Ekiti PDP slams Fayemi over fresh N5bn loan

The Ekiti State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party National New Media Group (PDP-NNMG) has Governor Kayode Fayemi, of plotting to plunge the state into another round of debt, disclosing that the governor was about taking N5 billion loan from a new generation bank.

In a statement on Wednesday, state coordinator of the PDP-NNMG, Bola Agboola, said the N5 billion loan processing of which was already at advanced stage, was to be repaid in 15 years at N58 million per month.

The PDP group lamented that Governor Fayemi was already threading the same path he did in his first tenure, noting that the governor was also seeking an unspecified amount as loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

It said: “It is on record that the loans and bonds taken by Fayemi when he was governor between 2010 and 2014 are still being repaid by the state government till date. It was these debts that hampered most of the development efforts of the Ayo Fayose-led PDP government and caused irregular payment of workers’ salaries.

“Despite receiving billions as Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) fund and N46.4 billion from the Excess Crude Account, Fayemi took N25 billion bond and N31 billion commercial bank loan. One of such frivolous loans was the N5 billion obtained from Ecobank without the Debt Management Office (DMO) approval, using Fountain Holdings Limited, a company with N15 million share capital.

” Apart from loans, in 2014, Fayemi also left unpaid warrants of N15.5 billion debt to road contractors to the tune of N21.3 billion outstanding remittances to FG  totalling N709.9 million and State Public Servants Outstanding Emoluments of N5.1 billion.

” As governor the second time, Fayemi is on the verge of plunging the state to another round of debt by taking N5 billion loan, payable in 15 years when he will be 69 years and at home, enjoying his loot.”

While calling the attention of Ekiti people to the governor’s fresh plot to mortgage the state, the PDP-NNMG said it was immoral and wrong for governors to be allowed to borrow beyond their tenure, adding that “if Fayemi is going to take loans, it should be such that must be repaid before the end of his tenure.”

Stop interfering in posting of Corps members, NYSC DG tells Nigerians, organisations

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Shuaibu Ibrahim, has urged Nigerians and corporate bodies to stop interfering in the posting of corps members for primary assignments.

Mr Ibrahim gave the advice on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the sensitisation workshop on the NYSC Act at Rockview Hotel, Abuja.

“For the avoidance of doubt, corps members are assigned to serve in areas where their services are required in line with national needs, with priority given to rural transformation”, he said.

The director-general said the scheme recognised the need to enlighten Nigerians on the Act and the aspects of its operations.

According to Mr Ibrahim, the NYSC still faces some challenges which include the areas of the stakeholders’ obligations, non-compliance with regulations on mobilisation and exemption from service.

He reminded state and local governments of their obligations to the scheme, “especially with regards to the provision and maintenance of orientation camps, corps members’ lodges, other essential welfare facilities as well as office accommodation for the scheme.”

He appealed to state governments to make the necessary facilities available to ensure the comfort of the corps members deployed to their states.

He urged all participants of the opening to help spread the message of compliance with the Act’s provisions.

Speaking at the event, a former head of state and founding father of the NYSC, Yakubu Gowon said the workshop came at an appropriate time because some citizens are unaware of the vital provisions of the NYSC Act.

Mr Gowon, who was represented by the first Director-General of NYSC, Ahmadu Ali, recommended that the workshop should not be limited to Abuja alone.

“It should be taken to the grassroots, state and local governments, where the bulk of the stakeholders will be reached”, he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development, Olusade Adesola, also spoke about the condition of the facilities available to the corps members.

He said the dilapidated conditions of some of the orientation camps need to be rectified because they affect the security and welfare of corps members.

Mr Adesola said it is the responsibility of the state governments to maintain the orientation camps and advised that they see to it.

He spoke concerning the issue of Nigerians who fail to make themselves available for service, saying the provisions of the NYSC Act need to be implemented, including the strict sanctions for defaulters.

