Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state has described the proposed cash transfer policy of the Federal Government as a scam.
Gists9ja recalls President Bola Tinubu had earlier unveiled his administration’s plan to transfer a monthly sum of N8,000 to 12 million households for six months, in a bid to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.
But days after the announcement and following backlash from Nigerians, the Federal Government said it will review the move following the public outcry it generated among Nigerians.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television’s News Night on Friday, Governor Sani said, “My position has always been that, at this critical time, cash transfer should not be something that we should bring up, completely. I think that cash transfer for me, in my opinion, is a scam. Completely is a scam. I can be very certain about that, because who are you transferring the money to?
“Let me give an example, go and check the current statistics. Like I said, as the Chairman, Committee of Banking for four years in Nigeria, I oversight Central Bank, I oversight all the commercial sector of our economy for the last four years and I look at the statistics, I will be very firm on this issue and you can go and check it.
“About 70 to 75 percent of the rural population in North West are financially excluded completely. You will have to go and check, these people we are talking about are important people in the society. They do not even have a bank account so who are you transferring the money to?
“Let’s try and work very hard to make sure that they are financially included, that is the most important thing and I will like to call on our development partners, the World Bank, to put more money towards bringing more people into the financial services and the vulnerable in particular.
“Let’s put more money to ensure that we open accounts for them, get them involved, if we don’t do that, no matter what we do however you do it, money will go to the wrong people, that’s the fact.”
If the recent report on the investigation by the Department of State Security (DSS) into the discharge certificate feud between the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State surprised anyone, it wasn’t me. Even though I was of the view that both parties should be allowed to prove their respective case, NYSC’s story never looked straight to me, especially knowing the ineptitude, underhand practices, endemic corruption, shoddiness, and the poor and analog record keeping that have become the hallmarks of most of our public institutions.
As a psychologist, my field of study teaches me that there is always a motive for every crime. And I have been wondering what the motivation could be for Mbah. If his profile is anything to go by, then he was already a multimillionaire before heading to the UK to study Law. So, he was never in the unemployment market where he needed the NYSC to secure a job.
Two, it is settled by the courts that one doesn’t need an NYSC discharge certificate to hold a public office. Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) spells out the qualifications for the office of the governor, and the NYSC discharge certificate is not one of them. So, I wonder why he would submit a supposedly forged NYSC discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when, in fact, he didn’t need it.
Furthermore, Proverbs 28:1 says the righteous are bold as a lion. The audacity with which Mbah has faced the NYSC and its Director-General, Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed does not suggest one who has something to hide. Rather than shop for the proverbial soft landing, Mbah has instead slammed a N20bn lawsuit on the NYSC. In the lawsuit marked FHC/ABJ/09/611/2023, he seeks a declaration that he participated in the NYSC scheme for one calendar year and that NYSC and its Director of Corps Certification, Ibrahim Muhammad “conspired by fraudulent design, suppressed, and misrepresented facts in supposition” that his discharge certificate with serial number A808297 is fake. He also seeks a declaration that the predominant purpose is to inflict damages in his legal profession, politics, and business.
One interesting fact about Mbah’s lawsuit is his meticulousness in record keeping, even far better than the NYSC. Mbah kept and filed everything: his call-up letter and deployment to Lagos State, meal tickets in the camp, posting letter to the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), rejection letter by the NPA, reposting letter to Udeh & Associates, his letter to NYSC DG seeking a suspension of his service to go for his Bar Final programme, DG’s approval letter, his handwritten letter seeking to return to complete his service year after the programme, pictures, and letter dated 7th May 2003 (with reference number NYSC/DHQ/CM/27/20) directing the Lagos State Director of the agency to “re-instate the corps member to continue his service year from where he stopped, with effect from May 2003”. To “reinstate” instead of “remobilise” means that his service number remains unchanged.
Curiously, rather than seize the opportunity to nail Mbah, the NYSC resorted to a preliminary objection. It told the court that Mbah should have petitioned the presidency first to seek a resolution before approaching the court. However, Section 20 of the NYSC Act doesn’t apply to Mbah since he is neither a serving Corps member nor an employee of the NYSC. Section 20 is a follow-up to Section 19, which refers to members of the service and other persons employed or undertaking any project for the NYSC.
