Funke Akindele, Desmond Elliot, Others Shine As Nominees Of AMVCA

Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) is less than a month away and nominees of the prestigious and well-celebrated awards have since been announced to the delight of fans, who still have the opportunity to vote for their favourites.
The 1st edition, which held in 2013, had the likes of O.C Ukeje, Mercy Johnson, Tunde Kelani and other notable movie stars as winners of different award categories.
According to organisers, this year promises to be even more exciting as there are speculations as to which celebrities will win in the different categories.

Nominees List:


BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Stephanie Wilson – Living Funeral (3A)
Veronica Waceke – Higher Learning (3B)
Nse Ikpe-Etim – Journey To Self (3C)
Nkiru Sylvanus – Kiss And The Brides (3D)
Ivie Okujaye – The Volunteers (3E)


BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Juma Rajab Rashid – Siri Ya Mtungi (2A)
Majid Michel – Somewhere in Africa (2B)
Hlomla Dandala – Contract (2C)
Majid Michel – House of Gold (2D)
Tope Tedela – A Mile from Home (2E)


BEST MOVIE (DRAMA)
Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja (6A)
Edwin Maina Kariuki – Nairobi Half Life (6B)
Udoka Oyeka & Orode Ryan – Living Funeral (6C)
Frank Rajah Arase – The Price (6D)
Frank Rajah Arase – Groom’s Bride (6E)
Chris Eneaji &  Jumafor Ajogwu – Murder at Prime Suites (6F)


BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Hlomla Dandala – Contract (7A)
John Okafor – Return of Sheri Koko (7B)
Osita Iheme – The Hero (7C)
Osita Iheme – The Fighter (7D)
Chinedu Ikedieze – The Hero (7E)


BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Funke Akindele – The Fighter (8A)
Funke Akindele – The Hero (8B)
Funke Akindele – The Return Of Sheri Koko (8C)
Mary Ogbonna – Clinic Matters (8D)
Jackie Appiah – Cheaters (8E)
Yvonne Okoro – Contract (8F)


BEST MOVIE (COMEDY)
Uche Jumbo – Lies Men Tell (9A)
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro & Ken Attoh – Contract (9B)
Elvis Chucks – A Wish (9C)
Martins Onyebuchi Onyemaobi – The Fighter (9D)
Martins Onyebuchi Onyemaobi – The Hero (9E)

I Have Absolute Power To Suspend Central Bank Governor – Jonathan

The Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan says he has absolute power to suspend the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), addressing controversies tailing the suspension.
At a Presidential Media Chat held in Abuja on Monday, President Jonathan touched on some issues of national interest – the National Conference, suspension of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Kerosene subsidy, power stability and the insurgency in the north-east.
He pointed out that “Mr Sanusi is still the governor of the CBN”, explaining that the suspension was not an outright removal.

“The issue of suspension and removal are different. The CBN Act specifies that the two-third of the Senate will have to give approval to the ‘removal’ before it is implemented. They are not to give an approval before a suspension,” he said.
“Sanusi’s issue is that of financial auditing and we must allow the Financial Reporting Council to work and if Sanusi has no case to answer, when the investigations are over, he will not be prosecuted.”
The Nigerian president pointed out that “when dealing with the treasury of a country, you must be careful”, emphasising that no president will wake up and take a decision when the Central Bank is involved.
He reassured Nigerians and the international community that the suspension would not affect the leadership of the Central Bank.
Alleged Missing Money
Sanusi had accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of not remitting $20 billion to the Federation Account before he was suspending, a claim that some critics have linked to his suspension.
But Jonathan dismissed the claims, saying that investigations on the alleged missing money had started.
“Any amount missing must be investigated and recovered. Nobody is covering anybody or group of persons. We must look into it, even if its $1 that is missing, we must get it back. That amount of money will do a lot in giving Nigerians job and infrastructure they need,” President Jonathan said.
National Conference Begins March 10
The President also said that the National Conference would begin on March 10 after the inauguration of the chairman, deputy chairman and the secretary in March 3.
The modalities of the conference had specified that issues bordering on the disintegration of Nigeria are no go area and President Jonathan explained that the report submitted by the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference showed that only one person raised the issue of disintegration of the country during their tour of the six geo-political zones.
“The chairman, deputy chairman and the secretary of the National Conference will work out how the conference will be managed.
“Nobody wants disintegration of Nigeria to be the focus of the National Conference. The purpose of the National Conference is not for disintegration. Nigeria will not disintegrate.
“The conference is necessary to prepare the new administration with a mindset that Nigerians have chosen a way they want to go,” the President said.
He expressed optimism that the conference would engender a lot of changes, but stressed that the administration would not be affected by the outcome of the conference.
Kerosene Subsidy Removal
Sanusi also accused the NNPC of sustaining the subsidy on Kerosene even after late President Umaru Yar’Adua gave a directive to suspend it.
But President Jonathan, who was the vice president at that time, said that the subsidy was not removed.
“Somebody may have found a document forgotten in a file and begin to circulate it claiming that subsidy was removed,” he said.

