[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith the full implementation of Financial Autonomy in the Local Government Councils in Nigeria, a policy which had been welcomed with wide spread commendation by stakeholders, workers of the unified Local Government Councils in Delta State may, however, now be regretting the policy, which appears not to favour them, especially at this initial stage.

This is as a result of the directive issued by the various Council Chairmen in the State under the auspices of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, to the effect that allowances accruable to some workers of the Local Government Council should be removed with the payment of June 2019 Salaries, being the first salary after the introduction of the Financial autonomy in the councils.

cshowcasenews.com gathered that the implementation of the directive falls on INFOSIC, the consultancy company charged with the responsibility of giving monthly returns to the body of Chairmen in the State, ALGON.

To that effect, therefore, it was also gathered that the company which reports directly to the Chairmen has, in line with the order, allegedly tampered with the June 2019 Salaries of Local government workers, with the removal of their allowances in the monthly returns of the organization, which has already been forwarded to the various councils for implementation, in accordance with the ALGON directive.

The allowances affected include: Shift allowances for Health workers, Environmental Health Workers and Drivers, as well as Health hazard allowance for Agricultural officers and other field workers within the Unified Local Government Council system.

cshowcasenews.com has been reliably informed that this directive from the council Chairmen has not gone down well with the workers who see the instruction as anti-labour and a show of ingratitude, first from the Council Chairmen who now enjoy autonomy and secondly, from the State government, having thrown their full weight and support in the reelection effort of the Governor of the state.

In an exclusive chat with cshowcasenews.com, the President of National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Delta State, High Comrade Ziko Okwudi said that indeed the leadership of the Union has been on the matter and that a position has not been taken yet, adding that no staff of the Local Government Council in the State will be unduly shortchanged.

“As a union, our priority is the protection of the welfare and well-being of the workers of the 25 Local Government Councils in Delta State and we will continue to be objective and upright in accepting what is the right thing to do at any particular time. Where we are wrong in this matter we will not by any way compromise, in the same vein, where we are right, we shall do everything within the limit of our powers to retain and sustain.”

The NULGE boss, further stated that all that has to be done with the matter has been tabled for discussion and will be concluded with a position paper in the next meeting of Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC, even as he called on the workers of the Unified Local Government System in the State to continue to be of high moral behavior at their places of deployment, pending the determination of the matter at the meeting.

Presenting the position of the state Chairmen on the matter, the Delta State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo, in another exclusive interview at his office in Asaba, said that the directive for the stoppage of the payment of the allowances was based on unwholesome discoveries during the last Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC, meeting.

He said that at the meeting which comprised of the State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and all critical Stakeholders in the State Local Government affairs, a lot of issues were raised which included issues of allowances that has to do with zonal offices, appointment of over 30 Heads of Personnel Management, HPM’s, when the state has only 25 Local Government Councils, appointment of over 25 Treasurers to the Local Governments, TLG’s, payment of allowances that certain people were not entitled to, over staffing in the State Local Government Commission, where you have over 150 people working and the issue of Shift allowance to workers where they do not do shift duties.

“That was what gave birth to the decision and directive at that meeting and as I have just explained, we found out a whole lot of other things too in the meeting. For example, the wage bill of teachers indeed is really going down, while that of the Local Government Councils remains static and not going down.

“And we felt that something is there for us to look at, it is either the consultants were not working well or there was something they were missing,” the ALGON boss stated.

Hon. Ikpokpo who is the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government in the State, noted that though JAAC is a meeting for the sharing and distribution of the Allocation for the Local Governments, it has remained a veritable point of meeting of stakeholders for the articulation of needs, challenges and comparing of notes among the various LGs, towards synergizing in moving the system forward for the overall benefit of the people of the State.

Speaking further, Hon. Ikpokpo said that ALGON as a body, does not have a problem with allowances, revealing that what they are after is the legality and the need for the appropriate allowances being paid to the workers of the Councils.

“First of all, we don’t have any problem with allowances, what we have problem with is who approves of it. If allowances are just given, there is a problem with that.

“Allowances must be approved based on need and that is the reality on ground in the 25 Local Governments Areas in Delta State. The reality is that we don’t have people who do shift. What is a rural community, where will you define as a rural community, what are the indices that make a rural community? Is there any staff that does shift in any Local Government Council in Delta State?

“Thirdly, why do people want to come to the commission; people want to come to the commission because of forth-night allowance and you must be connected to get it,” Ikpokpo stated adding that these are the questions that became issues in the meeting.

