Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian Government to drop all trumped up charges brought against human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and restore all his rights as guaranteed by Nigerian and international laws.
The group made the call in a Twitter post on Monday to mark one year of Sowore’s arrest by the Department of State Services.
Amnesty International had on November 20, 2019 designated the activist as prisoner of conscience following his arbitrary detention and unfair trial for exercising his right to protest.
The rights group said President Muhammadu Buhari should stop using security agents and judiciary as a tool for persecuting people, who voice dissenting opinions, challenge abuse and call for accountability.
The organisation said, “Today marks exactly a year after Nigerian authorities unlawfully detained Omoyele Sowore.
“He was put through an unfair trial based on bogus charges. In November 2019 we declared him a Prisoner of Conscience; who was deprived of his rights solely for exercising freedom of expression.
“We are again calling on Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Omoyele Sowore and restore all his rights guaranteed by Nigerian and international law.”
We are again calling on Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Omoyele Sowore and restore all his rights guaranteed by Nigerian and International law; https://t.co/wk7s09A7Lw
Sowore was arrested in Lagos for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets to demand better governance from the administration of President Buhari.
He was kept in unlawful detention from that period until December 5, 2019 when he was finally released on bail despite two court orders earlier sanctioning his freedom.
The DSS operatives invaded the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 6, 2019 to rearrest him without any court order.
He remained in detention until 18 days later when he was released by the secret police for the second time.
At the resumption of his trial in a case brought against him by the Nigerian Government, the prosecution failed to prove accusations against him and even went ahead to dropping seven of the charges earlier preferred against him.
Groups and prominent individuals from around the world have described the charges against Sowore as baseless and a waste of time.
He was confined to Abuja as one of his bail conditions forbids him from leaving the city or speaking with journalists until the end of his trial.
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Nigerians students studying abroad under the Niger Delta Development Commission scholarship have again held a protest to demand their two-year allowance.
The students are demanding their take-off fee and tuition as they risk termination of their academic programmes by the foreign institutions due to the non-release of funds by the NDDC.
The young citizens picketed the Nigerian High Commission, London, United Kingdom.
Some of the affected persons, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said their institutions had terminated their academic programme and have listed them for deportation.
Speaking at the scene of the protest, one of the scholars said the protest will continue until the government paid their funds.
“We spoke with the consular and they said they will contact the presidency.
“We have been deregistered from school and we will be deported within 60 days maximum.
“We came here to send a strong message that you can no longer trample on us and think that we will not fight back,” one of the scholars said.
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Nigerians students studying abroad under the Niger Delta Development Commission scholarship have again held a protest to demand their two-year allowance.
The students are demanding their take-off fee and tuition as they risk termination of their academic programmes by the foreign institutions due to the non-release of funds by the NDDC.
The young citizens picketed the Nigerian High Commission, London, United Kingdom.
Some of the affected persons, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said their institutions had terminated their academic programme and have listed them for deportation.
Speaking at the scene of the protest, one of the scholars said the protest will continue until the government paid their funds.
“We spoke with the consular and they said they will contact the presidency.
“We have been deregistered from school and we will be deported within 60 days maximum.
“We came here to send a strong message that you can no longer trample on us and think that we will not fight back,” one of the scholars said.
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Boko Haram terrorists have kidnapped many people mostly women and children during an attack on an internally displaced persons camp in Garin Wanzam area of Diffa, Niger Republic.
SaharaReporters gathered that the attack took place on Sunday night while many Muslim families were still celebrating the Id el Kabir festival.
A security source said those abducted were displaced people from Abadam and Mobbar local government areas of Borno State.
He said despite the fact that the area was well guarded by soldiers, the insurgents easily made their way into the camp to carry out their mission before leaving.
A boy walks past the remains of a village burnt down by Boko HaramAudu Marte/AFP/Getty
“Most Nigerians from Abadam and Mobbar staying in a refugee camp in Garin Wanzam were abducted last night by Boko Haram,” the source said. “The total number of people taken away can’t be ascertained now,” he added.
