PRESIDENT BUHARI REJECTS NASS’ APPROVAL FOR REFUND OF N488.7BN TO STATES

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the National Assembly’s approval for refund of N488.7 billion to State Governments for projects they executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Buhari communicated the decision through a letter read by the President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, at plenary on Tuesday.

The president said he rejected the National Assembly’s approval because it violated the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

He noted that whereas the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a total of N487.8 billion for the purpose, the National Assembly jerked up the figure to N488.7 billion.

He said the amount approved by the lawmakers was N890 million higher than that approved by FEC.

Buhari said a review of the NASS’ approval, communicated through a July 27, 2018 letter, also revealed discrepancies in the number of states submitted by FEC and those approved by the lawmakers.

He said, “While FEC approved reimbursement to 25 states, the National Assembly approved reimbursement to 21 states.

“The National Assembly did not approve any reimbursement to four states, that is, Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba, whereas FEC approved reimbursement for them.

“Note that the amount approved by the National Assembly for reimbursement to 21 states is higher than the amount approved by FEC for reimbursement to 25 states.”

The president added that the amount approved by the lawmakers for each of the 21 states was higher than that approved by FEC for each of them, except for Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger.

He urged the Senate to note that the Public Procurement Act 2007 empowers the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to approve vendors for contract sums.

According to him, the amounts presented to the national assembly for approval were duly certified for reimbursement by the BPP before they were approved by FEC.

Buhari said this was after the projects had been inspected through a programme under the chairmanship of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

The president noted that there was the need for compliance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

“I wish to request that you forward to us details relating to the amounts approved by the National Assembly for the 17 states in excess of what was certified by BPP, for necessary verification and approval.

“Furthermore, I wish to request for a review of the reimbursement earlier submitted in favour of Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba states,” the president said.

In the meantime, Buhari has told the lawmakers that the federal government will proceed with the implementation of the reimbursement on certain grounds.

First, he said where the amount approved by the national assembly is the same as the amount approved by FEC the jointly approved amounts would be refunded.

He identified the states in this category as Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger.

Second, the president said where the amount approved by the National Assembly was higher than the amount approved by FEC, the amount approved by FEC would be paid.

The benefiting states on this are Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara.

He said the four states (Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba) excluded in the NASS approval would not be refunded until their consideration by the lawmakers.

MANCHESTER UNITED SACKS JOSÉ MOURINHO AFTER POOR START TO THE SEASON

JOSÉ MOURINHO

The Red Devils have won just two of their last eight matches in all competitions and sit 11 points off fourth place in the Premier League

Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United following their disappointing start to the season.

The Red Devils currently sit sixth in the Premier League table but have already lost five times in 17 matches, leaving them 19 points behind leaders Liverpool and 11 off fourth-placed Chelsea in the fight for Champions League places.

That follows a summer transfer window in which Mourinho routinely complained about a lack of signings, with the Portuguese unable to persuade the club's hierarchy to sign a new centre-back.

Mourinho has continued to drop hints that he remains unhappy at that failure to spend big, and he now leaves after two-and-a-half years at the Old Trafford helm, with his final match in charge Sunday's 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool.

"Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect," a statement read.

"The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.

"A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager."

Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal in the United hotseat in the summer of 2016 and was tasked with leading the 20-time English champions back to the top of the domestic game after a barren three years since Sir Alex Ferguson's appointment.

He started well, winning the Community Shield in his first match in charge before claiming the League Cup thanks to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired 3-2 win over Southampton.

Form in the league was not as strong, however, with the Red Devils only able to finish in sixth place, though their season did end on a high as a 2-0 win over Ajaxin the final of the Europa Leaguesaw them qualify for the 2017-18 Champions League.

Mourinho's second season in charge saw United finish a distant second in the Premier League to Pep Guardiola's record-breaking Manchester City, and while they crashed out of the Champions League to Sevillain the last 16 and lost the FA Cupfinal to Chelsea, there was hope the former Real Madrid boss would be able to kick on again having signed a new improved contract in the early weeks of 2018.

That has not come to pass, however, with United currently on a run of just two wins from eight matches in all competitions.