The world reacts to Sanusi’s suspension

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan suspended respected central bank governor Lamido Sanusi on Thursday.

                                

Nigerian central bank governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

This was a shock decision that caused the naira to fall more than 1 percent against the dollar.
Sanusi, who was due to end his term in June, had been an increasingly outspoken critic of Jonathan's government and its record on tackling endemic corruption in Africa's biggest oil producer.
Following are analysts' reactions:  
ANGUS DOWNIE, HEAD OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH, ECOBANK
"Sanusi did a fantastic job as governor and it will be very difficult to find someone that can continue his line of effort in restructuring the banking sector and strengthening monetary policy to the next phase.
"He was due to step down in June but when something unexpected like this happens it does raise concerns about what is happening with the direction of policy in Nigeria.
"The immediate reaction to Sanusi's dismissal is a knee jerk reaction. This immediate fall in the naira would be expected in any emerging market or frontier market. Fundamentally there's no reason for the naira to fall further.
"You've got a very safe pair of hands that are taking over in the immediate period, Sarah Alade. In terms of the economic policy agenda, that's her remit. She's the deputy governor responsible for economic policy."  
ALAN CAMERON, ECONOMIST AT NIGERIAN STOCKBROKER CSL
"It's not so much what it does to the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria), which we believe had a strong institutional foundation and skilled leaders, but what it says about the Presidency itself.
"If the Jonathan administration is willing to discard a safe pair of hands at a time when the currency is being tested anyway, it shows more political motivation than economic awareness.
"Speaking from the perspective of international investors, this is likely to go down badly."
MELISSA VERREYNE, ECONOMIST, NKC ECONOMISTS IN CAPE TOWN
"This is very worring for the central bank's independence, and creates uncertainty about the future monetary policy direction.
"The strange allegations made against Mr Sanusi, and the fact that the government was not content with simply letting his term expire, appear to be aimed at sending a warning to outspoken central bank officials.
"The ability of the central bank to criticise fiscal policy and the remittance of oil revenue is important, as it improves the accountability of the public sector.
"Any reversal of this will jeopardise the central bank's ability to maintain price and exchange rate stability, due to the pressure on foreign exchange reserves caused by corruption and government withdrawals."      
YVONNE MHANGO, AFRICA ANALYST, RENCAP
"His suspension does raise concern among investors about the ability to sustain the naira at present levels. We will see more pressure on the currency between now and June, and more weakness than we had anticipated prior to this news.
"You're going to get a much more conservative CBN governor.
The impression from the statement is that he (Jonathan) thought the governor had gone above and beyond his mandate. It suggests that whoever he selects going forward will toe the line and be more conservative."  
RAZIA KHAN, HEAD OF AFRICA RESEARCH, STANDARD CHARTERED
"The nature of the suspension will come as a significant shock to foreign portfolio investors, whose willingness to invest in Nigeria was very much influenced by the transparency and anti-inflation credibility associated with Sanusi's policies.
"This will be a significant negative for the Nigerian naira and Nigerian financial markets. Investors will pay attention to whichever successor is announced, but this is unlikely to sit comfortably."
SAMIR GADIO, EMERGING MARKET STRATEGIST, STANDARD BANK
"This is a disruptive move which indicates that the CBN has de facto lost much of its independence.
"Clearly it is driven by political motives given Sanusi's vocal criticism of oil revenue leakages and the opaque fiscal system in Nigeria.
"If anything, this development will compound upside risks to USD/NGN by precipitating the foreign exit and a negative domestic positioning against the naira.
"Foreign investors are likely to be active sellers of Nigerian assets in coming days subject to market liquidity constraints."

TOKE MAKINWA IS FAKE FROM HEAD TO TOE- Nanya Diali

TOKE MAKINWA IS FAKE FROM HEAD TO TOE- Nanya Diali

 They say, dont throw stones if you live in a glass house but apparently Toke Makinwa Ayida doesnt apply this wise word.

