Federal Government yesterday approved the establishment of Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas in Bonny, Rivers State with a take off grant of N1billion for the Polytechnic to commence academic activities.
This is even as the Presidential Committee on NEEDs Assessment of Public polytechnics and Colleges of Education has urged the Federal government to allocate money for rehabilitation of public Polytechnics and colleges of Education across the country.
Chairperson of the NEEDs committee, Mrs. Hindatu Abdullahi, stated this at the public presentation of the report of NEEDS Assessment of public Polytechnics and colleges of Education in the country in Abuja.
They also recommended that all workshops in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education be linked to the National Power grid so as to support quality teaching and learning in the institutions.
President Goodluck Jonathan also approved the appointment of Professor Elijah Tamuno Iyagba as Rector, while Mr. Willabo A. Gilbert is to serve as the Registrar.
The President further approved the appointment of Mr Akpomeyoma Gabriel as Bursar and Mr Ata John Woke Ajala as Polytechnic Librarian. The Supervising Minister of Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike described the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas in Bonny, as a practical expression of the President’s commitment to improving access to tertiary education, creation of employment and the empowerment of the youths with the necessary skills to contribute to national development. Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the NEEDs committee, Mrs. Hindatu Abdullahi, said from the findings of the committee members it was discovered that physical infrastructure were inadequate, while available ones were utilised beyond the installed capacity.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan in May 2013 approved the constitution of the Needs Assessment committees of Nigerian public Polytechnics and colleges of Education that was later inaugurated by supervising Minister for education, Barr. Nyesom Wike on October 28, 2013.
The committee were expected to ascertain the state of physical infrastructure, human and material resources, academic programmes, students’ environment and funding requirements of public polytechnics and colleges of education.
According to her, “The report contain the findings and recommendations of the committee based facts figures and tangible evidence gathered from institutions visited.
“Some of the findings in both polytechnics and colleges of education generally showed that, all categories of physical facilities are grossly inadequate, while available ones are utilised beyond the installed capacity, some vital learning resources are not available, the enrolment policy of 60:40 ratio for Science and arts based courses in colleges of education and 70:30 in favour of science/technology and arts/social sciences in polytechnics is not implemented.
“In some institutions the teacher-student ratio is low, most of the institutions do not have on-campus hostel while available ones are overcrowded, poorly lit and not adequately ventilated and in a state of disrepair and municipal facilities are inadequate and in poor condition”.
The committee therefore in the report recommended to the federal government to ensure the completion of all abandoned and ongoing projects in all these schools, rehabilitation and upgrading of facilities, infrastructures that are in the state of disrepair and provision and rehabilitation of students hostels through public private partnership.
They recommended recruitment of qualified teachers and training/retraining of personnel, provision and upgrading of internet connectivity, telecommunication and information services and provision of essential learning resources/materials.
They also called on the federal government to direct National Commission for Colleges of education, (NCCE), to ensure that all Colleges of Education in the country running a degree programme should have not less than sixty percent, 60%, PhD holders of the total academic staff strength for each of the Degree courses.
There were several attempts in the past to assassinate our revered Leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky; some were exposed, while many went unpronounced.
Intelligence gathered revealed to us that for some time now, snipers were being placed along routes passed by the Sheikh Zakzaky in Zaria with intent of killing him. Ordinarily we would have ignored these planned attacks without further comments, because of the firm belief we have that Allah is the sole Guardian of the Sheikh, and He will deliver him from their evil machinations. However, there is the need for awareness on the part of the Nigerian public and the world to come to terms with what the Sheikh had been drawing the attention of the public to over the years.
Penultimate Saturday around 1 am, six vehicles comprising Jeeps and Hilux vans, with fully masked combat-ready security personnel stormed Gyellesu area through three different routes leading to residence of Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky with the obvious intent of executing a massacre
This happened shortly after the Sheikh came back from Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah for the Nisfu Sha’aban commemoration, where he exposed a plan by the Nigerian government through its western conspirators (U.S. military) to assassinate him before the holy month of Ramadan or any day in the month. Guards at the Sheikh’s residence repelled the attack, and in great fear the attackers fired shots and took to their heels.
Intelligence gathered revealed to us that, the heavily masked men were the American military who came to Nigeria under the pretext of securing the “abducted” school girls by the so-called insurgents. They had to hide their colour identity in the replica of the Klu Klux Klan type of masks and gloves, only their eye balls showed. The attack was planned for Friday night, when Sheikh Zakzaky was coming back from Hussainiyya Baqiyyatullah. They laid siege on the way, but heavy downpour thwarted their evil intention.
Residents in Zaria, especially Sabon Gari had earlier witnessed strange occurrences at the barrack since Wednesday of the week, whereby people were barred from the barracks and knowing what was happening. It was later said that, some foreign military officers were visiting the barrack. The water-tight security at the barrack, even for residents in the barrack, was to hide the true identity of the said visiting military officers. We ask, what is so secret and strange about military officers, from anywhere, visiting a barrack? Why were helicopters kept and put on red alert at the College of Aviation, Zaria? Why the night raid attempt at Gyellesu, and why the masks, why the gloves? The answers are very obvious and not far- fetched.
The last time we witnessed a planned attack of this magnitude was in 2009, during the Yar’adua regime when there was an order to bomb the residence of Sheikh Zakzaky on the 20th day of Ramadan. We vividly recall the planned combat daylight visit by the dumb cop Tambari Yabo and his nasty-boys entourage to the Sheikh Zakzaky’s residence. His “unintelligent” report on the Islamic Movement set the pace for the planned bomb attack. Allah frustrated their effort.
Also this year, exactly a week after Albani was assassinated in Zaria, security personnel armed to teeth with combat gears bulldozed into Gyellesu area, but stealthily left when their evil intent was exposed by Sheikh Zakzaky following his declaration: “Nigerian security killed Albani”. The intention was to kill two birds with one stone. They had prior circulated rumour that the Shi’ites killed Albani, and that they would give Sheikh Zakzaky protection against possible onslaught by the Salafists. The intent was very clear; kill Zakzaky and make it look like Salafi vengeance. Like a pack of cards, the plan crumbled.
