CHAMPIONS

PHIL OKOSE, OnitshaBarely few hours after the launch of Operation Mkpochapu II, last Friday by Governor Willie Obiano at Dr Alex Ekwueme square, Awka, Anambra State capital, daredevil armed robbers reportedly beat the police by embarking on rampage in Onitsha, killing five people on two separate operations and injuring scores.Among those allegedly killed were two girls and three men at Seaman Filling station within Borromew round-about axis and a popular pharmacy shop along Awka road, Onitsha.Daily Champion gathered that the rampaging robbers, with the aid of a masked pointer, drove into Seaman filling station with their vehicle, at about 2am on Saturday.Believing them to be those who wanted to fuel their vehicle as night travellers on storming the filling station, the workers reportedly opened the door to attend to them.The workers did not know that they were armed robbers on a mission there until they shot dead one of the vigilante operatives on sight and then a worker, who was woken up by the sound of barrage of gun shots and wanted to run.The men of the underworld, numbering about six, also shot dead a female sales attendant who, it was gathered, delayed when the masked pointer asked her for the key to the vault.All monies realized from sales for the day were carted away as the pointer showed where they were kept.Scores of night travellers who then were plying the Borromew round-about axis, stopped their vehicles and on scampering for safety, got injured including some workers of the filling station and their neighbours.The same robbers were said to have on driving out, made straight to a popular pharmacy along Awka road Onitsha, where on arrival, shot dead a man and a sales attendant before the masked pointer showed the vault and other places where money was kept.Sales for the day were said to have been carted away, according to impeccable inside sources.Neighbours who heard the barrage of gun shots got injured on scampering for safety.When contacted to confirm the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, said: We are investigating the matter and will come out with our findings later.For a better societyTotal Views: 67 ,

The South-East Governors Forum has resolved to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.It would be recalled that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that N10bn was needed to rehabilitate the runway and fix other things at the airport.However, briefing reporters after the meeting with Ohanaeze Ndigbo, religious leaders and South-East National Assembly Caucus in Enugu, the Chairman of the forum, David Umahi, said they had resolved to meet with Buhari following fears that the airport could be abandoned.We have resolved to meet with the President for the welfare of our people in South-East, the Ebonyi State Governor revealed.Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) attended the meeting as Imo State was represented by Deputy Gov. Gerald Irona but Anambra was not represented.The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo attended the meeting where Sen. Enyinaya Abaribe represented the members of the region in the National Assembly.For a better societyTotal Views: 55 ,

The Minister for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has said under-recovery of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly referred to as fuel subsidy would gulp N450 billion in 2020.She said this on Monday in Abuja, at the public presentation of the 2020 budget proposals.Ahmed said it was called under-recovery because it was the cost of operation of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).We have a provision for under-recovery of PMS in the sum of N450 billion. If you look at the Budget office website, it is in the fiscal framework, which is an annexure to the budget.President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday, presented a budget proposal of N10.33 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly.He put the Federal Governments estimated revenue in 2020 at N8.155 trillion, comprising oil revenue of N2.64 trillion, non-oil tax revenues of N1.81 trillion and other revenue of N3.7 trillion.Other estimates are N556.7 billion for statutory transfers, N2.45 trillion for debt servicing and provision of N296 billion as sinking fund.The 2020 budget is based on an oil production estimate of 2.18 million barrels per day, oil price benchmark of 57 dollars per barrel and an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar.Ahmed said that recurrent (non-debt) spending was expected to rise by 11.28 per cent, from N4.39 trillion in 2019 to N4.88 trillion in 2020.This, she said, would reflect in salaries and pensions, including provisions for implementation of the new minimum wage.Ahmed said that the overall budget deficit of N2.17 trillion represents 1.52 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and N1.64 trillion of it would be funded by both domestic and external borrowing.According to her, the external sources will provide N850 billion, while domestic sources will provide N744.99 billion.Citing the top 12 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) capital allocations, she said the Ministry of Works and Housing was allocated N259.2 billion, Ministry of Power N127.67 billion, Ministry of Transportation N123.07 billion, Ministry of Education (including Universal Basic Education Commission) N162.74 billion.Others are Ministry of Defence N99.87 billion, Ministry of Health N90.98 billion, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development N79.79 billion and Ministry of Water Resources N78.34 billion.Some others are: Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development N45.45 billion, Ministry of Aviation N53.85 billion, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment N41.34 billion and Ministry of Science and Technology N37.55 billion.She, however, said that there were key expenditures captured in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), but were not in the 2020 budget. They are N61 billion for the Presidential Power Initiative, N1.22 trillion for federally funded projects in the oil and gas sector to be undertaken by NNPC on behalf of the federation.Others are: N272 billion as transfers to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for infrastructure projects in tertiary institutions and N82.35 billion as transfer to Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Investment (NSIA) for Public Private Partnership/Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), she said.For revenue, Ahmed said there were Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives (SRGI) aimed at boosting revenue generation to meet targeted revenue to GDP ratio of 15 per cent.She said further that the SRGI would be implemented with increased vigour to improve revenue collection and expenditure management.She said Nigeria must mobilise significant resources to invest in human capital development and critical infrastructure.Some reforms will be tough but they must be done to look at the facts and be frank to ourselves. However, we will engage the public sector in whatever we do, including any changes in taxes, with regards to rates or administration methods.For a better societyTotal Views: 46 ,