He revealed that indeed the State Chairman of NULGE as usual put up a very strong defense, adding that even when they agreed with him in some aspect of his observations, they however objected in some areas and resolved that the allowances, which he said were listed for all stakeholders to see, will be critically looked into in the next JAAC meeting, where a final decision will be taken on the matter.

“Looking at the allowances from A to H, there is the need for the Governor and JAAC to appraise them critically and give approvals where necessary and the commission is a member of the Committee through the Secretary,” Hon. Ikpokpo declared, while confirming that it was based on the resolution, that directives were given to the consultants, INFOSIC to remove all contentious allowances, pending the determination of all the issues raised by way of approval given.

On the financial autonomy being enjoy by the Local Government through the NIFU policy, the ALGON Chairman, affirmed that it was initiated and inserted into the Constitutional amendment by ALGON, adding that indeed NULGE as a Union, partnered with them in the fight which he stressed, was the right thing for them to do, even as he noted that the Body of Local Government Chairmen in the State, worked assiduously for the reelection of the Governor of the State for the fact that he was the best man for the job.

Hon. Ikpokpo was quick to declare, that working for the reelection of the Governor and fighting for the financial autonomy should not by any means be the basis for the continuation of doing what is not right.

“Is it because grace abound that we continue in sin? No!”,he affirmed emphatically.

He therefore assured the body of workers in the 25 Local Government Councils in the state that their interest will always be protected, saying that, “there is nothing to fear and that we are partners in moving workers forward and that they can be sure that whatever is due them will not be taken from them.

“Don’t forget that we are also at the edge of implementing the new minimum wage. So we will try to do what is right and it is important they too corporate and accept what is right. What is right is what is right. What you don’t have approval for; you don’t take it as your own.

“You may have been taking it as part of your life in the past, but that does not make it right. One thing is clear and obvious from my experience in JAAC, they have a great leader in the person of Zik (Okwudi) who speaks for them, they have a leader who has their back and is very passionate about them. He is a great pillar to all of us in JAAC.

“I relate with him as the ALGON Chairman based on the strength of his ability, so the body of workers in the Local Government across the state do not have anything to fear,” the ALGON boss stated with conviction.

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]abinet Formation: The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to mind its own business over President Muhammadu Buhari’s delay in forming a cabinet.
The ruling party through a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary of the APC , Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, on Saturday in Abuja said, the main opposition, PDP should continue to wallow in the defeat of 2015 and 2019 general elections and the recent National Assembly leadership elections.
According to the statement , “The party that was sent into a state of shock following the outcome of the National Assembly election is now accusing APC of infighting.

“The accusation is coming from the PDP that failed to rally its members to support its own candidates for principal offices at the National Assembly. Perhaps, to the delusional PDP, it is a sign of division within our rank to successfully mobilize our members behind our candidates for the National Assembly election. In other words, PDP had proved ultimate unity within its rank with several of its members disregarding the directive to vote for its adopted candidates. Here you have a party wallowing in denial.

“As contained in PDP’s latest statement, odious practices like looting, booty sharing and power-grabbing are not practices that the APC wishes to continue from the wasted PDP years. Nigerians voted against these devious practices of PDP in 2015 and 2019 and opted for Change, which APC represents. We, therefore, call on the PDP to do better as opposition by engaging our party on issues of good governance and matters that would better the lives of the people. This is the least Nigerians expect from the main opposition party.
“While the APC does not owe the PDP any explanation of the modalities for appointments, we assure Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would always appoint deserving individuals who share our progressive ideals and Change Agenda into positions.”

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ine unidentified gunmen on Monday invaded the Gbarain-Epetiama Police division in Yenagoa local government council of Bayelsa State, killing a pregnant police woman, the divisional police officer and two other policemen on duty and carted away service riffles in their armory.

The Divisional Police Officer, identified as Supol Ola Rossana was shot dead while trying to respond to the volley of gunshots from the gunmen, while the pregnant Police woman, who is identified as an indigene of Ogbia local government area, was reportedly shot dead with her seven months old pregnancy.

This medium gathered that the incident, which occurred at about 2am on Monday, caused pandemonium in the community, as the volley of gunshots from the gunmen lasted over an hour.

It was gathered that the gunmen, who came into the sleepy community through the Sabageria end of the community in two speed boats, ransacked the armory of the divisional police station and cart away arms and ammunition.

The Police Divisional headquarters in Gbarain-Epetiama is described as a make-shift building without perimeter fencing. Community sources revealed that it was a customary court building converted into a police station. While some community sources claimed the killing of the policemen was premeditated and described as “revenge” mission over the arrest, torture and detention of some suspected kidnappers by the division.

