STATE OF THE NATION

*_Please endeavour to read this very interesting piece!_*

I have been following closely the activities of this government and whenever I have the opportunity, I try to find out the opinions of people as regards the performance of this government.

I just realized that the hardship faced by many Nigerians is simply as a result of the fact that almost everyone of us benefited from the cycle of corruption.

The bricklayer, plumber, laborers, tiler are all complaining because building construction has slowed down massively cause the thieves no longer have money to spend on real estate.

The car dealers are grumbling because their cars are begging for buyers. Thieves can no longer spend wastefully.

The private school owners are shouting because parents can no longer pay outrageous sums and are withdrawing their wards.

I was shocked when I learn that in a popular private University in Abuja, parents are writing undertaking at the account section for their children to be allowed to write exams... and it goes on and on.

The fact is, a lot of people are returning to what someone referred to as ''default mode''.

We mostly have been living above our REAL MEANS.

We have been staying in houses that ordinarily our incomes can't afford.

Our children going to schools we can't afford. Driving cars we ordinarily can't maintain.

We have been living a FAKE LIFE all along. Now the reality is before us and we don't want to accept it.

This shows how morally bankrupt we are.

You can't eat your Cake and have it. Take Note..."GOD HELP AND BLESS NIGERIA"

You got billions from bank without collateral using your political influence. You put half into your business and spent the other half on exotic cars, jeweleries, etc.

Your business employs 100 people normally. You get illegal waivers and concessions to import raw materials at rock bottom prices, you get over-inflated contract to supply government some goods your company produce....in short your company is kept afloat by corruption.

Now the new SHERIFF in town says:

no more ridiculous waivers,
no more inflated contracts, no more bank loans without collateral, in fact its time you or your company pay off the billions of debt owed.....

AMCON takes over your company, staff are laid off......And you go on air and say the new sheriff is killing business and causing unemployment..

The truth is....you and your company were never in business, you were only feeding off the system.

Too many companies and banks are funded by corruption. Remove corruption from the system and they collapse.......and we end up blaming the person that removes corruption for the collapse of the corruptly run fake company.

Its like our system and corruption are so interwoven and inseparable that removing one will kill the other.

Maybe we should tolerate and learn to live with corruption so that Nigeria can survive?

Recession: What recession? If you think Nigeria is broke, then you are living in another planet. Now, please read the information below and tell me why Nigerians crying of hardship are comfortable with the bold looting of their collective wealth by the politicians.

A SELF DECEIVING COUNTRY CALLED NIGERIA

Twenty-one senators currently receiving pensions from government as ex-governors and deputy governors.

The current senators who once served as governors are Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Kabiru Gaya of Kano, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Theodore Orji of Abia, Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa, Sam Egwu of Ebonyi, Shaaba Lafiagi of Kwara, Joshua Dariye of Plateau Jonah Jang of Plateau, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Ahmed Sani Yarima of Zamfara, Danjuma Goje of Gombe, Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe, Adamu Aliero of Kebbi, George Akume of Benue and Isiaka Adeleke of Osun.

The  former deputy governors in the Senate are Ms Biodun Olujimi of Ekiti and Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe of Abia. Danladi Abubakar Sani served as the acting governor of Taraba state.

Many former governors are also in Buhari's Cabinet as Ministers. This includes: Ngige, Fayemi, Amaechi and Fashola (SAN).).

In Akwa Ibom State, the law provides that ex governors and deputy governors receive pension equivalent to the salaries of the incumbent. The package also includes a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5 million for his deputy governor.

In Rivers, the law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for the ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for the former governor “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years and two cars for the deputy every four years.

It is alledged that in Lagos, a former governor will get two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja, estimated at N500 million in Lagos and N700 million in Abuja. He also receives six new cars to be replaced every three years; a furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid every two years, and a N30 million pension annually for life.

This is the reality for all the 21 ex govenors and deputy governors who are currently serving as senators. This same is also true of ex governors who are now serving as Ministers.

NOW I ASK:
How many years did these guys serve their states as governors and deputy governors? Is it more than 8years? Is that a reason to be entitled to pensions for life? Even if they are entitled to pension for life, must it be so outrageous?

As if that is not enough: HOW on earth can any public servant with conscience collect salaries and allowances as a senator or minister, and still have the audacity to claim pensions equivalent to the salaries of a serving governor in Nigeria?

IT ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE......

Once you are elected a senator or appointed a minister, you must forfeit any pension accruing to you from government at any level until you vacate office. This should also apply to senators collecting military pensions like former Senate President David Mark.