They had also planned to attack the last Arba’een symbolic trek by the Islamic Movement, but when Sheikh Zakzaky exposed in detail the exact time frame of the plan, as well as their trained agents in Saudi Arabia, the plan tumbled down. At one time, the Sheikh reported that, a military helicopter was visibly seen hovering over his residence at close range, taking pictures.
One is tempted to ask, who is afraid of Sheikh Zakzaky and why? The obvious truth is that, the Sheikh remains the only credible Leader in Africa who never kept silence in the face of injustice and corruption. The Islamic Movement he rightly guides remains the only genuine movement in Africa that truly advocates for social justice and interfaith unity. And now that the western powers intend to re-colonize Africa, Nigeria poses a potential threat to their agenda. Sheikh Zakzaky and the Islamic Movement stand out as the greatest obstacle.
Sheikh Zakzaky has also exposed this international agenda to balkanize Nigeria. According to him, mass killings and bombings in the name of Boko Harama crisis is a hoax and a smoke –screen to suppress Islamic revival in Nigeria, as well as to siphon the countries resources. To actualize this heinous agenda, a US-based company, Patrick Williams, was contracted to establish anarchy in Nigeria. The company, managed by one Patrick Williams, specializes in high profile assassination. It has the following terms of reference: Kill Zakzaky, paint Islam black and balkanize Nigeria along religious boundaries.
In the face of these oppressions, Sheikh Zakzaky and the Islamic Movement had never kept silent; this is why he became the target, while his students are being molested across the land.
The truth is that, Nigerians are fed up with this drama of mass killings and giving pigeon a bad name to hang it. Nigerians, Muslims and Christians, are coming to terms with reality and vision of Sheikh Zakzaky. His is a global call with global antenna, for freedom, equity and social justice for all. What Sheikh Zakzaky is saying is crystal clear to all. Nigerians can testify to the obvious fact that, there is no government in Nigeria; everything is being planned, executed and controlled from America and Israel. Nigerian government has no power or control over its resources and security system, thereby plunging the citizens into unnecessary abject poverty amidst plenty. We therefore urge Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion, not to succumb to divisible tendencies.
Those desperate on killing Sheikh Zakzaky, these are his words for them: “Killing me is not killing Islam, and will never stop it from flourishing. Even if you kill me, Allah Who created me, will raise someone like me. You cannot kill me until my time has come as decreed by Allah”.
Life and death are in the hands of Allah, unto Him we rely.
An American author and investigative journalist says CIA director John Brennan who is “a known Saudiphile” has played a key role in the creation and rise of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Wayne Madsen made the remarks in a phone interview with Press TV on Monday, saying Washington’s trainings and provision of arms and cash to militants in Iraq and Syria gave rise to the brutal militancy.
As with al-Qaeda whose origin is traceable to “the US war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan,” Madsen explained, “we’ve once again supported and trained and given cash to the same elements and now we’ve got the rise of ISIL in Iraq and Syria and possibly they’re going to take this war into Jordan and beyond because they’ve changed their name now to the Islamic caliphate, [or] the Islamic state.”
On Sunday, US President Barack Obama said that “battle-hardened” Europeans who have joined ISIL militants in Syria and Iraq pose a “serious threat” to the US as they “have a European passport” and “don’t need visas to get into the United States.”
This comes as Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) said earlier this month that the US has been arming the ISIL militants in Syria. “I think we have to understand first how we got here,” Paul said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union.’ “We have been arming ISIS in Syria.”
Madsen said Brennan has been instrumental in training and arming these militants in Iraq and Syria.
“The fault lies with the current CIA director John Brennan. John Brennan is a known Saudiphile, former CIA station chief in Riyadh. He was there when a lot of Saudi connections were determined to many terrorist attacks against the United States,” the analyst said, citing the Khobar Towers bombing, the attack on the USS Cole and the 9/11 attacks.
Madsen concluded that there is “a terrorist threat against the United States and that is the CIA director” who is training and financing terrorists.
Brennan has overseen the massive proliferation of US drone warfare and other “counterterrorism” programs.
The alleged mastermind of the false rumour that a mother and her child were killed during the recent illegal demolition at Lungu Village, Gwarinpa, one Mr. Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf and the Chief of Lungu, Mr. Ezekiel Sanya Zakka (aka Easy) were on Tuesday granted bail by the Police on following the intervention of the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed. They will however be arraigned in court and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the land. Yusuf was said to have been arrested in his home village in Kaduna state while the Zakka was picked up at Lungu village.
The two men who were nabbed at separate locations over the weekend for their roles in peddling the false rumour of death and incitement that led to violent protests, blockade of the ever-busy Zuba/Kubwa/Abuja City Express Road resulting in damage of public facilities. The incident took place nearly a fortnight ago.
The bail of Zakka and Yusuf followed the acceptance of an apology tendered by some original inhabitants of Abuja living on the Airport Road axis, officials of National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), FCT Chapter and some officials of Greater Gbagyi Development Association who met with him at his Area 11, Garki office and pleaded for their release. The Minister warned FCT residents against all forms of lawlessness such as blockade of roads and highways in the FCT and peddling of lies with a view to inciting the people and blackmailing the authorities.
Describing the baseless allegations of deaths as callous, the Minister stated that the action demonstrates the extent some people could go to cause disaffection in pursuit of selfish purpose.
The Minister urged the Commissioner of Police to prosecute all those found culpable in the unjustified incitement and warned all residents including original inhabitants not to do anything that will cause disaffection in the society again.
He reiterated the position of FCT Administration not to demolish houses belonging to original inhabitants of FCT that were enumerated and captured in official data, adding that if in the cause of demolition, any of such houses are demolished, adequate remedy would be provided.
He stated that nobody should do anything to hold the entire country to ransom, while warning the original inhabitants to be wary of the people they habour in their various native settlements. According to him, he was aware that some original inhabitants were providing cover to strangers that they could not vouch for.
In his own remarks, the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu condemned the false allegations of deaths following the Lungu demolition exercise. He said the Police had done thorough investigation and found the allegations to be totally false. “Up till now, no report has been filed with the Police by anybody about any death as a result of the demolition exercise that took place at Lungu Village,” he stressed. He described the inciting fabrications about death as a criminal offence against God and man.
Mbu also warned all deviant elements against challenging government, stressing that nobody should take the law into his hand.
Federal Government Tuesday pegged the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) cut-off marks for 2014 admissions into Universities at 180, while Polytechnics and Colleges of Education(COE)were placed at 150 respectively.
