[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Senate has begun the investigation of the alleged sale of illegal African migrants “mostly Nigerians” as slaves in Libya, which it described as a slap on the face of Nigeria.The probe was based on a motion moved by Senator Baba Kaka Garbai (Borno-Central) at the plenary on Wednesday, entitled, ‘Urgent Need to Protect Nigerian Citizens from the Libya Slavery Auction.’President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said there was the need for Nigeria to do more to protect its citizens.
He said, “As a country, truly, it is a slap on the face of all of us if Nigerians can be treated in this manner. Like somebody said, Ivory Coast that is not as big as us is taking action to see how they can bring their own citizens back. We need to be doing similar things.”
The lawmakers unanimously granted prayers of the motion, including to “condemn in totality the current depravity and sheer animalism being exhibited by these Libyans selling fellow Africans as slaves.” They also urged the Federal Government to urgently investigate how many Nigerians were affected by the slave sales.The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to urgently commence the process of repatriation and rehabilitation of Nigerian citizens “caught up in these despicable treatment and human rights abuses.”
NUPENG WARNS GOVERNORS ON DIVERSION OF PARIS CLUB REFUND
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) commends Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari for the release of the 50 percent Paris Club debt refund to the 36 states Governors to enable them pay salary arrears before Christmas.
The Union states that it is a good policy direction to end the sufferings of workers and pensioners in 21 States where they are owed out of the 36 States that makes up the federation.
NUPENG warns that it will be unfair and unjustifiable for any of the Governors to divert the funds to feather their nests in their 2019 re-election bid or for other political agenda.
The Union is disappointed at the State Governors outbursts that President Muhammadu Buhari did not tell them to clear all salaries arrears before Christmas. This shows the level of insincerity, unseriousness and insensitivity on the plight of Nigerian Workers.
The Union is also taken aback by the utterances of the Governors that the 50 percent Paris Club balance will not be enough to offset salary arrears.
The Union believes that the Governors are selfish, parochial and don’t have the interest of the masses at heart by owing workers salaries for about 6 – 10 months.
The Union warns that the attitude of the Governors portends danger that can cause revolt and prolonged industrial crisis, if they refuse to obey President Buhari’s order to use the money to pay backlog of salaries owed.
NUPENG calls on the President to set up an independent monitoring team to know how the State Governors spent the monies and where cases of diversion are established, the State Governors should be sanctioned.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Executive Governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano has recently issued a warning and vowed to sack any member of his cabinet that fails to perform during his second term.
Governor Obiano, in a statement issued to newsmen, yesterday, by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communications, Prince Oliver Okpala, said he was duty bound to provide democracy dividends to the people of the state that voted for him in the November 18 governorship election.
He said: “I promised that during my second term in office things must change and be done within the ambit of the rules and regulations guiding government business and the civil service.
“I advise anyone who feels that he or she cannot cope with the new order to be introduced to kindly take a bow or be forced out of service.
“There is no room for any corrupt individual in my government; probity and accountability must be ensured henceforth in every government transaction.”
Comptroller Jibril Musa & His proactive Senior officers
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Jibril Musa is a stickler to Nigeria customs rules,he unveils his strategy to fight malpractices by being thorough and not compromising with government revenue. The dynamic and sterling leadership prowess of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Jibril Musa who firmly insists on and maintains the implementation of all strategies and blueprints devised by the Command to block all revenue leakages while enhancing trade facilitation and security.
The Comptroller, officers and men of the Apapa Area Command in line with the change mantra of the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali and his management team are poised to surpass the revenue target as is expected by the service leadership. All patriotic members of the ports business community are assured of a friendly atmosphere as they ensure total and strict compliance to all government fiscal policies.
The Nigeria Premier port and the flagship of the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command has continued to sustain her lead in revenue collection over the last ten months.The command total revenue collection stood at two hundred and eighty eight billion, six hundred and forty-seven million, eight hundred and fifty six thousand, five hundred and one naira, eleven kobo only (N288,647,856,501.11) was collected between the months of January and October, 2017.
