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FRIDAY AUGUST 19, 2016 • T H I S D AY
NEWSEXTRA
Buhari Says Government will Restore Confidence of IDPs Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja said his administration would restore confidence of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the
government by fast-tracking their voluntary return, rehabilitation and reintegration into the society. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president spoke on the fate of the IDPs while
Orubebe’s Trial Stalled Tobi Soniyi in Abuja Failure of the prosecution to serve a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe and three others charged before an Abuja High Court for alleged diversion of N2 billion stalled the arraignment of the suspects yesterday. Orubebe, Oludare Lawrence Alaba, Ephraim Tewolde Zeri (Director of Contracts) and Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria Limited were accused, in a fivecount charge, of alleged complicity in the diversion of about N2 billion meant for the dualisation of Section IV of the East-West Road. The charge marked: CR/265/2016 was filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The charge borders on alleged corruption, diversion of funds and perjury. Orubebe was accused of circumventing a Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval for the dualisation of the Eket-Oron Road, part of the East-West Road which runs from Edo to Bayelsa States, by allegedly instructing the contractor, Gitto Construction, to rehabilitate it instead. Orubebe and others are also charged with conferring undue advantage on the construction firm when they caused the money meant for compensating residents whose properties were marked
for demolition to be paid to Gitto. The ICPC alleged that N2,320,686,826 approved as compensation for owners of properties that were to be demolished to make way for the dualisation of the road was paid to the contractor instead of the beneficiaries. The ex-minister is also accused of making false statements to the ICPC claiming that the decision to rehabilitate the road rather than dualise it was taken after he had left office as the Minister of Niger Delta. When the case was called yesterday before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, prosecution lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told the court that the ICPC was yet to effect service of the charge on the defendants. He sought adjournment to enable the prosecution serve the defendants with the charge, a request the judge granted and adjourned to August 30 for arraignment. The former minister had denied any wrong doing. He said the contract was not awarded during his tenure as minister. Orubebe is currently being tried before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on a one-count charge of non-declaration of a property he allegedly acquired in Abuja while serving as a minister. Trial had been concluded in the case before the CCT and judgment reserved.
Kogi Govt’s Response to Fraud Allegations Laughable, Says Group The civil society organisation which dragged Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and others before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies for an alleged fraud of about N11 billion, Egalitarian Mission Africa (EMA), yesterday said the defence put up by the state government denying the allegations was laughable. In a statement, the head of the group, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, said the defence put up by the government was laughable. “First of all, we wish to make it abundantly clear that we stand by our report. Before we went to the anti-corruption agencies we had visited Kogi State for an on the spot assessment of the allegations and we found them to be true. Are they saying for instance that the over inflated renovation contract of N1.7 billion was not awarded or that N1.2 billion was not paid to the contractor within two days? Or are they saying that a mere renovation of a three-bedroom bungalow for almost N100 million does not deserve scrutiny? What about the award of the contract without advertisement or tender?
Or are they saying that there is any work going on at the moment on Agasa -Ukpogoro road for which over N1.4 billion has been paid? What about the billions of naira withdrawn allegedly to buy fanciful cars which cannot be found on the streets of Lokoja? We challenge the state government to show contrary proof. We have our facts backed by authentic documents and we are ready to go the distance with the state governor and his cohorts on this.” Ajulo lamented the unprecedented orgy of financial sleaze in the state where workers and pensioners are being owed not less than seven months salaries. “There are no good roads in Kogi. There is no portable water. The citizenry daily cry for good governance. Yet the government of the day turns a blind eye and goes on a voyage of unprecedented wastage and pillaging of the commonwealth of the state. What a shame!” According to him, the anti -corruption agencies should swing into action by promptly preventing further pillaging of the state’s resources.
receiving the outgoing Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Asharaf Abdelkader Salama, at the State House. Buhari commended Egypt for identifying with challenges confronting the country, especially the plight of IDPs, which he said, remained a top most priority for the Nigerian government. “The displaced persons want to go back to their homes. They want to resume their normal lives. They want to go back to the land, which they have not cultivated for over three years now. “We will work to restore their
confidence, and also work on infrastructure, so that they can quickly resettle,” Buhari said. The president noted that the bond of friendship between Nigeria and Egypt was very strong as demonstrated in their growing cooperation on regional and international issues. In his remarks, Salama, who spent four years in Nigeria, said he was the first foreign diplomat to travel by road from Maiduguri to Yobe State, North-eastern Nigeria, last month. He told the president that he was proud to have made the journey
through an area once considered a stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists, following the successes recorded by the Nigerian military fighting insurgents in the region. He described the people of Nigeria as “friendly and generous,” saying he hoped to be back in the country again. Also yesterday, Buhari received the outgoing ambassadors of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and Tanzania. During the audience with Ambassador Oubi Bachir of SADR, Buhari reiterated Nigeria’s support for Sahrawi people’s self-
determination and independence. Bachir’s duty tour to Nigeria spanned eight years during which he served as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. On Tanzania, Buhari told the High Commissioner, Daniel Ole Njoolay, that the East African country was fortunate to have a leader who cared so much for the less-privileged in the society. The president said Tanzania is blessed with good land and gas, which could be used for the good people of the country. Njoolay spent two years and eight months in the country.