She is an OAP that anchors 'The morning drive' show on Rythm 93.7 FM and all she does is constantly attack her cohost, Nanya Diali calling him names and swearing never to date his type.

This morning on the show, as usual, Toke was first to attack Nanya saying the polo shirt he is wearing is fake, but trust the igbo presenter, he threw it back at her and says, his shirt maybe fake but Toke is actually fake from head to toe. *holds laugh*

A shocked Toke asked Nanya to expantiate on the aspect of her that is fake, and trust Nanya not to mince words. His words "If you remove the weaves, the fake eye lashes, the makeup, the push up bra and especially the bleached skin, people will run. You have no single natural beauty. You are totally fake!"

Haba, kilagbe kileju uncle Nanya. OmG! I am still laughing o.Whatttttt happeeeennnnnnn!!!

Nigerian president sacks ministers....

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday sacked four cabinet members including aviation minister Stella Oduah,

a close ally, a presidency source said, in the latest of a wave of government changes ahead of elections next year.
He also removed minister of police affairs Caleb Olubolade,

minister of the Niger Delta Godsday Orubebe

 and deputy  finance minister Yerima Ngama,

 the
Jonathan is facing a crisis within his ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) over his assumed intention to run for another term in the 2015 election. He has yet to say whether he will.
Jonathan dismissed his chief of staff on Monday, after overhauling his military high command last month.
He has been defending his record on corruption this week after a series of graft allegations in recent months.
Oduah stirred public outcry last year after her ministry spent $1.4 million on two bullet-proof limousines, far more than their market value. Opponents have been calling on Jonathan to remove her.

LAGOS HOMS: SET RULES BY FASHOLA

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Monday said the newly launched Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) would remain open to review and suggestions from stakeholders until all the challenges that may arise as it goes public are resolved adding that it is the only way to get the best out of the scheme for the good of the people.

 

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House Ikeja venue of the flag-off ceremony of the Scheme noted that although a lot of time was spent in preparation for the launch of the scheme to the public, not all the challenges that could possibly arise in the real world were foreseen and dealt with at that “laboratory” stage adding that as members of the public get involved unforeseen challenges would surely arise.

 

“We have spent a long time trying to see the import of all of the things that can possibly happen.  Now we are ready to hit the real world in which all sorts of things will happen. Some we have foreseen and we are trying to prepare to deal with, we may find out that our preparations are not enough and therefore we need to do more”, the Governor said.

 

According to him, “Some of the challenges we had anticipated and answered in the frequently asked questions but some we have not and that is why I said in my speech that we remain open to reviews, to suggestions and so on and so forth”.

 

He, however, maintained that rules guiding the new scheme would be strictly enforced advising prospective home owners under the scheme to embrace insurance to secure the ability to pay their mortgages.

 

Listing such rules as prompt payment of mortgage and adherence to arbitration as only means of resolution of conflicts arising from the scheme, the Governor told the capacity audience comprising captains of industry, property developers and other stakeholders in the Housing Sector as well as Media Executives that any inability or unacceptable delay in payment of mortgage would mean repossession of the house by the Government.

 

“For us therefore, late payment should not be the rule because it endangers sustainability. If those who were paying taxes were delaying, you won’t have any houses to give out”, he said adding, however, that whether there would be penalty or not would be a matter of the banking relationship with the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) who will be the managers of the Mortgage account.  

 

According to him, “That is why the office of the Lagos Mortgage Board is going to be in the same building with the LBIC so that as an applicant, you don’t have to submit your form here and go to another place to pay, everything relating to this transaction will be in one building”.

 

On arbitration as the only means of resolving conflicts arising from the scheme, the Governor reiterated that it is embedded in the agreement between the home owner and the Government that he would not go to court and that the decision of the arbitration panel was final.

 

“Arbitration as the only means of resolution, yes because arbitration is an agreement itself and we have worked that into the system so if you don’t want to go into arbitration when there is dispute about this property, don’t even apply”, the Governor said.

 

He maintained that arbitration is part of the agreement and a condition for owning a home under the scheme adding that when the owner submits to arbitration by international best practice, the outcome, the decision is final unless there is misconduct which, according to him, may require an appeal.

 

“But that is not the purpose of arbitration. It is to find a less contentious, more dispute-resolving atmosphere. So really and truly electing to come into this scheme precludes you from going to court because you have signed a contract with us that you will use arbitration”, he said.

 

Governor Fashola said Government was not going to impose any insurance on prospective home owners adding, however, that Government still expect  that they would patronize LASACO which, according to him, is an outfit in which the State has   some interest.