Further breakdown shows that the Command collected the sum of N25.9B, N24.7B, and N26.7B respectively for the months of January, February and March 2017.Out of the collection, N25.1B, N33.6 and N29.4B was recorded for the months of April, May and June while the sum of N30.9 B, N32.1 B, N28.0B and 31.8B respectively was collected for the months of July, August, September and October 2017.
Comparatively, the Command in the corresponding period and year (2016) collected the sum of two hundred and forty four billion, one million, one hundred and fifteen thousand, seventy eight naira, forty-nine kobo only (N244,001,115,078.49). This implies that the Command recorded an increased revenue collection of forty four billion, six hundred and forty six million, seven hundred and forty one thousand, four hundred and twenty three naira, thirty eight kobo only (N44, 646,741,423.38).
The command has continued to engage in painstaking and diligent scrutiny of all documents, insistence on thorough 100% examination of profiled cargos, implementation of the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business and continuous stakeholders’ engagement for collaboration, interfacing and robust synergy among all government agencies and stakeholders involved in cargo clearance. This is evidenced in the improved compliance, honest declaration, integrity and transparency recorded by the command.
It is also worthy of note that the newly created platform of heads of security/government agencies in the ports have had series of meetings which led to prompt resolution of emerging challenges in the Apapa ports especially in the areas of security and improved vehicular movement along Apapa roads.
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]omptroller Aremu Modupeola Adeyanju needs no introduction as a Nigerian. She is not a stranger to Customs revenue collection and enforcement . Her bonding with Nigeria Customs Service is akin to the umbilical relationship between a child and the mother right from the womb and last all through a lifetime. Her antecedents and achievements in Nigeria Customs Service speaks volumes. she is a perfect example of leadership symbolism, the paragon of idealism, the soul of humanity, the heart of warrior, the perfect gentleman. Indeed, some leaders are born, some achieve leadership, some have leadership thrust upon them, while only very few have all three embedded in them. Comptroller Aremu is a woman of immense mettle and a completely detribalized human being with a profound depth of character, whose humility, devoid of discrimination, embraces all and sundry. she soars like an eagle and exudes reverence and integrity. A pragmatic leader full of benevolence; she gives hope to the hopeless, welfare succor to the poor and needy. To everyone who crosses her path, she is a light. she is a friend to the staff , a role model to the young,a helper to many and a visionary woman.
Comptroller Aremu the present Controller in charge of PTML Customs Command, Lagos fits into the mold where scholars conclude that great men and women achieve success through hardwork and resilience. She remains the luckiest in terms of favourable circumstances. She is one of the few officers that have served round trip the most successful commands in Nigeria. Comptroller Aremu is not disposed to unnecessary talks and frivolities; a no nonsense woman who had all through her leadership role in the service proved herself to be a leader that matches words with actions.
Since she was redeployed as the Customs Area Controller of PTML Customs Command in May, 2017, she has magically turned around the operations of the command revenue wise with unprecedented revenue generated since she took over. She has hitherto raised the performance bar of the unit to an exampled level in the history of the command. This is due to the fact that the refined officer is adjudged according to industry watchers to be a revenue oriented officer as well as her encomiums emanated from commands with performance based on revenue. Many senior customs officers hailed the Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) led management’s decision of redeploying Compt. Aremu to the PTML Customs Command to pilot the affairs of the unit knowing fully well she is a great performer and a goal getter; bearing in mind that the command is one of the nerve centres of the Nigeria Customs Service.
When the Grassroots Publishers paid her a visit the first time, she said that her aggressive approach and the proactiveness of the Command officers have resulted to increase in revenue generation of the command adding that Nigeria Customs Service main target is revenue generation and trade facilitation with much efforts and emphasis on blockage of revenue leakages through 100 percent examination of cargoes.