RECEIVING BUSINESS TUTORIAL
Corporate Sales Manager, British Airways Nigeria, Adetutu Otuyalo; Deputy Chair of Commonwealth Investment Council and Privy to Queen of UK, Hon. Mark Simmonds; CEO, TEXEM, UK, Dr. Alim Abubakre; Visiting Professor, Harvard, Insead and IESE, Prof. Rodria Laline, at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence during TEXEM’s Executive Master class in Lagos...recently
FG Unveils New National Policy on Labour Migration EU commends Nigeria’s foreign remittance Paul Obi in Abuja
of utmost concern to the present administration of President The federal government yesterday Muhammadu Buhari as no unveiled a new national policy on responsible government will sit labour migration in order to give back and watch the depletion of Nigerians comparative advantage its human resources which is the most critical factor of production in the labour market. The move is geared towards and national development.’’ Ngige explained that the risk boosting decent job opportunities aimed at surmounting the associated with irregular migration challenges of countless Nigerian and its impact on Nigeria’s human illegal immigrants, some of whom resources and development die trying to cross the Sahara and necessitated the development of the labour migration policy. the Mediterranean Sea. The minister contended that The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, “the risks associated with irregular unveiled the National Policy migration and its impact on the on Labour Migration and also country’s human resources and inaugurated two committees: national development necessitated Technical Working Committee and the development of this coherent Social Partner Advisory Committee policy on labour migration which for implementation of the policy. aims at promoting decent work and The ceremony had in attendance, respectability of migrant workers.” He noted that the objective of the the Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for policy was to promote the good Migration (IOM), Enira Krdzalic, governance of labour migration, Deputy Head of Delegation of the protect immigrant workers as well European Union (EU), Richard as their welfare and optimise the Young, the Country Director of the benefits of labour migration on International Labour Organisation development. The minister further remarked (ILO), Dennis Zulu, Labour Migration representatives from that the policy conferred Regular the Ministries of Finance, Justice, Immigrant Status on persons in Women Affairs, National Agency their countries of destination, saying for the Prohibition of Trafficking that the policy was developed with in Persons (NAPTIP) and other technical and financial support from the International Organisation for relevant government agencies. According to Ngige, “This is Migration and the International
Labour Organisation. He added that the framework for achieving the implementation of the policy included “the establishment of job centres for the placement of job seekers into genuine vacancies, notified by employers from across the country and abroad.” “Towards this end, the Ministry of Labour and Employment with technical and financial support from ILO, and IOM and funding from the European Development Fund equipped six functional job centres in Bauchi, Kaduna, Delta, Anambra and Abuja. The job centres provide the platform for matching demand and supply in the labour market.” The minister gave the internet web address of the National Electronic Exchange (NELEX) as www.nelexnigeria.com, adding that, Migrants Resource Centres(MRCs) for the provision of migration related information has also been provided at two of the Job Centres in Lagos and Abuja. Earlier in her remarks, the Chief of Mission, International Organisation for Migration, Ms. Enira Krdzalic, said the policy was the product of the 10th European Union Development Fund project entitled, “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria,” revealing that the policy “commenced way back in 2008 with technical support
of IOM and the ILO through the participatory process, involving national stakeholders.” She said IOM has been supporting the Nigerian government in the development of initiatives for effective migration management and further described the inauguaration as a landmark. Krdzalic urged the Ministry to ensure wide dissemination of the policy and build synergy with relevant stakeholders. Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union, Richard Young, said Nigeria was one of the top five countries of the world with the highest global remittances; about $21 billion by 2012 estimate, noting that Nigeria would benefit immensely from a robust implementation of the labour migration policy. Young maintained that with over 5 million Nigerians living abroad, foreign remittance will continue to impact on the country’s economy, as well as shape business across continents. Similarly, the ILO Country Director, Dennis Zulu restated the commitment of the ILO to the success of the policy in Nigeria and re-emphasized the importance of labour migration policy as universally acceptable labour best practices.