There are an estimated 75,000 Nigerian refugees from Borno State in Niger Republic.
This is aside the estimated 50,000, who fled to neighbouring Cameroon from communities such as Bama, Gwoza, Kala-Balge, Gamboru-Ngala and Dikwa following consistent attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
Thousands of persons have been killed in the decade-long deadly campaign by Boko Haram while millions more have been displaced after their communities were razed by the insurgents.
Boko Haram terrorists have kidnapped many people mostly women and children during an attack on an internally displaced persons camp in Garin Wanzam area of Diffa, Niger Republic.
SaharaReporters gathered that the attack took place on Sunday night while many Muslim families were still celebrating the Id el Kabir festival.
A security source said those abducted were displaced people from Abadam and Mobbar local government areas of Borno State.
He said despite the fact that the area was well guarded by soldiers, the insurgents easily made their way into the camp to carry out their mission before leaving.
A boy walks past the remains of a village burnt down by Boko HaramAudu Marte/AFP/Getty
“Most Nigerians from Abadam and Mobbar staying in a refugee camp in Garin Wanzam were abducted last night by Boko Haram,” the source said. “The total number of people taken away can’t be ascertained now,” he added.
There are an estimated 75,000 Nigerian refugees from Borno State in Niger Republic.
This is aside the estimated 50,000, who fled to neighbouring Cameroon from communities such as Bama, Gwoza, Kala-Balge, Gamboru-Ngala and Dikwa following consistent attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
Thousands of persons have been killed in the decade-long deadly campaign by Boko Haram while millions more have been displaced after their communities were razed by the insurgents.
Nigerian airline operator, Air Peace, has announced the sack of 70 of its pilots as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
It also reduced staff salaries by up to 40 per cent.
In a statement on Monday, Stanley Olise, spokesperson of the airline, said the decision was taken for the greater good of the company.
He said, “The management of Air Peace wishes to state that it has taken a very painful but rightful decision in the circumstances the airline has found itself as a result of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and financial health, to terminate the employment of some of its pilots.
“This decision was taken for the greater good of the company and its almost 3000 workforce, the affected pilots inclusive.
“The airline cannot afford to toe the path of being unable to continue to fulfill its financial obligations to its staff, external vendors, aviation agencies, maintenance organisations, insurance companies, banks and other creditors, hence the decision to restructure its entire operations with a view to surviving the times.
“The pandemic has hit every airline worldwide so badly that it has become very impossible for airlines to remain afloat without carrying out internal restructuring of their costs. Anything short of what we have done may lead to the collapse of an airline as could be seen in some places worldwide during this period.
“Therefore, we decided to review the salaries being paid to all staff. The new salaries reflect a 0%-40% cut of the former salary depending on the salary grades of every staff. Even after the cuts, it was obvious that for us to be able to sustain our operations and survive the times, some jobs must inevitably have to go.”
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Nigerian airline operator, Air Peace, has announced the sack of 70 of its pilots as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
It also reduced staff salaries by up to 40 per cent.
In a statement on Monday, Stanley Olise, spokesperson of the airline, said the decision was taken for the greater good of the company.
He said, “The management of Air Peace wishes to state that it has taken a very painful but rightful decision in the circumstances the airline has found itself as a result of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and financial health, to terminate the employment of some of its pilots.
“This decision was taken for the greater good of the company and its almost 3000 workforce, the affected pilots inclusive.
“The airline cannot afford to toe the path of being unable to continue to fulfill its financial obligations to its staff, external vendors, aviation agencies, maintenance organisations, insurance companies, banks and other creditors, hence the decision to restructure its entire operations with a view to surviving the times.
