1,667 civil servants sacked by Kogi govt. for certificate forgery

The Kogi State government has sacked 1,667 civil servants for alleged certificate forgery.

Eight permanent secretaries were also retired as part of the civil service reforms.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Petra Akinti Onyegbule, said those affected had served for four years and above.

It reads: “In order to get the best replacement for the retired permanent secretaries, directors who have been in office for eight years and above, but are yet to attain the retirement age or maximum number of years in office, were allowed to write the exams to fill the position of permanent secretaries.

“The result of the exams, which held on December 12, 2017, and followed by interviews, is yet to be released. Until the result is out, we won’t be able to put a definite figure to the number of directors who will be affected by the compulsory leave.

“This move is in line with the government’s policy to ease the top heaviness of the service and correct a situation where the civil service lacks workers at the lower cadres while the top is heavy, leading to an inverted pyramid.

“The Kogi State government is carrying out reforms at different stages to reposition its civil service for effectiveness, efficiency and productivity.

“The screening, which began in 2016, has since ended, and the reversal of the inverted pyramid at the civil service is another phase of the much needed reforms meant to ensure the civil service plays its role as the engine room of government efficiently and effectively.

“In addition, 1,667 civil servants were dismissed for certificate forgery. This figure is expected to increase as more reports come in from institutions where enquiries for certificate verification have been sent to.

“Another 107 workers were dismissed for fraud.” - The Nation

60-year-old Woman docked over N2.3m fraud

A businesswoman, Christiana Oladipo, on Monday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos accused of defrauding a woman of N2.3 million.

Oladipo was arraigned before Magistrate O.J. Awope on charges of obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.

The accused, who resides at Ayobo area of Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to a bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Awope said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, had told the court the accused committed the offences sometime in November 2017 at Ayobo, Lagos.

Ayorinde said that the accused fraudulently obtained N2.3 million from the complainant, Mrs Titilayo Olanrewaju, on pretext of selling a Lexus jeep LR 330 to her.

“The accused, who claimed she was selling cars, showed the complainant some cars on her phone and the complainant made her choice.

“After negotiation, the complainant paid the money but the accused relocated to Ogun,” he said.

Ayorinde said that the accused was arrested through her son.

“The accused son was seen in a club, he was apprehended and that led to the arrest of the accused,” he said.

The case was adjourned to Jan. 29, for mention.

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 314 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretence.

Nigeria must be restructured - Balarabe Musa

Elder statesman and former governor of Old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari makes him sad because nothing has worked under his administration.

The former governor said this while fielding questions from Sun newspapers on situations and events that made him sad in the country last year.

He said, “One of them is the inability of this government to perform. Because everybody expected this government to make a difference but they have not. In some areas they are even making things worse.”

Speaking on the New Year speech of Buhari, the former governor insisted, “I am not impressed in any way. How can I be when the ordinary people in a country that produce petrol, cannot buy it at a reasonable price?
“As I am talking to you now in most parts of Nigeria, a litre of fuel sells for N200. Our economy, in the name of privatisation has deteriorated so much. Why has the situation become so bad? It is because of the foreign manipulations that want to hand the leading role of the economy to the private sector.

“Our economy was stable and progressive when we had the leading role of the state in the economy. Back then one dollar was sold at one naira. Presently, there is nothing to enable the government to control prices, corruption and unemployment.

“How can you expect the private sector to solve this problem? Whether we like it or not the role of the public sector must be strengthened. So that everybody must make public interest first and the enlightened self interest second. There is no other way round.”

Balarabe also maintained that the country must be restructured, adding that people talking against it were the ones stealing and stagnating the country.

He continued, “Those people that are talking against restructuring are the ones who are stealing public funds using the institutions we have today particularly the leading role of private sector.

“Look at the scandals in the oil industry, pension fund in everywhere. This stealing has been facilitated by the attempt to privatize everything and bring about minimal government input.

“That is the situation in which government can only just oversee key economic sectors.” - Daily Post

2019 election : Buhari’s return poses danger for Nigeria – ADP

The Action Democratic Party (ADP) says Nigeria is under serious risk if the All Progressive Congress (APC) government led by President Buhari returns to power in 2019.

ADP spokesman, Prince Adelaja Adeoye disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Sunday.

Adeoye added that the citizens should obtain their permanent voters cards to vote out the president in 2019 general election.

“The recently released report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) where over 10 million Nigerians have lost their jobs since 2015 is a deal breaker for a government that promised Nigerians 3 million jobs a year.

