ZL Global Alliance has refuted allegations of non payment of its workers’ salary working in Ondo state.

It also denied the claims that it did not provide necessary working tools for its workers.

A statement signed by the General Manager of the firm, Wahab Ibrahim, 
urged members of the public to disregard the claims because investigation has revealed that those making the allegations are not on their payroll and that their genuine workers have dissociated themselves from the blackmail carefully designed by some unscrupulous elements to rubbish their modest and sincerest effort at keeping the state clean.

“The attention of management of ZL global Alliance has been drawn to the claims by some people who claimed to be our workers alleging that we are owing them salary. They also alleged that our firm did not provide them brooms and other equipment to work with.

“The acclaimed workers had on a radio programme alleged that our firm was owning  them November and December salary and that the firm only gave them parker and brooms once in a year.

“While we do not want to join issues with those we could call agents of distraction, it is however important that we set the record straight to show the discerning members of the public that the allegations are false.

“Contrary to the false claims, ZL Global Alliance as a reputable waste management company prioritizes workers’ welfare and makes regular payment of salary a deliberate policy to encourage workers and motivate them to give their best.

“In December last year, we had to borrow money to pay their salary because of our commitment to their welfare. We are only owing February salary because government is yet to pay our company for the month of February.

“We also have photo evidence to show that we gave them brooms and other items contrary to their misleading claims.

“We also need to emphasize that as a responsible firm, we pay our workers as and when due and we also provide them free medical services to ensure they are in good state of health because of their exposure to dirt and other unhygienic items.

“We also ensure that nursing mothers with two kids get free medical services and drugs in furtherance of our commitment to their welfare and in line with our policy to ensure that our workers get necessary care as a reward for their much appreciated labour.

“We urge members of the public to disregard the claims because our investigation has revealed that those making the allegations are not on our payroll and our genuine workers have dissociated themselves from the blackmail carefully designed by some unscrupulous elements to rubbish our modest and sincerest effort at keeping the state clean.

“We believe the fumes were orchestrated by some misguided elements to tarnish our company’s image.

“The ZL Global Alliance is committed to achieving the vision of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for a cleaner Ondo state and we shall not in anyway be distracted by a calculated cheap blackmail to lower our reputation in the estimation of the public”, the statement said.

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Monday commissioned the newly-completed Adekunle Ajasin University Business School in Akure, the state capital. 

Inaugurating the edifice, Akeredolu specifically commended the management of the university for the vision, urging the authorities to make it a world class standard Business School which products would be respected nationally and globally.

He called on philanthropists, relevant stakeholders, corporate organisations and well-to-do citizens to join hands with his administration to expand the frontiers of infrastructural development of institutions in the State

The epoch-making event was also attended by the State Deputy Governor,  Lucky Aiyedatiwa, members of the State Executive Council, the University’s governing council members, management staff and other workers.

The Governor said the idea of building a business school of a compelling status is highly significant to his administration as a government that is committed to innovation and entrepreneurial growth through the provision of functional education.

He described the Business School as another lofty signpost of his administration’s commitment to the kind of education envisioned to drive economic growth, self-reliance among the people and all-round development in the State. 

“I am aware that this Business School will offer specialised and professional courses for entrepreneurship oriented graduates, career persons and corporate organisations through its internal resources and meaningful collaborations with other world-class business schools and institutions around the world.

“In the spirit of the value we place on education as a tool for manpower development, we have made a deliberate effort to strengthen our Quality Assurance strategy in our primary and secondary schools which serve as the foundation for producing upright students to the tertiary institutions in the State. 

“We have also made it a policy to focus on the renovation of schools across the length and breadth of the State towards creating the enabling environment for learning. 

“Apart from the unique architectural features of the Adekunle Ajasin University Business School, Ondo State can also boast to have owned the 2nd strategically positioned Business School in the whole of Southwest, Nigeria. On this, I commend the university administration for its thoughtfulness.

“More importantly, at this time, we seek support from corporate individuals and organisations towards ensuring that the Adekunle Ajasin University Business School, Akure, is well positioned to deliver on its mandate. 