 

“But as the market expands LASACO itself will know that in the insurance business it cannot carry all the risk alone and, therefore it will share the risk and so on and so forth so that things can happen”, he said.

 

In terms of whether Government should make Mortgage protection insurance compulsory like the Property Insurance, Governor Fashola said, “I think we should leave it optional so that people will be able to choose that if they can really predict that their income will not fall into difficulty then, it depends on how they plan their affair”.

 

“But if you want to secure the ability to pay your mortgage you can take an insurance against that. That is what insurance business is for. It is the level of risk you are ready to take in defaulting that you will consider knowing that if you default you will lose to other people. Our own is to get payment promptly or repossess the house”, he said.

 

On whether one could increase one’s mortgage payment if one’s income increases within the ten year period, he said Government was trying to do what is global best practice to keep the amount at a level that would enable the mortgagor meet other obligations.

 

“The whole idea is that we should not spend half or three quarters of your income for keeping shelter over your head because we know you have obligations to your children, to your wife and even to yourself and other dependants so that if people whose income can only afford two bedroom flat go for three bedroom flat you see that the risk becomes higher”.

 

Describing the choice by owners as “a lifestyle issue”, the Governor declared, “We expect that if you are in here with us you are in here for ten years no matter how rich you may have become. So we expect that you stay with us so that this desperation to acquire money which pushes people to cut corners will go away. As we go on the Board will advise us if we should allow any exit but for now the answer is no”.

 opinionvoices.blogspot.com

Asari Dokubo released by SSS.

The President of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has been released by the Department of State Security Services, SSS.

He was invited to the SSS headquarters on Thursday morning for repeatedly making inciting comments.

His personal assistant (Media), Rex Asari, confirmed the release to OPINIONVOICES.

“Yes, he was released. We are heading home now,” Mr. Asari said.

Mr. Dokubo-Asari was quoted in several media reports on Tuesday as saying that he would make Nigeria ungovernable if President Goodluck Jonathan was not re-elected in 2015. He also asked the major political parties not to field non- South South candidates.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, and an Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, had asked the SSS to arrest and question Mr. Dokubo-Asari over the statements.

More details later…

Read our earlier story below:

Less than 24 hours after a group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, called on security agents to arrest and caution the President of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, for repeatedly making inciting comments, the Department of State Security, DSSS, has heeded the call.

Mr. Dokubo-Asari was Thursday summoned to the DSS headquarters in Abuja, where he is being interrogated for comments believed to be capable of breaching the fragile peace the country currently enjoys.

The spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, was not available for comments. She did not answer or return calls.

But Mr. Dokubo-Asari younger brother, Rex Asari, who also doubles as his personal assistant on media, said the Niger Delta activist is currently being interrogated by operatives.

“It is true,” the younger Asari said in response to our reporter’s enquiry at about 12.30 p.m Thursday. “He is being interogated as we speak.”

Mr. Dokubo-Asari was quoted to have said on Tuesday that he would make Nigeria ungovernable unless President Jonathan secures a second term ticket in the 2015 presidential election.

He also reportedly asked politicians from the North to steer clear of the presidency.

Nigeria will start exporting cars soon —Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday expressed the belief that with the measures put in place by his administration, especially the new National Automotive Industry Policy; the country would soon be exporting cars to other countries.

 

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday expressed the belief that with the measures put in place by his administration, especially the new National Automotive Industry Policy; the country would soon be exporting cars to other countries.

Jonathan spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while granting audience to a delegation of the business community from Anambra State led by Governor Peter Obi.

In responding to an address by the delegation, the President said, “I will refer all the issues you raised to the various departments of government. We are totally committed to creating jobs. Nigeria is a country with huge population of youths. If jobs are not created, there will be crisis. The housing, agriculture and power sectors are also receiving attention.

“In the next few years, Nigeria will begin to export cars to other countries. We are encouraging the government to support local manufacturers.”

Jonathan promised that the industrialists’ basic needs such as roads, power and port facilities would be addressed appropriately.

He said if Nigeria must become great as expected by all, the Federal Government must industrialise the nation.

To this end, he said his administration would continue to encourage industrialists in the country.

“If any country will be great, we must industrialise. If Nigeria must be a great country, we must industrialise. To this end, we will continue to encourage industrialists in Anambra,” the President added.

He said his government was also devoting attention and resources to the power sector because of its critical role in industrialisation.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo told the delegation that Jonathan had recently approved $3.7bn to improve power transmission across the country.