Also, NYSC’s evidence at the Enugu State Governorship Petition Tribunal was an anti-climax because it ended up affirming virtually everything Mbah had said about his national service and discharge certificate. In his Statement on Oath and evidence before the tribunal, the subpoenaed witness and Director of Corps Certification, Ibrahim Muhammad, averred the following: “That Mr. Mbah Peter Ndubuisi was mobilised and deployed to Lagos State by the NYSC for the compulsory national service vide a call-up letter dated 7th January 2002, with Serial No. 0134613 and Reference No. NYSC/FRN/2001/890351.
“That in Lagos, Mbah Peter Ndubuisi, upon completion of his orientation course, was initially posted to the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) for his primary assignment but was rejected.
“That the NYSC Office in Lagos reposted him to the Law Firm of Udeh & Associates, Lagos.
“That by letter dated 20th June 2002, Mbah Peter Ndubuisi applied to the Director-General of the NYSC for deferment of his service, to enable him to attend the Nigerian Law School.
“That after completion of his Law School Programme, Mbah Peter Ndubuisi applied to the DG of NYSC vide letter dated 03/4/2003 for re-mobilisation for national service, to enable him to complete his NYSC programme.
“That by letter referenced NYSC/DHQ/CM/M/27/20, dated 7th May 2003, the DG NYSC wrote to the Lagos Director of the NYSC to reinstate Mbah Peter Ndubuisi to continue his service year from where he had stopped, with effect from May 2003, to terminate in September 2003.
“That upon return, Mbah Peter Ndubuisi was posted to the Law Firm of Udeh & Associates, Lagos again, for completion of his primary assignment, with probable date of discharge on 15th September 2003”.
NYSC’s major point of departure is in paragraph 14 (i) where it states that “there was no record of the completion of Mbah Peter Ndubuisi’s primary assignment, because he stopped attending the compulsory weekly community service in Lagos, which is one of the cardinal programmes of the NYSC”, adding that he “was consequently not cleared as having completed the NYSC programme and therefore no Discharge Certificate was issued to him”.
But, guess what, NYSC didn’t tender any register where other Corps members signed and Mbah failed to sign. Besides, what other record is more reliable than the monthly clearances issued by Mbah’s place of primary assignment, Udeh & Associates, that qualified him for his monthly allowances, and which, ironically, were paid by the NYSC?
Some people in Mbah’s shoes would have simply proceeded to the Law School and still come back to pick up their discharge certificate without any hassles. But Mbah, in this case, diligently applied to be excused and applied to be reinstated. It doesn’t make sense to say that he ended up forging a discharge certificate after the whole trouble.
It has also emerged at the tribunal that even though he was appointed Chief of Staff to Enugu State Governor in July 2003, he only accepted the offer at the end of his national service in September of the same year– just like Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was appointed Chief of Staff to the President while still in office, but only resumed at the end of his tenure.
Meanwhile, any doubts about the rot in the NYSC were all laid to rest by the Statement on Oath and evidence by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Enugu Tribunal. According to its Deputy Director, Operations and Strategy Department, Mr. Yahaya Isa Mohammed, consequent upon Mbah’s petition dated 8th February 2023, the agency diligently investigated the matter, taking statements and documents from both parties.