“The pandemic has hit every airline worldwide so badly that it has become very impossible for airlines to remain afloat without carrying out internal restructuring of their costs. Anything short of what we have done may lead to the collapse of an airline as could be seen in some places worldwide during this period.
“Therefore, we decided to review the salaries being paid to all staff. The new salaries reflect a 0%-40% cut of the former salary depending on the salary grades of every staff. Even after the cuts, it was obvious that for us to be able to sustain our operations and survive the times, some jobs must inevitably have to go.”
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Twice as a columnist, in 2011 and 2015, I endorsed the candidature of General Muhammadu Buhari for the presidency, strongly believing he offered us a chance to reinvent ourselves.
Following his victory, and still believing that Buhari was serious about leading Nigeria, when he was scheduled to visit the United States in early 2016, I requested a one-on-one interview. I hoped to help set the tone for robust public engagement.
My request was granted, but eventually the interview could not hold in the United States. Upon further arrangements, I arrived in Abuja on May 21.
To be fair to the presidency, they welcomed me warmly back home, and I was certain I would be able to have my interview.
There was only one problem: President Buhari was preparing to celebrate his first anniversary in office just days away. I was informed there would be not one interview, but two interviews for a total of 90 minutes.
And no, those interviews were not for me, but for six “media houses.” There would be joint interviews of three houses each for 45 minutes.
Sonala Olumhense Syndicated
For the record, the presidency officials who interacted with me were very courteous and professional. But I had not travelled from New York to Abuja at tremendous personal expense to do a group interview, let alone for 45 minutes. As a result, I declined to participate in the exercise, and eventually withdrew my interview application altogether.
Of greater concern, I was devastated that Buhari was clearly treating the Nigerian mass media as an afterthought, choosing to hold batch interviews as a way of avoiding the responsibility altogether. The success of an interview depends on follow-up questions; how many can three journalists from three different organisations explore in 45 minutes?
Remember: that was in May 2016. Buhari has now had five Mays in office as Nigeria leader: five years in which he has demonstrated the same characteristic disrespect for the local media that was responsible for his Decree 4 as Head of State in 1983.
Coming into the 2015 election, Buhari had dressed himself in the robes of a “converted” or “born-again democrat,” just as he professed to be a corruption-general and a believer in the rights of all Nigerians. He asked Nigerians to vote him in so he could prove to them that they could be proud of Nigeria.
These were the thoughts that occupied my mind when it was announced that the Nigerian Press Organisation, which comprises the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) had decided, within four days of the death of Isa Funtua, to rename the Nigeria Institute of Journalism building in Lagos in his honour.
The NPO cited Funtua’s “untiring contributions to the development of journalism and freedom of press in Nigeria and around the world,” and named positions in the media in which he had served. Not only were most of them irrelevant, there was absolutely nothing outstanding in the claims. It ought to take something extraordinary to name an entire industry’s prime real estate after an individual within four days of his death.
That something extraordinary would be character, which relates to an aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of someone.
On the question of character, here is a story about Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, the continent’s premiere multilateral bank. I have never met him, but the records show a man of exemplary accomplishment and character. He joined the ADB in 2015 after serving as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture.
This month, Adesina faces re-election for a second five-year term. In January, anonymous whistleblowers delivered an explosive battery of allegations against him that would not only have torpedoed his chances but blown apart his excellent track record. His chances looked far worse after the United States, the bank’s largest shareholder after Nigeria, seemed to convict Dr. Adesina of the allegations even after ADB’s Ethics Committee reported it had found no evidence against him.
Early in June, the Bureau of the Board of Governors of the bank authorised an Independent Review of the Report of the Ethics Committee.
The Panel was led by Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland, Chair of The Elders and a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, whom the Board called “a neutral, high-caliber individual with unquestionable experience, high international reputation and integrity.”
Others were Justice Hassan B Jallow, former Attorney-General of the Gambia and experienced Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals; and Leonard F. McCarthy, a former Director of Public Prosecutions in South Africa who later headed the Integrity Vice-Presidency at the World Bank. They were supported by the retired Irish Supreme Court Judge, Nial Fennelly.