The cut off points were arrived at on Tuesday, after the 5th Combined Policy meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions held at the National Universities Commission.
Supervising Minister of Education,Nyesom Wike who declared the meeting open frowned at the inability of most tertiary institutions to utilise their admission quota.
Wike however said in view of efforts to boost access, institutions which fail to utilise their admission quota for 2014 will be sanctioned.
He reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to the development of ICT training, which he said has already been inculcated as part of the standard curriculum at the secondary school level.
“I have been brief that despite the rising demand for higher education vis-a-vis the availability of a large number of qualified candidates,some institutions did not fully utilise the admissions quota approved for them by relevant regulatory agencies in 2013.
“This disservice to the Nigeria child is totally unacceptable,in line with efforts of the federal government to improve access,let me urge you all to with effect from today,work assiduously to ensure that all admission spaces in your institutions for the current year are fully utilised within the approved time frame,”he stated.
Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB,Dibu Ojerinde in his presentation gave a statistical run down of candidates preference for tertiary education.
He said after the conduct of the 2014 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination(UTME) candidates who applied for degree awarding institutions or universities totalled 1,584,348 representing 97.070, NCE applicants totalled 25,767 representing 1.579, ND a patlry 22,072 representing 1.349 while NID had just 46 representing 0.003.
Ojerinde wondered while Nigeria’s educational system has consistently failed to embrace technical education in its quest for industrialisation, saying the British which Nigeria copied the polytechnic education from now award degree in all its polytechnics.
…It’s Grand plan to Islamize Nigeria – Oritsejafor
…Over 2,000 Christians have been slaughtered N/Nigeria – Northern Christian Elders
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has raised the alarm that members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect is to establish an “Islamic State of Nigeria.”
He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2014 National Conference on Voices against violence organized by Christian Elders Forum of Northern States.
The cleric said he is not against dialogue with Boko Haram members adding that “In the last one year Boko Haram have also been killing Muslims who are given information about them to either the security or the community. A village was wiped out because they gave vital information about them.
“If we want to end Boko Haram insurgence we as Nigerians must speak the truth. That is the major factor. Boko Haram has an ideology Muslim leaders should engage them and tell them the truth.
“I am not against dialogue, but the people that must dialogue are the Muslims religious leaders, traditional leaders, Muslims political leaders. They must come together and speak the truth the Boko Haram members. The Boko Haram members still believe in some Muslim leaders. They should use this means to tell them the truth.”
His words: “Our royal fathers who are here are important to us and to the church. Let me also encourage you to begin to really come together and work together. You cannot even imagine the difference you will make especially in the north and also for the minority tribe across the north and even from the south.
“You should do everything to come together, you must come together. Nigeria must hear you voice. Can must partner with NOSEF to archive peace in the north and in the country. Most of us from the south we do not know a lot of things from the north.
“Truth is the foundation for any relationship that will blossom and be strong. Nigeria will not be strong until we speak the truth and use the truth to deal with issues. I heard someone saying that we do not know what Boko Haram wants. I do not know what people mean by that. They are out to establish an Islamic state. They have been trying more that 100 time. That is what they are after. Most of these bad groups around the world want to establish an Islamic State.
“I do not hate the Muslims but the truth must be told. So many Muslim leaders should take time and visit Christians who are victims of Boko Haram like we Christian leaders do. For the first two, three years Boko Haram were concentrating on the Christians before they started killing the Muslims. At a point they even said all Christians should leave the north.”
Chairman of Christian Elders Forum of Northern States (NOSCEF), Mr. Olaiya Phillips disclosed that in this year alone more than 2,000 northern Christians have been killed.
Phillips said: “We join the world in saying, Boko Haram Bring back our daughters and mothers. On an almost daily basis, we have been both shocked and appalled to learn of yet more callous acts of violence committed against innocent members of our community and against our innocent Moslem neighbors and friends.
“In this year alone, more than 2,000 of our fellow Northern Nigerians have been murdered. We demand our government takes steps to stop the violence immediately.”
Also speaking, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby said that religion is a power force that could easily manipulated and should not be centre of political choices.
Welby, represented by secretary for inter Religious Affairs for the Church of England assured that Nigeria is in the prayer lists of many people around the world.
“One of our prayers for all of us involved in this critical situation is that religion doesn’t become central in the political choices that we make. We are so aware that although most religious people are people of peace, religion is such a power force that is easy to manipulate by some politicians who will like to use it for their own advantage.
“Religion can end up blinding us to both the good and the bad politics of political candidate. we have seen that in the UK where religion is used by politicians for an agenda which is not for the benefit of all.
“And what we are discovering in Britain is the need for leaders who can be driven by the best religious value. We will allow the best values from our religious faith to dictate how we are going to do in the political arena. And we are going to work for the common good of all people; whatever our religious background,” he stated.
Members of Adamawa State PDP Stakeholders and Elders met at the State Party Secretariat on Saturday, 28th June, 2014 to discuss the current issue in the state – i.e. the impeachment notices issued against Governor Murtala Nyako and his Deputy, Bala James Ngilari, by the Members of the State House of Assembly. After exhaustive deliberations on the matter, the meeting resolved as follows:-
That the Nyako/Ngilari administration has over the years brought Adamawa state to its knees politically, economically, infrastracturally, and security wise. That through its deliberate and misguided policies, the regime both exacerbated social and political tensions in the state by creating ethnic and religious distrusts amongst the various groups, and entrenched lawlessness, unconstitutionality, corruption, nepotism, favouritism and dishonesty in governance to the point that our people can no longer condone such a regime even for a single day, if they can help it;
That the impeachment of the Governor and his Deputy leading to the conduct of general elections in the state within the constitutionally specified period of three months represents the best solution to the political and governmental crises bedeviling the state since the coming of the administration into office;
That the current initiative and action of the State Legislature on this issue represent the position and wishes of the overwhelming majority and generality of the people of the state;
That the entire members of the PDP in the state, including the Executive Committee Members of its organs, Members of its Board of Trustees, Members of its National Executive Committee, its Stakeholders and Elders have condemned these acts of gross misconduct on the part of the Governor and his Deputy and hence endorse the impeachment initiative and action of the State Legislature;
That Members of the House of Assembly are hereby commended for this bold initiative and encouraged to continue the impeachment process to its logical conclusion to serve as a lesson and deterrent to the executive;
That this represents the position of the PDP in the state, and all PDP members in the House of Assembly are called upon to seriously take note of this position, be guided by it and remain steadfast on it;
That while the party in the state solidly stands by and supports the legislature, the meeting also calls upon all people of good standing in the state and beyond to likewise support our law makers;
That while calling on the Judiciary to remain neutral and impartial in this matter and allow the due process of our constitutional provisions take its full course without hindrance, it should also be noted that the impunity of the state executive has also affected the state Judiciary itself;
That this impeachment issue is an internal affairs of Adamawa state and calls upon all non-indigenes of the state to refrain from meddling in what is solely an Adamawa state matter;
That the EFCC, ICPC and any other body investigating financial frauds committed against Adamawa State by members of the state government to kindly make their preliminary findings public so as to help members of the public to both appreciate the magnitude of the frauds involved and possibly help the investigating bodies with more useful information that they may currently not possess; and
That we remain committed to the democratic principles of constitutionalism, rule of law, transparency, accountability and honesty in governance.