He said it was found that “there were exchanges of correspondence between Mbah and the NYSC at every stage of their interactions. Mbah did not take any action without the NYSC’s approval; Mbah’s file with the NYSC got missing at some point in, and NYSC started using a temporary file for him. For instance, in NYSC response to his application for deferment, the file number was LA/10/1532, while in their response to his remobilization application, the file number was LA/01/1532/T; that there was a mix up in his record as a result the of missing file; that the difference in Mbah’s certificate number compared to others that were mobilized at the same time, is due to inability of NYSC to trace the initial file where the first certificate A678 was; that from the documents presented by NYSC regarding certificate numbers, about twelve (12) certificate numbers (A808297-A808308), which includes that of Mbah, remained unaccounted for in the eight (8) series by the NYSC; that the law firm, Udeh &Associates where Mbah served, cleared him for his monthly clearance for eleven (11) months covering January-June, 2002 and May to August, 2003 as well as his final clearance in September, 2003 covering the period of his first mobilization and re-instatement indicated that he served, hence no need for him to forge certificate; that NYSC did not do a thorough job before concluding that the certificate Mbah presented is fake; that the Director Corps Certification (Ibrahim Muhammad) failed to exploit all available avenue to ensure that due diligence was done before issuing statement on the matter; and that against NYSC claim that ‘8 Series’ Certificates were not issued in Lagos State, upon insistence by the Service (DSS) for them to check their records properly, certificates in that series were discovered to be issued to some Corps members who served in Lagos State”.
The DSS said it further discovered “that NYSC did not have a proper record. This resulted in the misplacement of Mbah’s initial file by NYSC and the use of temporary file for him as well as its inability to trace whom or which State(s) 12 of its certificates (A808297 to A808308) were issued; that all through Mbah’s service year, from the first mobilization to his service re-instatement after his Bar Final examination, Udeh & Associates where he did his primary assignment, issued him clearance letter on monthly bases; that all certificate series including the ‘8-Series’ were issued in all the States of the federation as against NYSC’s claim that its certificates series are State-based; that the claim by Muhammad (NYSC Director of Corps Certification) that Mbah’s supposed ‘6-Series’ certificate was part of the certificates shredded/destroyed by the NYSC negates the claim that he did not serve, as it is impossible to produce the said shredded certificate for Mbah, if he did not serve; That the failure of the NYSC to maintain a proper record keeping system was the cause of its inability to trace Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s initial certificate; and that it would be wrong for the NYSC to blame Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for its own failure in record keeping”.
Consequently, the DSS recommended that “the NYSC should retract its initial letter that Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s certificate was not issued by it, as it has failed to trace its records for twelve (12) certificates (A808297-A808308), inclusive of Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s”. It also wants the NYSC to be made to explain how twelve (12) certificates with serial numbers (A808297 to A808308) are still unaccounted for and also be made to trace the said certificates. One cannot agree more.
But in addition, all taken, the NYSC represents the shame that most of our public institutions have become. Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed should not have remained in office a day after the DSS testimony. He should immediately resign or be booted out.
Injustice is universal! Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo is employing other workers. But today he shut down permanently National Light Newspapers. We are yet to see his reasons. Those handling the letter of closure were under close surveillance. But, we are waiting for its contents to be made open.
Against denials from government that National Light Newspapers haven’t been shut, it’s finally shut today Friday July 21, 2023.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Anambra Printing Corporation, publishers of National Light Newspapers, Chief Chuka Nnabuife this evening at the close of work received a Letter of Closure from the Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo. That means that ,the organization is no longer known to the Anambra State Government.
www.odogwublog.com
The letter sent wrong signals amidst tension but we have asked journalists working with the organization to stay calm until the details are made available to them.
The Management of National Light Newspapers would be addressed on Tuesday ,before staff would be briefed. Since this mission to shut down National Light began ,the staff haven’t been briefed on the plans of government. They are at lost till date aside that government brings N10Milllion every month as running cost. It’s a story for another day.
History is indeed made today as the first Professor to govern Anambra State, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo shut down National Light, the flagship Newspaper of the Eastern Nigeria employung about 100 families is shut when other states in South East are investing on their own state Newspapers.
Let it be on record that Chief Chuka Nnabuife supritended a once vibrant organization with 97 staff, 3 retiring this year and 10 retiring before next 2 years , but only succeeded in digging the grave for the burial of National Light Newspapers today. He was on for 8 years of appointment and about 2 years of debriefing for it’s obituary. He kept all information to himself, planned for his own exit strategy, yet allowing his subjects to be swallowed by the sudden but calculated irrational decision. Does a General allow his men to perish in battle? Journalists in National Light Newspapers may perish ,without their general?
