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Top 10 stories of Thursday, August 3, 2017

  1. NIGER DELTANS INSIST ON FISCAL FEDERALISM, RESTRUCTURING

The Senate’s decision on devolution of powers, the land use act and restructuring seems not to be going down well with opinion leaders in the Niger Delta.

At a public lecture in Odi, Bayelsa state, National and State Assembly members restated their call on the Federal government to consider equity, and fairness in the constitution amendment process.

It was reported that both the federal and state lawmakers from Bayelsa that attended this public lecture in Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma Council Area of Bayelsa State are unhappy with the National Assembly’s position on the matter.

 

  1. LAGOS REBRANDS BUS CONDUCTORS, BEGIN WEARING OF UNIFORM

In an efforts to promote the Smart City Initiatives (SCI) of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led state government, Bus conductors in the state will from today start wearing uniform.

The National President of the Bus Conductors Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Comrade Israel Adeshola, stated that the Lagos State government has approved the association’s uniforms and badges with name tag and identification numbers for easy identification of registered conductors.

He said the use of badges on uniforms is to address criminal tendencies by some bus conductors, calling on Lagosians to support the initiative.

Adeshola, who said the conductor’s job was vital in the transportation sector, noted that the organization has embarked on sensitization and training of members since inception. He also said that the objective is to make conductor’s job attractive, respected and dignified as obtainable globally.

 

  1. BOKO HARAM WAR NOT YET OVER, BURATAI WARNS TROOP

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has admonished troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents in North-East Nigeria to remain steadfast and be more proactive.

The army boss gave the warning while addressing officers and men of the Nigeria Army at the 3 Division tactical headquarters in Damaturu, Yobe state.

Buratai commended the soldiers for the successes recorded so far in the fight against the insurgents but charged them to remain resolute as the war is not yet over.

He also asked the troops to work in harmony with other security operatives, noting that no meaningful progress would be made without their cooperation.

 

  1. YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE – FANI – KAYODE BLASTS OSINBAJO

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has insinuated that the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, is a hypocrite who preaches against hate speech yet indulges in it more than anyone else in Nigeria.

According to him, Osinbajo takes pleasure in vilifying members of the opposition by publicly branding them “looters” and demonizing them even before a court of law has pronounced them guilty of any wrongdoing.

In an open letter written to the Acting-President on Thursday, Fani-Kayode said:

“You have constantly condemned and warned against what you call “hate speech” in our nation yet you indulge in it more than anyone else.

“I say this because you constantly call others, particularly members of the opposition, “looters” and you take pleasure on demonising them before the world even before a court of law has pronounced them guilty of any wrongdoing.

“You also call them “plunderers”, “liars”, “clueless” and “destroyers”. If this is not hate speech then I really don’t know what is!”

 

  1. ALHAJI ALAKA ABAYOMI DENIES HAVING CONNECTION WITH GRUESOME MURDER IN IKORODU

Lagos businessman, Alaka Abayomi, arrested by the police for alleged involvement in the most recent attack by Badoo, the notorious cult group in Ikorodu, has outrightly denied confessing to the crime.

In a statement on Wednesday through his lawyer, 51-year-old Abayomi said he did not speak or write any statement to the police in relation to the cult group.

The business man was detained on 30 July after he was invited  to the Police Command Headquarters. He was released on Tuesday, Bartholomew Aguegbodo, his lawyer added.

Lagos State Police Command had disclosed that Mr. Abayomi, residing in Magodo, was apprehended sequel to intelligence reports that he was operating with the deadly group.

The police also included that Mr. Abayomi’s arrest resulted in the police raiding a shrine allegedly belonging to the cult group in the Agbowa area of Ikorodu on Monday.

 

  1. KOGI STATE SPEAKER, SET TO RESIGN FOR FEAR OF IMPEACHMENT

There are strong signs that the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Umar Ahmed Imam is prepared to tender his resignation letter today, Thursday.

This has been attributed to his fear of impeachment by some aggrieved lawmakers.