This Communiqué is approved and signed by the following:-
The Charlie Boy/Governor Okorocha face-off in Oguta refers to what transpired at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oguta during the funeral Mass Service in honour of the Late Supreme Court Judge,Chukwudifu Oputa on Friday, 27TH June,2014.In the abnormal incident,Charlie Boy, the son of the Late Jurist, Justice Chukwudi Oputa, humiliated Governor Okorocha of Imo State when he walked up to Governor Okorocha and angrily snatched a microphone which was handed over to him to make a speech to the congregation who graced the occasion. On a general note,the bizzarre episode should be seen as a confrontation between two people who have no regard for rule of law. Governor Okorocha has always told Ndimo that: “I don’t believe in rule of law and due process; it slows me down”, while the entertainment supremo, Charlie Boy Oputa, is also not interested in the rule of law and due process. Most people describe him as a deviant and an iconoclast on the grounds of his deviant social behaviour. In fact, in Imo State, we are used to such power shows between Governor Okorocha and others. One of such instances is the power show between Governor Okorocha and Hon Eugene Dibiagwu which took place on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at AWA community Oguta-yes, in this very controversial Oguta Local Government Area. On that face off, the convoy of Governor Okorocha ran into that of Hon Eugene Dibiagwu, the candidate of the PDP in the then oncoming State Assembly election into Imo State House of Assembly for Oguta LGA. .Both Hon Dibiagwu and Governor Okorocha were running their campaigns for the rerun election when both groups ran into each other in Awa, Oguta. While the security personnel attached to Governor Okorocha were poised to use firepower and paraphernalia of office to subdue the HON Eugene Dibiagwu boys, the Oguta boys became so daring and poised to confront Okorocha’s security aides in spite of their automatic rifles and sundry facilities which they brandished. There is a need to emphasize at this point that in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State, the youths in the axis of Oguta/Ohaji/Egbeme LGAs are the most daring, combative and militant. In the case of Awa, any politician who thinks he can subdue then through intimidation and harassment does so at his own peril. Governor Okorocha was full aware of the risk of using force on Dibiagwu Boys, hence he ordered his boys to back down and let go. But HON. Eugene Dibiagwu boys wanted the show to go full circle as it would afford them an opportunity to take their pound of flesh on the Governor who most of them have some grouse with. Even now, Oguta Local Government Area(LGA) in Imo State appears to be the only LGA in Nigeria that does not have any legislator in the State House of Assembly. The people of Oguta feel humiliated about this situation and they use every available space to vent their sadness over this barefaced dichotomy on the Oguta clan.
Again on December 26th,2012 there was another convoy face off which pitted the convoy of Governor Okorocha with that of Senator Chris Anyanwu, the senator representing Owerri zone in the Senate. Both politicians won their elections under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA), but today they have abandoned the APGA in preference to other parties. The Okorocha/Chris Anyanwu power show took place on Azaraegbelu section of the very busy Owerri/Unuahia Expressway. Governor Okorocha caused panic when he described that convoy incident as an assassination attempt on him. Reports on that episode confirmed that the senator’s driver was severely manhandled by Governor Okorocha’s security personnel. It is pertinent to note that on the previous evening ,Senator Chris Anyanwu had paid a courtesy visit on Governor Okorocha in the Government House in deference to his status as State Governor. Yet, Governor Okorocha accused her of plotting to assassinate him when the convoy incident occurred. Senator Anyanwu is a ranking senator who is known for her cool and calm disposition. In fact, most people see her as a recluse and an introvert. There is nothing in her person that suggests she can hurt a fly, more so , she is a female politician and Mass Communications guru .In fact, Senator (MRS) Anyanwu is as peaceful as ribbon.
On another occasion, April 19th,2013, Governor Okorocha had another convoy clash with one Chief Osita Nnawuihe whose car allegedly rammed into the governor’s car on the Owerri Orlu Express way. Mr Osita Nnawuihe was cruising a Mercedez Benz saloon car when the incident happened. Reports said that Governor Okorocha sustained a head injury for which he was swiftly flown abroad for medical attention. He spent several weeks in America or London(almost one month) before he returned to Imo State. Immediately he returned, he organized a ceremony and ordered the immediate release of Chief Nnawuihe and even rewarded him with a cash gift of N200000 for his upkeep and repair of his car.According to reports from impeccable sources, he was even appointed to the position of the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Accident. What a funny portfolio! But one curious fact about this episode is that I do not know anybody who has seen the Mercedez Benz car which was alleged to have rammed into Okorocha’s personal car in the governor’s convoy. I have not been able to see the wreckage of this Mercedes car and I doubt if any newspaper has ever placed its photo in the press. Even now, the office of the SSA Accident which was given to Chief Nnawuihe appears to have become moribund .
Further more, there are other flashpoints in regard to Governor Okorocha’s relationship with other political bigwigs in the country .Some of them include a face – off between the protocol aides of Governor Okorocha and those of former Anambra State Governor ,MR Peter Obi, on a dispute about who should sit on a reserved sofa in a public function in Enugu. The organizers of the event said that they did not know that Governor Okorocha would be in the event, hence no seat was reserved for him ahead of his arrival. Before the problem was resolved, the aides of both politicians had raised eyebrows and even thrown some punches in order to secure the controversial sofa for their principals.