The Panel reviewed all aspects of the work of the Ethics Committee, including its decisions on each of the 16 complaints, which included: unethical conduct, impediment to efficiency, political activity, private gain, impediment to efficiency, and preferential treatment adversely affecting confidence in the integrity of the bank.
It also reviewed Dr. Adesina’s response, which had included 250 pages of documents, including 18 annexes.
Reporting their findings last week, the panel vindicated the President, absolving him on every single one of the allegations. It agreed with the Ethics Committee in its findings and affirmed that it had properly considered and dismissed all the allegations.
And while the committee had not been required to consider Adesina’s responses, the panel, citing the interests of fairness and of due process, did so. On that point also, it found the President’s submissions to be consistent with his innocence.
By that report, Adesina brought great honour and pride to himself and his family. Because character is a treasure. The question is whether it means anything to Nigeria.
Because if you want to know why Nigeria does not work, consider the actions of those who chose to dishonour him by making him an impostor. Like a thief in the night, the NPO disingenuously took what did not belong to them, on behalf of people who did not know they were being violated and used it to crown a king.
Certainly, Funtua had a chance to enjoy such recognition. But he was not an advocate for Nigeria. Instead—in a faltering, government—he pronounced himself a member of a reviled power block.
The man credited with “untiring contributions to the development of journalism” could have advocated a robust press in the nation’s democratic process, but he was neither on record as objecting to a revised Decree 4 nor as advising Buhari that engaging journalists is a duty and not an option.
These are issues of character, not of politics, questions that the NPO, were it being honest or professional, ought to have asked before it ventured into the embarrassing renaming business.
Funtua may have wielded enormous influence in this government, but in a presidency defined by nepotism, how many Akinwumi Adesinas have been allowed to serve Nigeria in the last five years?
Character and contribution. These are the words you are looking for, NPO.
The Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has been discovered to be involved in a multi-billion naira fraudulent scheme.
Findings by SaharaReporters revealed that the IGP had used his office to unlawfully compel and in fact threaten Mobile Police Commanders into generating millions of naira monthly through illegal means for the establishment of a Mopol Training School in his hometown of Endehu in Nasarawa State.
It was gathered that the same project was included in the 2020 budget of the Nigeria Police Force but was rejected by the National Assembly.
But desperate to fulfill his desire, the Inspector-General of Police had each Squadron Commanders cough out nothing less than N500,000 monthly for the purpose of erecting different structures in the training school.
Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Mohammed Adamu
According to senior police officers in the know, the illegally sourced funds run into several millions each month and is under the firm control of Adamu.
“The IGP does not mind how these Mopol leaders get the money for the project, whether through corrupt means or otherwise, he does not care.
“The directive has made the Mopol Commanders do everything through corrupt means to raise millions of naira monthly to build the project just to satisfy the ego of the IGP and keep their positions too.
“The training school is about to be inaugurated on August 12 and the same Mopol Commanders are to be used as Guinea pigs to test run the facilities from August 16,” a source said.
SaharaReporters further gathered that the Inspector-General of Police had insisted on having the training go on at the facility despite the warning of health experts due to the risk of participants contracting and spreading Coronavirus.
This, it was discovered, was against government’s directives stating that meetings, seminars and courses with more than four participants must be held through virtual means.
“With all these directives in place, no one can truly state why the IGP is adamant that the course must go on, thereby risking the lives of more than 90 senior officers mostly within the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police,” the source added.
In a 2019 public survey by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project titled “Corruption Perception Survey”, the Nigeria Police Force emerged the most corrupt public institution in the country, sharply ahead of the power sector.
According to the survey, "A bribe is paid in 54 per cent of interactions with the police. In fact, there is a 63 per cent probability that an average Nigerian would be asked to pay a bribe each time he or she interacted with the police. That is almost two out of three."
The Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has been discovered to be involved in a multi-billion naira fraudulent scheme.
Findings by SaharaReporters revealed that the IGP had used his office to unlawfully compel and in fact threaten Mobile Police Commanders into generating millions of naira monthly through illegal means for the establishment of a Mopol Training School in his hometown of Endehu in Nasarawa State.
It was gathered that the same project was included in the 2020 budget of the Nigeria Police Force but was rejected by the National Assembly.
But desperate to fulfill his desire, the Inspector-General of Police had each Squadron Commanders cough out nothing less than N500,000 monthly for the purpose of erecting different structures in the training school.
Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Mohammed Adamu
According to senior police officers in the know, the illegally sourced funds run into several millions each month and is under the firm control of Adamu.
“The IGP does not mind how these Mopol leaders get the money for the project, whether through corrupt means or otherwise, he does not care.
“The directive has made the Mopol Commanders do everything through corrupt means to raise millions of naira monthly to build the project just to satisfy the ego of the IGP and keep their positions too.
“The training school is about to be inaugurated on August 12 and the same Mopol Commanders are to be used as Guinea pigs to test run the facilities from August 16,” a source said.
SaharaReporters further gathered that the Inspector-General of Police had insisted on having the training go on at the facility despite the warning of health experts due to the risk of participants contracting and spreading Coronavirus.
This, it was discovered, was against government’s directives stating that meetings, seminars and courses with more than four participants must be held through virtual means.
“With all these directives in place, no one can truly state why the IGP is adamant that the course must go on, thereby risking the lives of more than 90 senior officers mostly within the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police,” the source added.
In a 2019 public survey by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project titled “Corruption Perception Survey”, the Nigeria Police Force emerged the most corrupt public institution in the country, sharply ahead of the power sector.
According to the survey, "A bribe is paid in 54 per cent of interactions with the police. In fact, there is a 63 per cent probability that an average Nigerian would be asked to pay a bribe each time he or she interacted with the police. That is almost two out of three."
There are fears that Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini, the detained soldier arrested for criticising Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, may have been killed by the army as punishment for his action, it has been gathered.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the army twice denied Idakpini's lawyer and family from seeing him in total disregard to an order of the Federal High Court.
Justice AI Chikere of the Abuja Federal High Court held that it was unlawful for the army to continuously deny Idakpini from seeing his lawyer and family.
Lance Corporal Martins
Top sources within the army had informed SaharaReporters that Buratai had vowed to deal ruthlessly with the detained soldier for his action and also treat the order of Justice Chikere with disdain.
However, there are now fears that the army may have killed Idakpini, who has not been seen or heard from since he was arrested over a month ago.
Human rights activist and National President of Revolutionary Lawyers' Forum, Mr Tope Akinyode, who is representing Idakpini, said that "Buratai's action is a coup d'etat on the Nigerian constitution".
He added, “Buratai is tearing the constitution apart and rendering useless the concept of the rule of law. He is about to become a dictator before our very eyes.”
Idakpini was arrested shortly after he made a video castigating Buratai over the army’s failure to combat and destroy Boko Haram.
There are fears that Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini, the detained soldier arrested for criticising Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, may have been killed by the army as punishment for his action, it has been gathered.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the army twice denied Idakpini's lawyer and family from seeing him in total disregard to an order of the Federal High Court.
Justice AI Chikere of the Abuja Federal High Court held that it was unlawful for the army to continuously deny Idakpini from seeing his lawyer and family.
Lance Corporal Martins
Top sources within the army had informed SaharaReporters that Buratai had vowed to deal ruthlessly with the detained soldier for his action and also treat the order of Justice Chikere with disdain.
However, there are now fears that the army may have killed Idakpini, who has not been seen or heard from since he was arrested over a month ago.