Obi had earlier told the President that the enterprising and preserving nature of Anambra people made them well-positioned to assist Jonathan to achieve his administration’s transformation agenda.

While declaring the support of the people of the state for Jonathan, Obi said, “You have excess credit in your political account that these people (members of the delegation) are ready to pay you when you need it.”

The governor said he led the delegation to express their support for the President and bring to his attention some of the industrialists’ collective, which if addressed, would help in anchoring the growth and development of industry in the state.

Some of the needs, according to him, are the completion of the 330/132/33KV power substation at Nnewi; provision of uninterrupted power supply in the Onitsha Harbour Industrial Area and Ozubulu Industrial Hub; completion of the Nnamdi Azikwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi; and the inclusion of Anambra State in the rail master plan.

Obi also made a case for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of federal roads within the state such as the Oba-Nnewi-Okigwe Section 1, Nnewi-Okija, start of Onitsha Second Niger Bridge, completion of the Onitsha-Enugu dual carriageway and completion of the Umueze-Anam Kogi road.

The governor also thanked the President for the inclusion of Nnewi in the National Automotive Industry Policy of the Federal Government.

This, he said, would attract many ancillary industries, especially with the coming on stream of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, adding that the local content in vehicle manufacturing in no time would increase from 40 per cent to 60 per cent.

Jonathan spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while granting audience to a delegation of the business community from Anambra State led by Governor Peter Obi.

In responding to an address by the delegation, the President said, “I will refer all the issues you raised to the various departments of government. We are totally committed to creating jobs. Nigeria is a country with huge population of youths. If jobs are not created, there will be crisis. The housing, agriculture and power sectors are also receiving attention.

“In the next few years, Nigeria will begin to export cars to other countries. We are encouraging the government to support local manufacturers.”

Jonathan promised that the industrialists’ basic needs such as roads, power and port facilities would be addressed appropriately.

He said if Nigeria must become great as expected by all, the Federal Government must industrialise the nation.

To this end, he said his administration would continue to encourage industrialists in the country.

“If any country will be great, we must industrialise. If Nigeria must be a great country, we must industrialise. To this end, we will continue to encourage industrialists in Anambra,” the President added.

He said his government was also devoting attention and resources to the power sector because of its critical role in industrialisation.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo told the delegation that Jonathan had recently approved $3.7bn to improve power transmission across the country.

Obi had earlier told the President that the enterprising and preserving nature of Anambra people made them well-positioned to assist Jonathan to achieve his administration’s transformation agenda.

While declaring the support of the people of the state for Jonathan, Obi said, “You have excess credit in your political account that these people (members of the delegation) are ready to pay you when you need it.”

The governor said he led the delegation to express their support for the President and bring to his attention some of the industrialists’ collective, which if addressed, would help in anchoring the growth and development of industry in the state.

Some of the needs, according to him, are the completion of the 330/132/33KV power substation at Nnewi; provision of uninterrupted power supply in the Onitsha Harbour Industrial Area and Ozubulu Industrial Hub; completion of the Nnamdi Azikwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi; and the inclusion of Anambra State in the rail master plan.

Obi also made a case for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of federal roads within the state such as the Oba-Nnewi-Okigwe Section 1, Nnewi-Okija, start of Onitsha Second Niger Bridge, completion of the Onitsha-Enugu dual carriageway and completion of the Umueze-Anam Kogi road.

The governor also thanked the President for the inclusion of Nnewi in the National Automotive Industry Policy of the Federal Government.

This, he said, would attract many ancillary industries, especially with the coming on stream of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, adding that the local content in vehicle manufacturing in no time would increase from 40 per cent to 60 per cent.

KEDC to take delivery of 40,000 prepaid meters from World Bank

The Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company will take delivery of 40,000 prepaid metres from the World Bank in February, the company’s Managing Director, Malam Mohammed Idris, has said.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Kaduna that the prepaid meters would solve the current dearth of the equipment in the state.
Idris said the company had marked the areas that the new meters would be installed.
The managing director said that the debt profile of the company stood at N40 billion.
He, however, added that the company had introduced new measures that would enable customers to pay their electricity bills promptly.
He added that “we have introduced new metering programme and we are confident that it is accepted by customers.

“The National Electricity Regulatory Commission said if you have money and want a meter but cannot wait for the free meters from government, you can pay to accredited vendors, approved by the commission.
“Some electricity consumers who keyed into this arrangement will get their meters installed in five weeks.
“We are glad that the arrangement is working and we have recorded successes.’’