Further to displays on the pitch, reports of dressing room unrest have overshadowed Man Utd's performances over the course of the season, with Mourinho's relationship with club-record signing Paul Pogba a constant talking point.

World Cup winner Pogba has struggled for consistency under Mourinho, and this season things seem to have taken a turn for the worse, with the former Juventus man unable to hold down a regular berth in the ex-Chelsea boss' preferred 11.

The nadir came at Anfield on Sunday, with Mourinho deciding against bringing Pogba off the bench despite his side needing to find a goal to get back into the game following Xherdan Shaqiri's own match-winning performance as a substitute for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Whomever takes temporary charge until the end of the season will now be tasked with pushing United back into the race to finish in the top four while also plotting a path towards silverware in both the Champions League - where they play Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 - and the FA Cup, with Reading their third-round opponents.

Reports suggest assistant coach Michael Carrick is not in the frame to take on that role, with the interim manager's first game on Saturday away at Cardiff City, and an external candidate expected to be appointed within 48 hours.

Zinedine Zidane and Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, are among the favourites to take the role full-time come the summer.

OVER SPEEDING DRIVER LOSES CONTROL OF TRUCK, RAMS INTO A SHOP IN IMO STATE (PHOTOS)

Tragedy was averted following a horrific truck accident earlier today in Imo state. 

According to reports, the truck driver who was said to be on top speed - lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a shop at Umualumaku Umueze, Okigwe area of the state.

It was gathered that no life was lost in the accident as people fled before the truck could reach the shop. 

Residents of the area are calling on drivers to be careful on how they drive especially in this festive season. 

ASUU STRIKE: LECTURERS WALK OUT OF MEETING WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DELEGATION

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has staged a walkout from the meeting with a federal government delegation.

The government delegation was led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

The university lecturers embarked on an indefinite strike on November 4, demanding improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements with the government.

The National President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, led the union’s delegation to Monday’s meeting.

The ASUU delegation arrived at the ministry at exactly 5:00 p.m. but no member of the federal government delegation was around as at this time.

The government delegation led by the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, arrived at exactly 6:00 p.m.

The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, was absent at the time the meeting started.

Before the walkout and at the start of the meeting, Mr Ngige told the lecturers that he hopes a consensus on most of the issues is reached at the end of the meeting.

He assured the union that attention will be paid to three critical demands, which are salary shortfall, university revitalisation and earned allowances of lecturers.

ENUGU STATE CIVIL SERVANTS RECEIVE 13TH MONTH SALARY AS CHRISTMAS BONUS

…Appreciates Gov. Ugwuanyi’s magnanimity, love

Workers of Enugu State confirmed receipt of the 13th month salary as 2018 Christmas bonus on Monday, from Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration.

Confirming the news, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Enugu State Council, Comrade Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe disclosed that “some workers started calling me this evening that they have received alert for the 13th month salary”.

The elated labour leader had in a letter issued to Gov. Ugwuanyi, today, which was co-signed by his secretary, Comrade Benneth Asogwa, appreciated the governor’s “magnanimity for the approval and payment of the 13th month salary (Christmas bonus) to the civil servants and workers of the state-owned parastatals in Enugu State”.

They stated that the Congress was delighted that “for the first time the state-owned parastatals will be paid 13th month salary alongside their colleges in the civil service”.

The Congress noted that the governor’s kind gesture towards the civil/public servants of the state has “demonstrated your continuous love for the workers of Enugu State by putting smiles on their faces in this Christmas season”.

They therefore, pledged their unflinching support for the success of his administration.

Truly, Enugu State is in the hands of God.

JESUS SUPERMARKET: RCCG SELLS A BAG OF RICE AT N9k, AND OTHER CONSUMABLES, TO THEIR MEMBERS IN ABUJA

In the mood of Christmas and welfare outreach, RCCG, Hall of Mercy Parish, Bwari, Abuja provided food items to members and non-members of the church at half the market price. Some items like clothes, bags, shoes etc where made available for free.

