olalekan - when they fired several gun shots at them.

Other accusations lev-eled against them were that they razed down 15 build-ings, two vehicles, six mo-torcycles and other proper-ties belonging to residents of Oba-Oke community.

Though the six accused

persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges leveled against them and urged the court to temper justice with mercy, the police prosecu-tor, Mr. Promise Akanwa, told the court that the sus-pects committed offences contrary to and punishable by sections 24,516,320,443 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, vol II, Laws of Osun State.

Fire razes Lekan Baloguns residence in Ibadan FG plans exit package for SURE-P benefi ciaries

OSSIEC promises credible, transparent LG poll

Naval personnel beat teacher to coma in Ogun

Six arraigned for arson over Osun communal clash

L-R: Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), during a book presentation in honour of Justice Ayo Salami titled: Through Life and Justice, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net 9Thursday, October 31, 2013 South West

GEORGE OPARAABIA

Senator representing Abia North Senato-rial District in the National Assembly, Uche Chukwumerije (PDP), has decried what he termed the predicament of Igbo ahead the 2015 general elections.

Speaking in Ohafia Lo-cal Government Area of Abia State at the maiden Abia North Youth Empow-erment Initiative, Chuk-wumerije said the condi-tion of Ndigbo was pitiable.

The lawmaker, who spoke on 2015: Before Ndigbo lies an open grave, said the people from the South-East were in a quag-mire, having been reduced to second class citizens in a country they gave their

all to build.He said that for 43 years,

Igbo had struggled for self-realisation and to re-establish themselves in a country they contributed immensely for its inde-pendence, unification and development, adding that the people had lost their inheritance.

He said: The main problem we face is how to make our people move from second class citizens and produce a President of Nigeria.

I shout about it in the Senate. We are yet to re-gain our position 43 years after the Civil War.

Chukwumerije said economic and infrastruc-ture development in the South-East was at its low-est ebb compared to what obtained in other zones of

the country.He said: When they

sited petrochemical indus-tries, fertiliser industries and other major companies in the country not even a single one went to the South-East. All develop-ment efforts are concentrat-ed outside the South-East.

The legislator said the situation had made the people to feel not wanted and dejected.

He accused the Federal Character Commission of enforcing a discrimina-tory quota system on the country and promoting mediocrity.

Chukwumerije said the country had got to a situa-tion where citizens needed to be given equal opportu-nities to excel, adding that a situation where cut-off-marks and conditions for

entry into federal institu-tions varied among states was no longer acceptable.

On the aim of the em-powerment programme, he said it had become im-perative for political of-fice holders to rally their people and give back to society in the absence of meaningful development.

The senator said his target was to make Abia North the backbone of skills manpower not only in the South-East but in the country.

Items given out to ben-eficiaries drawn from the five local government ar-eas of Abia North include 15 hair dressing kits, 15 generating sets, 15 mo-torcycles, 15 sewing ma-chines, 15 laptop comput-ers/recharge card printers and five taxi cabs.

CHRIS NJOKUOWERRI

Academic Staff Union of Poly-technics, ASUP, has resolved to call off its strike following a fair deal between it and the Federal Gov-ernment.

It was gathered yes-terday that the union may suspend the strike after its 12th National Delegates Conference holding at the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede,

Imo State.According to a re-

liably source in the union, the govern-ment had met up to 70 per cent of ASUPs de-mands, adding that the industrial action would be suspended once the election was concluded.

The source said the leadership sustained the action because they wanted to be re-elected.

He said: That is why they want to continue the strike to stifle oppo-sition until after their re-

election.The strike is all polit-

ical; I am sure that once the national president and his team are re-elect-ed after the conference he will announce the sus-pension of the strike.

However, addressing the delegates, the ASUP National President, Mr. Chibuzo Asomugha, vowed that the strike would be sustained until the system was sanitised.

He said the strike was not against the manage-ment of the polytech-

nics, but we are fighting for the welfare of mem-bers and development of facilities in the polytech-nics across the country.

Asomugha urged members to sustain the industrial action, adding that, we will continue with the struggle until we win. We are strug-gling so that the system can stand firm.

Although successes are being recorded in some of our demands, the strike is an ongoing one.