“We now have an unemployment rate of 18.7% even though some claim that it could be more the party said. This is just in less than 3 years of this APC government and is a clear pointer to the danger that a Buhari return poses. The impact of Buhari’s maladministration is terribly telling on the citizens,” Adelaja noted.

He said, “The extension of the tenure of service chiefs was the first in the unfolding of Buhari’s plans and the continuous retention of Aminat Zakari, his relative in INEC is another plot to rig the 2019 polls.”

The party, however, said it was battle ready to thwart all the plans of the president but requires the support of well meaning Nigerians.

Adelaja said that ADP was the only party with clean and formidable structures capable of defeating Buhari in 2019.

The party spokesman, however, urged Buhari “to heed warnings from notable Nigerians who have been prevailing on him not to seek reelection in 2019, as the same citizens who voted for him overwhelmingly in 2015 are now against him, that he should retire peacefully back to his country home in Daura.” - Daily Post

Sai Baba ! Sai failure !! Why Buhari should retire in 2019 - Archibishop Okogie

Olubunmi Okogie, Archbishop emeritus of the Catholic archdiocese of Lagos, says President Muhammadu Buhari should retire quietly come 2019.

Okogie said President Buhari has performed woefully and does not deserve to be re-elected.

There are indications that the president will seek re election in 2019.

Minister of communication, Adebayo Shittu after a closed-door meeting with Buhari told state house correspondents that the President’s ardent supporters would prevail on him to seek re-election.

Reports emerged that Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has been appointed as the director-general of Buhari campaign.

Okogie speaking with New Telegraph said it was an insult to Nigerians for the president to be talking about 2019 election despite challenges.

The archbishop further advised Buhari to respect himself and think of finding solutions to the problems confronting Nigerians than re election.

“What has he done in the years he had been in the saddle? He has performed woefully; that’s the verdict of Nigerians.

“Let the president respect himself and retire quietly. Coming out to talk of 2019 is insulting not only to those who voted him to power but to all Nigerians.

“There are so many problems confronting the people and he should be thinking of what to do about them. For second term, he must be a joker.

“That is all I can say for now because I don’t want to dignify them with a lengthy statement. It is not worth it.” Okogie said - Daily Post

‘Restructuring will foster peace, justice, development’ - CWI

The Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI) has joined other Nigerians calling for the restructuring of the country to foster peace, justice and development.

In his welcome address at the 5th National Conference and fund-raising for the creativity centre for the disabled persons, President of the CWI, Professor Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, said there was the urgent need for the nation to be structured “because the present political structure is faulty and lopsided, favouring one side of the country against other.”

He declared: “The national question remains unresolved staring the nation in the face and threatening the unity and oneness of the country. We need to revisit and rearrange the present set-up of the country”.

Atilade said the neglect of the physically disabled persons remains a spiritual challenge to the conscience of the nation.

“Let us give them a voice in governance and space in everyday life and living by making provision to accommodate their special and peculiar needs. We all must provide succour for the weak in our society,”Atilade said.

Professor Atilade, still on restructuring, said there must be fairness, equity and justice in the way Nigeria’s administration is being run, in terms of political appointments, distribution of national wealth and so on.

The CWI president also called on honest Christians to join politics in the interest of their children’s future. Christians’ involvement in politics and governance is an important part of the fulfilment of God’s purpose for the body of Christ, equipped with anointing for dominion and authority. The theme of the conference was “Resolving the National Question: Remembering the physically challenged persons.” It was held in conjunction with Cherish Victory and Jesus People Enabled Band.

Speakers at the conference included Elder Ayo Opadokun, social activist; and Mrs Irene Patrick Ogbogu, Executive Director, Disability Right Advocacy Centre, while Sir Debo Omotosho, Chairman, Bond Group, was the chairman of the event. - The Nation

Transfer updates : Man City ready £35m January bid for Sanchez

City are readying a £35 million bid for Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez amid interest from French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

The Daily Mail claims that City want to ensure they win the race to sign the Chilean by paying a premium for the player who will become a free agent at the end of the season.

An injury to Gabriel Jesus has seen City change their stance on the Chilean and they could look to push through a new over the next month, boosting their chances of competing on four fronts this season.

City were heavily linked with the player throughout the summer and saw a £60 million bid rejected by Arsene Wenger, who is desperate to keep the player at the club.

Arsenal are said to be ready to consider offers in the region of £35 million for the player who has scored eight times in all competitions for the Gunners this season.