[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s the 2018 Council polls in Delta state draw near, the Delta state chief judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro has inaugurated the Election Petition Tribunals and Local Government Council Election Petition Appeal Tribunal to hear and determine petitions that may arise from the January, 6, 2018 council polls with a charge on the members to deliver judgement strictly based on Law and facts that is devoid of any extraneous considerations.
Inaugurating the 18 member Election Petition Tribunals and the three Judges who shall sit on appeal in Asaba, Justice Umukoro while reminding the members of section 130(2) and 130(3) of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2017, tasked the members of the Election Tribunals to deliver judgement in writing within the stipulated 180 days period from the date of filing of the petition, while Appeal Tribunal shall do same within 90 days from the date of delivery of judgement of the Tribunal.
The Chief Judge however attributed their appointment to their antecedents anchored on hard work, honesty and diligence, emphasising that they should not perform below expectations as Deltans, particularly petitioners and respondents, were looking up to them to deliver judgements according to evidence and law placed before them.
Justice Umukoro enjoined members to remain focus and not to be distracted by acts of blackmailers, rumour mongers, and hate speech merchants and a section of social media who review evidence and deliver judgement in consonance with the figments of their imagination, warning that appropriate disciplinary measures and sanctions shall be imposed on any member who breached the subscribed oath of office in the face of verified complaints and petitions.
Responding on behalf of members of the Tribunals, Justice D. C Maidoh thanked the Chief Judge for deeming them fit for the onerous task with a promise to justify the confidence reposed in them and to handle petitions brought before them on the merit irrespective of the parties involved.
Comptroller Mrs. Nanbyen Burromvyat, CAC, Calabar Free Trade Zone and Akwa Ibom Area Command
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Custom Comptroller in charge of Calabar Free Trade Zone and Akwa Ibom Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs. Nanbyen Burromvyat took over the mantle of leadership of the command about a year ago. Since her assumption of office, the Area Command has witnessed tremendous positive changes especially in revenue generation, Staff welfare and inter-agencies cooperation.Comptroller Nanbyen Burromvyat hails from the North Central part of the country, Plateau state precisely; graduate of ABU Zaria. She is someone who appreciates her purpose in life and still understand the components of that purpose.She is one woman who has stood out among the few who had more than a fleeting nation of her sojourn on earth. She is a rare breed who viewed life solely from the perspective of his God, and knew that life’s purpose can only be fulfilled when self-will is surrounded to Almighty.A very supportive, encouraging and inspiring fellow who always sets her mind on wahtever she does passionately and quietly. She is a loving, kind-hearted woman and this shows in her dealings with all that come across her, including her fellow officers.One peculiarity of Comptroller Nanbyen Burromvyat is that she operates with synergy in her relationship with not only customs officers but also officers of other sister agencies at the command.This amiable fellow is a woman who has been identified as being effective and efficient in carrying out her official duties. She is a crusader of integrity and peace who believes in efficiency and improved revenue generation as well as zero tolerance for corruption.A due process comptroller who believes in discipline in order to achieve productivity.
The National President of Grassroots Publishers, Dr. Dan Awana delivering a speech during a courtesy visit to Calabar Customs Command
REVENUE SUCCESS
The administration of Comptroller Nanbyen Burromvyat has led to a remarkable improvement on the Area Command’s revenue profile as the command generated N7.8 billion between January and October this year.In November also, the command also recorded over N579 million of revenue; all attributed to the diligence, and relentless efforts of this amiable woman and her proactive team by ensuring there is no form of revenue leakage and suppression of smuggling is at its peak. As at November, 2017, the command has made about 96% of its revenue target which can be attributed to support from Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali and his team and also commitment hardwork on the part of the officers of the command.
RELATIONSHIP
The relationship and cooperation of the command with other security agencies has been very cordial.Other sister security agencies have been assisting and complementing the command’s efforts in some of the seizures. Mention must also be made of the untiring cooperation and assistance received during difficult operations from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police and Directorate of State Services.The relationship with the proactive officers of the command has also been very cordial.
CHALLENGES
The greatest challenge facing the Command is that of meeting the monthly revenue target because of virtually low traffic at the port since general cargo vessels do not come to the Port. The shallow channel cannot accommodate large cargo vessels. These together with the local security problems seem to have scared away importers to places like Lagos and Port Harcourt to make this place dormant and make activities low at the port. The attention of the Federal Government is therefore drawn to the port to dredge the channel to stimulate activities, increase operations and revenue generation of the command because of the strategic location of the port.
ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF ARMS
The command in line with Headquarters directives has beef up security along the jetties and borders considering the security threats of illegal importation of arms through the nation’s sea ports. The Command in conjunction with other security agencies and units are deploying high level intelligence to fortify the entire area in order to foil any attempts at arms smuggling and other trans-border crimes.
LACK OF PATRONAGE AT THE PORT AND TINAPA
Calabar Free Trade Zone was set up for industrialisation but unfortunately it has been abandoned by all tiers of government.The Tinapa Free Trade Zone was set up for shopping and tourism and creation of jobs and encouragement of made in Nigeria goods but what is seen now is that various government that have come on board have abandoned the vision. For example, our people are used to buying items like syringe which is manufactured in Nigeria (tested and trusted) but prefer to buy from China. Also, an African Transformer which is manufactured in Nigeria lacks patronage from our local buyers. This definefitely brings about unemployment, litters of abandoned projects, and reduction in revenue generation. There is a strong appeal from the Customs Comptroller of the command to the government and good spirited Nigerians not to let the vision of Tinapa Free Trade Zone to die ; as the forthcoming Calabar Carnival should have enough partronage fron both foreigners and Nigerians, people should go to Tinapa to shop as purchases of up to N50, 000 are allowed but Any purchase above this would require opening Form M and payment of appropriate duties. The rice issue should not scare away stakeholders and the trading public. They should enjoy themselves and also go for sight seeing in terms of arts and crafts.
The Grassroots Publishers also urges the federal government and the government of Cross-River state to revive the vision of Tinapa Trade Free Zone.
The Grassroots Publishers wish to appreciate all our readers, clients, advertisers, partners and well wishers. 2017 came with great expectations and despite the difficult operating environment, we were able to sustain operations through the year.
Thank you for all your inestimable support and patronage as we really couldn’t do what we did without you all over the past 12 months.
As we anticipate greater success in the coming year 2018, we pray that God almighty will grant all our heart desires.
If you find yourself at a loose end over the holidays, don’t forget to check back on the site where you will always read your daily news.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he quest for the development of maritime capacity is increasing as the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside, recently made it known to newsmen that the agency has offered automatic employment to about 20 cadets who bagged first class honours during their training overseas.Peterside also disclosed that 239 cadets would be sent for seatime training to Egypt and United Kingdom.
Speaking during the flag-off of the first phase of training for Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), the DG said the idea was to further develop maritime capacity.
His words: “Today is a momentous occasion; it represents a watershed moment in our journey and collective resolve to develop maritime capacity in Nigeria and demonstrates our firm commitment to vigorously pursue indigenous human capacity in line with global best practices.
“I stand before you to announce that One Hundred and Fifty (150) Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) Cadets are bound for Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Marine Transportation in Alexandria, Egypt for the commencement of their on-board training in the first phase of the fully sponsored batch.
“In addition, another group of eighty nine (89) cadets also within the first phase will be proceeding to the South Tyneside College (STC), UK for their on-board sea-time training, making a total of two hundred and thirty nine cadets in the first phase of this programme departing to Egypt consist of seventy seven (77) Deck and seventy three (73) Engine cadets.”
Peterside said that the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme was “conceived in 2008 as a deliberate policy to ameliorate the dearth in certified and qualified seafarers and of course the depletion of seafarers in our national pool due mainly to age and migratory instinct for greener pastures by seafarers.”
He added that “The NSDP scheme was timeously implemented in September, 2009 to compliment full implementation of the Cabotage Act, 2003, which in itself is geared towards strengthening indigenous tonnage capacity with one of its cardinal objectives being that coastal vessels are to be exclusively manned by Nigerians.
“The dearth in certified and qualified seafarers in Nigeria was a poignant reminder and a wake-up call for the Agency, the NSDP scheme has not looked back since September, 2009.
“Presently, the programme has over 243 Graduates and 1600 cadets at various stages of completion of the programme out of which 887 are ready for sea-time training. Sea-time training is a critical aspect of the training of seafarers as it entails practical on board training on sea going vessels, with cadets spending a minimum of nine to twelve months on board ocean going vessels.