“The State Government has committed so much funds into this structure that is central to the administration of the school and its programmes. However, there is the need to bring up other utility buildings, lodging and relaxation centre within the premises to complement the university’s efforts at excellent service delivery”, Akeredolu stressed.

Also, the Pro-Chancellor of AAUA, Dr. Tunji Abayomi said in the last five years, Governor Akeredolu has committed many resources to modernising the state especially in the area of Infrastructure, banking, transportation, agriculture and education, saying non of this achievement can function well without advanced business knowledge.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, said no doubt, the modern education infrastructure would train and produce personnel for the commercial and corporate sector globally in the twenty-first century and beyond.

“Let me put on record that this special building project was conceived and supervised by the Governing Council under the leadership Dr. Tunji Abayomi. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, construction of this edifice commenced in February 2020, and despite all the obvious challenges of funding, post COVID-19 inflation, among others, we took delivery of the project on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, from the contractor.

“This structure does not only add to the aesthetics and modernity of the state capital, Akure, it also defines the modern AAUA that we are building, a 21st Century University, Properly Called!

“This is a well-ventilated modern structure that comprises 14 lecture halls, 14 office spaces, an ICT hall, a large conference Room, six store rooms, large number of conveniences, and other modern amenities. Not only does this edifice have enough parking and recreation space up front, but also there is quantum of space at the back for future expansion.

“Let me add that this building is wholly-funded through the University’s capital vote, and I would like to say that it is unarguably the most modern, compelling, and most aesthetically pleasing Business School around!

“I am also delighted to inform this gathering that the AAU Business School will not only serve as an academic hub to offer long term Executive Master in Business Administration programmes and short-term Certificate Courses for career persons and corporate organizations, but will also collaborate with other world-class Business Schools and institutions around the world that could provide academic support and meaningful academic exchange in the administration of its prospective courses.

“While we trust that this promising initiative would be renowned as the Second strategically-positioned Business School in the whole of South-West, Nigeria, and also expand the University’s academic programmes towards benefitting corporate individuals and organizations, I want to assure Mr. Governor and this distinguished audience that competent hands would be engaged to maintain this structure and to keep both the external and internal contents in pristine condition at all times.

“Efforts would also be made to ensure a round-the-clock guarantee of the safety and security of the complex.

At this juncture, let me sincerely thank the Visitor to our University and Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for providing the fund to execute this project and other support being given to the University. But as Oliver Twist, we still require more funding to fully furnish this edifice,” the Vice Chancellor said.

Immediate past Federal Commissioner, Pubic Complaint Commission, Mrs Cecilia Fayase, has applauded the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for his unprecedented achievements in all sectors since he assumed office Five years ago.

Fayase, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, particularly commended Governor Akeredolu for his giant strides in the areas of Infrastructural and industrial development, improved security, especially the establishment of Amotekun Corps, among others.

According to her, the establishment of Amotekun Corps has led to improved security of lives and properties of the poeple of the state and improved socioeconomic development.

She revealed that the numerous outstanding achievements of the governor would forever be appreciated by the poeple of the state, irrespective of political affiliations.

“Yes, the Governor has tried since the past five years. Of course, we have seen a lot of development under is administration and he is still doing my more.

“Look at the road infrastructure across the three Senatorial Districts, look at renovation of schools, recruitment of teachers, industrial development and many other achievements across the state.

“So, so far so good, the Governor is doing his best and we will continue to encourage him to do more”, Fayase added.

Today, 25th of February, 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Electoral Act, Amendment Bill into law. It suffices to recall that the said Bill was signed into law after it has suffered protracted delay and setbacks both from the Presidency and the National Assembly, particularly on the provision of the Bill which relates to mandatory direct primaries.

While commending the drafters of the Bill for the wealth of industry and Mr. President for leaving behind a great legacy in our electoral process, it is pertinent to consider salient provisions of the new Act viz-a-viz the provisions of the old Electoral Act.

1. Section 29(1) stipulates that parties must conduct primaries and submit their list of candidates at least 180 days before the general elections.