Human rights activist and National President of Revolutionary Lawyers' Forum, Mr Tope Akinyode, who is representing Idakpini, said that "Buratai's action is a coup d'etat on the Nigerian constitution".
He added, “Buratai is tearing the constitution apart and rendering useless the concept of the rule of law. He is about to become a dictator before our very eyes.”
Idakpini was arrested shortly after he made a video castigating Buratai over the army’s failure to combat and destroy Boko Haram.
Former staff of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company have condemned the non-payment of their pension 15 years after privatisation of the company.
The staff also lamented the irregularities and corrupt activities by Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate and Bureau of Public Enterprises, the two agencies handling the payment of pension for them.
Some of the affected persons, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said the BPE rather than pay all former staff their pension fee, settled some part of their pension fee while many others were yet to receive any fee.
Alademomi Sanmi, General Secretary of the former NAHCO staff forum, revealed that they had suffered psychological and physical trauma due to non-payment of their pension.
He said, “NAHCO have seemingly taken delight in our suffering to the extent of eyeing and targeting pension funds approved by the government for us which in fairness cannot even equate with our overall suffering over the years.
“We are deeply worried at the way and manner the PTAD is paying the said one off pension payment she promised our members. PTAD is paying in piece meals and this calls for great concerns.”
Another affected former staff of NAHCO, who asked not to be named, explained that while they had done verification, PTAD and BPE were employing delay tactics to frustrate the pensioners from receiving their funds.
“NAHCO was privatised in 2005 and the BPE money that was supposed to be given to us, they did not begin to give us until towards the end of 2019.
“To pay the money, we went for verification but they are now paying us peanuts. Some of us were given N29,000 as final pay-off.
“Some of us that spent 28 years in NAHCO received lesser pay. These made us ask what the method and rationality of paying the sum is.
“They asked us to come individually, which we rejected. We want them to pay everybody at once rather than batches that they are doing,” the former said.
The former staff of NAHCO threatened to take action against PTAD if the organisation continued to hold on to their pension.
They also warned against the embezzlement and reduction of their pension funds.
“It is worthy for PTAD to note that money approved for the ex-privatisation staff of NAHCO should under no circumstance find its way into the coffers of any organization under any guise.
“Should that happen, we will collectively fight back and for the first time in history, a precedent will be laid where companies will have to go to PTAD to collect pensions like workers. It will not stop with us.
“We the ex-staff of NAHCO wish to unanimously advise NAHCO's board, management and other vampire forces behind moves to interfere with government approved severance's package for ex staff of the company to withdraw any such move immediately.
“The funds approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria are meant for staff who were in the employ of the company at the time of privatization and most of us, if not all are now ex staff.
“Finally, we strongly and vehemently warn that any attempt to arm twist us with respect to this our entitlement by anyone will be severely resisted within the confines of the law, as we are ready to go to any length legally possible to ensure that justice prevails in this issue,” the former NAHCO staff said.
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Former staff of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company have condemned the non-payment of their pension 15 years after privatisation of the company.
The staff also lamented the irregularities and corrupt activities by Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate and Bureau of Public Enterprises, the two agencies handling the payment of pension for them.
Some of the affected persons, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said the BPE rather than pay all former staff their pension fee, settled some part of their pension fee while many others were yet to receive any fee.
Alademomi Sanmi, General Secretary of the former NAHCO staff forum, revealed that they had suffered psychological and physical trauma due to non-payment of their pension.
He said, “NAHCO have seemingly taken delight in our suffering to the extent of eyeing and targeting pension funds approved by the government for us which in fairness cannot even equate with our overall suffering over the years.
“We are deeply worried at the way and manner the PTAD is paying the said one off pension payment she promised our members. PTAD is paying in piece meals and this calls for great concerns.”
Another affected former staff of NAHCO, who asked not to be named, explained that while they had done verification, PTAD and BPE were employing delay tactics to frustrate the pensioners from receiving their funds.