A bag of rice sold in the market for N18,000 was sold at the church for N9,000. Half bag sold in the market for N9,000 was sold for N4,500 in the church. Other food items like groundnut oil, tomatoes, pepper etc, were sold in the church at half the market price, just to reach out to those in need who cannot afford the exorbitant prices of those items in the market.

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KWANKWASO SET TO RETURN TO APC - DAILY TIMES

Barring last minute changes, former Governor of kano state Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have concluded plans to return to the All Progressive Congress (APC), from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Our reporter learnt on good authority that the Senator representing Kano central Kwankwaso, have been sending Emissaries to the Presidency to pave way for his return into the fold of the APC again. It would be recalled that Kwankwaso alongside 12 other Senators in July, 2018 defected to the PDP.

Kwankwaso vied for the office of the Presidency under the platform of the PDP and finished 4th in the presidential race. Impeccable source in the Kwankwassiyya camp told this newspaper that, the Senator is not happy with some developments in the PDP and feel uncomfortable.

The sources added that as at the time of filling this report the PDP Presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar hasn’t not release a dime to campaign in kano, noting that Kwankwaso had allegedly submitted a proposal of over N1 Billion to Atiku. Since the request was tabled, Atiku have kept mum, after series of reminders were sent to him by Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso is equally angry, Atiku didn’t appoint him campaign cordinator in the North-west, considering his wealth of experience.

“ I can confirm to you that Oga is not happy about so many decisions that are not going his way, I don’t see him staying in PDP”. Miffed by this the former Governor have consulted widely and have concluded to return to the APC. The source revealed that the only obstacle on his way back to APC is the insistence of those in the Presidency that he (Kwankwaso) should ‘ go and mend faces with the state Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.’ Kwankwaso is said to be very upset with that decision which he perceived as condescending low to plead with a man he installed who he felt betrayed him. Another factor troubling the former Presidential aspirant is the disquiet in his Kwankwassiyya camp, since he allegedly imposed his brother in-law Alhaji Abba Kabiru Yusuf as the PDP governorship candidate.

Many of his allies are not happy with the alleged imposition of his In-law, which has since led to the exit of his staunch supporters of the duo of General Idris Bello Danbazzau (RTD), and Hajiya Balaraba Ibrahim who joined the APC recently. Our reporter gathered reliably that many of his close allies are on their way back to the APC, which include the national chairman of Kwankwassiyya movement former Secretary to the State Government Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, former national treasurer of the APC Alhaji Bala Gwagwarwa, former Deputy Governor Hafiz Abubakar among others all on their way back to APC and may soon be received by President Muhammadu Buhari. To this end, political pundits in the state are of the view that Ganduje’s re-election bid look like a walk in the park.

Source: https://dailytimes.ng/kwankwaso-set-to-return-to-apc/

FINALLY, ACCESS BANK ACQUIRS DIAMOND BANK.

Diamond Bank

LAGOS — Access Bank Plc has finally acquired Diamond Bank Plc.

According to insiders, the official announcement of the transaction will be made in the course of the week by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, according to TheCable.

Another source said confirmed that the deal has been sealed, awaiting final ratification from the regulatory body.

The acquisition was midwifed by the CBN in a bid to further consolidate the banking industry, sources informed.
Last week, Diamond Bank announced its decision to drop its international operating licence to focus on national operations following capitalisation issues.

Uzoma Dozie, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, confirmed the development in a statement released on Friday.
Dozie had said: “With this approval, the bank will cease to operate as an international bank.

“The re-licensing as a national bank supports Diamond Bank’s objective of streamlining its operations to focus resources on the significant opportunities in the Nigerian retail banking market, and the economy as a whole. The move follows Diamond Bank’s decision to sell its international operations, which included the disposal of its West African Subsidiary in 2017 and Diamond Bank UK, the sale of which is currently in its final stages.”

“The change to national bank status also enables the bank to maintain a lower minimum capital requirement of 10 per cent, as against 15 per cent required for international banks.”
The bank recorded its worst month on record in November with share plunging to 0.61k per unit on November 30, 2018.