DENNIS AGBOENUGU

The Enugu State In-dependent National Electoral Commis-sion, ENSIEC, has told the electorate in the November 2 council polls not to expect the result sheets to be dis-played at polling centres on the day of election.

The ENSIEC Chairman, Bonny Eneh, who made the disclosure yesterday, said people should not expect sensitive materials like re-sult sheets to be displayed to them before voting could commence.

He added that such mate-rials were usually brought in midway into the election to prevent somebody from snatching and destroying them.

The chairman therefore warned that it was wrong for people to insist on see-ing the result sheets before they could allow the elec-tion to commence.

He said: It is a funda-mental issue, you do not display result sheets to non-members or appointed ad hoc staff.

Result sheets are shared by Supervising Pre-siding Officers, SPOs, and that is between the hours

mid-way in the election, so for anybody to demand it, it is against the rules of the game because the hazards still remain that people can snatch the result sheet and destroy it.

Eneh disclosed that the commission yesterday took delivery of 38 iron boxes containing the sensitive electoral materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Enugu office.

He said: We have materi-als such as ballot papers, re-sult sheets and every other material that is used during election that is sensitive.

The chairman, however, declined to name where the electoral materials were printed, saying it is not for public consumption.

Eneh added that ENSIEC had put necessary security measures in place to safe-guard the materials on till the election day.

He also noted that all necessary arrangements had been made to conduct a successful poll.

The ENSIEC chairman also said that some opposi-tion parties had dragged the commission to court on issues of disqualification of candidates, noting that the matter would come up today.

Ebonyi State Govern-ment yesterday shut down seven schools that were operating illegally.

Commissioner for Education, Mr. Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo, made the announcement at a news conference in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Chibueze-Agbo said the schools, which were also substandard, were operat-ing without the requisite approval from the ministry.

He disclosed that the schools lacked essential learning facilities such libraries, science labora-tories, introductory tech-nology workshops, sports fa-cilities as well as functional administrative blocks.

The commissioner said these facilities were pre-scribed by the extant laws guiding the establishment of schools in the state.

Chibueze-Agbo frowned at the poor and deplorable environment in which some of the schools were operating, describing the situation as grossly unac-

ceptable.He said: The commit-

tee on closure of illegal and substandard schools con-ducted an assessment tour of private schools operat-ing in the state.

The committee was horrified by some discover-ies. In some of the affected schools, our children were packed like sardines under horrible and squalid condi-tions.

The committee also dis-covered that these schools lacked adequate accommo-dation to cater for the num-ber of pupils and students they enrolled.

A classroom in some of the schools contains no fewer than 60 pupils.

Besides, the commis-sioner said all the teaching staff in the affected schools did not possess requisite teaching qualifications.

He added: The National Council on Education has made the National Certifi-cate in Education, NCE, the least teaching qualification in the country.

2015: Igbos situation pathetic Chukwumerije

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Sen. Aloysius Etuk; Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; Director-General, Pencom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu and others, at the inauguration of the South East Zonal Office of Pension Commission in Awka, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

ASUP may end strike after delegates conference

Ebonyi shuts seven illegal primary, secondary schools

Dont expect sensitive materials at polling centres -ENSIEC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net10 Thursday, October 31, 2013South-East

SEBASTINE EBHUOMHANBENIN

Edo State governor, Adams Oshiom-hole, yesterday re-acted to comments cred-ited to Col. Tony Nyiam (retired), a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, who shouted him (Oshiomhole) down on Monday, when he was making his contributions at a meeting in Benin City.

Nyiam had told a na-tional newspaper on Tues-day that the he had to shout down the governor when he was insulting President Goodluck Jonathan and talking down on members

of the committee. But in a reply obtained

at the Government House yesterday, Oshiomhole de-scribed Nyiam as a former military man that cowardly ran away from the hang-mans noose after leading his colleagues into a coup in the past.