This is unbelievable but God knows. As journalists rose in defence of the planned closure and sack of journalists working in National Light, the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Hon Paul Nwosu defended the Soludo led administration accusing the Chairman of NUJ Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD of boycotting due diligence in reporting a sensitive thing yet to be finalized at Exco. They even asked him to apologize. What’s happening now?
This humiliating stance of trained journalists and others happened in the era of Barr Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, mni as Head of Service and Mrs Collette Nwajiani as Chairman Anambra State Civil Service Commission. I was expecting Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Sylva Chika Ifemeje to advise them on this mission but we are waiting for Tuesday to see exactly all the contents. For me , it’s confirmation having seen.
Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Right Hon Somtochukwu Udeze hasn’t said a word either, even when National Light is an establishment of the law.
Nigeria Labour Congress is equally watching to determine the level of hatred for Journalists that other professionals are been employed in thousands but a fewer number of exciting workers for years were sacked without hiss.
Why would the first Lady of Anambra State, Dr Nonye Soludo not worried over this National Light Newspapers? She has kept mute in the face of outright injustice against 100 workers at NationalLightNewspapers, yet …..
People who were workers for decades till yesterday, will suddenly be thrown to the labour market afresh jobless..
We haven’t said a word yet. We have been suggesting and advising. Karma is bitch. It can come anyway…
The Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Senator Tony Nwoye has warned the State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo to desist from attacking the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi.
Senator Nwoye gave the warning while speaking at the Anambra Town Hall Meeting which held on Thursday at the Bolton White Hotel, Abuja, between the State Government and Anambra indigenes who are resident in Abuja.
It was gathered that the Chairman of the Occasion, Chief Emeka Offor, during his welcome remarks, reportedly switched over to campaigning for Soludo’s second term in office, after which he invited the three senators representing the three senatorial zones in the to come and react to what he said, starting with Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of Anambra South.
Senator Ubah, according to reports, did not say whether he was in support of or against Offor’s projection for Soludo’s second term.
On his own part, Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central said he had no governorship ambition, and therefore had no need to respond to Offor’s comment on giving the Governor second chance. He further recalled that he campaigned for Soludo during the 2021 gubernatorial election, with the conviction that he would make a good governor.
Umeh also advised Governor Soludo to create access so that the National Legislators from the state can assist him in many ways to make the state better.
However, in his own response, Senator Nwoye of Anambra North expressed worry on the kinds of comments Soludo was always on Peter Obi and his ambition. He it was Obi who gave former Governor Willie Obiano chance to become Governor; which he (Obiano) thereafter, gave Soludo, and which he is enjoying today; and therefore, wondered why the Governor should be making the kind of comments he makes on Obi.
“During the presidential campaign, Soludo resorted to calling Peter Obi names. For what reason? Is he dragging anything with him?” Senator Nwoye wondered.
While condemning such, he further warned the Governor to desist from to stop calling Peter Obi’s names in the negative, else, he will be fought to a stand still in the next gubernatorial election in the State.
Efforts to get the reactions of Mr. Christian Aburime, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Soludo proved abortive, as he was yet to respond to messages sent to him on the said warning.
When contacted by this reporter, Izunna Okafor, Senator Nwoye confirmed the warning; but Mr. Aburime was yet to respond as at the time of this publication.
We have a wicked political class who have ganged up with business elites to create an internal ‘ neo-colonial system
The public should note that these are public goods – electricity,fuel ,gas ,water ,health ,school , Security etc that are exclusive responsibility of the Government but all have been privatized and sold to business elites to control and manipulate the people using suffocating monetary system to restrict free money market operations .
The judgement day is fast approaching. Obidient tsunami has not taught these political elites any lesson . People are really angry that modular refineries cannot be licensed for local refining of crude products in the short terms . Why can’t our Senators speak out ? Why are we exposing our natural endowment to international pricing thereby working against the theorem of comparative advantage. The general market prices have skyrocketed with real wages of the masses turning to ordinary tissue paper ?
