Senator Ifeanyi Ubah throws weight behind calls for exit of Nigeria Police Force from Contributory Pension Scheme

Anambra South Senator and Candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the 2023 Anambra South Senatorial Election Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah on Friday, called for the exit of Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme which is being run and managed by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM). Senator Ubah made the call during a One-Day Public Hearing on the Police Pension Board (Establishment) Bill 2022 (SB. 1009) which was sponsored by Senator Elisha Abbo, APC, Adamawa North and the Nigerian Police Special Forces (Establishment) Bill 2022 (SB. 846) sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume, APC Borno South. 

Speaking at the event which was organized by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Ubah asked representatives of PENCOM to explain to Nigerians why the Pensions of retired Police personnel remains under the control of the Commission while other security agencies have separate units under their control that manage their pensions. The Anambra South Senator further maintained that in spirit of equity and justice, the Police Force like other security agencies, should be allowed to manage pensions of its retired Personnel. 

Also speaking at the event, the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba, represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sanusi Lemu said the Police requires a separate board for management and administration of pensions of retired police personnel in the mode of the Military Pension Board. The IGP further argued that exiting the Contributory Pension Scheme being run and managed by PENCOM is long over due for the police on account of poor services.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Dauda Haliru Jika in his presentation, also maintained that the Police deserves same special treatment being enjoyed by other security agencies. 

Also in their separate remarks, the aforementioned sponsors of the Bills further threw their weight behind calls for exit of Nigeria Police Force from Contributory Pension Scheme and expressed hope that the Bill will be passed by the National Assembly. 

In their separate presentations, representatives of PENCOM, Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria and Nigerian Labour Congress argued that retaining the management of pensions of retired police Police personnel under PENCOM was a decision made by the Federal Government to avoid sending the country back to dark ages. They further argued that the exit of the Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme shall breed avoidable liability for the country. However, members of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and the Inspector-General of Police maintained their supports for the Bill.

The Senate Committee on Police Affairs is expected to present its report to the upper chamber when it reconvenes on Tuesday.

I Will Clear Nigeria’s N77trn Debt In Three Budget Cycles ―​​ SDP’s Prince Adewole Adebayo

Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate for 2023, has stated that he will pay off Nigeria’s N77 trillion debt in three budget cycles.

He claims he is not concerned about inheriting the N77 trillion debt left by the current government.

Adebayo stated this in an exclusive online interview with Tribune, telling Nigerians not to be concerned about evidence of failure by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, which hired an unimaginative team to lead the Central Bank of Nigeria and create debts rather than manage the economy.

He stated that he sees no liability in Nigeria as he prepares to activate the country’s various assets in order to transform the country’s dire situation into one of international envy.

Adebayo told Tribune Online that he decided to run for president of Nigeria because of the numerous challenges that the country faces, which he sees as no challenge at all given the country’s vast assets.

In his words; “I knew these problems before I declared to run. In fact if these problems were not there, I would not have taken interest to run.

“When you have a debt profile that is put at N177 trillion, you are looking at the death side, what about the asset side?

“When I take my oath of office I am not just inheriting the debt, I am inheriting 220 million people, I am inheriting entrepreneurs.

 

Nigerians are so lively highly energetic and already to work. I am inheriting the largest gas reserve. I am inheriting a vast agricultural land.

“I mean everything, all other things, solid minerals and all other assets. so the debt is so small when compared to the assets that we have. So, what I will do is, looking at structure of our debt.

“If I push our revenue up by 32 % we will be fine but the window of pushing our revenue up is about 300 percents. And if I push down the wastage and the corruption by three quarters 75% with some saving pockets here and there. And do some mop up. I think that Nigerians would not even remember that we have debt profile at all.

“We will retire the debts within three budget, the debt will be insignificant and the people will get employment, if I get 30 million jobs added to the workforce. The taxation on pay as you earn alone, will wipe this debt off.

“If I get agriculture productivity in four belts in the country, lower Kebbi upper Niger, in southern Kaduna plateau, axis, if I get agriculture in Oke Ogun. Part of south west Nigeria and do Agriculture in Benue that will significantly deal with the problem.

“I don’t worry about that. It is not the load that kills but how you carry it, so, these debts represent a deficits of imagination. A deficit of creativity, a deficit of competence. Why I said so is not because I am in the mood to insult anybody.

“I said so because their original sin is not managing our revenue accruers very well because they didn’t mandate revenue accruers due to three problems that they have created for them selves include the fact that they don’t have the competence to do an appraisal of revenue profile and capture all the revenue subheads and govern all the revenue sub-head prudently.