Again, there was another power show between Okorocha and Governor T.A. Orji of Abia State when Imo State Government suddenly shut down the motor part of Abia State Transport Service on Wetheral Road, Owerri, even though the facility of Peace Mass Transit Transport Company on the same location was allowed to operate. In the same vein, there was any conflict with the Abia State Government when a group labelled “Rescue Missionaries “ organized a reception to honour Governor Okorocha at the Abia State Polytechnic in Aba even though Governor T.A. Orji was not given the benefit of knowing that such an event was to take place in his State.This triggered off another uproar between the two states.Governor T.A. Orji cancelled the event at the last minute in order to avert a breakdown of law and order, more so, since adequate security arrangement was not in place and the authorities of Abia State Polytechnic said they did not grant any authorization for the use of the Polytechnic to organize an event for any State governor. Again, Governor Okorocha caused a stir when in a chat with the press ,he said that Governor Peter Obi and Ndi Anambra are the people causing all the political crises in Igbo land. Such an inflammatory comment is not supposed to emanate from a State Governor. There is a consensus in Igbo Land that Governor Peter Obi was a highly performing governor who quietly transformed Anambra State, even without stepping on anybody’s rights and sensibilities. Most Igbo people place MR Peter Obi on the same pedestal with the like of DR. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael Okpara and Akanu Ibiam. Again, most people do not know what Ndi Anambra did to cause the political crises in Igbo land.
Finally in the case of the Oguta episode, it is pertinent to state that Governor Okorocha has a penchant of using various public fora to launch inflammatory and toxic attacks on innocent politicians especially the like of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, HON. Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Ararume, , Chief Ohakim, Chief Achike Udenwa, MR. Peter Obi, Governor T.A. Orji ,Sir Victor Umeh, Chief Martin Agbaso and several others. I am sure that Charlie Boy would not want his father’s final rites of passage to be hijacked by Governor Okorocha to launch attacks on his real or perceived political opponents including the President and Commander -in –Chief, DR. Godluck Ebele Jonathan who was ably represented on that event. This is in tandem with the exalted status of his father who was a revered Jurist, an incorruptible judge who did not identify with any political party throughout his illustrious existence on Planet Earth. Rather than blaming Charlie Boy on the so-called humiliation of Governor Okorocha, we should be interested to know why Governor Okorocha’s security personnel abandoned the Governor at a time he was confronted by the pugnacious looking Charlie Boy Oputa. A more incisive analysis of the Oguta episode will be published on this website soon. But even before then, kindly Goggle and read my viewpoint entitled “Imo Governors not United-Okorocha: How feasible is Igbo Presidency in 2015”? which was published on this website a short while ago. Till then.
The 2011 general election has ended, and according to this American based media consultant and PR expert, Austin Ajero people-oriented programmes should be looked into and not politics. During the last general election in the country, he played a very prominent role in the ousting of the then Imo governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim out of office.
In this chat, he speaks on how he professionally masterminded the Catholic Church saga against the Clean and Green administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim, which however was the major reason why he found it difficult for a reelection.
Read through as this internationally and well-experienced PR expert speaks on how the media could serve meaningfully against the use of weapons and violence to win or rig an election.
Having traveled large with lot of experiences, please how better can the media serve in the reduction of crime rate come 2015 general election?
We find it so difficult in this side of the country to bury our differences after election. There is nothing wrong about electioneering propaganda, but where we get it wrong is when we begin to go beyond into applying bitterness to it. Whatever strategy one applies to win an election shouldn’t be worried of, rather we should be concerned with the end point. Let it not be about revenge. Sometimes when I’m called to consult media wise in politics or leadership, I try first to study the candidates involved. I try finding out their programmes and weaknesses, then I will come to the stage of analyzing them all before full engagement.
At the end, you see me coming up with results. Yes, we may involve propaganda, because it is the soul of successful media consultation. It is practiced all over the world, and it has nothing to do with violence. It reduces the risk of people dying while running for one elective position or the other, because it is very strategic in planning.
How does it reduce violence?
It does because it has to reduce more of the face-to-face issue of breaking down laws and order. People involved are always on the pages of newspaper and online. You hardly see propaganda analysts and consultants engaging in face-off, but most times clients go beyond ridiculing it when they must have settled themselves. Also, I as a person will always advise most clients to play safe. It should not be about using thugs against the people. Okay let’s look at Imo for example, during the 2011 general election, I worked there and most campaigns we introduced then effectively worked for us.
You saw how Ohakim lost the election as a result of our propaganda strategy. In 2011, the Catholic Church was resolutely against the return of Ohakim as a governor. Out of our construction and mastermind, he was allegedly accused of brutalizing a Catholic priest over a minor traffic offence, and the church had risen against him as one body. At least, instead of Ohakim as an incumbent governor to use force against other candidates, he had to fall as a result of the Catholic Church saga.
How would you rate the upcoming 2015 general election, especially with Rochas Okorocha’s mandate in Imo?
For me, I don’t think there is a better propaganda that will stop him except the one he is personally inflicting on himself. His greed when it comes to acquiring of properties will rise as a fact against him. He may be good in terms of activities of infrastructure in Imo state, but he lacks vision. Real people who understand governance will always tell you that.
He is running a government that is full of deceit. I can tell you that he has no enemy as long as the State is concern. Yes, the opposition needs to grab power from him at all cost, but they are not ready to attack him properly the way Ohakim was attacked. You need to see how people who are not even from Imo came down to the State for political business. They all invested their money to pull Ohakim down.
Another fact that will stop Rochas is the fact that he is not able to keep his word with people who brought their resources to make him governor of the State. It is no longer a news that Rochas doesn’t enjoy his old relationship with Arthur Eze, Emeka Ofor, Ifeanyi Ubah and other Anambra sons. Ohakim had same issue with Orji Uzor Kalu, but I’m surprise that they’ve reconciled now. There is nothing that kills rapidly than the fact that you took money to contest, and when you climb, you could not deliver again. It is better you don’t receive or reach any agreement, than accepting but not fulfilling. That’s just the problem with Rochas, and I’m afraid it may consume him this time.