“As some of you may already know, berth spaces are not easy to come by, therefore one of the biggest challenges we had was sourcing for berth spaces for the cadets, coupled with the desire of this administration to follow due process in all our dealings. We are pleased that we did not fall into the temptation of taking short cuts at any time, we have therefore engaged various Maritime Training Institutions to provide this essential service.
“I am delighted to announce to you that the Agency painstakingly chose the Maritime Training Institutions strategically to position Nigeria in bilateral relationships to boost the acceptability of Nigerian Certificate of Competence (CoC) or tickets in other climes with long term goal of providing more jobs for Nigerian seafarers on board vessels from other nationalities. The process and effort put in by the Agency to arrive at this auspicious occasion has been enormous, but it is a social responsibility the Agency has shouldered and we are sure that the Maritime sub-sector of Nigeria will be better for it as the fruit of the reward will be in multiples.
“At this juncture, it is pertinent to first congratulate all the cadets who are on the first list for On-Board Training and reiterate that the whole country is depending on you, you are therefore expected to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in Egypt, we expect nothing but the best, given the choice the nation has made especially at a period in our national lives where other sectors of the economy are yearning for funding, we implore you to bring the flair and “can-do” spirit of Nigeria that has caught the attention of the world in various fields like medicine, engineering, law and even ICT across the globe to bear. For the Cadets who did not make the list, there is nothing to worry about, every one of you will be offered an opportunity to go on sea-time in 2018 and beyond according to schedule.
“In closing, I have left the best for the last, among us here are twenty Cadets who left the shore of this great country and excelled academically, achieving feats in some instances that not even the nationals of the host countries had managed to. I am proud to inform you that these NSDP Cadets shattered the glass ceiling in the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Egypt, they will continuously be used as reference points for academic excellence.
“I congratulate all of you who have made the country proud and to encourage this honour you have brought the nation. Management of the Agency will award automatic employment to all those who bagged first class honours in this group that we are presenting this award today. I implore those of you bound to sail to come back with even higher laurels.”
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun West has dissociated itself with the process that led to the emergence of the new National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, describing it as charade and injustice.
While addressing newsmen at the party Secretariat in Abeokuta, the Chairman of the PDP in Ogun West Senatorial district, Honourable Leye Odunjo, claimed that the result of the National convention would be challenged in the court of law.
Odunjo also faulted the suspension of a Senator, representing Ogun East Senatorial district, Senator Buruji Kashamu, arguing that only the National Executive Council could suspend the Senator because of his status in the party. He also accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of selling the South West slot for the highest bidder at the convention.
Engr. Obasi Azubike got married to his heartthrob Anastatia Ezewudo on December 16, 2017. The ceremony kicked off with a church wedding at All Saint Catholic church, Rumueme Agip, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. Engr. Azubike is a lucky man to have found Anastasia who is a unique definition of beauty and brains and this union would forever be blessed.
See pictures below:
Engr. Azubike & Anastasia share an unspoken loveBride & Groom pose with their parents and PriestsBride & Groom about to cut their cakeLove ever lastingCouple with BridesmaidsBridal ShowerBride’s sister (left) poses with friendsCouple with Groom’s mother and brothers
Mrs Joy Nweke , you are not just sister to my lovely wife, you are my hero and my role model. I am extremely happy to have such a wonderful sister in law like you. Happy birthday! Sisters like you are diamonds. They sparkle, they are priceless and they are truly a woman’s best friend.
Behind every great sibling is an extraordinary big sister. Cheers to my wonderful sister in law. Happy birthday! Happy birthday sister.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Ogun state government says it has paid the December and the 13th month salary to its workers since Wednesday ahead of the festive period. Mr Wale Osinowo, the State Commissioner for Finance, disclosed this while defending the ministry’s 2018 budget estimate before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, in Abeokuta.
The commissioner said that this was despite the fact that the state government has yet to receive the last tranche of the Paris Club Refund. He explained that the state government used the first tranche of the Paris Club Refund to pay the salary of its workers. “On the Paris Club Refund, guidelines were set by the Federal government and the state government has been following it to the letter.
“When we got the second tranche, we used 75 per cent for settlement of salaries and deductions of workers while the remaining 25 per cent was used to execute projects.“We are yet to receive the third tranche of the refund,” he said. He added that the state government had also cleared the severance package of former political office holders at the state level.