 

“Secondly, they are tardy in administration and supervision as the result? So many leakages even within the one they captured.

“Thirdly, they have collected campaign funding and other support from those who are benefiting from leakages and blind spots?

“So in other to keep their friends happy with them the their political structures, they have created no-go areas, as a result of that, they are not able to capture enough revenue.

“Because they have hired an unpatriotic and unimaginative Governor of central bank. So they’re able to create debts, like a drunken sailor and turned he central bank to a casino that is why they have all these crises.“

 

2023: SDP Will Win, Regardless of Presidential Media Poll Says SDP Flag Bearer Prince Adebayo

The Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo has expressed the belief that his party will win this year presidential election.

Prince Adebayo expressed the belief while expressing his thoughts on the social media polls conducted to gauge each party’s chances in the 2023 General Elections.

In his response, Prince Adebayo stated “Our Party runs issue-based campaigns rather than campaigns focused on trivial matters. In Nigeria, we are accustomed to seeing hired audiences turn out for campaigns, but because of the strong bonds we have built with the people, they warm up to us despite our lack of financial backing.“Some of the inquiries made on social media are not framed to address the problems at hand.

”The SDP presidential candidate further observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) norms specify that no candidate should spend more than five billion Naira, yet politicians often violate them with impunity.

“The vast majority of expensive campaigns are carried out with enormous sums of money that were undoubtedly obtained illegally, and the majority of them do not address issues and how they affect the general public.

“As members of the SDP, we firmly believe that the Party belongs to the people, and we work to educate voters on topics like budgetary balance, security, housing, and education, among others,” he added.

  

Endorsement of Peter Obi By Obasanjo Won't Affect SDP's chances - Party

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Sunday said that the endorsement of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo was of no consequence as it would not affect the chances of its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo.

SDP National Publicity Secretary / Director, Media and Publicity, National Campaign Council, Ambassador Rufus . Aiyenigba, in a statement on Sunday, said if anything, it has even enhanced the chances of Prince Adebayo.

Aiyenigba said the SDP presidential candidate undeniably meets the Southern presidency advocacy of many as led by the former president and many other prominent national leaders.

According to him, “Is Peter Obi’s endorsement by former President Obasanjo capable of affecting Adebayo’s chances at the polls? Not at all. If anything, it has even enhanced the chances of Prince Adewole Adebayo, the SDP candidate, onsidering that he ticks the boxes as espoused by the former president, Baba Obasanjo.

“Prince Adewole Adebayo undeniably meets the Southern presidency advocacy of many as led by the former president and many other prominent national leaders. Adebayo meets the boundless and essential energy requirement for the top job; he meets the requirements of deep grasps of transformational leadership and development issues; vision and soundness of mind, as well as the character and integrity quotient as listed.

“Adebayo is more youth- friendly in practical terms, considering the hundreds of jobs he has created through his various businesses and enterprises, as well as the huge verifiable number of young Nigerians he has empowered, still empowering and mentored and still mentoring.

“With this development, it’s therefore, getting crystal clear that the contest, is going to be a two-horse race between Prince Adewole Adebayo and Peter Obi, because they are both emblematic of the new realities of the need for a new generation of young leaders for our country and also the strongly evolving national quest for a new Nigeria – a nation that will be anchored on innovative, resources, honest and good leadership which will ultimately engender a good Nigerian society.”

This came as Chairman of the SDP Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam said that the Coming Presidential election would usher in the most visionary president in Nigerian history.

In his new year message to Nigerians he said that at the moment, Nigerians were suffering as the economy was suffocating.

He urged all to work together to produce a leader that would ensure peace unity equity throughout the country.

 

2023: Peter Obi is Africa's greatest merchant of Hope - BIG TENT

The BIG TENT an Independent Presidential Campaign Council of Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed that warehouses the many Support Groups and the Political Parties that endorse and support the Presidential Ticket of the Labour Party has called on Nigerians to reject both the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the All Progressive Party(APC) in the forthcoming presidential election.

Prof Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr, Director Public Affairs And Strategic Communications BIG TENT, in a New Year message wished Nigerians a better year in 2023.

Nwaokobia Jnr, also admonished electorates to take back the Country through the instrumentality of a peaceful ballot based revolution come February 25.

The Statement titled; ''BUT FOR THE OBIDIENTS 2022 WILL PASS FOR ANNUS HORRIBILIS. YOUR VOTES CAN MAKE 2023 ANNUS MIRABILIS'' described the year 2022 under the APC- led government as a horrible year and only the candidacy of Peter Obi threw a beacon light of hope on the horizon.