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has struck out a suit seeking the sack of Dr. Babatunde Fowler as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).The suit instituted by a legal practitioner, Mr. Stanley Okwara, was thrown out by the court on the ground that the lawyer has no locus standi to institute it.Okwara had dragged Fowler before the court praying among others, an order of court restraining him from further functioning as FIRS Chief Executive Officer.He predicated his action on the claim that the tenure of office of the defendant had expired since August 20 and has not been renewed by President Muhammadu Buhari.The plaintiff also prayed the court to declare that the tenure of Fowler expired since August and that he should be made to refund all monies and allowances to the national treasury.Okwara further demanded that the defendant be ordered to swear to an affidavit to confirm refund of public funds unlawfully collected from August till date.However, Fowler through his counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, raised preliminary objection to the suit on the ground that the plaintiff has no locus standi to file the case.Among others, Fowler contended that the suit did not disclose any cause of action and that the plaintiff did not also disclose any injury or damages he personally lost.Justice Lewis-Allagoa in his ruling on the objection upheld the submission of of the defendant counsel. The judge agreed that the plaintiff did not show how the disputed issue affected him more than any other Nigerians.Justice Allagoa faulted the plaintiff suit due to the failure to show pre-action notice as required by law.The Judge, therefore, held that the suit is incompetent, frivolous, lacking in merit and substance and struck it out.The arguments of counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi, was rejected and thrown out.The Court had last week ordered Fowler to appear before it to show cause why he should not be sacked for overstaying his tenure which expired on August 18, 2019.In the originating summon obtained by PRNigeria with Suit No FHC/KN/CS/141/2019, the FIRS boss was dragged to Court over his continued stay in office after the expiration of tenure.The plaintiff in the suit filed on September 18, 2019 also joined the Attorney- General of the Federation as the second defendant.The two defendants were given 30 days to explain why Fowler who was appointed on the 20th August, 2015, has not ceased to hold office as the Chairman of FIRS after the 20th August, 2019 in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Courtand having regard to the combined provisions of Sections 3(2) (a), Section 4(a) and Section 11 (a) of the agency.The plaintiffs also sought to know whether the continuous stay of Fowler in the office is not illegal in view of the decision of the Supreme Court in Ogbuinyinya & Ors. vs. Obi Okudo & Ors. (1979) All N.L.R. 105 and having regard to the combined provisions of Sections of the FIRS [Establishment] Act, 2007.In the same vein, Okwara sought other reliefs including: A declaration that the 1st Defendant has ceased to hold office as the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service after the 20th of August, 2019; and that his continuous stay in the office is illegal.He further sought an order barring the 1st Defendant from further holding himself out as, laying claim to or exercising the powers and functions of, the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service unless he is re-appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.An order directing the 1st Defendant to return forthwith to the Treasury Single Account of the Federation all the salaries, emoluments and such other kindred monetary benefits he has been drawing on the purse of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and file an affidavit of compliance within 14 days after the delivery of judgment in this suit.The Plaintiff also asked that Fowler be caused to obey any other decision that the Court may deem fit to make in the entire circumstances of the case.For a better societyTotal Views: 41 ,

