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PDP, SERAP, others demand ex- finance minister’s prosecution

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and two civil society organisations, the Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project and the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, commended the resignation of the minister, noting however that such step must be followed by her invitation by the appropriate security agencies for investigation and prosecution, if found culpable.

The PDP said Adeosun’s resignation was even belated,  asking why the President refused to fire the minister until she willingly resigned on her own volition after the media exposed her fake NYSC certificate.

The national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, who spoke with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Friday, asked Nigerians not to be deceived by the resignation.

He said the resignation of the minister was not at the instance of either the President or his minister, but added that it was due to public pressure.

Secondus said, “The resignation is belated. Why did the President keep her all this while when the scandal broke out?

“Why didn’t he, I mean the President, asked that the woman be investigated and even suspended if he was serious about the fight against corruption?

“We are aware of some lawyers that mounted pressure on the Presidency before the woman was forced to resign. The forced resignation was because of the 2019 presidential election, which we all know the President will lose.

“But if the President is serious, he should have asked the Minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, to order the prosecution of the minister and all those that helped her to procure the fake NYSC discharge certificate.”

Secondus added that the much-touted war against corruption by the President was a ruse,  asking why the President had refused to also order investigation into a fake West Africa Examination Certificate being allegedly paraded by another presidential appointee.

The SERAP Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, “Adeosun was alleged to have forged an NYSC exemption certificate. What should have happened immediately was for her to come clean and let Nigerians know her position. Actually, that did not happen. What the Federal Government ought to have done was to take the job off her while she sorts out the certificate scandal.

“What transparency and accountability demand in a democracy is that whoever is alleged to have committed an offence should be investigated and taken to court.”

Also, the CACOL Director, Debo Adeniran, said, “Her resignation is not enough. She should be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further investigation and necessary prosecution. This is because she could have committed forgery and lied on oath.

Adeosun was supposed to attend the West African Monetary Zone 2018 mid-year statutory meetings which held in Abuja on Friday but was absent.

She was represented at the meeting by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Dutse.

The meeting which is being attended by Central Bank Governors under the West African Monetary Zone was to discuss the progress so far made by ECOWAS countries in preparation of the single currency regime.

One of our correspondents who was at the ministry observed that as of 9:16pm, the finance minister was still in her office.

It was learnt that she was tidying up her handover notes in preparation for her exit from the ministry.

Attempts to get comments from Adeosun were not successful as called sent to her mobile phone were not picked while a message sent to her had yet to be responded to as of 9:38pm.

Source: Punch

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Nigerians Seek Woman Who Spoke Out Eloquently Against Fuel Scarcity In Viral 1994 TV Clip

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April 30th 1994, 30 Years Ago, And Till Today Nothing Has Really Changed.

Netizens have gone in search of a beautiful and well-spoken woman who spoke out against fuel scarcity 30 Years Ago.

A user on X.com, Jackie, who identifies as #JWEZEE had shared the video yesterday with the caption, “On this day April 30 1994, same day same time, only difference 30years ago.

“Nigerians in long fuel queues lamenting, 30years later they are still lamenting. And In another 30years will still lament, why? Because patterns don’t lie.”

In the video, which has since gone viral, Nigerians were seen queuing to purchase fuel and lamenting their predicament as citizens waiting in long queues with their gallons to buy fuel.

The woman passionately addressed the unfairness of soldiers skipping queues to resell fuel, highlighting a longstanding problem.

She said in part, “You have the soldiers that come, they buy petrol, they put it in jerry cans they sell it right in front of these people, it’s ridiculous.

“They get the fuel themselves, why do they have to come here, they don’t join the queue, they just buy and they sell right in front of people, it’s ridiculous. Something has to happen.”

The 30-year-old video which recently surfaced coincides with the current fuel price hike across the country.

Here is the viral video from 30 years back.

Currently, the country is facing fuel scarcity and price hike, with fuel being sold at N900 per litre in some states. This has affected the price of goods in the nation.

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FG Declares May 1st Public Holiday To Mark Workers’ Day

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The Federal Government had declared Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, as a public holiday to mark this year’s Workers’ Day.

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the declaration, according to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Aishetu Ndayako.

“The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st May 2024 as a Public Holiday to commemorate this year’s Workers’ Day Celebration,” Aishetu said in a statement on Tuesday, April 30.

“In alignment with this year’s theme, which focuses on ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, I wish to state that the Federal Government remains steadfast in its resolve to prioritise the safety and well-being of all citizens,” the minister said.

“Let me reaffirm Mr. President’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for work, where every worker can thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development”.

The minister, who acknowledged the contribution of workers, called for more measures to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change through synergy.

“The Minister also urged Nigerians to remain committed to the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda as he wishes workers a happy celebration,” the statement read.

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“There Would Be total Blackout For Three Months If Electricity Tariff Hike Is Not Implemented ” – Minister Of Power Warns

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has warned that there would be a total blackout in the country in the next three months if the proposed electricity tariff hike is not implemented.

The minister gave the warning in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Power at an investigative hearing over the recent electricity tariff hike by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)on Monday, April 29.

In his words

“The entire sector will be grounded if we don’t increase the tariff. With what we have now in the next three months, the entire country will be in darkness if we don’t increase tariffs. The increment will catapult us to the next level. We are also Nigerians, we are also feeling the impact.”

He said the sum of $10 billion is needed yearly for the next ten years to revive the nation’s power sector and nip in the bud the challenges bedevilling it.

“For this sector to be revived, the government needs to spend nothing less than 10 billion dollars annually in the next 10 years.

“This is because of the infrastructure requirement for the stability of the sector. But the government cannot afford that. And so we must make this sector attractive to investors and to lenders. So, for us to attract investors and investment, we must make the sector attractive, and the only way it can be made attractive is that there must be commercial pricing.

“If the value is still at N66 and the government is not paying subsidy, the investors will not come. But now that we have increased the tariff for A Band, there are interests being shown by investors,” he said.

Adelabu said the inability of the government to pay outstanding N2.9 trillion subsidy was due to limited resources, hence the need to evolve measures to sustain the sector.

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