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How Donald Duke introduced joint State-LGA account, sacked council chairmen that opposed the policy
The controversial joint State-LGA account in which governors seize funds allocated to local government councils in Nigeria was said to have been introduced by former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke.
A narration by Dominic Kidzu, of the history of the ugly situation through which governors squander monies meant for the development of local communities, has it that it started during the 4th Republic and became a national malaise in 2003.
He said- “The seizure of local government funds started right at the onset of the fourth republic. By 2003 the funds had been fully corralled throughout the federation and local government councils disabled and safely tucked under the armpit of the governors.
“It is assumed that the very idea was formulated in Cross River State by the then Governor Donald Duke (but no concrete evidence).
“What I remember vividly is that when Governor Duke announced the idea to the chairmen in the Executive Council chambers of the Governor’s Office, many of them kicked against the idea.
“The chairmen who vociferously opposed the joint account allocation committee, JAAC, included Chief Jake Otu Enyia, chairman of Boki local government council, Barr. Ebaye Akumjum of Ikom, Bassey Ekefre of Calabar South and Dr. Salem Joshua of Akpabuyo.
“In government circles they were seen as the ring leaders. I was the chief press secretary to the governor and my brief was to get these opposition chairmen to speak to the camera endorsing the proposal.
“As they stepped out of the meeting I invited all four of them to my office, where the press boys were waiting, camera at the ready. As I was shoeing them into my office, Dr Salem Joshua threatened to slap me if I touched his hand again.
“He thereafter went downstairs and granted a heated interview to Ofonime Ummanah of the Punch newspapers and the now late George Onah of Vanguard. He spoke tough, deprecating the state governor and rejecting the setting up of JAAC in its entirety.
“Back in my office, the three gentlemen were in a rage. Otu Enyia was threatening fire and brimstone and refused to speak to the camera. The other two did, unwillingly too, accepting the JAAC proposal. The governor had told them in the meeting that whoever opposed the idea stood the risk of being removed.
“It was not long before the chairman of Akpabuyo was actually removed. Otu Enyia would have been removed too if I and Barr. A. B. Tase did not hold him down for hours at Metropolitan hotel, prevailing on him to take things easy and not try to be a hero.
“He had already reported the governor to late elder statesman, Chief M. T. Mbu who spoke to the press in Lagos straightaway, condemning governor Duke’s move.
“The party waded into the issue and under the one big umbrella, tempers were brought down. The state House of Assembly was then given the task of making a law to that effect. The governor signed the bill that freed up local government funds, ostensibly for the overall development of the state. Now the rest is history.”
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Petrol price to drop by N50 as independent marketers load at N990/litre at Dangote
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN has disclosed that over 30,000 of its members are set to buy Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in bulk.
IPMAN also revealed that the price of petrol from the refinery was N940/litre and N990/litre when purchased using ships and trucks, respectively.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, IPMAN President, Abubakar Garima, said the pump prices of petrol at its retail outlets will drop following the agreement with the Dangote refinery to lift products directly from the plant.
On Monday, IPMAN agreed with the Dangote refinery to directly lift petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products.
This agreement follows months after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation suspended its plan to serve as the sole off-taker of petroleum products from the 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
The IPMAN president explained that the Dangote refinery had been obliged to allow marketers to lift PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for onward supply to their depots and retail outlets but didn’t reveal the price.
Giving an update on pricing during the interview, the IPMAN national officer said the Refinery has provided two different rates for marketers based on their preferences.
He said marketers can load at the gantry at a price of N990 per litre or N940 through vessel transportation.
Garima said, “Presently, we have been given two different arrangments on how to buy fuel from the refinery. There is the one that we can load the vessels and carry to our various depots at the rate of N940 per litre. Then for the depots, it is at the rate of N990 per litre.
“The difference is because we have to load it and carry it to another part of the state. We use vessels to carry these products and there is another one to load from the gantry.
“For Port Harcourt, Warri, Calabar, we have to use vessels because there is no Dangote loading gantry there, we have to carry it to our private depot and discharge and distribute it to our members.”
News
Zulum reinstates 23 suspended health workers, deploys others
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the reinstatement of 23 health workers previously suspended for absence from their duty posts at Gwoza General Hospital.
This decision was announced during the Governor’s inspection of the hospital’s newly renovated maternity and child center, as well as other ongoing projects.
Dauda Iliya, Spokesperson and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, in a statement Tuesday, said the health workers had initially been suspended after Zulum’s earlier visit, where he found them absent from their duties.
Addressing the staff, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of dedication to work and assured them of improved working conditions and other incentives.
“Complaints were made about the 23 medical workers who were absent during my last visit,” he noted. “No one is perfect, so the government has pardoned them, although no arrears will be paid.”
In response to a staff shortage raised by the Principal Medical Officer of Gwoza General Hospital, Dr Nuhu Nasiru Wakawa, Governor Zulum directed the immediate deployment of four additional doctors and ten nurses to the facility.
He further announced that Gwoza General Hospital will be upgraded to support training for nursing students from the new school of nursing under construction.
“The Commissioner of Health, together with the Chief Medical Director of the Hospitals Management Board, will work on this deployment,” Zulum added. “We will also recruit community health workers from Gwoza to strengthen local healthcare services.”
In addition to his healthcare initiatives, Governor Zulum inspected the crusher plant base under construction in Pulka, which will produce up to 300 tonnes of stones per hour.
He said the completion of the crushing and asphalt plants is expected to facilitate new road networks across Borno State.
The Governor also visited other development sites, including the 500-unit mass housing project in Wala B, Gwoza Local Government Area, and a proposed site for a high Islamic school in Bama, underscoring his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and educational advancement.
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Dangote to begin direct supply of petroleum products to marketers
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has secured an agreement with Dangote Refinery to lift products directly.
IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima, announced this at an ongoing press briefing on Monday in Abuja, following a meeting of the National Working Committee of the Association.
He said the partnership would ensure a steady, affordable supply of PMS products nationwide.
“After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets.”
Garima urged IPMAN members to support Dangote Refinery, citing the benefits of backward integration and its positive impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.
“IPMAN members should rely on Dangote Refinery and Nigerian refineries for white products, creating more job opportunities and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.”
The latest development concludes several months of negotiations between both parties and is expected to increase efficiency, affordability, and economic growth.
The Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe, has already commenced the production of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, with plans to supply products to over 30,000 IPMAN members and 150,000 retail outlets nationwide.
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