"Annus Horribilis is a Latin phrase meaning "horrible year". The year 2022 in so many ways will pass for a horrible one but for the message of hope that the Obidients, that Peter Gregory Obi, that the Labour Party, and the BIG TENT brought on the political amphitheatre. It was all gloom and doom until the candidacy of Peter Obi threw a beacon light of hope on the horizon.''

''The horrific state of insecurity, the unending ASUU Strike, the collapse of infrastructure, the drastic state of unemployment, the reign of benumbing corruption, the perfidy of the operators of State, the many fuel queues, the repeated collapse of the National Grid plunging the nation in Darkness, the flood that ravaged 31 of the 36 States in Nigeria, and the parlous state of the economy had left the space troubled and Nigerians melancholic BUT for the candidacy of Peter Gregory Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed that brought some fresh air on our socio-political kaleidoscope.''

"Do you wonder Dear Compatriots, why millions of Nigerians Young and Old, those at home and in the Diaspora have gladly chosen a new name and a new identity, they have proudly renamed themselves OBIDIENTS, believing in the hope before us and trusting the OBI-DATTI Presidential Ticket".

"The monumental failure of the APC and their choice of a Presidential candidate whose cognitive ability is manifestly challenged, whose CV wreaks of Fakery, whose humongous opulence speaks to unhindered corruption, who has drug trafficking charges over his head, and whose overall health is largely suspect, left the people greatly troubled and hopeless, until the Labour Party unveiled a candidate of Hope, of Decency, of Decorum and of Capacity."

"The PDP that should understand the urgency of now, chose gerontocracy over justice, over equity, over fairness, and over capacity and competency. They threw the call of the people for new tendencies in leadership overboard, and left the people troubled, until the Labour Party stepped in the fray with a Ticket of Hope ditto the Obi-Datti candidacy".

"Countrymen and women, without equivocation it was  the One million-man Street Marches of the Obidients that rekindled hope and redefined our politics. They reshaped the fabrics of our politics such that the comedic theatrics of those seeking public office eating maize/corn on the streets, plaiting hair by the road side, hawking groundnuts and eating in public bukas gave way to issues based interaction".

"Obi is changing everything for good whilst yet a candidate. He is speaking to Nigerians at home and to those in the Diaspora. He is presently Africa's greatest merchant of Hope. He is a Pan Nigerian candidate and he is passionately engaging the old and the young as we seek to retire the old order in the battle of our lives. Yes, we must TAKE BACK our Country for good."

"We can make 2023 Annus Mirabilis which is the latin phrase for a remarkable and an auspicious year. We can do so by successfully birthing and berthing this peaceful ballot based peoples revolution. Folks, we can make Nigeria great again when we step out in February to elect Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed as President and Vice President".

"Do not let the merchants of hate, of deceit, of poverty, of hopelessness, of insecurity, of ethnicity and religious jingoism deceive you. Do not sell your future for the blood soaked looted monies they throw at you. Do not sacrifice your destiny and the future of your children for a mess of porridge. And do not vote for those who have left our nation in the woods and worse than it ever was."

"Let us walk together and work together until victory is won. Let us push the message for a New Nigeria until we take back our Country through the power of the Ballot in February 2023. Let us continue to preach the message of a New Nigeria until we Take Back Our Country for good though our Votes come February 2023. And let us remain resolute for through our Votes we can make 2023 Annus Mirabilis. May God Bless Nigeria"

HEKAN President Task Electorates On Voting For Candidates Who Would Make Postive Changes

 

By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON.

As Nigerians head to the polling centres to elect leaders of their choice in the general elections this year, they have been told to ensure those they vote will  work towards making the country secure and prosperous.

The charge was handed down by the President of The United Church of Christ in Nigeria (HEKAN), Rev. (Dr.) Amos G. Kiri, during the 2023 New Year Celebration Service on Sunday January 1, 2023.

 

"Those of you who already have the PVC, keep it well and safe. Those who have changed voting polling areas, be ready to go and perform your civic duty by electing the person of your choice. 

"Vote wisely. We will not relent in voter education of our members so that we will not fall victim to electing the wrong people or wasting our votes. The slogan is to vote to protect your interest and the interest of your children born and unborn. 

"Don't sell your vote. I want to also use this medium to call on our youths not to allow themselves to be used by politicians for selfish gains. Any politician that will induce you to cause harm to his opponent should be resisted. Don't allow yourselves to be used and dumped like an orange that has been soaked and thrown away. Let us all continue to pray for free and fair elections come 2023," he said.

 

He said that political campaigns have been going on in earnest as politicians have started visiting worship places to solicit  votes. 

