Category: General News

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) says it is ready to shut down all oil field locations in the country if the ongoing discussions with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) do not yield positive results.

The President of TUC, Comrade Festus Usifo, made the threat on Channels Television on Wednesday.

Oando PLC announced on September 4, an agreement with ENI, an Italian multinational energy company, over the 100 percent acquisition of Nigerian AGIP Oil Company Limited shares.

Concerns have been raised about the fate of Nigerian workers in Agip Company following the transition of ownership.

Reacting to the issues raised, Usifo maintained that the Union’s position is for due process to be followed by Agip Company.

According to him, TUC is not in support of rolling its members over to Oando PLC without adequate development plans for workers who have worked for so many years for Agip Company.

Usifo said, “What we are asking is that we need to be sure, our members have worked with NAOC over the years, some have worked for over thirty years, some at the point of retirement, and you are saying you want to hand them over to a new company.

“The question is; the liabilities that have been incurred by Agip, the pension, gratuity you are supposed to pay these people? Does Oando have the financial wherewithal to be able to meet these financial obligations to our members? That is the first thing.

“As a patriotic association, we are also asking Oando, you are buying this, what is your development plan? Because the future of our members depends on that company, if the company folds then our members will go home.

If we are not satisfied with the plans, we will say, pay us our obligations; we do not want to be transited into Oando, pay us our money.

“I have worked for you for 35 years; I have worked for you for thirty years; pay me my perseverance, and let’s discuss a special separation package so that I go.

“If I now want to join Oando it would be based on my discretion, anything I see I take, but the years I have put in Agip and NAOC settle me.

The TUC President insists that Oando PLC cannot manage and sustain production like the International Oil Companies, IOCs, who inject finances into managing the assets.

“When the IOCs were managing most of these assets, they had the finances to inject into it, and we could have sustained production. That is the real challenge we would be having, and those are the discussions we are also fronting with Agip group.

“Part of operations like stimulation operations, they do not do well enhancement so we would have issues. Those wells will start declining”.

He said Agip must sit and have a conversation with the operators working in the oil field locations and ensure their demands are met.

“We have people who are working in the field locations, the operators working there; you cannot bring people who are dissatisfied to be running your assets it does not work like that

Who is going to run it? Is it the management of Oando that will just come there and start pressing the buttons? No, you need these employees. So, you must sit down and have a conversation with them.

“If they insist on not complying, they know the consequence, we will withdraw our members from the respective field locations. What we are doing now is conversation, consultation, and discussion with the Agip management”.

Meanwhile, members of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in Agip have held a series of prayer sessions in various NAOC offices and field locations across Delta, Rivers, Imo, and Bayelsa States.

The workers are using the prayer sessions to seek God’s intervention, and support from the Federal Government and relevant government agencies to impress on NAOC to follow due process on the engagement of Nigerian workers in the sales of NAOC shares to Oando.

They prayed that the Nigerian labour laws would be enforced strictly to protect the interests of the workforce during the tumultuous transition and the protection of all their members whom the alleged sale of Eni’s assets to Oando has unleashed a storm of uncertainty, fear and despair upon its loyal workforce.

Owerri:   Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has challenged the South East to maximise their economy of scale and also pool resources to build critical regional infrastructure like railway and roads to create a common market and boost socio-economic prosperity in the region.

Mbah canvassed a multi-dimensional approach to tackling insecurity, including a common security command and control centre, inter-agency cooperation, and non-kinetic approaches such as economic transformation, employment generation, moral suasion, among others.

The governor, who gave the charge at the South East Economic and Security Summit held in Owerri on Thursday, identified transportation and logistics as some of the key enablers needed to transform the South East economy and thereby reduce poverty, unemployment and consequent crimes.

“How do we ensure that we have a road network that moves across the various cities in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi?

“How do we build a ring road that connects all the major cities in the South East so that we can seamlessly encourage those who are producing and those who are providing services to distribute their products and services across the different cities of the South East seamlessly?

“These are things we must be intentional about if we are going to deal with unemployment and insecurity in the South East.

“Since we now have railways in the Concurrent List, there is nothing stopping us. So, if we pick one or two projects from this summit that we can say as a people of the South East, we want to make sure that we execute them, I believe we can achieve them and they are going to have a huge spillover effect on our economy and security” the governor stated.

Mbah canvassed various funding models to actualise such enabling projects, adding that Ndigbo could take the giant step by mobilising their funds to their homeland for the purpose.