We reported how an ex-minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, failed to participate in the NYSC scheme despite graduating from the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) at age 25.

Despite obviously violating the law, Mr Shittu has yet to face any penalty from President Buhari for this offence which is punishable under the law with up to 12 months imprisonment.

We also reported how former Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun skipped the compulsory NYSC scheme but instead forged an exemption certificate many years after graduation.

The year-long service, organised by the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), is compulsory for all Nigerians who graduate from universities or equivalent institutions at less than 30 years of age.

The exercise is a requirement for government and private-sector jobs in Nigeria.

Ihedioha speaks on ‘ordering’ EFCC to seal Okorocha’s foundation

Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has reacted to the sealing of property belonging to his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha and his family members by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Governor said that his administration had no hand in the investigation of the former governor by the anti-graft agency.

Ihedioha said this in a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Chibuike Onyeukwu made available to journalists.

According to him, “His administration is founded on the respect for rule of law and due process and therefore would not stealthily petition or engage in a clandestine war against the ex governor and his family.

“Our attention has been drawn to the press release by former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, on the sealing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of various properties belonging to his family, which, according to him, include; Rochas Foundation College and the East High College and Academy, both in Owerri, among other investments.

“In the said release, the former governor had accused His Excellency, Governor Emeka Ihedioha CON, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of conniving with the Commission to witch-hunt him and his family

“ordinarily we would not have dignified such a statement with a response, but to guard against his recourse to deliberate lies and misrepresentation of facts, we are obliged to make this rejoinder to dissociate His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON and his government of any complicity in the operations of the anti-graft agency.

“For emphasis, this administration is founded on the respect for rule of law and due process and therefore would not stealthily petition or engage in a clandestine war against ex governor and family. It would be recalled that Governor Ihedioha has since set up committees that are looking into the various actions undertaken by the past.

“It is also necessary to remind that the EFCC had, before the inauguration of this administration, begun a probe of the former governor over issues of misappropriation of the state’s funds, including; Bailout funds, Paris Club Refund, Local Government Fund and other financial crimes. It is also on record that the Commission had made public the freezing of a bank account, with a balance of over N5 billion, operated by the past administration as a result of fraudulent activities. Could Governor Ihedioha have influenced this action?

“We wish to advise ex-governor Okorocha and members of his family, that rather than engage in attempts to divert attention from this probe by EFCC, to dutifully assist the Commission in their investigations, with a view to clearing themselves of the weighty allegations of malfeasance and misappropriations levelled against them by the anti-graft agency and leave the state government out of their travails.”

What Buhari ex-minister, Shittu said about ministerial nominees

The immediate past Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, on Wednesday congratulated the ministerial nominee from Oyo State, Mr Sunday Dare, over his inclusion in the list of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term cabinet.

The former minister, who spoke in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), also expressed his gratitude to the president for giving him the opportunity to serve.

“I want to congratulate my brother who has just been nominated to represent our dear state in the new cabinet, I pray that God guides his steps and makes him a worthy representative.

“I have always known him to be a hardworking man with very rich background in journalism and communications. May Allah ease his ways and make this task an easy one for him,” he said.

Shittu said he was eternally grateful to the president for the opportunity given to him in the first term cabinet.

“I will be ungrateful to God if I forget to thank my leader and mentor who led us in steering the nation’s affairs for four years.

“My working with Mr President has also helped me to reconfirm all that I know about him for so long, a leader that has the love of the nation at heart and never gets distracted.

“I enjoyed every minute of working with him and I thank him and God for that very special opportunity,” he said.

Shittu also congratulated Dr Ibrahim Alli Patani, who has been nominated to represent Gombe State, as well as others who made the list.

“I am also happy that the present Director General of Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency, an agency under the Ministry of Communications has been appointed as a ministerial nominee.

“I congratulate him and others with whom we have worked together in the cabinet and others who are just joining the cabinet while praying for a smooth sail of the nation’s affairs,” he said.