I can authoritatively tell you that people he betrayed and could not reach agreement he signed with them are on standby, and they are ready to fight with their last drop of blood to stop him. This I have just told you is one of the problems that stop people from achieving their end goal in life. Remember they say: “He who goes to equity must go with clean hands”. So, what again are we saying here?
But President Jonathan also made a promise of one term if elected. How about that?
He made a promise, yes. But today, has it been easy for him? No! It is as same as what I’ve told you about promise making and its fulfilment. The President’s case may be as easy as anything, because he never took money to be supported for his ambition. It was a Party affair, which if he wants to further, it will still be the same leadership of the Party that will make it work. So, it is not just about stopping for he owe anybody, rather it is a Party affair. If he gets their support, fine and good for him. He never anchored his ambition on anybody’s expense unlike Rochas’ case here.
Gov. Rochas a time also promised one tenure, didn’t he?
Of course he did! It may not have been an issue if that’s just the case, but here we are talking about him collecting resources and fund from people for the realization of his ambition. If it had been about promising Martins Agbaso’s family and the masses alone, it will all be a different thing. At least, he will go back to them for campaigns, and they may or not accept him. I will call it a problem for them alone. But here, he has got issue which is more than a deep wound against the Agbaso family, which was removing their son illegally and also accused him of fraud. If you are in their shoes, what will you do come 2015?
How bad was Ohakim’s government?
If not the issue he had with Orji Uzor Kalu which today they’ve reconciled, I will tell you that Ohakim’s government was visionary. He knew where he was heading to, and he had passion for a first class Imo that would have been the envy of a place like Dubai.
What then stopped him?
These same ingrates I worked for in 2011 general election! Leadership of the then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Yes they are now what we see and call APC. They were so keen to stop Ohakim at all cost. In fact, they facilitated all our operations and campaign against Ohakim, to an extent that I and my team had to come down to Imo to generate propaganda against his government. We planted all our agents around him, to the level that those in his house and kitchen were giving us materials we turned into propaganda against his very person.
What were the propaganda steps you took?
In a hurry, we all will not forget the Catholic Priest saga! It was an imagination of the then leadership of ACN to rubbish Ohakim. Nothing like Reverend Father Eustace Okorie. Even till now, did the media show us the picture of the priest in person? It was even as if Archbishop A.J.V Obinna worked against Ohakim, because we were afraid a time that he would come out to refute such material against him, but he never showed up till now; he is yet to brief the world on this very sagacious issue.
How about Rev. Fr. Mbaka’s involvement?
Fr. Mbaka was misled! This same defunct Party gave the Catholic priest fake information of what never transpired. It should be stated here that Ohakim never stripped and flogged a priest. We were used as agents to misinform the public, Archbishop Obinna and Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka. I could remember how we were visiting Enugu often to consolidate our words to Fr. Mbaka against Ohakim. These men of God I will say are innocent, because they acted on what we made them to believe. Then, after the Church preaching, we will on our own take the video CD for mass production. We shared them all to marketers and people for free.
Did his arrogant attitude as accused not stop him?
Can you tell me how his personal being could stop him? If they are saying he is or was arrogant, I will tell you is his own personal life. But I will say, for you to govern a State like Imo to get it right, you really need to be strict, arrogant and focused to the core. We have a lot of people even in Imo PDP who likes taking people for granted. In fact, the best governor Imo can have now is Ikedi Ohakim, because when he returns, many political godfathers will go on exile. He will deal with them now, because so many of them failed and betrayed him. Their actions even made Ohakim not to complete his second tenure. Besides, he will appreciate leadership better now, because he has had his share of failure and what it takes to get it right.
But then, so many factors stopped Ohakim’s reelection. Can you please unveil some unmentioned?
I can only tell you the one I got engaged for, no matter I’m still owed for the services. So many agents were down in Imo to stop Ohakim’s reelection, of which I can remember a woman who engaged an activist also. Maybe, when I come across that very woman’s contact, I will let it to you.
Where is the woman from?
I don’t know, and her case should not be the issue here.
What would you advise politicians to do in this 2015 general election?
I will advise them to engage more of political propagandists than using violence to get what they want. Politics should not be about do or die affair in Nigeria. Enough of Boko Haram attack, the people behind all these should use propaganda as a means of strategy. People should not be victims of politics.
Till now, I’m wondering how one could go to the extent of buying guns and weapons only to cause confusion in the country and then win elections. Let’s think innovatively with the environment technology has created for us today. We have a whole lot of consultants who can handle jobs that will realize one’s ambition.
Do you think it can help the system of this country?
Of course it will! The best we can do for this country is to device a means of controlling the destruction of lives and property during elections. Let us come with a better idea on how crime could be curbed. It will save us the stress of enforcing security against terrorism. It will also play a good role in preventing crime.
While they receive an average of N180 million each monthly, they can’t pay an average of N60 million monthly staff salary. Why? By Theophilus Abbah & Usman Bello . Mr Isaac Ibe, 42, is a staff of Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State. To him, life has become unbearable over the non-payment of his salaries in full for over one year now. As a result he cannot cater for his family, as if he were not in an employment.
Speaking in an interview with Sunday Trust, Ibe said, “I’m a Level 8 Officer, and my monthly salary is supposed to be N50,000. But I’m being paid N20,000 because of what we are told is percentage payment. We have been turned into beggars. To pay the school fees of my children has been difficult. Most times I have to depend on Good Samaritans to meet my obligations as the head of my family.” Mr Ibe is not the only one caught in this labyrinth. Malam Hassan Otse, a staff of Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State has the same pathetic story to tell. He lives like a hanger-on because for over a year now, he’s been paid half of the monthly salary he is entitled to.
Malam Otse is also a Level 8 Step 5 Officer in Ijumu Local Government. His monthly take home pay is supposed to be N57,000, but he told Sunday Trust that he is being paid N21,000, barely 50 per cent of what is due to him monthly. “I can neither feed my family nor do other things to make them comfortable,” Malam Otsesaid. “I have to borrow money to be able to pay my children’s school fees. I don’t even know how I will pay back the money I have borrowed from my creditors,” he said. Otse, who has a wife and five children, said he suffered from low self-esteem because he could not meet the family’s demand, asking “what is the essence of working when one cannot meet his obligations to his family.”