This is a welcome development. Under the Old Act, political parties had a period of 60 days to submit the list of candidates before the general election.  The trend before in the country is for political bigwigs in the parties to deliberately postpone their primaries in the bid to get candidates for their personal and aggrandisement.

2. Section 3(3) states that funds for general elections must be released at least one year before the election.

This is welcome development and commendations ought to be given to the drafters of this provision. One can easily recall the logistics problems faced in the past by INEC to get adequate resources for ballot boxes and papers. At the last general election, approval of funds for the election were given just few days before the election. 

3. Section 51 says that the total number of accredited voters will become a factor in determining over-voting at election tribunals.

I believe the above provision is a restatement of the judicial pronouncement of the Courts with respect to the proper way of proving over-voting. The Courts have held that the law is well settled that in order to prove over voting the petitioner must do the following: 

a. Tender the voters register; 

b. Tender the statement of results in appropriate forms which would show the number of registered accredited voters and number of actual votes; 

c. Relate each of the documents to the specific area of his case in respect of which the documents are tendered;

d. Show that the figure representing the over-voting if removed would result in victory for the petitioner. See: Haruna Vs Modibbo (2004) 16 NWLR (Pt.900) 487; Kalgo v. Kalgo (1999) 6 NWLR (Pt.606) 639; Audu vs. INEC (No.2) (2010) 13 NWLR (Pt.1212).

4. Section 54(2) makes provisions for people with disabilities and special needs.

This section incorporates the fundamental principles of equality of persons as contained in Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution to the effect that no persons shall be discriminated against by reason of their sex, age, or any disabilities.

5. Section 47 gives legislative backing for smart card readers and any other voter accreditation technology that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deploy.

INEC is to be commended for the innovation of the Card Reader machine to bolster the transparency and accuracy of the accreditation process and to maintain the democratic norm of “one man one vote” by preventing multi-voting by a voter.

However, the issue of smart card reader has been a knot to tie in the previous election. Even though this provision was earlier incorporated in the INEC election manual, the validity of same has been contested in court up to the Supreme Court.  

For instance in the case of NYESOM V PETERSIDE,  The Supreme Court held that “the INEC directives, Guidelines and Manual cannot be elevated above the provisions of the Electoral Act so as to eliminate manual accreditation of voters. This will remain so until INEC takes steps to have the necessary amendments made to bring the usage of the Card Reader within the ambit of the substantive Electoral Act.”

The Court further held that the use of smart card has not taken the place of manual accreditation provided for in Section 49 of the Electoral Act. The question to be determine now is whether the codifying of the use of Smart Card takes the place of manual accreditation?

6. Section 34 gives political parties power to conduct a primary election to replace a candidate who died during an election.

Under the provision of Section 33 of the old Electoral Act, a political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted pursuant to Section 32 of the Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the Candidate.

Worthy of note is that the provision did not specifically stipulate the time frame to make the substitution in the case of death of a candidate. One would recall that a similar situation happened in Kogi State which ended up in INEC declaring the party with the second highest number of votes as the winner of the election. 

By this new provision, one can easily conclude that votes cast at the poll are not for the individual but for the party has held by the Courts in several decisions.

7. Section 50 gives INEC the legal backing for electronic transmission of election results.

It is interesting to recall that the issue of election server was the highlight of the 2019 presidential election tribunal. It is pertinent to recall that it is the petitioners’ case that the results of the Presidential election were transmitted electronically into the imaginary server from all the polling units in the country. It suffices to start on the premise that such an argument is a sham.

Of more importance is that what Nigerian Electoral law recognises is the Form EC8 Series, especially Form EC8A, signed by agents, collation officers, etc, at the Polling Units. The only way to prove election results in Nigeria today is by the approved forms: the EC8 series. Not by any Server or Servers.

With this new provision, the perdurable question we have to consider is whether the servers would take the place of Form EC8 series. We would also have to battle the issue of data networks and availability of electronic voting for persons in the rural and remote areas.