“The challenge will be how do we fund it? That even brings me to this philosophy of ‘Aku Ruo Ulo’, in my view is for us to encourage our kith and kin to bring back their wealth to the South East. Putting a benchmark of about 30 per cent and 40 per cent of our wealth will go a long way.

We have people that are wealthy Igbos. So, if we begin to think about how we invest some of those funds in the South East, it is a way of making sure that we have a huge capital flow to be able to execute some of these critical projects”, he added..

He therefore tasked the organisers of the summit to employ the best of Igbo brains to curate and prepare the ideas from the summit in an implementable format, assuring that the South East governors were ready to work together to ensure their full realisation. (Flowerbudnews)

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The National Economic Council (NEC) has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) not to abandon dialogue in their quest for better welfare for its members.

The Council also appealed to the unions to suspend its planned nationwide indefinite strike schedule to start on Oct. 3.

Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau stated this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the NEC meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the nation was at a very critical moment in its history, adding that some states took over such labour crisis when they assumed office in May.

According to him, some of such states just resolved the crisis and will be unfair for the labour to return to another industrial action.

The Plateau governor said that the proposed industrial action would have immense effect on the economy of both the states and the Federal government.

He said that the NEC expressed genuine concern about the situation in the country and appealed for calm and patience among Nigerians.

“The National Economic Council (NEC) deliberated on the planned indefinite strike by the National leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to proceed on an indefinite strike on Oct. 3, 2023.

“The council noted further the implications of the planned strike on the economy and the nation and thus urge members to continue to engage with the leadership of their respective states.

“It appeals to them to suspend the action and to continue on the path of dialogue with the Federal Government. This is the appeal of the council.”

He said that the council appreciated the concerns raised by the NLC to have those issues address, adding that NEC also appealed for time to address the concerns of labour.

“We also believe that President Bola Tinubu will be addressing the nation on Oct. 1, and some of the concerns of labour will be appropriately addressed in the president’s speech.

“It is therefore important to note that it’s a federation issue, so whatever happens the labour is represented in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“And NEC is appealing that discussion should continue at the state levels because there will be peculiarities as to the issues to be addressed concerning the demands of labour and therefore dialogue is the way to go.”

NAN

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The Acting Comptroller-General (CG), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr Adewale Adeniyi, says the service has exceeded the revenue target for the months of July and August.

Adeniyi, who spoke while presenting the scorecard for his 100 days in office on Thursday in Abuja, said that the NCS generated N307 billion in July and N343 billion in August

“One of our early achievements has been a remarkable boost in monthly revenue collection.

“We have witnessed a substantial increase, with an average monthly collection of 202 billion in the first half of the year that concluded in June, surging to an impressive 343 billion in August.

“This outstanding growth amounts to a remarkable 70.13 per cent increase in revenue collection.

“I am delighted to announce that we have consistently exceeded the monthly target collection, marking a remarkable departure from previous performances,” he said.

He said that the ongoing revenue recovery review activities hadl contributed an additional eight billion Naira during the period.

“This underlines our commitment to revenue generation. Subject to unforeseen circumstances, our aim is to sustain and even expand this momentum until the end of the year.

“This commitment is driven by our resolve to minimise the deviation from the target, especially in light of the substantial shortfalls recorded during the first half of the year,” Adeniyi said.

He said that the NCS had recorded appreciable results in its ongoing battle against smuggling

“We have successfully intercepted various contraband items, including arms, ammunition, illicit drugs, substandard pharmaceuticals and other prohibited goods that pose grave risks to our citizens.

“These seizures accompanied by the apprehension of 62 suspects undergoing legal procedures, underscore our commitment to tackling smuggling and safeguarding our communities.

“ Notably, a significant surge in impactful seizures, especially involving arms, ammunition, and drugs, has occurred in the past two months, reinforcing our resolve to combat these illegal activities,” he said.

He said that NCS had forged stronger alliances and fostered an environment of trust and cooperation among stakeholders in the public and private sectors., as well as international partners.

The acting CG said that NCS was at the verge of introducing multiple cutting-edge solutions to support the enforcement strategies, starting with the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that seeks to put vehicle smugglers out of business for good.

“As we reflect on the achievements of the first 100 days in office and the journey we have embarked upon, it is essential to look ahead with a clear vision for the future.

“The next phase builds upon the foundation we have laid, and it is characterised by unwavering dedication to our policy thrust of consolidation, collaboration, and innovative solutions.

“ Looking forward, we envision a service that is not only the most efficient and service-driven government organ but also a pivotal driver of national economic growth and border security.

“ There are also challenges we face but we are working hard to overcome it and get a better result,” he said.