Our reporter gathered that the arrested kidnappers were later released at the state police headquarters after some alleged money exchanged hands with unknown sponsors. They were alleged to have carried out the attack against the deceased DPO and his men for refusing to accept bribe and release them initially.

Others claimed that the bloody attack was carried out by some strange men who came into Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital under the guise of participating in the aborted Ijaw National Congress (INC) election that was disrupted.

The same weekend witnessed numerous armed robbery attacks in most parts of the state capital.

One of the early arrivals at the scene and the state commissioner of youths development, Hon. Udengs Eradiri, described the attack as a resemblance of anger against the policemen at the division and an attack on the people of the community.

Eradiri, who is an indigene of the community, told newsmen that “the incident is a sad one and a clear attack on the people of the community. My community is under attack. It is not a good scene. There is blood everywhere with shattered bones of policemen. The community and the police community are victims in the attack.

“Aside from the alleged claim of arms gathering ahead of the general elections, the attitude of the federal government is also facilitating lots of violence. Most arms acquired are acquired through such means. When you begin to see those attacks, it shows signs of poor governance”.

As at the time of filing this report, journalists were still awaiting a statement from the office of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat. It was also gathered that due to the interest the gruesome murder of the policemen is generating, the Force headquarters is expected to issue statement from Abuja.

…it is tragic that Governor Ganduje has refused to focus on the social needs of the people of Kano and is instead expending vast amounts of money and energy in shutting out Emir Sanusi from leadership. Clearly, the tragedy of Kano today is that the dark powers of patriarchy, illiteracy and poverty have found their champion in Governor Ganduje.

Synopsis

Kano, and indeed Nigeria, is still under shock over the capricious and arbitrary act orchestrated against a cornerstone of Nigeria’s political heritage – the emirate and emir of Kano on May 8. Acting in manifest bad faith, without observing due process or conducting any public hearing, Governor Ganduje worked with the State House of Assembly to illegally destroy 1000 years of history through the establishment of the so-called new emirates of Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye. There is no reasonable, or significant explanation for this attack on political culture and tradition other than the governor’s irrational determination to hit at a leader he does not like. Meanwhile, there are serious social and economic crisis confronting Kano that require urgent attention from the government. In this bulletin, we are focusing on the growing drug addiction crisis in the State.

Problem

In recent years, Nigeria’s homes and streets have come under threat from the rising menace of substance abuse. An alarming epidemic of drug abuse has developed in many States and Kano is the most affected place. Drug abuse has become a “ticking time bomb” and a good future for our children requires governments to develop effective policies and invest in addressing the crisis. Nigeria has transformed from being a transit point for cocaine and heroin going to Europe and North America to a country with a massive problem of drug use. Central to Kano’s current drug crisis is the non-medical use of over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, namely opioids such as tramadol and codeine, that are having a disastrous effect on huge swathes of the population. It is estimated that as many as three million bottles of codeine syrup are consumed every single day in just two states – Kano and Jigawa. Emerging data shows that certain states are disproportionately afflicted by this epidemic. Kano State is placed as the most affected by drug abuse in the country, where analysts have suggested that between 50 to 70 per cent of the youth are engaged in substance abuse. There are thousands of drug distribution points all over the State and virtually no street is exempted.

The rise in drug abuse has resulted in dire social and economic consequences for all those involved. Drug abuse among husbands and wives is destroying family life and divorce rates are growing. Crime is also growing as people seek avenues to fund their destructive habits. The drug habit is also driving economic productivity further in its downward spiral.

The explanation for the excessive drug abuse in Kano is simple. The economy of the State has collapsed. The State, which was the shining star in Northern Nigeria in terms of commerce and industry, has become a shadow of its former self. Industry has collapsed and commerce has shrunk. The consequence for Kano is massive unemployment and underemployment, with the idle young population and indeed many of the older ones becoming depressed and hence seeking solace in drugs. As drug abuse spreads, crime and other social vices have been rising, whilst thuggery and violence have become central pillars of the contemporary political culture. The rise in drug abuse has resulted in dire social and economic consequences for all those involved. Drug abuse among husbands and wives is destroying family life and divorce rates are growing. Crime is also growing as people seek avenues to fund their destructive habits. The drug habit is also driving economic productivity further in its downward spiral.

Despite the severity of the epidemic in Kano, the State government has not developed a comprehensive policy programme to address the crisis. The State is not even engaged in significant public education programmes to induce change. There is no attempt to implement rehabilitation programmes with sufficient scope to confront the crisis. The few programmes that have been implemented by the State governor have reportedly been corrupted and are only accessible to high income families. The lack of adequate care facilities has played a huge part in the speed with which this epidemic has taken hold.