Yet these senators are in the Senate that is inviting the current finance minister to discuss the recession of Nigeria's economy. A senator pockets approximately 30 million naira monthly as salary and allowances. Our "honourables" are not interested to make laws that could restructure our country into economically autonomous federating States/Regions to save the country from sectional agitations that is threatening  to destroy Nigeria. The sad and hopeless situation is that the rest of Nigerians are busy arguing based on party, ethnic and affiliations while these enemies of state continue to rape us.

Do you know that it costs tax payers 290m Naira yearly to maintain each member of our National Assembly in a country where nothing works & 80% of population earn below 300 Naira a day ? A working day earning of a senator is more than a yearly income of a doctor; it's more than the salary of 42 Army generals or 48 professors or 70 commissioners of police or more than twice the pay of the US President or 9 times the salary of US congressmen.

It's high time the country had a referendum on those outrageous salaries of Senators, House of Representative members and other political office holders.

*If you are seriously against the looting of our commonwealth in Nigeria, in the name of democracy, you can let this piece go viral by sharing it with as many of your contacts and groups too!*

Written by anonymous

Senate steps down 2016 FIRS budget

Nigeria’s Senate on Thursday stepped down report of its Committee on Finance on the 2016 budget of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The proposal was rejected after careful consideration of recommendations of the committee on Finance headed by Senator John Enoh representing Cross River Central and was giving a week to properly tidy up a number of issues raised.

Senate had referred the request of President Muhammadu Buhari on the budget of the FIRS to its committee on finance in July.

More than three months afterwards, Thursday, the report of the committee was presented by Mr. Enoh, accused of having his child as one of the new staff illegally recruited by FIRS.

But the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and few other senators raised concerns about the report, saying they discovered loopholes and “fake” items.

Mohammed Hassan (PDP-Yobe) emphasised the need for the Senate to get full details of items in the budget.

“The descriptions of some of the items on the budget are fake,” said Mr. Hassan dismissively.

Bassey Akpan (PDP-Akwa Ibom) also questioned the “drastic” increment in the proposed expenditure of the FIRS on personnel.

During a budget defence session in April, Mr. Enoh’s committee had queried the FIRS Chairman, Babatunde Fowler, for proposing N16 billion for salaries of 1,250 staff it planned to recruit then; N1.6 billion for retired staff; and N700 million for staff medicals.

Fani-Kayode arraigned again in Abuja for money laundering

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode was Thursday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count of money laundering.

The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016, which has Femi Fani Kayode as the sole defendant, was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fani-Kayode was alleged to have received through his police aid, one Victor Ehiabhi, the cash sum of N26million paid to him by the former Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, Shuaibu Salisu on the instruction of the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

Ehiabhi and Salisu had through written statements, admitted paying the money to Fani-Kayode in cash.

The prosecution said Fani-Kayode handled the cash without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act.

Fani-Kayode, who was the Director of Media and Publicity in the campaign organisation of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is already standing trial on a 17-count charge of money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

He is being tried in Lagos with a former Finance Minister, Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.

They are charged with unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money to the tune of N4.9 billion on the defendants.

When the five-count charge was read to Fani-Kayode yesterday before the Federal High Court, Abuja, he pleaded not guilty.

Following his not guilty plea, prosecution lawyer, Johnson Ojogbane, asked the court for a date to commence trial.

Defence lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) informed the court about the bail application he filed for his client.

Upon the court’s permission, Adedipe moved the application and urged the court to grant his client bail.

He said by the fact the offence for which the defendant is charged, it is bailable. He said Fani-Kayode has been in EFCC’s custody for 21 days.

“My Lord, I will also like to draw your attention to the fact that the defendant is facing trial before Justice M. S. Hassan in Lagos and he has granted him bail.

“We hereby urge the court to grant the accused bail on self-recognition as he has twice served as a Minister to the Federal Republic of Nigeria or in the alternative, grant him bail on liberal terms that will enable him attend his trial”, he prayed.

Ojogbane, while responding, relied  on Section 35 (1)(c) and 35 (4)(a) of the Constitution in arguing that  “although the defendant has been in custody for 21 days, we are still within the ambits of the law as the arrest and detention was done for the sole purpose of bringing the defendant to court.

“I therefore urge the court to excise its discretion judiciously and judicially in granting the accused bail,” Ojogbane said.

Trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, in his ruling, admitted the defendant to bail at  N50million and one surety in like sum.

The judge said the surety must be a resident of the FCT and must have a landed property within the FCT.

He ordered that Fani-Kayode be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

Justice Tsoho adjourned to December 14, 2016 for trial.

The charge reads:

Court one

That you Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on or about the day of 24 November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court directly took possession or control of the sum of N26,000,000.00 (twenty six million) paid through one Victor Ehiabhi by one Salisu Shuaibu, who was then the Director of Finance and Administration on the instruction of Col. Mohammed Dasuki Former National Security Adviser purporting the money to be payment for contract when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed of the proceeds of an part unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and Shuaibu Salisu (to wit: criminal breach of trust and corrupt and thereby committed an offence to Section 15(2), (d) of the contrary Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 158 of the same Act.