“NAHCO was privatised in 2005 and the BPE money that was supposed to be given to us, they did not begin to give us until towards the end of 2019.
“To pay the money, we went for verification but they are now paying us peanuts. Some of us were given N29,000 as final pay-off.
“Some of us that spent 28 years in NAHCO received lesser pay. These made us ask what the method and rationality of paying the sum is.
“They asked us to come individually, which we rejected. We want them to pay everybody at once rather than batches that they are doing,” the former said.
The former staff of NAHCO threatened to take action against PTAD if the organisation continued to hold on to their pension.
They also warned against the embezzlement and reduction of their pension funds.
“It is worthy for PTAD to note that money approved for the ex-privatisation staff of NAHCO should under no circumstance find its way into the coffers of any organization under any guise.
“Should that happen, we will collectively fight back and for the first time in history, a precedent will be laid where companies will have to go to PTAD to collect pensions like workers. It will not stop with us.
“We the ex-staff of NAHCO wish to unanimously advise NAHCO's board, management and other vampire forces behind moves to interfere with government approved severance's package for ex staff of the company to withdraw any such move immediately.
“The funds approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria are meant for staff who were in the employ of the company at the time of privatization and most of us, if not all are now ex staff.
“Finally, we strongly and vehemently warn that any attempt to arm twist us with respect to this our entitlement by anyone will be severely resisted within the confines of the law, as we are ready to go to any length legally possible to ensure that justice prevails in this issue,” the former NAHCO staff said.
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Medical doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners in Ondo State have called off their strike action after one month.
The doctors, who work in government-owned hospitals, had on Wednesday June, 24, 2020 withdrawn medical services from all public health facilities including the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Akure, the state capital.
They are demanding for the payment of all their accumulated arrears, allowances and a better welfare package including life insurance for frontline doctors in the IDH.
Chairman of NAGGMDP, Dr Oluwafemi Aina, on Monday told SaharaReporters that they decided to suspend the strike action after the government agreed to some of their demands.
Aina explained that the government had procured some basic Personal Protective Equipment to all medical officers in the government hospitals with a promise to begin its distribution.
He also disclosed that the government had paid one out of the three months Special COVID-19 hazard and risk allowance to frontline health workers in the state.
According to him, the government has also concluded plans to implement its earlier suspended negotiations on the minimum wage and consequential adjustments of basic salaries of health workers in the state starting with the July 2020 salaries.
He said, "So, the congress decided over the weekend to suspend the strike action which had lasted more than a month after the government acceded to some of these demands for the medical doctors."
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Human rights activist and Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari would be remembered for presiding over the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria.
He accused the President of suppressing the opposition and using security agents to harass persons, who speak truth to power.
Adeyanju spoke in commemoration of the first anniversary of #RevolutionNow protest – an occasion that saw Nigerians in large numbers taking to the streets to demand better governance by Buhari’s administration.
The protest led to the arrest of many activists and ordinary Nigerians, who participated in the demonstration.
He said, "Buhari will be remembered for looting and relooting the loot and for selling the sovereignty of Nigeria to China by taking the loan he could not account for.
"The loot that was recovered was also relooted by his government.
"He oversees the most corrupt regime in the history of our country. He will be remembered for enthronement of corruption, violations of human rights, freedom of assembly and speech.”
Adeyanju also said that the continued attacks, killings and maiming of Southern Kaduna people by suspected herdsmen without any meaningful intervention from the federal and state governments was shocking and despicable.
He added, "Enough of these senseless and mindless killings. The indigenous people of Southern Kaduna need a respite from all these killings and unrest in their villages.
“Every citizen in Nigeria has a right to be protected by the government and the silence of the state and federal governments concerning the killings going on in Southern Kaduna speak volumes.”
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The Nigerian Governors Forum on Monday said that the recent attack on the convoy of Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno State, had shown that nobody was safe in Nigeria.