The commissioner said that by the first quarter of 2018, the state government would clear the severance allowance of former local government political office holders.
“The amount to be paid between 2007-2011 is N540 million while the amount between 2011-2015 stands at N560 million which makes it just over N1.1 billion to be paid as severance to the local government political office holders.
“Before the first quarter of 2018, we will ensure we settle the severance allowance,” he said. He explained that the ministry had earmarked the sum of N5.2 billion as its recurrent expenditure for 2018 while capital expenditure would gulp N200 million.
Osinowo added that the 2018 budget of the state tagged “Budget of Accelerated Development” was workable and realistic.
Responding, House Committee Chairman on Finance, Olusola Bankole, said that the Finance ministry was important to the development of the state.
Other members of the committee advised the ministry to ensure the prompt release of money to Ministries, Departments and Agencies for better performance.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded its highest revenue collection ever of over N1 trillion as against N770 billion target set for 2017. The Service Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, announced this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, the revenue realised this year is a historic figure ever made in the NCS.
“NCS has recorded the highest revenue collection ever of N1,012,259,006,779.74 with five more working days to the end of 2017.“This spectacular performance in revenue collection shows N241,685,276,289.74 over the N770,573,730,490 target for the year and well above the N898,673,857,431.07 collected in 2016. “(This is) Despite the economic recession experienced earlier in the year, with low volume of imports and restriction placed on 41 items from accessing Forex.
“The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), retired Col. Hameed Ali, undertook some strategic measures in terms of restructuring and repositioning the service for efficient service delivery which resulted in this historic revenue figure from the service this year,” Attah said.
He said that for the CGC to achieve this feat, took some measures like strategic redeployment of officers, restraining of the operatives of Customs Intelligence Unit were done, among others. Attah said that the NCS strived to deliver, adding that sometimes even at the risk of sustaining serious injuries or even death.“Sadly in the process of enforcing the laws, six officers fell in the line of duty this year,’’ the spokesman said. He said that the Customs boss had directed sustained onslaught against smugglers, especially at this festive period.
Attah, however, said that in the spirit of the season, all stakeholders were enjoined to reflect on the value of patriotism and resolved to avoid all forms of smuggling.
“It is clear that given the right leadership and better support from Nigerians, NCS will continue to play a more pivotal role in the security and economic well-being of the nation, ” he said
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]wansea City sacked manager Paul Clement on Wednesday after less than a year at the helm as the Premier League’s bottom club desperately search for a way out of the relegation mire.
As the season approaches its halfway point, the Welsh side are already four points adrift of safety following Monday’s 3-1 defeat at Everton, with just three wins in their first 18 Premier League matches.“We can confirm that the club has tonight parted company with head coach Paul Clement,” the club said on its Twitter account.
Clement is the sixth Premier League manager to lose his job so far this season, following the dismissals of Frank de Boer (Crystal Palace), Craig Shakespeare (Leicester City), Ronald Koeman (Everton), Slaven Bilic (West Ham) and Tony Pulis (West Brom).
Swansea’s owners will be banking on fresh impetus from a new boss to lift the team up the table, with the likes of Leicester and Everton boosted by new appointments in recent weeks.“To change the manager, especially at only the halfway point of the season, is the last thing we wanted to do as a club,” said Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins in a statement.
“We had three different managers last season and as a result, we all wanted to give Paul as much time as possible to turn things around.“But we felt we couldn’t leave it any longer and needed to make a change to give us the best chance of an uplift and a turnaround in fortunes with the club bottom of the Premier League.”
Jenkins praised Clement’s role in helping keep the club in the English top flight last season.
He took over at Swansea in January, replacing Bob Bradley, with the club bottom of the Premier League and tipped as odds-on favourites for relegation.
But he masterminded four wins from his first six games, including an impressive victory at Liverpool, to earn himself the Premier League manager of the month award for January.
Swansea lost last season’s leading scorer Fernando Llorente and midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson during the summer transfer window, severely weakening their squad.Former Derby manager Clement arrived at Swansea with a wealth of experience after working with some of the biggest teams in Europe as assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
Former West Brom boss Pulis and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs are among the favourites to replace him.
Assistant coaches Nigel Gibbs and Karl Halabi have also left Swansea.
The club said they would give supporters a further update within 24 hours.
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