"They will come with sweet tongues and endless promises. There is nothing wrong with any candidate campaigning and lobbying to get voted into power. You as the electorate too must know the power you hold. Your one vote can be the determining factor. 

"Use your vote wisely when the time comes. Not long ago, I joined other leaders of thought to urge you to go and get your Permanent Voters Card (PVC). This is the only legal document that gives you the power to vote and be voted for. I hope you heeded my call and have registered, re-registered, and collected your PVC," he said. 

On the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) financial policies on dispensing of money and spending, he described it as laudable.

"CBN policy on cash withdrawals is a laudable initiative that if properly implemented will reduce the amount of physical cash in circulation thereby encouraging the use of electronic platforms for settlement or payment for goods and services; it will help to authenticate and formalize the transactions that are done and it helps to curb corruption and the flow of black money, which increases economic growth. 

"I will only hope and pray that CBN and all other relevant government agencies intensify the enlightenment of the citizens on the significance of the new policies. I, therefore, encourage us all to comply with the new regulation of N500,000.00 Naira for individuals and N5,000,000.00 Naira weekly withdrawals for corporate organizations," he said.

Reverend Kiri called on ministers

of Christ to be more dedicated to their calling, and to dwell on the theme as they continue to prepare God's people for Eternity. 

"You must live your lives as an example to your members whom you are called to prepare and guide to live with God in eternity, you must remember that God will ask of you for the work you do as a shepherd of his church. Put away all forms of distractive sentiments capable of disuniting the body of Christ. Be focused on your God-giving responsibility," he charged.

On the HEKAN Secretariat Project, he explained that  it  has progressed very well to the glory of God and hopefully would be completed in 2023.

"The current state of work at the Secretariat is completion, a slow but detailed activity involving, floor tilling, doors, window panels, electrical wiring, air conditioning, toilet equipment, and furniture. I wish to solicit your support and contribution in kind and cash to see to the completion of this flagship project that we have all laboured on since 2017. 

"Sometime in 2023, we shall be approaching the Church and goodwill individuals for support believing that God will provide you with the means to support his project. I believe with your support we shall commission the Secretariat for use in 2023 God willing," he assured.

The HEKAN President said that their Clinic project is an initiative sponsored by African Services in collaboration with HEKAN Church, which when completed, shall provide medical services in the form of a standard health center including but not limited to ant-natal services, maternity services, minor surgical operations, in-patient and out-patient treatment, medical emergencies including accident cases and pharmaceutical services, etc. 

"The clinic shall also serve the community as well as serve as an instrument for the propagation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am happy to let you know that the project is currently at the roofing stage; we hope by God's grace to commission the clinic for use in 2023," he said.

2023: Unite, Vote Out Forces Bringing Disunity To Nigeria - Azzaman

By; Mike Odeh James 

As the nation inches closer to its general elections, Nigerians, especially youth have been tasked to be united in a resolve to vote out those bent on further polarising the country.

Assistant General Overseer, The King Worship Chapel and Ministry Inc Kaduna, Nigeria, Rev. David Ayuba Azzaman gave the charge in his New Year Message, delivered on Sunday January 1, 2023.

"I appeal to Nigerians especially the youths don't allow the few enemies of this country who are hiding in the major political parties to disunite us based on religion and tribalism  but rather, let us unite and vote out every forces that would bring about disunity in this country. And that's why we must come together and make sure the Muslim Muslim ticket doesn't Succeed," he charged.

Raeverend Azzaman in the message titled, "GOD  IS INTERVENING IN NIGERIA" lamented that Nigerians are presently experiencing hunger and pain.

"Five months to the end of the eight years  of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration  and that of  Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Nigerians have experienced nothing  but misery, pain, hunger, unemployment, incessant killings and blood letting. 

"Every day, we hear of bandits from Niger, Mali and other countries kidnapping people for ransome almost effortless. According to reports, if a community is under attack, and residents call for help, security operatives would certainly not show up on time. When residents try to defend themselves, the government would accuse  them of stockpiling weapons with intent of  exterminating  a particular ethnic sect.

"And so Nigerians are left with nothing more to do than watch helpless  as their communities are ravaged by bandits and prole slaughtered wilfully," he said. 

He said that on the economic front,  Nigerians are poorer today than they  used to be some six years ago.

"A bag of rice is over N30,000 while prices of grains have skyrocketed beyond the reach of the common man. Despite all the monies the Buhari administration have pumped in the agricultural sector, Nigerians are more  hungrier. The word on everyman's lips is that the government have taken us on ride to poverty .