The group in a letter of solidarity to Governor Zulum, described the attack as “unwarranted attack too many.”
In the letter signed by Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State governor and NGF Chairman, the governors said they will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over the rising insecurity in the country.
The letter reads, “On behalf of the 36 state governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the NGF, I write to express our solidarity with you and the people of Borno State, following the attack last Wednesday, by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.
“This is one unwarranted attack too many. It epitomizes our collective vulnerability and the fragility of the country’s security architecture.
“Although you emerged from this incident unscathed, we note with regret the injuries sustained by two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and a police officer attached to your convoy and do accordingly pray for their quick recovery.
“Mr Governor, forum members are resolutely behind you in your effort to rid Borno State of these dastardly and wicked agents of evil. We are appalled by the worsening security situation in the country generally, in-spite of all the efforts of the government to end it.”
Suspected members of Boko Haram had last week attacked Zulum’s convoy when he was touring some communities in the state.
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :
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Nigeria is in decay. And it is getting worse. Nigerians wake up every day to be greeted by new open sores with broken bones and blood underneath.
Nigeria will never be great. Twenty-one years ago, 1999 to be precise, Nigeria returned to democracy after military intrusions of coups and counter coups. Nothing has changed for the better. Instead, Nigeria is in a downward spiral in all aspects of human civilization. Inequalities, ethnic and religious brutalities, injustices, poverty, suffering, killings, violence, and corruption reign supreme.
If Nero fiddled while Rome burned, General Muhammadu Buhari acts as a spectator president while Nigeria descends into anarchy. Each day of his presidency brings authoritarian dystopia. He presides over a dynasty of corrupt cabal. Greed, bribery, and fraud have drained Nigeria from the inside and left it weak and vulnerable. Corruption is not only a moral evil, but a practical menace that has destroyed Nigeria and its people.
Why has Nigeria remained the way it is for almost 60 years? Why is government the problem and not the solution? Why do Nigerians prefer “suffering and smiling” and “still in love with their oppressors?” Why are Nigerians so numb and dumb to challenge and confront Buhari for his reign of terror? Who cast spells on Nigerians? Why are Nigerians not better off today than they were 60 years ago? Why is the president so inadequate and ill equipped to discharge the duties of his office? Why is everything so wrong with Nigeria? Why? Why? Why?
Bayo Oluwasanmi
Democracy is the best form of government. But our democracy under Buhari has been the worst form of government because of injustice, nepotism, corruption, lack of transparency and accountability.
With Buhari as president, it has been violent collisions between hope and hopelessness, between exhaustion and fatigue. Buhari has inflicted immeasurable trauma on our people.
Nigerians and their leaders have something in common: Selfishness, greediness, wickedness, ignorance, and corruption. The best form of government embraces a balance of power. The foundation of a good government is founded on a system of checks and balances. In Nigeria, the executive, judiciary, and legislature have been compromised and collapsed into one with no arm of government to exercise oversight on the other two.
Leadership remains the greatest pandemic afflicting Nigeria. The president has set aside constitutional rules, claiming the need for expediency or security. He has become a tyrant because his regime is unchecked. Our democracy has been degraded into mob rule because there are no constraints on popular power.
We elect presidents who are not of exceptional character, ability, and integrity. Those who will govern a country must possess great courage, ability, and resolve. Those who will govern a country should be the best and the brightest of the land. But, the dullest, the intelligently disabled, the dumbest, and the vacant minded are in charge of Nigeria. As long as we continue to elect the type of Buhari as president, there is no hope for Nigeria.
As Cicero rightly observes, “Governing a country is like steering a ship. When the storm winds begin to blow, if the captain is not able to hold a steady course, the voyage will end in disaster for all.” Nigeria as a ship is rudderless. No one is steering the ship right now. The storm winds are tossing the ship. The captain is asleep. Nigeria is drifting aimlessly. No one can give it a steady course. Disaster looms ahead for all.