Whether it is considered a genuine aspiration of a disenfranchised people or wished away as an agitation of some misguided youths or a rally of miscreants, the violent execution of the Sit-at-home order by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) with its murderous grip on the socio-economic life of people in South eastern Nigeria must not be taken lightly. It should not be politicised as the nemesis of the Igbo people. What we have in the South East is the fallouts of misgovernance, injustice and the lack of political will from different levels.
The current security situation in the region did not start today. Since 2015, secessionist tendencies had created a mobilising force in the person of Nnamdi Kanu. Following his incarceration, Kanu had become a rallying point for all manner of expressions so much so that one Simon Ekpa, the vociferous teleguide, directing the nefarious activities from Finland, would declare a sit-at-home in the entire south eastern region and people would comply. Ekpa has declared another two weeks sit-at-home that will be executed with the same level of violence.
That this orchestration of violence should not be taken lightly is demonstrated by the rapid response of the Nigerian Army which swung into action sniffing out these dare-devil agitators visiting mayhem on hapless Nigerians in the South East. This is the way to go. However, despite this commendable response, the intended containment by the military should not be given any ethnic or religious colouration.
Before now, this quick response has not always been the case. Undoubtedly, the lack of political will had characterised the selective attention given to crises of this nature. While in certain instances there is prompt and even proactive response to crisis, as was the case when kidnapping was contained when the army-led security forces were determined to do their job. In some other cases, security forces tend to go to sleep when these trouble makers are on the prowl. Until recently the Federal Government had failed woefully in eliminating the notorious ‘Unknown Gunmen’ wreaking havoc in the South East just as it remained apparently insensitive to the genocidal attacks and indiscriminate bloodletting in the Middle Belt.
Yet, while we criticise the Federal Government for its tardy reactionary measures, the political class and business communities are equally not exculpated. Political leaders from this region, like their counterparts elsewhere, seem to be disconnected from the grassroots. There seems to be a political class consciousness that undermines public enlightenment and engagement with young people. This is counterproductive. Politicians and political office holders in the South East should recognise that there is the perception of a vacuum of leadership and obvious presence of misdirection in the socio-political space of that region. And the phenomenon of Nnamdi Kanu is taking advantage of that perception. The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, suggested this much when he attributed the mayhem going on there to the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu. “We don’t have security problems in the southeast,” he stated in an interview. “We have said ‘release Nnamdi’ because the young people are supporters of Nnamdi Kanu, which is an excuse that they give.”
Iwuanyanwu’s position seems to represent the sentiments of many political office holders: Release Nnamdi Kanu and the agitations and security threats will cease. Do these people sincerely believe that Kanu’s release will put an end to the violence? Do they realise that IPOB, just as the Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM), led by Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, and the United Eastern Congress (UEC) led by Chief Sam Ike, all of which work at cross purposes, arose as a splinter of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB)?
Besides, as culturally homogenous as the South East is, it is polarised along many factional interests, especially along the lines of partisan politics. With four political parties juggling for dominance and influence in the region, it is very unlikely whether constructive engagement and public interest initiatives leading to development would be realised holistically.
While Ndigbo may feel disenfranchised with the ruling elite, attributing the state of unrest in the South East to marginalisation is a very weak defence for poor political leadership strategy. Many regions are equally as marginalised. Thus, notwithstanding their political differences, South East leaders should have the development of their region as paramount in their mind, for in development it is easier to cooperate, but in politics it is very difficult.
Eminent personalities from the South East should deploy tactful but convincing means of securing Kanu’s release. Perhaps, it is a cue taken from others that prompted South East leaders to meet with President Bola Tinubu to discuss the possibility of Kanu’s release. But would his release solve the problems? Does the South eastern political leadership enjoy the respect of Kanu for him to do their bidding? Can they be trusted to make peace reign even after Kanu’s release?
This is also the time for celebrities and social media influencers of Igbo extraction to sensitise their followers on the irrationality of the situation in the south east. The same energy deployed in supporting their candidates during the last election should be re-channelled towards educating their followers. In doing so, social media users should temper their language towards national unity. Those in the streets, whose only political education comes from misguided verbiage of clannish role models, should be cautious not to become cannon fodders for mischief-making. Whilst it is part of democracy that people should air their views, however misplaced, they should not translate grievances into violence and bloodshed.