Compt. Aremu Modupeola Adeyanju said that since her assumption of office at PTML having served in several other commands including Apapa Customs Command, she has vigorously pursued an aggresive approach through resilience, and discipline towards 100 percent examination of cargoes to sustain continuous increase in revenue generation at the command. This is evident in the recent records on revenue generated at the command and made available to Grassroots Publishers.In the month of August, 2017,the command generated N10.16 billion as against N6, 284 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2016 representing an increase of N38.14 billion. The amount according to her was the highest revenue collected in a single month in the history of the command.In the month of January 2017, the command collected N6.933 billion while N4.734 billion was collected in 2016. In February, N5.074 billion was collected as against N3.847 generated in the corresponding month of 2016.For March and April, N9.036 billion and N5.751 was generated while N4.856 billion and N4.138 was collected respectively in the same period of 2016. In the month of May, N6.785 billion was collected as against N4.792billion collected in 2016 while in months of June and July, 2017, N7.166 billion, and N8.647 billion were collected as against N5.110 billion and N4.926 billion recorded in 2016 respectively. PTML command generated N10.16 billion for the month of August 2017 as against N6.284billion in the corresponding period of 2016, representing an increase of 38.14 percent.
On the other hand, it is said that a tree does not make a forest,like she said that her command is blessed with seasoned and proactive officers who want her to succeed . with this in mind, the onus lie on the stakeholders,terminal operators, men and officers of the command and indeed the media to join hands with this great performer and volunteer information that will help the command achieve its set objective because the success of Compt. Aremu at PTML Customs Command translates to the success of the service and indeed the good and welfare of the entire citizens.“The days and time of doing the wrong things in the PTML Customs Command can be said to be a thing of the past because of Mrs Right .is now in charge.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]pplying makeup has its own rules and regulations which most people choose to ignore either because they do not know the implications or because they do not care. However, for optimum beauty effects, makeup has to be used in the right quantity and at the right time. For example, there are various makeup rules for different seasons so that the effects can come out very nicely. It is advised to use less makeup in the rainy season so that it does not smudge and run when you get caught up in the rain. For the current harmattan season, here are some makeup rules to follow:
1. Less lipstick, more lip-gloss. Colored but cracked lips do not look good in any weather and we all know how much these dry winds blow in harmattan season. Instead of applying a lot of lipstick, try putting on more of lip-gloss so that your lips do not get dry or cracked as a result of the harsh weather. It is also advisable to keep a tube of lip-gloss with you in your bag so that you can touch up whenever you need to.
2. Enough foundation, less powder. Foundation serves as a base that covers your face and hides the spots and blemishes you want it to while still appearing natural, but powder changes your tone a bit and blends your complexion into the shade you need. However, in this season, you do not need to apply much powder because the foundation does the job well enough. With the dusty environment, you cannot afford to have too much powder on your face and you should have a towel to wipe off the dust if it settles on your face.
3. Take it easy on the eyes : Except you are going for a special occasion where you do not have to expose your eyes to the harmattan winds, it is advisable to use eye makeup in moderation. Some people tend to squeeze, scratch and scrub the eyes if something enters into it, thereby smudging and rubbing makeup into them, avoid this by applying minimal eye makeup during this harmattan.
4. Wash everything off : This forever remains a timeless makeup rule, although you might disobey the rule and get away with it if you do not have sensitive skin and in favorable weather. However, in this season, you must wash your makeup off at the end of the day when you want to sleep. Keeping the makeup on with all the germs that must have settled on the face during the day could cause you acne.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]oday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar announced his exit from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the party “has failed and continues to fail our people”. He also accused the party of arbitrariness, unconstitutionality, and disregard for party stalwarts.
He further lambasted the fold for instituting “a regime of draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy within the party and the government it produced.”
Atiku’s lamentation, contained in a 15-paragraph statement his office emailed to newsmen on Friday morning, is similar to the complaints he made before fleeing the PDP for the APC on February 2, 2014.