His intent to resign his position as Speaker is coming after the call for an emergency sitting due to the attack on the House by suspected thugs numbering about 100.

On Tuesday evening, the lawmaker had earlier issued a statement via the clerk of the House, Mr Tseja Sheidu.

In the statement, Imam said, “The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Umar Ahmed Imam, by the powers conferred on him under Rule 4(2) of the Standing Rules of the House, has directed that the Sitting of the House earlier disrupted today, Tuesday, the 1st day of August 2017 be now adjourned sine die pending improvement in situation in the House.

However, it was gathered that about eight legislators have signed the impeachment of the Speaker if he fails to resign, while others who refused were under serious threat to side with with the latest development.

 

  1. NIMC DISCLOSES AGE LIMIT FOR NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION CARD

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has disclosed the age limit for obtaining the National Identification Cards (NIC), saying minors below 16 years are not entitled to the card.

Mr. Loveday Ogbonna, the Head, Corporate Affairs of the commission, said on Wednesday in Abuja, that for any minor to be given the number, he or she must be accompanied by his or her parent or guardian, who must have obtained NIMC.

He also added that any minor applying for the card must tender birth certificate, school admission letter or any other relevant school documents like the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) identity card.

He said, “Relevant documents proving the minor’s identity should be provided by the parent or guardian at the enrollment centre.

“The applicant’s parent or guardian must also provides his or her initially issued NIC slip or verification.”

 

  1. NIGERIANS TO PAY TAX ON FLIGHT TICKETS, OTHER LUXURY GOODS – KEMI ADEOSUN

Nigeria’s minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, says the federal government has signed a policy that will compel tax payment for first class and business class air tickets alongside other luxury goods.

Fielding questions from Nigerians on Thursday morning, via Facebook, the minister was asked what her thoughts were on taxing first class tickets and luxury coaches, and she said, “I think yes”.

“We signed something yesterday on luxury goods – champagne, brandy, whiskey, wine, jewelry, high-end jewelry,” Adeosun said.

“We’ve signed something that will bill access charge on first class and business class tickets, we are just doing the final parts of the implementation and we also want to try and amend the tax payer book on high end cars, luxury cars.”

Adeosun goes on to assure Nigerians that the taxes will be channeled appropriately into turning Nigeria into what it used to be and even better, adding that it will help in improving the country’s public social infrastructure.

She also advocated better tax compliance by Nigerians, stressing this will lead to more infrastructural development in the country.

 

  1. SENATE THREATENS TO ARREST CEO OF GLO AND 15 OTHER FIRMS

The Senate has threatened to issue warrant for the arrest of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Glo Mobile and other companies that refused its invitation on alleged involvement in N30 trillion revenue probe.

The Senate gave the 16 companies who failed to appear before its committee a deadline of Thursday to honour the invitation or risk being arrested.

The CEOs of the other firms, including  British American Tobacco Company, CCEC Nigeria Ltd, Dana Group, African Wire and Allied Ltd, Admiral Overseas Nigeria Ltd and Aarti Steel Nigeria Ltd. were equally issued the warning.

The rest include Gagsel International, Fries Land Capina, Etco Nigeria Ltd, Encounter Ltd, Edic Chemicals &Allied Distributors Ltd, Don Climax Group, De United Foods.

Chairman of the Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, issued the warning at an investigative meeting with some of the firms on Wednesday in Abuja.

The head of the committee said the failure of the firms to honour the invitation was a disregard for the institution of the National Assembly and would not be tolerated.

 

  1. TENSION IN EFCC AS AGF MALAMI ORDERS MAGU TO FORWARD REPORTS ON HIGH PROFILE PLACES

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, is set to clash with Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

This is because the AGF has sent a letter to the agency demanding that it forward the outcome of investigations along with its recommendations to the AGF in high profile cases or complaints deemed “serious or complex”, as cited by law.

“The Honourable Attorney-General observes that the Commission has been in breach of the above cited provision of the Regulation for some time, hence this reminder to the Commission to ensure compliance going forward”, the letter said.

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