Our attention has been drawn to the lame and odi-ous response of Col. Tony Nyiam to his shameful act at the sitting of the Presi-dential Advisory Commit-tee on National Dialogue in Benin City, on Monday Oc-tober 28, where he fully ex-posed his hand as a biased member of a committee that should be above politi-cal, ethnic and indeed other

sentiments.We wonder when Ny-

iam became the Presidents spokesman as to want to drag the Presidents name into his shameful act. We are, however, not surprised. Going by his antecedents, the Benin incident was just another manifestation of Nyiams lack of respect for constituted authority and his love for disunity.

Even as an officer in such a disciplined profes-sion as the Nigerian Army, Nyiam stood out like sore thumb and his naked am-bition for power led to the death of many officers and men who owned up and faced the sentence for their treason, but where was Ny-

iam? He took to his heels rather than face the conse-quence for his action, like all cowards do.

Nyiam said Governor Adams Oshiomhole was talking down on the peo-ple. We wonder when air-ing ones opinion or saying; I believe that the outcome of this conference will not be different from that of other conferences we have had in the past means talking down on the people. Nyiam deserves our pity. He might still be halluci-nating, thinking he is an army officer who must be obeyed.

We recognise that no military officer worth his salt would openly disagree

EMMA GBEMUDUYENAGOA

The Bayelsa State gov-ernment yesterday demolished a one-storey security booth at-tached to the private home of the state Governor, Se-riake Dickson, at Opolo, Yenagoa, for obstructing the right of way and also af-fecting states Capital City Master Plan (CCDA).

The building was marked for demolition by the CCDA on June 28 last year for ob-structing the Master Plan and Right of Way.

The demolition of the governors structure started at about 12.48pm and was supervised by the state Dep-uty Governor, John Jonah, the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ehwrudjakpor, the state Commissioner for

Information and Orienta-tion, Markson Fefegha, Com-missioner for State Capital City Development, Konugha Zuwa and other top govern-ment functionaries.

Other structures affected in the demolition exercise were those of the Director-General of the State Agen-cy for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr. Temple Iluma.

The deputy governor shortly after the demolition exercise, told journalists that the location of Dicksons building obstructed the right of way and that no compen-sation would be paid.

He said: In line with the development control of the CCDA and the urban renewal of the state, gov-ernment awarded contract for the dualisation of the road. Anyone who has built structures on the right of way should expect such buildings to be demolished.

EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

The newly elected President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Udengs Eradiri, yesterday assured that the group will be sanitised to enable it tackle incidents of sea pira-cy and kidnapping among youths in the Niger Delta.

Eradiri said kidnapping emerged in the area as a result of idleness among youths, adding that the IYC structure in the respective clans would be revitalised to stem illegal oil bunker-ing that is on going in the local communities.

The IYC leader spoke to journalists at an interactive session yesterday in Yena-goa, saying that the IYC would make efforts to reach out to kidnappers holding the two American sailors abducted off the coast of Bayelsa State last week.

Eradiri said there was need for the Ijaw nation to

UDUAKABASI PATRICKPORT HARCOURT

The burial ceremony of the foster mother of the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Madam Charity Fyneface Oba, will commence today in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The final burial rites will hold at her Okrika residence in Okrika Local Government Area of the state tomorrow and the Bay-elsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, said the state will be fully involved and repre-sented at the ceremonies.

Madam Charity died in an auto accident that oc-curred on July 22, 2013 along the East-West road.

According to a statement by the burial committee of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the funeral ac-

with a superior or a gov-ernor at a forum such as the one in Benin City. But again, we recognise that the maxim: Officer and Gen-tleman, does not apply to Nyiam as he has once again displayed to the people in the open.

We find it interesting that Nyiam has exposed the undercurrent motive

of the conference which has also confirmed Gover-nor Oshiomholes initial fears about viability, ne-cessity and desirability of same.

Inasmuch as we be-lieve that Nigeria is in dire straits, the governor still insists that a talk shop with no agenda is not nec-essary at this time.

tivities will commence to-day with a service of songs at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, GRA Phrase 2.

The Port Harcourt leg of the burial rites will be rounded off tomorrow with a service at the national field, Okrika, followed by interment at her husbands compound at Ambemem-biri, Okrika, while the re-ception programme will follow later at the palace of His Royal Highness, Sir S. P. U. Ogan, the Amayanabo of Okrika.