Below is the full text of what the politician said in 2014 before embracing the APC.
Press Statement by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Turaki Adamawa and former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria on his Resignation from the PDP and his Joining the APC.
In 2006, as a result of my firm stand in defence of our constitution and our democracy, my supporters and I were pushed out of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, a party that we worked tirelessly with other compatriots to build as a vehicle to restore democracy to our country.
We later returned to that party in 2009 when a new leadership of the party and the country promised a new direction, a direction of inclusiveness, of internal democracy, of an end to impunity, adherence to the rule of law and respect for the dignity of members and Nigerians.
Sadly, however, those promises have not been kept. In addition, the PDP continues to be beset with many crises, mostly leadership-induced crises. It has since lost touch with Nigerians and efforts made by many well-meaning members and stakeholders to bring it back to the vision of the founders have been rebuffed.
To demonstrate the seriousness of the challenges and bring public attention to it I and some other leaders and stakeholders staged a walkout during the party’s last convention in Abuja.
As I speak, most of the issues that led to that walk-out are yet to be addressed. Many founding members of the PDP, I included, continue to be marginalized and excluded from the affairs of the party. For instance as a former Vice President, I am by virtue of the PDP constitution, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees and its National Executive Committee. However, I am not invited to the meetings of those organs nor consulted on their decisions, apparently because I dared to exercise my right to contest in the party’s primary election for a chance to be its flag-bearer in the 2011 elections. We have, therefore, concluded that that party cannot be redeemed. In short the PDP has abandoned Nigerians, the very people who gave it life and many electoral victories.
More worrisome though is the danger posed to the continued existence of this country by this culture of impunity and arbitrariness. We continue to have threats from officially protected political extremists. Increasingly our people are recklessly being divided along the lines of religion, ethnicity and region for political gains. Our history and that of many other countries in Africa and Eastern Europe ought to teach us that this is very dangerous and must stop.
We can and we must do better. Our people deserve better.
It is against this background that we should understand the visit by the leaders of the APC and their invitation to me to join hands with them to save the country. Consequently, I have been consulting my supporters and associates, my family and friends for the past few weeks. My decision may not satisfy some of my friends and associates. In the end, however, I have to put the interest of our country first. This country has done so much for me personally and it deserves all that we can do to help rebuild it and serve our people better.
Following this extensive consultative process, I have, therefore, decided to cast my lot with the APC, a party of change committed to the improvement of the lives of our people and to the continued existence and development of Nigeria as one indivisible country. My resignation letter as a member of the PDP will be delivered to the party tomorrow.
This is the right decision. As in 2006 it is the struggle for democracy and constitutionalism and service to my country and my people that are driving my choice and my decision. Let me emphasize that this is not about me. We have to have a country before people can aspire to lead it, but as it is today we may be losing this country. That is not acceptable.
I encourage my political associates and friends to register andjoin the APC once the registration exercise commences, so that together we can change this country for the better.
The process of building a nation, of securing and deepening democracy is indeed difficult. And it is not a lineal process. There would be alignment and realignment of political forces. There would be ups and downs and zig-zags, triumphs and challenges. Amidst all that, patriots must remain focused and do what has to be done to save and build the country and serve our people better.
That is what I have decided to do. I will do all within my God-given powers to help the APC win elections all over Nigeria and bring true change to our country and its long-suffering people.
Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar, GCON
(Turaki Adamawa)
Former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the ministers of finance and budget & national planning and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to commence payment of outstanding Paris & London Club refunds to states. This was part of a resolve from a meeting held between the president and the Nigeria Governors Forum at the State House in Abuja, yesterday.
The governors said President Buhari instructed that 50 percent of the Paris Club refund be paid to states before the end of the year. The governors have also given assurances that workers salaries at the state level will be paid in time for the yuletide, subject to the receipt of the Paris Club refund.
Speaking with State House reporters after the meeting, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, said it was a brief meeting between the governors and the president.