President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, had announced the list of Ministerial nominees to the senate for approval. 

He had confirmed the receipt of the list during plenary session and went on to reel out the names.

Ekiti Assembly reabsorbs 80 sacked workers

Ekiti House of Assembly Commission has confirmed the re-absorption of 80 out of the 120 sacked workers of the State House of Assembly.

The Commission’s spokesman, Mr Segun Erinle, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.

Erinle said the commission had received the executive directive to reabsorb 80 out of the sacked members of staff by the last administration of Gov Ayo Fayose.

“The State House of Assembly Commission has received the Executive’s decision to reabsorb 80 from the list of sacked workers by the last administration.

“The Taiwo Olatunbosun-led commission will act on the directive immediately,” he said.

He said that the directive would only affect those who attended the screening exercise conducted by the Deputy Gov Chief Bisi Egbeyemi led panel of Enquiry.

“The directive will only affect those who have been screened by deputy governor’s panel of enquiry and are in the approved current vacancies in the commission,” he said.

Erinle directed that those affected should check their names on the notice board at the commission and “wait for further directives”.

Erinle however reiterated the commitment of the current leadership of the commission to uphold the good governance agenda of Gov. Kayode Fayemi-led administration.

Fayemi, after the executive meeting of Monday directed that 80 out the 120 sacked assembly workers by last administration be reabsorbed.

Nigeria introduces new federal marriage certificate

The Nigerian government has introduced a new Federal Marriage Certificate for all types of marriages in the country.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah, disclosed this on Wednesday at a stakeholders conference on the conduct of statutory marriage in Abuja.

She said existing couples who do not have their certificate issued by the Ministry of Interior are advised to visit the ministry’s website to re-certify their marriage certificates.

According to Mrs Ehuriah, not all places of worship are permitted to conduct marriages. She advised Nigerians to ensure that their marriages are conducted in places licensed by the Ministry of Interior.

“This is for the marriage to be credible and registered in the National database of legally certified marriages,” she said.

“If the certificate is not printed and delivered by the principal registrar of marriages, then it is illegal and can not serve the desired purpose”, she said.

“Arrangements are ongoing for couples whose certificates were not issued in line with the Marriage Act of opportunity to bring them to conformity.”

Speaking on the benefits of the certificate, Mrs Ehuriah said it will be recognised by all foreign embassies during visa application.

She advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accept the certificate for the guidance of foreign embassies in Nigeria and Nigerian missions aboard.

Ms Ehuriah said conducting marriages by places of worship not duly licensed by the ministry will be considered a breach of the Marriage Act.

“Presently, only about 4,689 licensed places of worship in Nigeria have updated their records with the Ministry of Interior; 314 have renewed their licenses to conduct statutory marriages,” she said.

She said the ministry is building a database for all statutory marriages conducted in Nigeria.

“It has also developed a database for all places of worship licensed for celebration of marriages ”

This will enable the ministry to be in a good position to respond to enquiries from various interested parties from within and outside Nigeria, Mrs Ehuriah said.

She said documentation process for the licensing of places of worship has been automated to facilitate submission of application for licenses by interested places of worship.

“Administrators of places of worship are encouraged to meet the requirements to satisfy their members.”

She said government at all levels has the responsibility of ensuring the sanctity of marriage by supporting any initiative aimed at promoting compliance with the Act.

The director, citizenship and business at the ministry, Stephen Okon, said it is important to educate the public on the key requirements of the Marriage Act.

“Sometimes citizens are denied their rights because of the manner their certificates of marriage was documented”, he said

He said Nigerians do not conduct statutory marriage even after traditional and church marriage “despite the growing popularity of Registry marriage”.

BREAKING: Buhari swears in Tanko as CJN

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, swore in Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The swearing-in took place at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Tanko Muhammad’s appointment as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria was confirmed by the Senate during last Wednesday session.

Details later.