Count two

That you chief Femi Fani-Kayode or about the 24th day of on November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court directly converted the sum of N26,000,000:00 (twenty six million naira only which was paid to you in cash sum from the office of the National security Adviser(ONSA) purporting same to be payment for media campaign for the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Office of the President when reasonably ought to have known that the said funds you formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity (To wit: Criminal breach of trust and corruption) of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) the then National Security Adviser and salisu Shuaibu the then Director of Finance and Administration and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 159 of the same Act.

Count three

That you Chief Femi Fam-Kayode on or about the 24th day of November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable count did retain the of N26,000,000.00 (twenty sum six million naira purporting same to be payment for media campaign on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the office of the President when you reasonable ought to have known that such fund directly represented the proceeds of unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) the then National Security Adviser and Shuaibu Salisu the then Director of Finance and Administration office of the National security Adviser (to wit: Criminal breach of trust and corruption and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 17 (b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section (17) (b) of the same Act

Count four

That you Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on or about the 24th day of you November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court having reason to know that the sum of N26,000,000.00 (twenty six million naira directly represented the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) the then National Security Adviser and Shuaibu Salisu the then Director of Finance and Administration (to wit: Criminal breach of trust and corruption) in respect of the said amount used the said fund for media campaign activities and other personal purposes and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) of the M

oney Laundering (Prohibition Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) and 9 of the same Act.

Count five

That you Chief Femi Fam-Kayode on or about the 24th day of November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did accept cash payment valued at N26,000,000.00 (twenty six million Naira from the office of the National Security Adviser through one Victor Ehiabhi your security detail which sum was over and above the required threshold for cash payments and thereby committed an you offence contrary to section la of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 amended in 2012 and punishable under as 16(1)(a) of the same Act.

Culled from: The Nation 

Ondo: Court grants Jegede, Makarfi, Obi leave to appeal judgment

Factional leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmed Makarfi and Ben Obi and the substituted governorship candidate of party in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede recorded major victory before the Court of Appeal in Abuja Thursday.

The court, in two unanimous rulings by a three-man panel, upheld the applications by Makarfi, Obi (Chairman and Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee) and Jegede for leave to appeal against the June 29, 2016 judgment and October 14, 2016 ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Justice Abang had, in the judgment of June 29, recognised the Ali Modu Sheriff leadership of the PDP as the authentic body to take decisions for the party.

In the October 14 post-judgment ruling, Justice Abang ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept the name of Jimoh Ibrahim (produced by the leadership of the party in Ondo, supported by the Sheriff faction in place of Jegede produced by the Markefi backed faction of the party in Ondo.

Big Brother Nigeria Returns In January 2017

The Big Brother Naija (BBN) will return in January 2017, according to John Ugbe, the Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria.

Ugbe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that the return of the reality show was based on popular demand by people who wanted it back.

He said “the show has been well developed following the successes of past seasons of Big Brother Africa. “The Big Brother Africa is popular for its entertainment value and ability to showcase ordinary Africans from different walks of life.

“It is one of the ways the company is enhancing quality and varieties of contents available on its platforms. We decided to re-invent BBA, the reality show, once again by bringing back the Nigerian version.

“We are confident that it will draw pan-African audiences for the same reasons that Big Brother Africa did.”

NAN reports that auditions for Big Brother Naija will hold in Lagos on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27, 2016.

After a 10-year hiatus, BBN is coming back to educate, entertain and inform Nigerian audience about the culture and multi tasking jobs carried out in the show.

The return of the BBN reality TV show was based on the Big Brother Africa TV series.

The Big Brother Naija show will be aired on dedicated event channels on DStv and GOtv in January 2017.

The first edition of the show, after screening, saw 12 housemates vying for the coveted 100,000-dollar prize money by performing various mental and physical tasks.

At the end of the three-month stay in the house, Katung Aduwak emerged winner.

The show also produced other notable stars like Africa Magic’s Tinsel actor, Gideon Okeke, and TV personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

Big Brother Naija is sponsored by PayPorte, an online retail store.

Blogger's social network hits 50,000 users, dominates Google trends

Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos.

Top Nigerian blogger, Linda Ikeji’s launch of a social network was top on Google search this week, an official of Google in Lagos said on Thursday.

Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos, saying that the search was between Nov. 2 and Nov. 9.

“Google search trend this week moved between the tension-filled U.S. elections to Linda Ikeji social, the newly launched social networking site of famous gossip blogger.