“The discussion centred on… basically, it is the end of the year and the president has expressed the need to make ensure that every Nigerian, especially workers have a beautiful Christmas and the issue of outstanding Paris club was
discussed and that was taken care of, to ensure that workers in various states and everywhere in the country
get to celebrate Christmas.
“We also used the opportunity to review our working relationship with the president from the states and we
found out that we are in harmony. There is no difference between us and the president. Everybody seems
to be happy working together. But particularly, we commended the president for getting Nigeria out of
recession within such a short time.
We commended him and everybody left quite happy. “We are looking at getting the balance of the Paris Club refund.
We also made a request for Mr. President’s approval that the balance should form part of our 2018 budget, because we can’t include it until we are sure that the money is coming. That was also sorted out. ‘‘So, as it is now, the issue of
workers took the centre stage and Mr. President was concerned about those who depend on their salaries to feed their families and pay their house rent and he had the assurance from the governors that we will meet those obligations.
It was emphasised that states and the federal government must work together to get Nigeria out of its present economic predicament and make it a better society for all of us.’’ In an answer to a question, the governor said “with the Paris Club coming, every worker should enjoy his/her Christmas. I made it clear.’’ When asked how governors can pay workers December salary and yet include the balance in the 2018 budget, the Kaduna State Governor,
Nasir el-Rufai, answered: “the Paris club figures need to be reconciled. While the reconciliation process is going on, the president approved that 50 per cent of the original amount be paid to the states. The payment started from last year. We still have the balance of the first 50 per cent. This is what the president said should be paid to state governments to meet their obligations before Christmas because he is concerned that many families depend solely on
their salaries for the festive period.
That has been decided. The balance of the first 50 per cent is what we are expecting before Christmas. The president has approved that and said it must be paid.
Ex- Niger Delta warlord, Ateke Micheal Tom has been crowned the new Amanyanabo of Okochiri Town. At the coronation ceremony, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike charged the new Amanyanabo of Okochiri town to continue to invest in the sustenance of peace in Okrika. See more photos of the new king below
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he President, Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), Mr Aminu Umar, has called on the Federal Government to intervene in delayed disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) to sustain shipping business. Umar made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday.
NAN reports that ship owners have been worried over the non-disbursement of the sum of more than 100 million dollars being administered by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).The fund has been growing in the last 14 years when the Cabotage and Inland Shipping Act 2003 was enacted.
According to Umar, there is no improvement in shipping business in the country, adding that they are still engaging NIMASA over the fund.“We hope that in 2018, NIMASA will come up with the intervention fund for ship owners because the fund is already there. We want to see improvement in our operations.“There is need for government to make the CVFF fund transparent so that our members will have access to it.“So far, we do not know why the CVFF has not been disbursed and government through NIMASA has not told us why its not being disbursed,’’
Umar said that there were many indigenous ship owners operating in different sectors of the maritime industry.He said that presently, Nigeria had more than 20 active ship owners in the downstream sector of the oil and gas sector, adding that there were over 100 ship owners operating upstream.
The shipowner said all ship owners paid tax to government and also employed a lot of Nigerians and were assisting government to reduce unemployment rate. The NISA boss also pleaded with the Insurance companies to remove the “Worries Zone Charges’’ which came up due to threats on Nigerian waters as a result of Niger Delta crisis.
He said that Nigerian coasts should be removed from “Worries Zone” category because there was no more crisis in the Niger Delta.
Umar said that in spite of the numerous charges being paid by ship owners, government still charged “Sea Protection Levy’’.
The ship owner wondered why the Insurance companies had not removed Nigeria from the list of “Worries Zones’’, saying that ship owners were still paying huge sums as charges.
NAN reports that NIMASA Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside had said that the agency was pushing for the release of the CVFF once ship owners comply with the prescribed ways of accessing the fund.
Peterside said that the agency was determined to disburse the fund according to the rules and regulations guiding it.
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