JONAS EZIEKE, AbujaThe House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons IDPs on Tuesday said it would intervene in addressing the plight of IDPs in Nigeria.Chairman of the House Committee, Hon, Mohammed Jega , gave the assurance at the inaugural meeting of the Committee at the National Assembly in Abuja.He noted that IDPs in Nigeria were victims of both natural and man- made crisis, adding that there should be mitigation of the ongoing crisis.He told his colleagues that the urgency to contend with the crisis is imperative because they are fellow Nigerians.The lawmaker also said that they would put in motion necessary legal framework to do this and do it speedily.Speaking in the same vein, Hon Aisha Jibrin Dukku said the House Committee needed the attention of every Nigerian.The Gombe- born All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmaker noted that most IDPs in Nigeria were either women or children.For a better societyTotal Views: 37 ,

OBIORA IFOH, AbujaThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Presidency of turning the once serious and productive seat of power, the Presidential Villa into a house of comedy and an overcrowded quarter for illegal occupants.The opposition party, which describes the dirty public fight between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari and President Muhammadu Buharis cousins, over rooms in the Presidential villa, as disgraceful, further underlines the managerial ineptitude and leadership failures of the Buhari Presidency.In a statement by PDPs National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the chaos in the Villa further exposes the Buhari Presidencys poor management of issues and highlights why it has failed monumentally in delivering on any of its responsibilities in governance, thus leaving our dear nation in a shambolic situation in the last five years.The feud further uncovers the impunity, disorderliness and vanity that pervade the Buhari Presidency and how the once serious and productive seat of power has been turned into a house of comedy and an overcrowded quarter for illegal occupants.Nigerians can now see why it has become difficult for our nation to witness any stability or progress under the Buhari Presidency and why the Buhari-led Federal Government has been bedeviled by confusion, infighting, policy flip-flops, statutory violations, promotion of violence, ingrained corruption and administrative indolence while millions of Nigerians wallow in poverty and neglect.Nigerians and the world can equally see why no one expects the Buhari Presidency to articulate any progressive idea or proffer and implement any solution to the myriad of economic and security problems it caused our nation; they can now see why there is no hope in sight and why compatriots are daily agitating for a new order.Our party notes that our dear nation has suffered enough disgrace from the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP therefore charges President Buhari to immediately apologize to Nigerians for his failures and be ready to vacate office for more competent hands, since it has become obvious that he is leading our country to nowhere.Furthermore, the PDP urges the National Assembly to investigate the alleged abuse of office by President Buhari following revelation that he assigns official facilities in the Presidential villa to unauthorized persons that have no official roles in governance, and apply appropriate sanctions. The PDP also urges the National Assembly to sanitize the Presidential villa by probing allegations of illegal allotment of offices and apartments to unauthorized persons, including scammers and corruption fronts in Aso Rock.The party however urges Nigerians to remain calm as such provocative and disgraceful developments will soon come to an end with the retrieval of our stolen mandate at the Supreme Court.For a better societyTotal Views: 32 ,