8. Section 94 allows for early commencement of the campaign season. By this provision, the campaign season will now start 150 days to the election day and end 24 hours before the election.

Under the old Act, campaign season is usually a period of 90 days before the election. This new provision will allow candidates and political parties reach more people in record time before the election and to be able to determine the strength of their political reach before the election.

9. Section 84 stipulates that anyone holding a political office – ministers, commissioners, special advisers and others – must relinquish the position before they can be eligible to participate in the electoral process either as a candidate or as a delegate.

This is a very commendable and quite innovative provision of the Act. This will effectively checkmate political appointees who believe that the electoral college is their exclusive preserve.

Ondo State government has disclosed that it would partner Mitelo Integrated Farms at Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Are of the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Aribo Olayato stated this when on inspection visitation of the farm on Thursday.

He revealed that the state government had designed a programme through which it would partner with farmers who see farming as a business and would give technical assistance and advice to them.

The collaboration would involve training of youths and farmers in capacity building for better knowledge on different segments of agriculture.

According to the commissioner, “I and my team are very happy with what we have seen. We are going to collaborate together. Apart from that, this is the kind of farm we want from the state. We want people who want to do things in large scale, commercial farming, those are the things that can take us out of starvation.

That’s the area we are looking at in the state. We are looking at people like Mitelo farms to lead us to that promise land of food sufficiency.

“My team and I will meet with Mitelo farms to see how we can partner and even send some people here for training.
While learning here, we could give them some stipends. After the training, the can go and replicate what they’ve seen here or probably wait and continue to work here.

“At Mitelo, they’ve seen farming as business that’s why they invested so much here. We need people who see farming as business and we will give them technical assistance and advice.
All farmers must see farming as a business. Anything you put money and expect profit in return is business.
In terms of money, we can introduce them to lenders. By the time they put their money into it, they will keep their eyes on it.

“We are willing to give commercial farmers land. We have land in the forest reserves. We have land that we have cleared that tractors could work on. All they need doing is to apply and we will look at their plans and release land for them for farming.”

Dr. Funmilayo Williams-Daudu, owner of the farms, told newsmen that she invited the commissioner for assessment and to see how the farms could collaborate with the state government to make life easy for the people on food production.

“We invited the commissioner to see what we are doing here and at the same time to see how we can collaborate to make life easy for our people. We all know that foods are very expensive now.

“We invited him because he’s a man of vision and the government is ready to support people who are already trying their best to make life easy for others.

“What we do here as integrated farms, we do training, we produce foods, crops, even crops that nobody would believe would grow in Nigeria. He has seen this and I believe he was impressed with what he had seen.

“Our workers  know what they are doing. They have the technical knowhow. Our technical person, who is the manager, is actually from Songhai in Port Novo, with a lot of experience. 

“We need fund because we want to expand more than this. We want to be able to train more people also and expand on some things that we are doing that are even doing well. We grow beafruit, carrot, cabbage, we grow all sorts of exotic vegetables that you don’t actually find around here.

“We’ve started collaboration with agric institutions. For example, we take IT students from University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure. Some of the people we trained here are now on their own and are doing well. It’s not right to wait for white collar jobs and guys walking in the streets.

“Agriculture, apart from growing crops, agric has a lot of value chains. If you’re not producing, you’re buying and storing and selling. We have our curriculum ready for this year’s training.
We are ready to collaborate with any institution to make Nigeria better and ensure food security,” Dr. Williams-Daudu said.

The commissioner, therefore, promised to discuss with Dr.(Mrs.) Funmilayo Williams-Daudu, owner of the integrated farms on how the state government could partner with them.

ADULTERATED FUEL: ECONOMIC FRAUD AND THE IMPERATIVE FOR AN URGENT INVESTIGATION BY THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC).
Olukayode Ajulo PhD, FCIArb. UK

Introduction

The recent fuel scarcity debacle just few months into the New Year has caused stirs, reprimands, reprimands among political pundits, stakeholders and concerned citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

At present, there are rumors of damaged vehicles as a result of the use of these adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by motorists in some parts of the country. There have also been records of arrests of retail outlets owners, consequent on the unfortunate incidence.