"Here in Kaduna, shops and other means of livelihoods are demolished, markets are destroyed, fenced off and placed under lock  some shop owners and stall owners have developed hypertension due to the demolition of their means of livelihood .

"In the same vein, Kaduna workers were  systematically retrenched while tuition fees of  tertiary  institutions are increased by hundred percent, similarly taxes are arbitrarily increased.  All these are on the same residents 

"It is like both the Federal Government and State Government have lost their sense of humanity, upon that, government officials still reel figures showing that all is well despite the obvious," he said.

The Assistant General Overseer said that the President can still make amends and make Nigeria proud by doing the followings.

"How do they make amend 

1) Make sure all kidnapped victims are released. I believe the Government of NIgeria can do that , the devices the Kidnappers use to communicate for ransom is GSMs that can be tracked.

2) Those responsible for the killings in Southern Kaduna , Plateau , Benue and other parts of NIgeria , should be fished out or smoked out and punished.

If the Government can go all the way to the UK/Kenya and get Nnamdi Kanu , it should be very easy tracking the bandits in Southern Kaduna, Zamfara , Benue 

3) President Muhammadu Buhari the onus lies with him to give us a fair and credible election in the next 56 days when the elections to choose the new leadership of this country would commence". 

He appealed to NIgerian Christians, Muslims and those that don't adhere to any religion, "not to lose hope, despite the killings, hunger, economic crunch and nepotism instituted by this Government of the day. Just like the New Year a new dawn and a new beginning has come to Nigeria , which if you have been following me since 2016 I tagged it , "NEW NIGERIA" 

Quoting from P A Sydney Grandville Elton Prophecy for NIgeria in  1986, he said,  “Nigeria and Nigerians will be known all over the world for corruption. Your name – Nigeria will stink for corruption but after a while, a new phase will come – a phase of righteousness. People from the nations of the earth will hold a Nigerian and say,  'We want to follow you to your nation to go and learn righteousness' "

According to him, this prophecy of PA  Sydney Greeneville Elton came in 1986 when the economy of Nigeria was going down gradually and because of this Nigerians  did not take this prophecy serious.

"I just received this message from an anonymous person on Wednesday 28, December 2022

"An expectant mother has been gang raped to death by bandits (terrorists) in Dankunda village in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

"The woman was ambushed by the terrorists when she and others from her village were escaping from the terrorists.

"The incident occurred on Thursday morning. The terrorists had imposed on the villagers a levy of two million naira to enable them harvest their farm produce or risk attack.

"Being unable to pay the levy, the villagers began to leave the community in order to escape the terrorists ' invasion.

" She was among those fleeing but she fell into their hands alongside her three children.

 

 "She was gang raped by many of the terrorists who left her with bruises all over her body.

   

 "She was rushed to the hospital where she died on Friday night.

"But the government of APC are saying nothing on what Sheikh Ahmed Gumi said.

   

" Don't vote for those who will fight bandits.  The fighters are our warriors in the forest... our people in the forest. So, vote for those who after attaining power will call and negotiate with our people ( bandits) so as to give them what they want for peace to reign." (Sheikh Ahmed Gumi).

He said this true story describes everything  he said about the state of the nation and appealed to NIgerians, "to ignore the call by another religious leader to vote for those who will pamper this evil men. I am calling on NIgerians to vote for those that will kill them and bring them to Justice. NIgerians do not loose hope because NIgeria would be great again. 

"I am also calling on the President of the Federal Republic of NIgeria to either resign or admit he has  failed, because he has no option in 2023 but to give us a credible elections.

"Righteous Father in the Righteous Heaven in the name of Jesus Christ Glorified by the Power of the HolyGhost what you revealed to us let it begin to manifest in Nigeria. I annul any curse on the country NIgeria , this 2023 we are getting it right politically, economically and security wise IN JESUS CHRIST GLORIFIED NAME AMEN.

"Congratulations NIgerians a New beginning have come," he declared.

Earlier in his sermon, General Overseer, Reverend Samson Albert said that in the New Year, Christians should be fervent in praying.

"This New Year step up with your faith. Encourage somebody, help somebody to be fulfilled in life.

"You are born to be a ruler, to rule over what God has created. Everything is under your feet. Maybe your village is not in the map of Nigeria, it does not matter. You are born to rule.

 "Dominion is yours, you are not born to rule in one street in Sabon Tasha, you are born to dominate," he said.

He urged Christians to contribute to the growth of the House of God.

"I don't know what happened to you last year, but I say to you, congratulations. Forgive those who hurt you last year you are set for greatness," he declared.