We believe FG to do the needful LabourWe cants pay N30,000 Govs.Laos technically ready to pay above N30,000OBIORA IFOH, Abuja and UFOMBA UZUEGBU with Agency reportBaring last minute shift in positions held by the Federal Government and leadership of labour unions in the country, the organized labour may Thursday call out its members on an indefinite strike to protest governments apparent refusal to enforce the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage across board.The N30,000 minimum wage was signed into law on April 18.But the implementation of the minimum wage struggle became contentious recently when government announced the payment of workers from grade level one to seven with the caveat that it would negotiate the scale of payment to senior officers.The negotiations took a turn for the worse Monday when both parties failed to reach an agreement forcing an adjournment of the meet to yesterday.Many of the state governors under the aegis of Governors Forum have remained adamant in their opposition to the enforcement of the N30,000 minimum wage across all the states of the federation arguing that many of the states lack the financial muscle to pay.However, the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwao-Olu said technically he would pay above N30,000 minimum wage to workers in the state.The labour leaders came out of the meeting Tuesday to announce that the negotiations with the Federal Government continue on Wednesday, October 16, 2019.The Federal Governments delegation led by the Head of Service, Folasade Yemi Ewan, said: We have a fruitful deliberation, both sides have made concession. There are still some grey areas but by the grace of God everything will be resolved.Also the Labour delegation led by Comrade Amaechi , stated: The negotiation is still ongoing and adjournment becomes necessary. We will meet tomorrow (today Wednesday). So far, there are signs of commitment but we believe that government will need to shift ground in order to meet our demands.The government was still maintaining its position to offer 11 per cent for workers on grade levels 7-14 and 6.5 per cent for those on grade levels 15-17, while labour remained insistent that it should be 29 per cent for grade 7-14 workers and 24 per cent for 15-17 workers.Speaking to journalists on the outcome of the Monday meeting, the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Amechi Asugwuni, said the matter was yet to be resolved.He said the meeting was a consultative one, which afforded labour the opportunity to present its position to the minister and other officials of government.He said: The meeting took into consideration the essential issues about the minimum wage that is still pending. With the consultation, we were able to share information with the Minister of Labour and Employment in order to ensure the success of tomorrows (today) meeting.We believe that the Federal Government will do the needful because ours is a straight forward proposal. We have made our proposal to the federal government before now and government is to respond. We believe that by tomorrow, we will get the federal government feedback and know the next thing to do.He described the meeting as an exploratory one, which would afford both sides to share information and to understand the issues better.It would be recalled that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers to prepare for strike on Oct. 16 if negotiation breaks down with Federal Government.In a circular signed by its General Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC said this was a notice in case the proposed negotiations slated for Oct. 15 with the Federal Government broke down.You will recall that a joint Communiqu was issued by the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Committee (JNPSNC) stating that two weeks from the date of the said communiqu, industrial harmony could not be guaranteed in the country should an agreement not be reached with the Federal Government on the Consequential Adjustment of Salaries as a result of the New National Minimum Wage of N30,000. You are hereby directed to coordinate preparations with TUC and JNPSNC in your States for necessary industrial action should the time expire without an agreement as contained in the circular.The issue of implementation of the new wage has remained a problem, arising from the issue of relativity and consequential adjustments.On May 14, the Federal Government inaugurated the relativity and consequential adjustment committee, which in turn set up a technical sub-committee to work out a template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.However, government and labour have failed to reach an agreement over relativity and consequential adjustments for the implementation of the new minimum wage more than six months after it was signed into law.For a better societyTotal Views: 20 ,

Favour Shuaib , Abuja. The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has assured that the FCT Administration will work closely with the six Area Councils and other Agencies of Government to beef up commitment in addressing challenges of water supply, sanitation and hygiene in rural communities. Specifically, the Minister described as worrisome the last assessment carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with UNICEF, stating that 50 percent of Abuja residents defecations in the open. Aliyu who stated this during inspection tour of facilities in Gwagwalada Area Council of the territory, also commended the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) for the construction of 2 Nos block of VIP toilet at Tunga Maje secondary school. The Minister used the occasion to declare that the present rating is unacceptable, assuring that the FCT Administration is determine to change the narratives. Aliyu reiterated that the provision of potable water supply, adequate sanitation and hygiene are primarily the responsibilities of states and local governments, stressing that if the respective authorities fail to resolve this ambiguous menace, the target to end open defecation in the nations capital on or before 2025 may be unrealistic. According to her, It is important to emphasise that the provision of potable water supply, adequate sanitation and hygiene are primarily the responsibilities of States and Local Governments or Area Councils as in the case of FCT. Let me state unequivocally that if the respective authorities (States and Local Governments) fail to resolve this a ugly menace, the target to end open defecations in the nations capital may be unrealistic. It saddens my heart to note that currently 102, 000 children die annually due to diseases related to sanitation. We must join hands to address this menace. More worrisome is the fact that the last assessment carried out in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and UNICEF, 50 percent of Abuja residents defecate in the open. This is unacceptable and we are determine to change the narratives. Henceforth, the FCT Administration will work closely with the six Area Councils and other Agencies of Government to scale-up commitment to implement the National WASH Action Plan to end open defecation. In related development, the Minister expressed concern over the state of the automated abattoir under construction in Tunga Maje of Gwagwalada Area Council, just as she charged the contractor to speed up progress of work. She assured the contractor handling the project that the FCT Administration will resolve some ambiguities surrounding the access road with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. For a better societyTotal Views: 47 ,

