GROUP CALLS ON OSINBAJO TO SACK SAGAY FOR NOT DECLARING ASSETS

A pro-democracy group, the National Committee of Yoruba Youths, has called on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to sack the chairman of PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay, for failure to declare his assets at the Code of Conduct Bureau in accordance with the law. 

In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, on Sunday in Abuja, the group stated that it has conducted a thorough but secret search at the CCB’s office and was convinced that Sagay evaded that constitutional responsibility on him to declare his assets.

It said: “The consequences of this illegality is for Professor Sagay to be sacked from office and be immediately prosecuted. “We therefore give the respected Acting President Yemi Osinbajo who is a Professor of Law and senior advocate to put a stop to this illegality within 48 hours.

“We also call on the CCB to within 72 hours commence the prosecution of the PACAC chairman at its tribunal.”

 The group further claimed that its investigation showed that Sagay’s circumvention of the law was known to the former board of the CCB headed by Sam Saba and that the board deliberately covered up the act of omission only for the facts to become known now that the CCB has no board. It said:

“We are surprised and disappointed to find out that Sagay continues to go to equity with soiled hands. He is the one who is loudest about the anti-corruption fight of the government, yet he does not deem it fit to be transparent by declaring his assets as demanded by law.

“He should in fact, go beyond the demand of the law by making public his assets and justifying how he acquired them. This will put him on a moral high ground to accuse others and pontificate on the fight against corruption.

“The Professor specialises in attacking everybody about corruption and need for transparency as well as using abusive words in spite of his advanced age, yet he refused to do the basic thing which would demonstrate his commitment to the fight.

“Sagay should walk his talk and stop being a hypocrite. With this our finding, he should be sacked and prosecuted.”

 The group went on to remind the Acting President that failure to sack and prosecute Sagay will be another testimony to the claim by some sections of the society that the fight against corruption by the Buhari administration is selective and a mere political game.

By ‘Kayode Omoyele

LOPSIDED REVENUE SHARING FORMULA, BANE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS--- IKPOKPO

The Chairman, Isoko South Local Government of Delta State, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, has blamed the insolvent condition of local governments across the country on disproportionate sharing formula for the nation's revenue.

He said the greatest challenge facing the third tier of government was the meagre 20 per cent share of federal allocation to the 776 local governments in Nigeria.

This, he noted, is grossly inadequate to meet the councils' first line charge, which is the payment of salaries, not to talk of provision of basic social amenities at the grassroots. 

Ikpokpo, who doubles as the Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Delta State, made the submission while reacting to the growing call for local government autonomy in the country.            

He differed slightly with advocates of autonomy, which he said could not achieve the desired results without adequate revenue adjustment and conscious constitutional amendment towards reducing the powers at the centre.              

He said that while he could not speak for other states, local governments in Delta are not under any form of undue influence from the state.

Ikpokpo added that the state government is also not involved in pilfering funds accruing to the local governments as might be the case elsewhere. 

The council boss described the "excessive, overloaded, overlapping and domineering posture of the Federal Government" in revenue allocation and function as the greatest threat to the third tier of government in the country. 

To justify its bogus 56 per cent share of the country's revenue, the Federal Government has taken over all aspects of governance and services, including rural health care, birth registration and markets, where it lacked the essential grasp and touch, Ikpokpo said.  

He wondered why a Minister in Abuja should be dictating where to site a primary health centre in a community or a Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) project in Isoko South. 

According to him, over 40 per cent of roads in the country are within local governments, yet they are referred to as federal or state roads. "Several core functions and internal revenue heads of the local governments have been hijacked by the overbearing Federal Government owing to its excessive powers and domineering attitude."They now collect monies for birth registration through the Nigeria Population Commission even in our rural health centres, leaving the local governments with collection of bicycle levies. 

"The question is, are people still riding bicycle?" Ikpokpo said. 

The Delta ALGON Chairman described as archaic and unsustainable an arrangement in which an entity takes a whopping 56 per cent revenue share and gives 776 constituent parts put together a paltry 20 per cent. 

This, he noted, explains the near collapse of all sectors of the economy.

Ikpokpo emphasised that until a conscious effort was made to rejig the local government system in areas of funding and functions, the nation's yearning for tap-rotted growth and development will remain a mirage. 

He, therefore, appealed to the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and all other stakeholders to join hands with ALGON in its call for urgent fiscal restructuring and devolution of the powers of the Federal Government as the only panacea for the continued existence of the local government system in the country.

EMPOWER OUR PEOPLE THROUGH VOCATIONAL TRAINING, SKILLS ACQUISITION, TAKE-OFF FUNDS.

...GOV OKOWA URGES ELECTED REPS, POLITICAL APPOINTEES, LGA CHAIRMEN.

Political office holders, elected representatives, Local Government Council Chairmen and Philanthropists in Delta State have been urged to henceforth adopt enduring and result oriented poverty alleviation strategies rather than mere provision of motor bikes and Keke for constituents and members of their various communities.

His Excellency the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa made the call while addressing participants at the maiden edition of Ika Economic Forum put together by Ika Village Square (IVS), a vibrant socioeconomic and political pressure group in Ika Nation.

Executive Assistant on Communication to Delta State Governor, Dr Fred Latimore  Oghenesivbe quoted Okowa as saying that in order to achieve a prosperous Delta; philanthropists, public office holders, local government council chairmen, political appointees, corporate citizens and other categories of persons partnering with government towards the attainment of a virile economy must adopt a paradigm shift from mere distribution of motor bikes and tri-cycles (Keke) to their constituents because of its temporary potency in poverty control and eradication in a recessed economy.