THE CONCEPT OF PERCENTAGE SALARY PAYMENTS: The genesis of percentage or half-salary payment, according to our findings, was for two reasons: the dwindling allocation from the Federation Account and the implementation of what is termed salary relativity and minimum wage. First, though the crude oil price rose from $56.35 per barrel in 2009 to $110 per barrel in 2012, the monthly allocation to states and local governments dropped sharply, no thanks to oil theft put at about 100,000 barrels per day in the Niger Delta. In Kogi, the percentage salary payment started in 2011 following the passage of the National Minimum Wage Law, which necessitated that all government employees earn, at least, N18,000. The thenKogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, claiming that the state government could not pay the wage, came up with what was termed salary relativity, meaning an augmentation of the salaries, though short of the minimum wage. The wage bill in local governments shot up, such that the councils could not pay the ‘relativity salary.’ What some resorted to was the payment of a percentage of the sum, promising that at a future date when the financial situation improved, the balance would be paid. The situation never improved. Going by the original schedule, local governments in Kogi State were supposed to implement the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage in January 2014. Though it has done so in principle, due to the paucity of funds, this has not been implemented. Initially, salaries were delayed until the next months in some local governments. In others, payments were made by instalment, depending on the availability of funds and what came from the Federation Account to councils that very month. Sunday Trust further gathered that some of the councils had to take overdraft to augment the shortfall from the Federation Account and pay salaries. Mr Ibe said the situation got worse, from delay in payments, to the payment of half-salary, then to percentages, depending on the capacity of the councils and the disposition of council chairmen. In the last one and half years the percentage salary payment has come to stay in the councils and it is going from bad to worse, as some workers may not receive their salaries at all, especially when such workers are branded as ‘ghost workers’ without evidence. The percentage payment varies from local government to local government. Some pay 15 per cent, others pay between 20 per cent and 30 per cent, while others pay 40 per cent. Out of the 21 local governments only Lokoja and Okene local governments paid salaries in full until December last year when they joined other local governments in the percentage salary payment. These councils said they had to join in the percentage payment because of the full implementation of N18,000 minimum wage in January this year. In the percentage payment, Okehi, Ogori/Magongo, Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba-West andYagba-East as well as Adavi are paying between 30 and 40 per cent. All the nine local governments in Kogi East are also paying between 30 and 40 per cent. Lokoja, Okene andAjaokuta Local Government Areas pay 55 per cent salary to their staff members. However, our reporter gathered that the percentage payments depend on the disposition of the chairmen,hence a local government could pay 30 per cent this month, and by next month decide to pay 35 per cent or 50 per cent.
HIGH ALLOCATION VERSUS PERCENTAGE SALARY PAYMENT: The irony in the wage crisis in Kogi Local Government is apparent, considering the fact that it is coming at a time when allocations from Federation Account to the local governments have quadrupled. Before the price of crude oil stabilised at $100 per barrel since 2010, the local governments received between N40 million and N70 million monthly from Abuja, based on the status of the councils. At that time, neither was salary owed nor was it paid in fractions. However, since 2011, the allocations to the councils have risen tremendously. For instance, data obtained from the Ministry of Finance for allocations paid in December 2013 indicated that the least amount received by the local governments was paid to Ogori/Magongo council, amounting to N121,907,625.48, while the highest allocation went to Okene local council which was N220,155,916.45. Dekina Local Government received an amount quite close to what Okenewas paid, i.e. N210,523,828.59. The total sum received by local councils in Kogi State in December 2013 was N3,500,586,397.14. (See table for details of the payment in December 2013). So, why is it difficult for local councils to pay salaries? A local government chairman who did not want his name mentioned in this story because all council chairmen have been gagged on this matter, revealed that the application of the funds had been bedevilled by massive fraud. “For instance, there used to be what was called joint or common project,” the council chairman said. “As much as N30 million was being deducted from our accounts at source by the Ministry of Local Government for this purpose. We have 21 local governments. That means N630 million went into that account. But the fact is that there is no joint project on ground. What used to happen was that some fake contracts would be awarded projects and payments made to the proxy of some state officials. Then, chairmen would be given cuts from the figure. These fake contractors are building houses in Lokoja, Abuja and even abroad. We had a clash over this deduction, so we have resolved that there would be no deduction at source for any joint project. Chairmen now have to meet to decide what to contribute for joint projects.” Our reporter learnt that the joint project idea was a source of massive fraud to the point that the branch manager of a bank in Lokoja, having discovered the porous way the fund was usually distributed, eloped with some N190 million from ALGON’s account and resigned. No action could be taken against him. Also, a former chairman of ALGON, Hon Farouk Adejo, who was the caretaker chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Area, nearly lost his life over his opposition to the deductions for joint projects. A bomb was said to have been planted at his residence in Lokoja. Because of the vigilance of his family members, the suspicious object was discovered and police invited. The Police Command in Lokoja’s anti-bomb squad had to detonate the bomb. Such was the tension in the state over corruption-laden concept of joint project by local councils. Our reporter learnt that there is no joint project on ground in most of the local councils. A semblance of such a project was the 20 housing units in every local government initiated during the regime of former Governor Ibrahim Idris. The projects were never completed, as the housing units have been abandoned at various stages of construction. In Olomaboro Local Government Area, the houses have been abandoned. Recently, they were allocated to councillors, but the local council lawmakers rejected them. Our reporter learnt that projects being executed at local councils at present are funded by SURE-P and MDGs.
