Buhari extends tenure of Nigeria’s military chiefs; PENGASSAN suspends planned strike

Buhari extends tenure of Nigeria’s military chiefs; PENGASSAN suspends planned strike; Two weeks after public notice, SEC yet to commence forensic audit; Police attack anti-Okorocha protesters in Owerri and much more.

1. Buhari extends tenure of Nigeria’s military chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the tenure of Nigeria’s military chiefs.

The extension was confirmed in a statement by Tukur Gusau, a colonel and spokesperson to the Minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali.

The military chiefs whose tenure were extended are General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, the Chief of Naval staff; and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the Chief of Air staff.

The extension was largely based on the efforts of the military chiefs in tackling Boko Haram in the North-east and addressing other security issues, Mr. Gusau said.

2. Fuel Scarcity: PENGASSAN suspends planned strike

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its nationwide strike.

The decision to suspend the strike comes on the heels of the intervention of the Director of the State Security Service, SSS, Lawan Daura, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu.

PENGASSAN had earlier alleged anti-labour practices against some of its members by some indigenous oil companies, one of which it identified as Neconde Energy Limited.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how last night, there was a stepping up of consultations with key agencies of government in a last ditch effort to avert the impending nationwide strike it declared last Friday.

3. Appeal Court declares Kogi East Senate seat vacant

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday declared the seat for the Kogi East senatorial district vacant.

The judgement was delivered by Justice Abdul Aboki on a pre-election matter instituted before the appellate court.

Two persons, Attai Aidoko and Isaac Alfa, have been in court claiming to be the legal occupants of the seat.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had on July 24, 2016 declared a former Chief of Air Staff and a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), retired Air Vice-Marshal Isaac Alfa, as winner of the re-run election held at the senatorial district.

4. Oando: Two weeks after public notice, SEC yet to commence forensic audit

Two weeks after the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, said it would begin forensic audit of Nigerian oil firm, Oando Plc, the audit is yet to start, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

In a statement issued on December 5, SEC notified Nigerians that the forensic audit of the company would begin the next day. But on Sunday, indications emerged that the regulator was yet to begin the audit.

A statement released on Sunday by Oando said the auditors are yet to approach the company to commence the audit. The development is coming against the backdrop of the suspension of the former Director-General of the commission, Mounir Gwarzo.

5. Four killed as Boko Haram ambushes UN workers

Four aid workers with the World Food Programme, WFP, have been kidnapped in Borno State.

The WFP is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations.

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, the WFP said the gunmen ambushed one of their military-escorted convoy of food trucks taking supply to an internally displaced persons camp in Ngala village of Borno State on Saturday.

Four persons were confirmed killed during the attack. Sources also told this medium that three other persons were abducted the by the gunmen, suspected to be members of Boko Haram.

6. Nigerian Army counters UN agency over Boko Haram attack on food trucks

The Nigerian Army on Monday countered a United Nations agency over the casualty from a Boko Haram raid.

The World Food Programme, WFP, an agency of the UN had said its driver and his assistant were among four people killed when Boko Haram attacked food trucks despite military escort.

In an email to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, the WFP also said food trucks were taken to an unknown destination by the insurgents.

The army on Monday morning initially denied the killing of civilians in the coordinated attack, but later confirmed the killing of four civilians. It, however, said it was not aware they were staff of the WFP.

7. Police attack anti-Okorocha protesters in Owerri

Police on Monday morning attacked protesters on a peaceful protest against the Rochas Okorocha government in Imo State.

The protest, tagged ‘Occupy Owerri’, which is expected to last for one week, was called by Imo People’s Action for Democracy, IPAD, against the policies of the Governor Okorocha administration.

Chief among the grouse of the protesters is the erection of statues in Owerri, the state capital, costing millions of naira, when the state is still owing workers salaries and pensions.

They are also opposed to the appointment of the governor’s sister as Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfilment.

8. Cyril Ramaphosa elected new leader of South Africa’s ANC

After an acrimonious but well-planned congress of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, ANC, the Vice President of the country, Cyril Ramaphosa, has been elected the new leader of the party.

Of the over 4800 delegates who voted in the congress, tainted by allegations of vote-buying and rigging, 2,440 voted for the 65-year-old businessman to edge out his closest rival, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 68, an ex-wife of incumbent, Jacob Zuma.

With his emergence as the President of the ANC, Mr. Ramaphosa is expected to take over as the leader of the country from Mr. Zuma. The ANC dominates the country’s parliament.

9. University Strike: Education minister to meet aggrieved unions Tuesday

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday with the leaders of non-teaching staff unions of Nigerian universities over the crisis sparked by the sharing of earned allowances recently released to the universities by the Federal Government.

According to an official correspondence seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Adamu agreed to meet with the Joint Action Committee of the unions in Abuja, two weeks after the unions communicated him on their grievances over the sharing of the allowances with their academic colleagues.

The aggrieved unions are Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Non Academic Staff Union, NASU, and National Association Academic Technologists, NAAT.

10. All Nigerian leaders should be tested for drug abuse — Emir Sanusi

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has called for a law to compel Nigerian political and religious leaders, including lawmakers, governors and traditional rulers, to undertake drug test.

The emir made the call as he accused the leaders of condoning the use of illegal substances by their body guards and thugs.

“Anybody who elements of drugs abuse is found in him should quickly resign his position because he is not fit to hold (public) position,” Mr. Sanusi said on Monday in Kano.

He was speaking at the Senate Roundtable on Drugs Abuse Epidemic in Nigeria, organised by the Nigerian Senate.