How did the adulterated PMS gain entrance into the Country?

While searching the beam light on the immediate and remote cause of the fuel scarcity, in a rather strange manner, a press release allegedly issued by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited dated 9th February, 2022 on the issue of contaminated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with higher concentrates of methanol started making the rounds.

According to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, the adulterated PMS had been imported into the country by four importers from Antwerp in Belgium with quality inspectors failing to detect the high level of Methanol it contained, first at the point of import in Belgium and at the point of arrival in Nigeria.

Though the Group Managing Director specifically stated the names of the four importers as MRS through MT Bow Pioneer LITASCO Terminal, Antwerp-Belgium; Emadeb/Hyde/AY Maikfi/Brittania-U Consortium through MT Tom Hilde; Oando through MT Elka Appollon and Duke Oil through MT Nord Gainer, yet there has been no record of investigation by relevant Law Enforcement Agencies.

In a saner clime, immediate and discreet investigation would have been conducted and by now, the number of resignation letters tumbling into the HR department of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) should have been in high double figures, but we live in a country where people are not accountable, even for what happens on their desks.

Instead of embarking on industrialization, including the construction of new refineries, we have degenerated to a point of importing and distributing poor quality products. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) is supposed to be the watch dog in the sector under the Petroleum Industry, Act.

From the above analysis, it is quite apparent that the importation of these adulterated fuel was an audacious scheme by these importers that had made unwitting accomplices, persons in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and also corridors of power.

Where does the EFCC come in?

It is expedient to examine again the powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as donated to it in Section 6 of the Economic and Financial Crimes (Establishment) Act, 2004, which provides, inter alia:

“ The Commission shall be responsible for…(b)the investigation of all financial crimes including advance fee fraud, money laundering, counterfeiting, illegal charge transfers, market fraud, fraudulent encashment of negotiable instruments, computer credit card fraud, contract scam, etc.”

This clear position of law has been given judicial backing in plethora of authorities including the case of CHAIRMAN EFCC VS LITTLE CHILD (2016) 3 NWLR (PART 1498) 72 AT 78 where the Court held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and its officials are statutorily empowered to arrest anybody upon reasonable suspicion of having committed any financial crime.

Given the facts of the instant scenario, the importation of adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country and the deliberated negligent of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to conduct a discrete check on same at the point of entry into the country no doubt, impact very negatively on the economic and financial fortunes and credibility of Nigeria and same is within the exclusive preserve of the investigating powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Conclusion

On the backdrop of the above, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission must take the bull by its horn and conduct a discreet and thorough investigations into the criminal activities of these unscrupulous persons in the dark corridors who in the bid to unjustly enrich themselves are making life difficult for innocent Nigerian Citizens.

Constitutional lawyer and Coordinator, Progressive Lawyers for Osinbajo (PYO), Kayode Ajulo has described the comments credited to him by Mr. Joe Igbokwe, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Drainage and Water Resources, as falsehood.

Ajulo said the interpretation of his statements by Igbokwe on his social media page is untrue and do not represent the content and context of his TV interview.

He stated this on Saturday in a statement personally signed by him in Abuja.

“Apparently, Pa. Igbokwe must have watched another version of interview to have warranted such erroneous misrepresentation of my stances which were simple and clear enough to understand,’ he said.

Igbokwe, had on Thursday reacted to a Channels Television’s popular political programme, Politics Today, interview of Ajulo where he analysed governance under the present administration and the chances of the APC in 2023 presidential election.

According to a thread of posts on Igbokwe’s Facebook page, he claimed that Ajulo mocked President Muhammadu Buhari and a chieftain of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his interview.

Some of the posts on Igbokwe’s Facebook page were also targeted at the person of the human rights lawyer.

Ajulo, who disregarded these claims, said the clip of his live interview on Politics Today is still on channels Television’s website for whoever that seeks clarity.