"Let me use the opportunity offered by  this unique summit to appeal to us that it is no longer the best option to distribute commercial motor bikes and keke to our people. Rather, our constituents needs long term economic benefits which can be made possible through vocational and specialised skills training and acquisition.

"Keke and motor bikes may either be stolen or sold, and in that case the benefliciary is back to zero level. It is therfore more reasonable to sponsor vocational training and skills acquisition for our youths and women and thereafter empower them further by providing start-up funds, equipment or tools needed so as to become self employed and in the same token to enable them employ and train others.

"Henceforth, I may not attend empowerment programmes where keke and commercial bikes are to be distributed.  We need to take positive and proactive steps in getting our people out of poverty and create an atmosphere of strong and virile economy that truly guarantees Prosperity For All Deltans, going forward.

"The ongoing Youth Agriculture and Skills Training Entrepreneurship Programmes  (YAGEP AND STEP) are deliberately tailored towards growing Delta State economy and to raise millions of young successful entrepreneurs who will in turn trend the progressive chain of socioeconomic boom in the state.

"It is therefore very important that our people must remain as the major focus of this administration and in that vein it is only long term self sustaining and progressive empowerment strategies and programmes that is good enough for the good people of Delta State. Distribution of Keke and commercial motor bikes may no longer conjure my attention, going forward."

Gov Okowa also used the occasion to advise parents to closely monitor the activities of their children and provide the much needed moral instructions as a candid and proactive measures to curb moral decadence especially cultism which, he identified, as a major problem in nation building in the 21st century.

He offered to be enlisted as a member of the prestigious Ika Village Square and urged the IVF executives to henceforth convey quarterly appraisal meetings to evaluate and implement socioeconomic programmes of the organisation and decisions reached at the Ika Economic Summit.

Participants and facilitators at the summit includes: Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Major-General Leo Irabor who spoke brilliantly on the role of effective security measures in a growing economy, Prof Eric Eboh, Chief Job Creation Officer in Delta State. 

Others are; the Secretary to Delta State Government, Hon Festus Ovie Agas,  Hon Commissioner for Economic Planing and that of Ministry of Information, Dr Kingsley Emu and Hon Patrick Ukah, Sir Tony Chucks Obuh, Principal Secretary to Governor of Delta State, Hilary Obi Ibegbulem, Representative of CBN Governor, Traditional Rulers, some members of Delta State Executive Council, Captains of Industry, Politicians and personal aides of the governor.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of OUTSTANDING SON OF IKA NATION LEADERSHIP AWARD to the Smart Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, by the Board of Trustees of Ika Village Square, a vibrant Socioeconomic group in Ika Nation.

Police: Boko Haram Bombs Borno Sunday, Continues Monday, Kills 16, Injures 13

By Ndubuisi Michaels

Sixteen persons, including 7 suicide bombers, were killed on Sallah day and Monday in Borno State as Boko Haram terrorists unleashed mayhem on parts of the state, including the capital, Maiduguri.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, Commissioner of Police, Borno State, Mr. Damian Chukwu, said: “Yesterday (Sunday) 25th June, 2017 at about 2221hrs. A male suicide bomber, gained entry into the premises of University of Maiduguri, and detonated PBIED on his body near the Rapid Response Services Office building.

Chukwu further said: “The suicide bomber died while three University security personnel on duty were injured.

“One of the injured security personnel, a female (whose identity was given as Becky Edubi), later died while being attended to at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.”

He added that: “In another development at about 2230hrs same night. Four female suicide bombers infiltrated Zannari community in Gwange general area of Jere local government area.

Two of the suicide bombers detonated PBIEDs on their bodies in two residential buildings.

The bombers died killing eight other persons while eleven (11) others were injured.

“The third bomber detonated killing himself alone. The fourth female suicide bomber, identity not known, who was arrested also died the same night as a result of injuries she sustained.”

The Police Commissioner also revealed that: “Yet in another development, today (Monday) at about 0408hrs. Two female suicide bombers detonated PBIEDs on their bodies within the premises of University of Maiduguri.

“One detonated close to the Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition Centre Complex killing herself with no other casualty.

“The other suicide bomber detonated behind Works Department complex also killing herself with no other casualty.”

He said: “EOD/SARS and patrol teams were mobilised to the scenes,” disclosing that: “The dead and injured were evacuated to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.”

He added that: “The EOD sanitized and rendered the various scenes and their neighbourhoods safe,” assuring members of the public that: “Normalcy has been restored.”

He said: “In all, 16 persons including the suicide bombers died in the multiple explosions while 13 persons were injured.”

The State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, had earlier on Sunday, before the attacks, appealed to the Nigerian military to intensify efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency that had ravaged the North East for long.

Shettima made the appeal while speaking at this year’s Eid el Fitr reception for members of the State Executive Council and other dignitaries at the Government House Maiduguri.

He said although the military had recorded tremendous successes against the insurgents, the recent spate of attacks in different parts of the state was worrisome.

“We have to commend President Muhammadu Buhari and the military for their efforts in fighting the Boko Haram insurgents.

“But in the last two weeks, we have had tremendous security challenges in Damboa, in Chibok, in Maiduguri and in all nooks and crannies of the state.

“We were literary attacked by the insurgents from different angles.

“Yes, we had recorded lots of successes before’’.
Shettima urged the military to strive hard and contain the recent wave of attacks by the insurgents.

“We witnessed lots of setbacks in a short while. All hands must be on deck for us to have lasting peace in this part of the world.

“It is not for us to take two steps forward and one step backwards, it is not for us to wake up to be reluctant to open our phones for fear of getting uncomplimentary stories about attacks in the state,’’ he said.

Global Christian News