CORRUPTION IN SUBEB: Apart from this joint project fraud, the local government chairman, who spoke in anonymity, claimed that there is the bottomless pit called the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). “This is where the worst fraud takes place,” the local council chairman told Sunday Trust. “Every month, between N60 million and N70 million allocation to my local council is deducted at source and given to SUBEB as teachers’ salaries. I don’t decide how my teachers are paid; I don’t have a say. Right from Lokoja, this money goes to SUBEB. But I suspect there are hundreds of ghost workers on SUBEB payroll. I tell you, in the last 10 years, no teacher has died; retired or resigned in Kogi State. Is that possible? The wage bill has been constant. The SUBEB officials are living big, while other workers are languishing in penury. We have called for a probe into the payment of teachers’ salaries.” The council chairman, who claimed that his monthly wage bill is about N56 million, added that with all the deductions being done from an average of N180 million monthly allocation to his council, he cannot pay local government staff salaries. “I have to take overdraft from banks to be able to pay 35 per cent of the salaries of staff in my local government. This situation would remain until our financial situation improves.” In May 2014, Governor Idris Wada sacked the Chairman of Kogi State SUBEB, Alhaji JibrinUsman with the entire board, accusing the agency of rot and fraud. This was as a result of the non-payment of primary school teachers’ salaries for more than five months, in spite of the huge allocations to the body from the local governments’ accounts. With each local government contributing between N60 million and N70 million into SUBEB purse every month for teachers’ salaries, procurement of textbooks and teaching aids, the agency nets an average of N1.3 billion monthly from local governments. Why can’t SUBEB pay teachers’ salaries? An official of the agency who volunteered information but did not want to be named alleged that not all this money is paid into SUBEB account. “Though it is on record that SUBEB gets N1.3 billion monthly, the fact remains that the amount available to us is about a half of that sum, like N800 million. Teachers’ salaries is about N780 million. We don’t know what happens to the rest. And this money is not enough to pay teachers salaries in Kogi State.” If staff salaries are put at less than N780 million, then the suspicion is that the unaccounted sum, put at about N500 million, may be used to service Kogi State political stakeholders, among them top party leaders in Kogi and Abuja, lawmakers and political hangers-on, Sunday Trust learnt. However, the pay schedule at SUBEB is adulterated with ghost workers, two previous investigations into the agency have revealed. As a result of the outcry by local government chairmen over the huge sums being deducted from their allocations in the name of teachers’ salaries, Governor Idris Wada set up a committee headed by a former Accountant-General of the State, Mr Paul Audu. At the end of its investigation, it was revealed that there were as many as 884 ghost schools in the 21 local government areas of the state. In these schools the total number of ghost workers was put at 2,153. There were also some 1,922 unauthorised employments done by education secretaries in the various local councils, and as many as 86persons who had retired were still on the staff payroll. Also, while on SUBEB’s payroll there was a total of 3,043 headmasters, the panel discovered that there were actually only 2,156 headmasters in all the local councils, a difference of 887 who were tagged as ghost headmasters. However, the differences in the list of SUBEB and headmasters show that in Adavi local government, there are five ghost schools, Ajaokuta one, Ankpa 117, Basa 47, Dekina 142, Ibaji102, Idah 35, Igalamela-Odolu 6, Ijumu 49, Kabba Bunu 82. Kogi 11. Others are Lokojathree, Mopa-Moro, 35, Ofu, 44, Ogori/Magogo, eight, Okehi, 23, Okene, 16, Olamaboro, 53,Omala, 53, Yagba East, 52 and Yagba West, 55.
PROTESTS OVER PERCENTAGE SALARY PAYMENT: Meanwhile, the percentage payment has generated serious controversy and protest by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in some local governments. For instance, in Yagba East Local Government Area, workers protested for a week in May 2014 and prevented the chairman, Hon Funsho Ibrahim, from entry into his office. They claimed that while workers were being paid a fraction of their salaries, the Local Government chairman, councillors and other political office holders were receiving their salaries in full. After the protest in Yagba East, workers of Okehi Local Government also embarked on protest as a result of the percentage payment. The development, Sunday Trust learnt, forced the National Union of Local government Employee (NULGE) to write to council chairmen and the Ministry of Local Government insisting that, henceforth, both the workers and political appointees be treated equally with percentage payment. The state NULGE president, Comrade Tom Abutu, said “We will continue to resist any attempt to short-change workers as we have been doing since the issue of half and percentage payment. Only local government workers are suffering from the salary percentage payment syndrome in the state. Though the problem began in 2011, it was not as bad as it is now.” He, however, attributed the development to the first line charge deduction from the local government allocation. “The teacher first-line charge deduction is N1.3 billion. Traditional rulers, pensioners are also there. Aside the statutory deductions, there were other deductions that also take place. We then wrote a letter to the governor that apart from statutory deductions, all other deductions should be stopped. We are looking at it that it was as a result of these deductions, especially that of teachers that council workers cannot receive full salaries.” He said the percentage has serious implications on its members, as many have died due to lack of money to seek medical attention when they took ill. Many could not pay school fees for children while others cannot even feed adequately. Comrade Tom said, “The only way out is to do a proper screening to ascertain genuine workers. Some people are state government workers and also they are on the payroll of local governments. Some work in Abuja, but they are still on the payroll of local governments. This must stop.” In an interview with Sunday Trust, the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON), Kogi State Chapter claimed that the state government and council were working to ensure the resumption of full salary payment to workers. Though the current Chairman of the group in Kogi State, Hon Aloysius Okino, declined to grant Sunday Trust an interview, his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr IbrahimObansa, claimed that what is responsible for the inability of chairmen to pay salaries was the shortfall from the federal account. “The councils are also over-burdened by so many persons on their payrolls, majority of who are ghost workers put on the payment vouchers by some unscrupulous elements. It is hoped that the on-going screening will take care of this and correct the anomalies. Also, the implementation of the minimum wage by the councils is also another factor. Even localgovernments managing to pay full salaries, like Okene, Lokoja, Ajaokuta and a few others up till December 2013 have been affected by the percentage salary syndrome. They have not been able to meet their salary obligation since January 2014 due to the implementation of the minimum wage, without corresponding improvement in their allocations from the Federation Account.” Aside the percentage payment, Sunday Trust gathered that local government workers are being owed arrears of between eight and 12 months.
BEYOND ALLOCATIONS: In Kogi State, the fraud that has made it difficult to pay salaries to the council employees is not limited to how politicians and civil servants feast on the allocation from the Federation Account. Even Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) enters into private pockets. Local councils generate funds through taxes collected from traders, commercial motorcyclists, bus and taxi drivers, health centres and environmental sanitation fines. An officer in the Accounts Department of a local government told our reporter that: “Revenue collectors don’t remit the total amount they collect into council purses. They retain about 60 per cent of what they collect. The supervisory councillors take a percentage. A percentage is taken to the office of the council chairman who decides what to do with it. At the end of the day, not much enters into the council’s treasury. As a result of the crisis in the state, school teachers, in spite of the huge funds paid into SUBEB purse, are on strike because the state government has failed to pay minimum wage, while health workers have been on strike because government failed to honour a deal reached with them. These strikes have been on for between three and seven months now.