COMFORT EKELEMEExecutive Director, Retail Banking, Access Bank Plc Victor Etuokwu said the banks expanded digital lending portfolio, which gives Nigerians quick access to loans for emergencies without any collateral has hit a record N1billion daily in loan value.He said, We are at the forefront of digital lending across the continent. This is a deliberate choice we made when we introduced the first USSD based digital lending product in Nigeria based on our deep understanding of our operating environment. In the past two years, we have disbursed over N3.5 million loans to individuals.We acknowledge it is no mean feat when compared to where the market is coming from, but this is still a scratch in the overall potential of this market. This year alone we have disbursed over N45bn in over 2 million disbursements to individuals and have recently witnessed a spike in our volumes hitting N1billion daily. This achievement and our focus on retail lending reiterate our commitment to democratize access to financial services leveraging digital technology, he said.Since the launch of Access Banks digital loan portfolio with PayDay Loan as the flagship product, Access Bank has continued to expand its loan portfolio using its proven innovative algorithms and deep machine learning capabilities.Also, the Banks retail innovation journey has led it to expand its digital loan offerings to other multi-tenured variants to fit the needs of its diverse retail customer segments.Access Bank also launched a dedicated loan application platform known as QuickBucks in the third quarter of last year; a Mobile Banking Application for digital loans aimed at improving customers borrowing experience for retail loans. As part of its commitment to deepening digital finance, the Bank has gone a step ahead to provide access to phone ownership as it recently launched a 12-month Device Ownership scheme where any salary earning customer can select a phone of his choice from our QuickBucks app and walk into any of our partner outlets across the country to pick up the phone.Head Digital Banking Business Development, Access Bank, Chinedu Onuoha said Our objective is to ensure that there is a digital loan product for every adult Nigerian who has proven means of livelihood because we know that every individual at one point or another requires some form of financial support. Our flagship digital loan product, PayDay Loan, is tailored to help individuals meet their urgent cash needs. Though the tenor for this loan is 30 days, we also have loans with tenors of 3 months and 6 months.For a better societyTotal Views: 39 ,

.Apo-Karshi road to be ready MarchFavour Shuaib, Abuja.The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and government of Nasarawa State have begun moves for the establishment of a joint development commission that would focus on areas of common interests.This move was made during a meeting between the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule at the FCTA Secretariat, Abuja.According to the Minister, the joint commission would enable the two territories to harmonize their plans, work towards joint spending, development and accruing revenue sharing.He said: Relationship between FCT and Nasarawa State is very close because the boundary between us is only imaginary. If you go there, you will find it difficult to see any difference.There is the need for us to see how we can improve the linkages. The founding fathers of the FCT envisaged that the surrounding territories would become greater Abuja.Our hope is that the Apo-Karshi road, when completed will ease traffic on the Nyanya axis, but it will not be enough because of the many communities that will spring up there.Malam Bello assured that he would not allow illegal parks to appear on the side of the FCT, even as he urged the Governor to do the same on the side of the State,The Minister also revealed that the FCTA was seriously working on commencing construction of the rail line that connects the two places, even as he called on Nasarawa to also collaborate with the FCT if the state has rail development plan.The Nasarawa State Governor who spoke earlier said that his visit was to seek partnership with the FCT Administration for the construction of a modern bus terminal on the side of the State and move in all illegal parks along the road to help solve the protracted traffic situation on that axis.Governor Sule also suggested the building of roadside barriers that would prevent roadside trading and promised to clear all illegal activities on the road showlders, even as he said he has been able to move traders into the States international market, renamed after President Muhammadu Buhari.The Governor therefore congratulated Malam Bello for reappointment as FCT and Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu as FCT Minister of State.Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin, in his presentation on the proposed ONEX-Mpape-Ado/Gurku-Nyanya by-pass, said that the 40k road was planned link FCT and Nasarawa State and also help in decongestion the area.Engr. Jibrin also revealed that the future road project was composed of 18 kilometers for the FCT and 22 kilometres for Nasarawa State, adding that the FCTA has undertaken to do the contract design. He listed traffic decongestion, socio-economic growth and provision of job opportunities to both professionals and artisans as major benefits of the project.Director, Satellite Towns Development, Engr. Felix Nwanko who also made a presentation on the progress work on the Apo-Karshi road assured that the road would be ready by first quarter of next year.On his part, Chairmen, taskteam on decongestion of Nyanya road, Ikharo Attah disclosed that travel time has been reduced from hours to less than 15 minutes on Nyanya route.He pointed that for traffic on the road remain free, relevant agencies such as the FRSC, VIO, Police and the AEPB must do their job, and run shift to permanently keep the traders in the markets but not on the road.For a better societyTotal Views: 27 ,