“I am disappointed at how it is very comfortable for somebody in the rank of Pa. Joe Igbokwe to deliberately distort facts for whatever reasons best known to him. I challenge him to present where I made these statements in the interview.
“Asiwaju is a well respected leader across party lines and I even acknowledged his benevolence towards me in that interview but it’s unfortunate that did not interest Pa Igbokwe.

“I’m a known defender of President Buhari both in Court of Law and in Public Space. 

“My reference to Mr. President’s health was on the basis of his own statements that his age tells on his performance, that he could have even performed more than he has done. 

“How does referencing age and having personal preference for a younger and more competent person to become the next president of Nigeria translate to insults?

“And if I had quoted the many important responsibilities on the desk of the Vice President as part of reasons he has not officially declared to run for president, how does it mean to saying another person is jobless. 

“This is simply a matter of perceptive of priority for Prof. Osinbajo as at this time period. Therefore, Joe Igbokwe should be bold enough to vent his thoughts and stand by them. 

“He cannot stylishly hang his hidden thoughts on my open and harmless statements. For me, this puts a question tag on Baba Igbokwe’s loyality to his mind and even his principal,” Ajulo said.

Ajulo said the 2023 presidential election cannot thrive on propaganda, saying Nigerians are expecting campaign manifestos centred on real issues and how to set the country on the path of sustainable development.

“I am a noble man of conviction and I toe the path of integrity. Pa Igbokwe thrive on causing unreasonable upheavals where simple understanding is needed. 
“That is evident in many inciting statements that have been credited to him in the media. I don’t understand what he stands to gain by misrepresenting my words to cause tension where there is none.

“I really do not understand what Pa. Igbokwe meant with: ‘He will hear from us soonest.’ 

“He should be reminded that I am a lawyer and I don’t take issues of threat for granted. So, he has to be very deliberate about his statements and urge that his principal to call him to order,” he said. 

According to him, the realities of 2023 elections campaign is beyond campaign of calumny. Nigerians will only entertain issues based campaign with practicable ways to tackling prevailing issues.

 “This is a mere distraction. My position on 2023 presidential election is simple and clear. Prof Yemi Osinbajo is the best option for the APC and Nigeria.” Ajulo said.

I find it quite interesting and intriguing that the Supreme Court today, 10th February, 2022 nullified President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order 10 by a panel of 6-1 of the 7 member panel of the Court in its original jurisdiction.

The 36 States Governors in Suit marked SC/655/2020 which was filed on September, 17, 2020 through their Attorneys General, queried the legality or otherwise of the Presidential Executive Order.

Six out of the seven members of the panel proceeded to void and set aside the Executive order 10. The majority decision adopted the expert opinion of Musibau Adetunbi and Mahmud Magaji, tow of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria, invited by Supreme Court to advise it on matter. The Supreme Court has declared as unlawful and unconstitutional the Executive Order 10 (E010) issued by President Muhammadu Buhari on the funding of State Judiciary and Legislature.

In declaring the EO10 unconstitutional, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, in the lead judgment, said: “This Country is still a federation and the 1999 Constitution in operates is a federal one….The Constitution provides a clear delineation of powers between the state and the federal government. The President has overstepped the limit of his constitutional powers by issuing the Executive Order 10. The country is run on the basis of the rule of law”. 
In the dissenting judgment, Justice Uwani Abba-Ajiheld as follows:“we are not unaware of the hanky-panky and subterfuge played by state governors against the independence and financial autonomy of state judiciary. It is a pitiable eyesore what judicial officers and staff go through financially at the hands of state executives who often flout constitutional and courts orders to their whims and caprices. 

This, the presidential Executive Order 10 is meant to facilitate the implementation of the Constitutional provisions….the Executive Order is to aid the states legislature and judiciary in curing the constitutional wrong of their financial autonomy which the state have always denied. This is not unconstitutional”.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in May, 2020 signed the Order into law. The order grants financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary in the 36 states of the country.