Whereas the proliferation of armed agitators seemed like spirited Igbo youths seeking avenues to vent, the deeper import of the Biafra agitation transcends its narrow-minded Igbo agenda. Upon critical scrutiny, the agitation is a lived enactment of the philosophy of justice that appears wherever and whenever oppression, impunity, injustice and structural violence rear their heads. What is going on is symbolic of the discontent experienced by many ethno-political interests for whom the Nigeria question remains unanswered. Nigeria tends to be living a lie. It wants to be a prosperous and politically stable country, yet it is holding down this potential for prosperity and stability by maintaining a supercilious unitary government, whilst paying lip service to federalism.
Government should find answers to the thorny issues that created agitations in the first place. Will this administration want to revisit the Report of the National Conference convened by President Goodluck Jonathan but discarded by former President Muhammadu Buhari?
Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu has found himself in the net of public scrutiny such that he can’t get off it easily.
Amongst all the baggages being dragged along by Tinubu, his drug case/criminal records in the USA 🇺🇸 is one he cannot run away from especially while residing in Aso Rock.
Recently, FBI made some damming statements about not releasing Tinubu’s Criminal records to Nigeria not until 2026.
One may ask…. Why are they shielding him?
Do they stand to gain anything from a possible anarchy in Nigeria 🇳🇬 by have a supposed President with criminal records?
What’s really happening?
Meanwhile, the award winning investigative journalist, David Hundeyin who has refused to let go of Tinubu’s scrotum had released a report where he filed a lawsuit in the USA 🇺🇸 demanding for the reasons why Tinubu’s criminal records cannot be released.
Good Governance Ministry (GGM) has applauded the decision of Hon Henry Mbachu ,a Lawmaker representing Awka South 1 State Constituency in Anambra State for taking up a teaching appointment. This is exemplary Leadership and in line with the vision of Good Governance Ministry of mentoring the Leaders of tomorrow. In a short message posted on Good Governance Ministry Twitter page which reads ” Hon Mbachu has shown the right way to Leadership. By this singular decision to serve as a volunteer physics Teacher at Igwebuike Grammar School, Hon Mbachu has placed himself ahead of other political Leaders in Anambra State . This is a sign of servant leadership which Good Governance Ministry has been preaching . GGM wants to advise Soludo Government to draw a policy guideline to attract many other professional volunteers back to classroom as this will improve the quality of Teaching in Anambra State”
However , it is the believe of GGM that our colonial education curriculum should be changed to suit the demands of developing economies . Our education system should support productivity, creativity and innovation. Our education administrators should discourage copy and paste certificate education where our children are taught abstract things .
It should be noted that Hon Mbachu had taught in the institution as a physics teacher earlier in his career.
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu writes for BVI Channel 1 online
Tinubu ordered: “That the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programme envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately.”
By Ishaya Ibrahim
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate review of the proposed N8000 conditional cash transfer to Nigerians to cushion the effect of the petrol subsidy removal.
In a statement on Tuesday night, Dele Alake, special adviser on special duties, communications and strategy, said Tinubu has also directed that the whole gamut of the palliative package of government be unveiled to Nigerians.
That the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programme envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately. This is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it,” the statement reads.
Alake said the president had also ordered the immediate release of fertilisers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households respectively in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The statement reads in full:
“You will agree with me that it has become part of the culture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to constantly dialogue with Nigerians who voted him into office. The President covenanted with Nigerians that their welfare and security will be topmost in the Renewed Hope Agenda of his government.
“In the last few days, the conventional and new media platforms have become awash with stories of the government intending to embark on conditional cash transfer to vulnerable households mostly affected by the painful but
The story has been widely reported that the Federal Government is proposing to give 12 million households from the poorest of the poor N8,000 monthly for a period of six months as government palliative to reduce the discomfort being experienced by Nigerians consequent upon subsidy removal.