The issues pushing people into drugs must be carefully studied and pathways to addressing the crisis prioritised and addressed by Governor Ganduje. Unemployment, insurgency and corruption are all contributing factors to the disenfranchisement that is at the heart of this epidemic.

Damage Control

In 2018, it looked like the tide was changing. A report by the BBC in April prompted a wider outcry around addiction in Nigeria and exposed the sheer scale of the problem in the country. Harrowing scenes of young men and women chained to the floor of the dilapidated Dorayi Rehabilitation Centre in Kano outraged many and led to a government ban on codeine. Yet, over a year later, law enforcement agencies are still struggling to cope with the sheer scale of codeine abuse in the region. Clearly, no meaningful progress has been made in Kano, or Nigeria as a whole, to address the desperate shortage of available treatment options for drug users in the country. Whilst treatment and additional care will go a long way in tackling the epidemic, this is not the only aspect that must be addressed. If a patient returns to his village, with no access to education, work and therefore prospects, it won’t take long for addiction to resume. If treatment is not coupled with a wider drive for development, then no significant headway will be made.

The issues pushing people into drugs must be carefully studied and pathways to addressing the crisis prioritised and addressed by Governor Ganduje. Unemployment, insurgency and corruption are all contributing factors to the disenfranchisement that is at the heart of this epidemic. We reiterate once again that it is tragic that Governor Ganduje has refused to focus on the social needs of the people of Kano and is instead expending vast amounts of money and energy in shutting out Emir Sanusi from leadership. Clearly, the tragedy of Kano today is that the dark powers of patriarchy, illiteracy and poverty have found their champion in Governor Ganduje. For too long political jostling has been prioritised over the well-being of the citizens of Kano. It is now time for serious action to be taken before irreversible damage is afflicted on the State. Currently, Kano is faced with a huge dilemma – a self-perpetuating cycle of poverty and unemployment is fanning the flames of drug abuse, which in turn, as the problem grows to epidemic proportions, further inhibits the development of the State. Coupled with the inadequate treatment facilities and the lack of political will to reverse the situation, it is fast spiralling into a state of emergency. Governor Ganduje needs to re-focus his priorities.

Dr. Hussaini Abdu
Ismail Ahmed Esq
Sa’a Bako
Professor Jibrin Ibrahim
Dr. Ayesha Imam
Zahra Nwabara
Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani
Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman
Eng. Y. Z. Ya’u

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]rof. Itse Sagay (SAN),The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC),has asked Ahmed Lawan , the Senate President Ahmed Lawan to stop misleading Nigerians, insisting that senators earn N15million monthly and not N750,000 as claimed by the Senate president.

Lawan had said on Tuesday that there was no such thing as ‘jumbo pay,’ adding that he earns N750,000 as salary.
However, Sagay said Nigerians were more interested in how much senators take home monthly in salary and allowances.

The senior advocate said Lawan was only speaking half- truth because everyone knows that the bulk of the money earned by senators is embedded in their allowances.

Sagay said, “He (Lawan) knows that nobody will take him seriously. I respect and like him but what he has done is to give half-truth. He is telling us the actual salary without mentioning anything about the allowances.

“That’s where the jumbo pay comes in when you talk of building, furniture, domestic this or that, 15 items and those items alone bring everything up to N13.5 million a month. So, simply mentioning the base salary, which brings it over N14 million, is not sufficient.

“So, technically, he’s right, that’s their salary. But what is his income, take-home pay, at the end of the month? It’s about N15 million and we are not including so many other things we need not talk about now.

The senior advocate said the presiding officers of the National Assembly earn more than ordinary members.

He, therefore, asked Lawan to come clean.

“Not only that; that leadership of the two houses earn a lot more — tremendous amounts. I don’t really want to go into issues not to create controversy but what he’s saying now is pure technical truth about salary but not about allowances, which is where the jumbo really is,” Sagay said.

The PACAC chairman, who was the first to expose the jumbo pay of federal lawmakers, said he was still trying to ascertain the allowances of principal officers.

He said, “What I have not been able to do is give details of what the leadership earn. There is the leadership aspect that I hadn’t revealed — the excess that the Senate leader (President) and deputy Senate leader, leader of the house; the same thing applying to the House of Representatives.

“What they get — the current ones — that I have not been able to release. I had the details of the previous house. They were mindboggling; we are talking of one person getting up to N280 million a year in allowances for his position. But I don’t know what they had during the Saraki era or what the present group is going to award themselves.”