TENSION IN ONDO AS KIDNAPPERS GO ON RAMPAGE, ABDUCTS MORE UNSUSPECTING TRAVELLERS

The tension among residents of Ondo State over rising insecurity got to a worrisome level at the weekend when most travellers from and to Akure and Akoko areas of the state including lecturers of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, RUGIPO escaped abduction while some were not lucky as they fell the victims of gunmen who flooded the highways yesterday.

The apprehension among the residents and travellers got to a worrisome level due to recent dismantling of the military checkpoints across the state which they believe had given criminals free hands to operate in the last one week.

An eyewitness account summarized that several people escaped at Ogbese/Iluabo area on Owo-Akure road around 5:20 pm on Saturday evening, “I narrowly escaped kidnapping after Iluabo on my way to Akure after a wedding ceremony I attended at Omuo Ekiti. Nigerians are under siege. I saw these guys shooting sporadically from a distance. Unfortunately, some kids and those who were unlucky to get out of their vehicles were taken away by the kidnappers”.

Our correspondent gathered that three different cases of kidnapping and armed robbery were recorded on the routes on Saturday’s evening specifically at Oba Akoko axis where three persons fell victims of kidnappers on Friday’s night, while that of Ogbese/Ilu Abo axis areas of Akure occured simultaneously on Saturday’s evening.

Only last week four persons including a lecturer Taiwo Akinyemi abducted at Amurin Village, near Owo, but Taiwo later died in the kidnappers’ den while three weeks ago, six chieftains of African Democratic Congress (ADC) including the state chairman and senatorial candidate for Ondo north were kidnapped on Ikare Akoko- Owo road and were later released after paying ransome.

Three victims were also said to be members of staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo were kidnapped but they were later released by the suspected kidnappers recently after huge ransoms had been collected from their families.

Narrating his ordeal on Owo-Akure road, a lecturer from RUGIPO, Dr. Rahman Abubakri who escaped being kidnapped by the gunmen at Ilu Abo area of Akure on Saturday lamented that he narrowly escaped with other travellers but another lecturer from the department of Marketing at the Polytechnic was not lucky as he was picked by the kidnappers yesterday.

Abubakri said, “Around 5:20 pm this evening( Saturday), I narrowly escaped kidnapping around Iluabo on my way to Akure after a wedding ceremony I attended at Omuo Ekiti.

Nigerians are under siege. I saw the fulanis shooting sporadically from a distance. The bushes and tick forests we don’t care to go into have been well studied by the Fulanis. Unfortunately, some kids were taken away by the kidnappers”.

He opined that, “almost the same time, a lecturer of the Department of Marketing, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo was kidnapped by the same Fulani herdsmen between Ipele and Owo Road. Another kidnapping took place at Oba Akoko. Three persons fell victim as they were taken away into the Bush. My colleagues missed being kidnapped on Friday evening”.

The lecturer who expressed worries over the increasing rate of insecurity in Ondo state in recent time, said the upsurge in kidnapping cases must be tackled by the police and government at all levels.

Another traveller who escaped, Mrs Nike Oyetade alleged that the kidnappers use the forests near their operation points as detention camps, stressing that children in secondary schools and tertiary institutions far away from their various places of residents are not safe anymore.

Another traveller’s family member sent a message to our reporter around 7pm Saturday, “Info from one of our members who just passed through Ogbese now has it that just before Ogbese from Akure the men of the underworld has struck again kidnapped some people and presently in a gun shoot out with the police.Kindly avoid the route now”.

Speaking on the security situation, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said men of the state police command had been on the trail of the kidnappers.

The PPRO said “we have resolved to increase our manpower on our roads with more patrol to reduce the activities of these criminals to the barest minimum. I can assure you that justice will be done and the search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts, to find those responsible and bring them to justice”.

VETERAN NOLLYWOOD ACTOR, IFEANYI IKENGA GBULIE IS DEAD - DIES AFTER A PROLONGED BATTLE WITH STROKE (PHOTO)

Late Ifeanyi

The Nollywood actor dies after a prolonged battle with stroke

Veteran Nollywood actor, Ifeanyi Ikenga Gbulie, is dead.
The actor who has been bedridden for several months, as a result of stroke, passed away in the early hours of December, 13, 2018, in Enugu.