We won’t allow politicians use us for violence – NURTW

The National Union of Road Transport Workers in Ogun State on Monday said it was not involved in the recent spate of violence between rival members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.

The union further denied an allegation that the chapter had instructed its members to disrupt any political gathering perceived to be against the interest of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

The NURTW cautioned Senator Gbenga Kaka not to drag the union into the crisis rocking the APC.

The NURTW State Secretary, Sunday Yeye, who stated this at a news conference in Abeokuta, debunked the claims made by Kaka in some national dailies that the union had a hand in the violence unleashed recently on supporters at the party state secretariat, Abeokuta.

 

 

 

“It is a lie. We did not instruct our members to go against those who are anti-Amosun. It is a false allegation,” he said.

The Ogun NURTW secretary flanked by the state Chairman, Alhaji Akeem Adeosun, the state Vice Chairman, AlhajiAbiodun Akeem; and other union officials argued that nobody appeared at the venue of the violence in the name of the union or carried any banner that reflected the NURTW’s on the day of the violence.

Yeye however noted that the union’s constitution allowed its members the freedom to belong to any political party of their choice.

He stressed that members of the union, whom he described as professional drivers, were not thugs and should not be linked to any political violence.

Lagos Assembly bans smoking in public places

The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to ban smoking in public places. The bill, which was passed on Monday, has been sent to the executive arm of the government for the governor’s ascent.

The bill, which scaled through the third reading, prohibits anybody smoking in all public places

$10.8bn ‘missing’ money spent by Nigerians –NNPC

In its bid to further defend how it spent the allegedly missing $10.8bn, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Monday stated that the fund was not missing but was used by Nigerians.
Specifically, the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, declared that if the fund was missing, then it was missing in the pockets of Nigerians.

In what seemed to be a reply to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the NNPC boss stated that the corporation had persistently filed-in its claims to the Federation Account monthly.
While explaining how the fund was spent, Yakubu said, “The $10.8bn is not a missing money; if it is missing, (then) is missing to the pockets of the beneficiaries who are you and me.”
Okonjo-Iweala had stated that the NNPC would provide evidence to show that the fund was judiciously spent.
“If the money was spent on operational cost, let us see evidence that it was spent in an authorised way. And if not, let the amount be remitted to the Federation Account,” she had said.
According to Yakubu, the biggest chunk of the $10.8bn was the subsidy incurred on petrol and kerosene.
He said, “This is part of NNPC’s quarterly allocation which it is to provide to the country, especially for petrol. NNPC is the only importer and producer of kerosene in Nigeria. The corporation brings in kerosene and sells at less than N50 at designated depots and the landing cost of this is over N150.
“Now we compute these numbers on monthly basis and that amount plus the subsidy on PMS, which we all know, amounts to about 80 per cent of this $10.8bn that we are talking about.
“So what we do is to account for it and they are unrealisable flows, and are unrealisable because they have subsidies and we do not have control over the prices, but we are asked to account for the crude at international crude oil price.”

Fashola redeploys 7 permanent secretaries

 Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has approved the redeployment of 11 permanent secretaries in the state's public service.

The redeployment was contained in a statement signed by the Head of Service, Oluseyi Williams, in Ikeja on Thursday.

Olalekan Ogunbanwo was moved from the Lagos Television/Radio Services to Parastatals Monitoring Office, while Adekunle Ajanaku, formerly of the Deputy Governor's Office, is to take over from Ogunbanwo.

According to the statement, Paul Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins of Ministry of Works takes charge at Office of Infrastructure.

Nurudeen Adeyinka Ojora-Adejiyan moved from Local Government Service Commission to Teachers’ Establishment and Pensions Office, while Ashamu Fadipe of the Ministry of Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, is to serve at the Local Government Service Commission.

Olufunmilayo Balogun of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture is to take over at the Ministry of Tourism, Omotayo Olabenjo, formerly of the Civil Service Commission, takes charge at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture.  

Four newly appointed permanent secretaries were given portfolios as follows -- Jokotola Ojosipe-Ogundimu (Civil Service Commission), Michael Dawodu (Deputy Governor’s Office), Olujimi Hotonu (Works) and Oluwatoyin Adegbuji-Onikoyi (Ministry of Finance). 

In the same vein, three newly appointed tutors-general/permanent secretaries were also deployed  - Florence Ogunfidodo (Education District I2), Margaret Titilayo Solarin (Education District II) and Yinka Olaniyi (Education District III).

The statement added that the postings would take effect on January 20.