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to ar-rive today for the ceremony even as the body of the de-ceased will leave the Kpai-ma mortuary in the state capital for her residence at King Perekule Street, GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt, by 8.00am.

Late Fyneface Oba was

born in Abia State in 1946 into the family of late Mr. Oriaku Ezuruike and late Mrs. Okanma Oriaku Ezuruike of Umunlewe Umuekwule Afugiri, in Umuahia North Local Gov-ernment Area of the state.

She was said to have dropped out of school in standard three because of the sudden death of her parents and lack of spon-sorship. After the death of her parents, she stayed with her aunt in Onisha, who introduced her into trading.

She later married the late Mr. Amagberepakakie Fyneface Oba of Sokobe in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State in 1971.

She was said to have been a devoted wife and a caring mother not only to her children but also to other children in the family,

including the first lady.Mama Sisi, as she was

fondly called, was said to have been an accomplished businesswoman, who was involved in the sale of snails, dry-fish, frozen foods and textiles.

Prominent personalities expected at the ceremonies include; Vice-President Na-madi Sambo; Senate Presi-dent, David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, diplomats and others from across the country.

In a related develop-ment, Governor Seriake Dickson has said that his state will be involved in all the stages of the ceremony as they consider the late Madam Oba as a wonderful mother-in-law and the her daughter, the First Lady, as a worthy daughter of the state.

be united to actualise the 2015 Presidential election of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: I believe that unity among us is the watchword. We will build bridges of solidarity for 2015; it will only be achieved when we as a people are united.

From the strength of our people in Ijaw nation, we must build friendship with other ethnic nationali-ties to support the President to win the 2015 election.

Right now, we have just concluded our elections; there are lots of protests go-ing on, that will not be able to win an election. Blocking roads used by Ijaw people, destroying cars that are owned by Ijaw people is un-fortunate.

Eradiri said the group would synergise with gov-ernment to address issues of poverty, under-devel-opment, agriculture, job creation and crime in Ijaw land.

As First Lady buries mother

Confab committee: Nyiam a coward, says Oshiomhole

L-R: Vice-Chairman, Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Mr. Smart Ben; Chairman, Mr. Mark Esset; Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control Of AIDS, Dr. Francis Udokpong and representative of the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Pricilia Ibekwe, at a free medicare programme by NACA in collaboration with the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs in Nsit Atai, Akwa Ibom State, recently. PHOTO: NAN

Bayelsa demolishes part of Dicksons home

Ijaw youthsll tackle sea piracy, kidnapping

Jonathan leads Sambo, Mark, others to Rivers

National Mirrorwww.nationalmirroronline.net Thursday, October 31, 2013 11South South

INUSA NDAHI AND EZEKIEL TITUSBAUCHI

Soldiers attached with the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, have identified some Boko Haram camps in Gowok and Marguba vil-lages, killing many of the terrorists.

Captain Aliyu Danja, who spoke to journalists yesterday on behalf of the

Divisions spokesman, Lt. Colonel Mohammed Dole, said the terrorists camps were located following in-formation by good samari-tans that a group of sus-pected terrorists in their hundreds were sighted crossing the Maiduguri- Damaturu Highway in Beneshiekh Local Govern-ment Area.

Danja said when soldiers got the information that a large number of terrorists were seen at about 11:00am

trying to cross the road, troops were immediately mobilised and deployed to the area.

According to him, the troops pursued the ter-rorists to their camps in Gowok village and killed many of them before de-stroying the camps.

Danja said those who es-caped the raid fled towards Marguba village where scores of them were killed.

He said some terrorists also escaped from Marguba

and crossed the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road towards Gubio Local Government Area.

Danja said that the offen-sive against the terrorists is ongoing as troops would ensure that they are wiped out.

He said: The Division is optimistic that none of the fleeing terrorists will sur-vive the operation.

Claiming that he would not be able to give the ac-tual number of terrorists

The Niger State Gov-ernment yester-day suspended five heads of public secondary schools for allegedly col-lecting illegal fees from newly-admitted pupils.

Notice of the suspension is contained in a statement issued by the Commission-er for Education, Alhaji Danladi Abdulhameed, in Minna.

The statement quoted the commissioner as say-ing the action cont