“The awoof buying spree on Jumia online store along with some other exciting news also got people’s attention online,” Kola-Ogunlade said.

“Ikeji goes Social” this week witnessed the announcement of the latest competition to Facebook in Nigeria, the Google manager said.

“Top Nigerian blogger, Ikeji launched her new social network and hit 50, 000 sign-ups on the first day.

“Linda, who runs a blog that is widely known as a top gossip site, says she plans to pay users to gain more followers on the site,” he said.

According to Kola-Ogunlade, with a few hours remaining to the Nov. 8 elections, search for updates on the blood pumping US elections shot up on Google.

“Internet users wanted to know things like the latest forecasts, what time winners would be announced, and even the newest gaffes from either of the two contestants, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

“Up until the day of elections, citizens wanted to know who was likely to become the US President,” he said.

The Google manager said that folks went into frenzy search on Google when the ‘Awoof’ buying on Jumia Black Friday sales dates was announced by the online retail giant Jumia Nigeria.

He said that they offered buyers amazing discounts on the Website for quality products ranging from electronics, beauty and more.

“Jumia announced that this year’s Black Friday will start on Nov. 14 and end on the 25th and customers who spend 10,000 and above will win mouth-watering prizes,” he said.

He said that to calm the rumour, which went around over the weekend on the demise of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, the state government sent out a statement refuting the death.

He said that the Director General, Media and Publicity, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed that the governor was on a two-week break outside the country approved by the state House of Assembly.

He said that in some other reports, the governor was said to be in Germany for an eye surgery.

“Several people went scampering for news on Kwara Poly all over the internet to know if indeed the polytechnic had increased its school fees," Kola-Ogunlade said.

He said that the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic rebutted the rumour, saying people should stop listening to rumours that started on the social media.

Culled from: pulse.ng

BREAKING: Buhari swears in Walter Onnoghen as new acting Chief Justice of Nigeria

Justice Walter Onnoghen has being sworn-in as the new acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.

Onnoghen was sworn-in by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The new acting Chief Judge replaces Mahmud Mohammed whose tenure ended yesterday after attaining the 70 years retirement age.

Onnoghen will operate in the acting capacity until the name of a substantive CJN is forwarded to the Senate and confirmed.

Details later…

Nigeria: NCC anticipates licences to deploy fiber infrastructure in five zones, as telecoms contribution to GDP hits 9.8%

Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC)

Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has dropped a hint that there will be a need for firms to bid for licences to deploy fiber infrastructure in five zones; North East, North West, South East, South-South and South West.

Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) who confirmed this today said the share of telecommunications in Nigeria’s total GDP has grown in the last five quarters as the country’s Active Mobile Broadband Penetration reached 20.95% relative from less than 10 % a year ago.

He said the telecommunications sector contributed N1, 580 billion to GDP in Second Quarter of 2016 at 9.8% which is the largest in the rebased period, an increase of 1% compared to the first quarter.

Speaking in Abuja at a public lecture titled “The National Broadband Plan as a Catalyst for Social and Economic Transformation-The NCC Mandate”, organised by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, he said “The Federal Government had joined the league of ITU member states in recognizing broadband potential for contributions and improvements of socio-economic development of the nation and therefore articulated a policy document, - The Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NBP).

He said the NBP was planned to be implemented over a period of five years (2013 – 2018), targeting a five-fold increase in broadband penetration (i.e. 6 % at 2013 to 30 % at 2018) with the target areas being Policy and Regulation; Enabling Infrastructure; Costing and Pricing; Funding and Investment; Driving Demand; Building Fibre Infrastructure and Wireless Broadband infrastructure and Upgrade.

Nigeria: Kebbi surpasses one million tonnes of rice harvest

Nigeria’s Kebbi State has surpassed the one million tonnes of rice target for harvest this year by over eight hundred and fifty tonnes.

This feat was disclosed by the Chairman, Rice Farmers Association,  Alhaji Sahabi Augie when the Kebbi State Governor and Chairman  National Task Force on Rice and wheat,  Atiku Bagudu and  his Deputy Samaila Yombe conveyed  journalists  to rice growing communities in Augie, Kalgo, Dandi, Bunza , Suru , and Birnin kebbi Local Government Areas.

This came a year after the CBN Anchor Rice Borrowers Programme in kebbi State was launched to boost rice and wheat production in Nigeria by providing loans to farmers.

Augie said the yield increase was due to improved seedlings and the assistance rendered to farmers through the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the CBN with over 500,000 hectares of cultivated land across ten local government areas of the state.

He explained that, the variety of rice cultivated in kebbi include Nerica7 and 84 as well as faro 44,52, and 61 with farming occurring thrice through the dry, wet, dry season within a year with Rima and Sokoto River serving the dry season irrigation farming.