According to him, the NCS plays a pivotal role in facilitating international trade and economic growth and equally serves as a bridge connecting the nation to the global marketplace.

He expressed commitment to aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on economic growth and development.

NAN

Governors and stakeholders of South East Nigeria have met in Owerri where they resolved to put up plans and policies to drive the region forward.

They made the resolution at a South East Summit on Economy and Security convoked by the South East Governors’ Forum and Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide.

The Protea Hotel, Owerri was venue of the event which drew the five South East Governors and had the theme: “South East Beyond 2023: Time For A Reset.”

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo who expressed the unwavering, unalloyed commitment of the state to the South East Agenda, revealed that the state has started to demonstrate this through the policies and programmes of the state government.

While pointing out the need for a 100-year development plan for the region, Governor Soludo also emphasized the need to drum up homeland consciousness and seek for the right partnerships from the rest of the country and the the international community to implement the plan.

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, on his part, noted that there was a time in the region when cohesion and vision were potential drivers of progress, wondering why such is no longer the case, saying that it is only when ndị Igbo reinvent their unique republican and entrepreneurial spirit, driven by the private sector that the region will begin to reclaim its pride of place.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah and the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Princess Patricia Onyemaechi-Obila, opined that the past leaders did well because of their commitment to their visions, adding that the development of the region is a collective obligation.

In a Keynote speech, the Director General, World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela who joined virtually agreed that ndị Igbo have been fragmented for a while, advocating for rebuilding the sense of common purpose and cohesion and asked government to increase the IGR, tone down borrowing and get the people to invest in the homestead.

Dr. Okonjo-Iwela suggested that a South East Investment Forum be convened to examine what is blocking investments in the region, take advantage of the Ìgbo diaspora, concentrate on digitally delivered services trade, build a digital backbone, and attract foreign investors while adding that the youth are to ready work but are in search of a truly dedicated leadership.

For the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Emmanuel Iwunayanwu and the Chairman of the South East Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, they are determined to engender programmes that will promote the region, asking the region to set its own overarching agenda and reset the Ìgbo agelong values of truth, compassionate living, patience, restraint, modesty, vigour, natural support, among others.

Earlier, the Chairman, Planning Committee of the Summit, Senator Chris Anyanwu said that the region which was known for industry and innovation is facing insecurity and other challenges which the Governors are making efforts to tackle while the Chairman of the Occasion, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim called for a re-engineering of the entrepreneurial system in the region, saying that the perpetual sit-at-home exercises have adversely affected the region in all facets.

By Flowerbud News

Sept 28, 2023

My attention has been drawn to a mischievous story by the Cable Newspaper claiming that I made approvals of over N11 billion after taking my pre-retirement leave. Nothing can be further from the truth. The entire story was sensationally written with mischief that took the ordinary events of my work out of context with the intent to tarnish my image.

First and foremost, I want to categorically state that after my exit as FIRS Executive Chairman, I made no such approvals as claimed in the report.

Fundamentally: It is important to note that no payment was made by the Service after the announcement of my pre-retirement leave as claimed by this story. An approval for payment in the Service is one step of a journey to payment. It is the custom that when a new Executive Chairman resumes office, he would review, validate and make final authorisation before any payments can be made.

It is important to note for the record that all decisions reached and extant liabilities/ commitments of the Service during my stay in office are contained in the handover notes I made available to my successor, Mr. Zacch Adedeji. He is fully briefed on everything. For clarity the items listed in the Cable Newspaper Report were part of the N16 billion outstanding commitments contained in our handover note.

The N5 billion paid to Joint Tax Board was paid to fund the activities of Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reforms two months before I left office. It was paid after we received a letter to that effect from the office of Mr. President signed by Zacch Adedeji himself.

The report maliciously attempts to portray a picture that I hurriedly left the country on September 16th after these so called “suspicious approvals” were made. Again, nothing can be further from the truth. If I traveled out of the country on the 16th of September, how then did I attend the handover ceremony with Mr. Zacch on the afternoon of Monday 18th September 2023? That handover ceremony was covered by the media, and can be cross-checked.

It is disappointing to see the Cable, a revered online newspaper attempt to sensationalise events that took place in the ordinary course of my work in office, making them seem as if they were done in bad faith.

I want to categorically state that every decision I made within the time of my stay in office was within the ambit of the law and within the lawful powers I exercised then as Executive Chairman.

I inherited only N1.4 billion in the purse of the FIRS when I assumed office. I left N129 billion in the purse of the Service when I left.

Muhammad Nami