The order also mandates the accountant general of the federation to deduct from source amount due to state legislatures and judiciaries from the monthly allocation to each state for states that refuse to grant such autonomy. 
Without prejudice to the decision of the Apex Court, I must quickly say that Our Courts have described Executive Order as an order or regulation issued by the President or some administrative authority under his direction for the purpose of interpreting, implementing or giving administrative effect to a provision of the constitution or of some Laws or treaty. See the cases of A.G Abia State & 35 Ors v. A.G Federation (2003) 4 NWLR (Pt. 809); Elephant Group Plc v. National Security Adviser & Anor (2018) LPELR-45528(CA).

In the circumstance, the said Executive Order 10 was signed into law based on the power vested on the President by virtue of Section 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which extends to the execution and maintenance of the Constitution and laws made by the national Assembly. 
Section 121(3) of the Constitution expressly provides that “any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue fund of the state shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned”.

The above constitutional provisions is the law that require further explanations and or directives.    Conclusively, despite the decision of the Supreme Court, it must be reassuringly stated that autonomy of the Judiciary and Legislature is extant, subsists, vital and must continue to be activated for the good of our republic.

Former National Secretary of the Labour Party, Kayode Ajulo, on Wednesday said most governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are backing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the presidency in 2023.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ajulo said Osinbajo has performed exceedingly well within the last seven years in office to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Former National Secretary of the Labour Party, Kayode Ajulo, speaks on Channels Television’s Politics Today on February 9, 2022.

To Ajulo, nobody has been able to find fault in Osinbajo, adding that he should be the next President. He also called on the ruling APC to consider the vice president for the position.

According to him, if the APC is so serious in winning the 2023 presidential election, the only person seen as the best marketable candidate is Osinbajo.

“We need to distinguish the office of the Vice President and the personality of Professor Yemi Osinbajo. As it is, his running for this election is non-negotiable,” he said.

“I can say that authoritatively and I think those in the presidency are listening. He has that fundamental right of the first refusal to that ticket, particularly being the vice president of the country.

“If he can be Vice President for so long, he should be the next President. I want to believe that the leadership of the party should believe that that is the position.

“Most of the governors in APC and PDP are even supporting the aspiration of the Vice President, this is so clear.”

He also faulted a claim by APC member, Daniel Bwala, that Osinbajo will not be contesting for presidency in 2023.

With President Buhari’s tenure coming to an end next year, there has been curiosity about who will emerge as Nigeria’s President. 

This is even as the two major parties – the APC and the PDP – have not yet zoned the presidential slot to any geopolitical regions, although some aspirants under both parties have publicly declared their intention for the nation’s top job.

The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said that the Union has started mobilization of its members to put down their tools if the Federal Government fails to sign and implement the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement. 

The branch Chairperson of the Union, Prof. Simon Ehiabhi stated this in a statement after the Union’s meeting on, Wednesday 9, 2022. 

He expressed the concerns of the Union over the lethargic attitude of the Federal Government to sign and implement the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, which was renegotiated and concluded in May 2021.

He said, “It is already nine (9) months now when the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement was renegotiated and concluded with the hope that the Federal Government would implement it. However, it is bothersome that the FG has been demonstrating an uncaring and lackadaisical attitude towards our welfare and the infrastructural decay in public universities. The attitude of the Federal Government amounts to purposely undermining the future of our children who cannot afford the luxury of attending private universities.   

“Despite the country’s dismal economic conditions, hyperinflation, and depreciation of the Naira, our members are still earning the same salary since 2009 when the agreement was initiated. It is important to state that part of the 2009 agreement contains the clause that the agreement shall be reviewed every three years. This would mean it ought to have been reviewed in 2012, 2018, and 2021. Therefore, the government’s signature and implementation of the renegotiated agreement is the only way to avert the impending strike.

“We are also calling on all well-intentioned Nigerians to press the Federal Government to uphold the agreements signed with ASUU in order to prevent the educational system from collapsing as a result of the government’s failure to uphold the agreement.”

The branch Chairperson urged his members to remain focussed on their professional responsibilities of research, teaching and community service, while the Union would continue to take all necessary steps towards achieving genuine transformation of the nation’s public varsities.