“A lot of ill-informed imputations have been read into the programme by not a few naysayers. The Administration believes in the maxim that when there is prohibition, there must be provision. Since subsidy, the hydra-headed monster threatening to kill the economy, has been stopped, government has emplaced a broad spectrum of reliefs to bring help to Nigerians.
“While it should be noted that cash programme is not the only item in the whole gamut of relief package of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a listening leader who has vowed to always put Nigerians at the heart of his policy and programme, the President has directed as follows:
“1. That the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programme envisaged to bring succour to most vulnerable households be reviewed immediately. This is in deference to the views expressed by Nigerians against it.
“2. That the whole gamut of palliative package of government be unveiled to Nigerians.
“3. Immediate release of fertilisers and grains to approximately 50 million farmers and households respectively in all the 36 states and the FCT.
“The President further assures Nigerians that the N500 billion approved by parliament to cushion the pain occasioned by the end of subsidy regime will be judiciously utilised. The beneficiaries of the reliefs shall be Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political affiliation.
“President Bola Tinubu has promised to always prioritize the wellbeing of Nigerians and he is irrevocably committed to the vow. A number of decisions taken so far by this Administration have buttressed this stance.
“You will recall that the President took a similar decision after listening to complaints from the business community/stakeholders about burdensome taxes, particularly multiplicity of
taxes they are made to experience. This warranted the signing of four (4) Executive Orders cancelling some classes of taxes, while suspending the implementation dates of others.
“In addition, the President has also set up a Tax Reform/Fiscal Policy Committee to bring up recommendations that will engender a wholesome fiscal environment for the country and remove anti-business barriers.
“I wish to assure Nigerians that President Tinubu will continue to be a listening leader whose ears will not be dull to the views expressed by the citizenry. The President believes government exists to cater for the interest of the people and he has demonstrated this so clearly.”
Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, Dr Tony Nwoye has sought the intervention of the Federal Government to urgently reconstruct and rehabilitate the dilapidated Onitsha-33-Otuocha-Adani road bordering Enugu State.
Nwoye said the road which was 48 km stretch was a Federal government designated infrastructure.
Nwoye made the call on Tuesday during plenary presided over by the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio.
The Senator added that the Trunk A road was a major economic link in the Onitsha and Omambala region of Anambra and Kogi States and traversed the GRA, Onitsha, 33- Otuocha-Adani-Enugu State and Kogi State.
The Senator decried that the dilapidated state of the road had led to the loss of so many lives and properties, adding that even Farmers found it difficult to get their produce to the market.
Narrating the ordeals of road users, Nwoye told told the Senate that the road played an important role as it connected many agrarian communities,emphasising that the road was a major food basket of the Southeast region.
Describing the road as a national critical national project, Senator Nwoye cautioned that if allowed to dilapidated, may lead to food scarcity, bring untold hardship, neglect and exacerbate the sufferings and pain on the people and the attendant loss of revenue that would have accrued to the government.
He said; “the road needs repair due to the presence of critical infrastructure like the cooking gas extractive industry/refinery at Ponti Nkponando, Aguleri, many industries located along that Anambra, Enugu and Kogi States corridor and many other businesses, which contribute huge sums of needed revenue for the nation
He said, “this road will be segmented into two sections, the first section is dualization from GRA Onitsha to Aguleri/Otuocha junction (about 10km); and the second section will remain a single carriage way from Otuocha/Aguleri junction to Adani, Enugu and Kogi States
Nwoye also lamented that despite the fact that the project was under the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing, it had till date not been awarded due to paucity of funds, hence the need for placement of funding to be financed through the NNPCL Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, under which it is the financier.
Lending his support to the motion, the Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh called for urgent intervention stating that the road if reconstructed would reduce travel time and improve economic livelihood.
He said, “If the road is reconstructed Anambra can be accessed directly to Kogi in two hours instead of going through Enugu.
Acceding to Nwoye’s motion, the Senate asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service under the Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme to include the road as a project to be prioritized, funded; and to be executed through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
The Senate also urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to urgently commence design for the road, while also urging the Committees on Petroleum Resources Upstream and Works (when constituted) and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation.
