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FG makes u-turn on subsidy removal says it is not on its card at the moment – Lawan

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Primaries: lawan sympathises with senators who lost return ticket

 

Lawan urges labour to shelve planned protests as it’s no longer necessary

John Akubo

The Federal Government has soft-pedal on its initial plan to remove subsidy on petroleum products saying it is clear to even the blind and audible to the deaf that the situation of the country does not allow for that at the moment

Recall that while presenting the 2022 budget the Federal Government had infused in the budget provision for subsidy untill June 2022 when it wanted to remove the subsidy which was passed and assented to.

In seeking for a soft landing based on the outcry from Nigerians the minister of Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva and his counterpart in the ministry of Finance Hajia Zainab Ahmad as well as the Group managing Director NNPC limited Mele Kyari met with the national assembly leadership to ammend the law to provide for an extension of subsidy provision beyond June 2022

The Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, said that the Federal Government had postponed the planned removal of subsidy on petroleum products till further notice.

The meeting was convened at the instance of the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.

The Finance Minister said the Federal Government initially had the plans to remove subsidy on petroleum products from July this year.

She said that was the reason adequate provision was made in the 2022 national budget for subsidy payment till June.

She said, “Provision was made in the 2022 budget for subsidy payment from January till June. That suggested that from July, there would be no subsidy.

”The provision was made sequel to the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act which indicated that all petroleum products would be deregulated.

“Sequel to the passage of the PIA, we went back to amend the fiscal framework to incorporate the subsidy removal.

“However, after the budget was passed, we had consultations with a number of stakeholders and it became clear that the timing was problematic.

“We discovered that practically, there is still heightened inflation and that the removal of subsidy would further worsen the situation and impose more difficulties on the citizenry.

“Mr. President (Muhammadu Buhari), does not want to do that. What we are now doing is to continue with the ongoing discussions and consultations in terms of putting in place a number of measures.

“One of these include the roll out of the refining capacities of the existing refineries and the new ones which would reduce amount of products that would be imported into the country.

“We therefore need to return to the National Assembly to now amend the budget and make additional provision for subsidy from July 22 to whatever period that we agreed was suitable for the commencement of the total removal’

The minister for state petroleum Resources Timipre Sulva said
“As far as I am concerned  at this point it is a legislative duty.

“The law has been passed we are all aware but there is no law that is cast in stone. “It is clear to everyone that at this point in operationalizing the law is not possible within 6minths framework that has been provided for in the law and if that time frame provided for in the law is not feasible which has come to us as a result of operationalising the law then it is also a legislative responsibility now to see what can be done in extending that time frame for it to be in the purview of the law,

“Secondly the other legislative issue arising from it is the provision for the subsidy that is not there after June.

It is very clear to the blind and audible to the deaf that it is not feasible at this time to remove subsidy.

“I know that some nay sayers, or political pundits want to bring politics into it but it is not within the contemplation of this administration now to remove subsidy.”

The president of the Senate Ahmad Lawan said the meeting ordinarily shouldn’t have been opened for media coverage however he indicated that anything that will interest the public is worth coverage

The Senate President therefore urged the organised labour unions in the country to shelve their proposed nationwide protests as it was no longer necessary.

“There is need at one point to do away with subsidy but the President genuinely feel for Nigerians particularly the most vulnerable. Even though our economy is growing but we still have challenge getting better.

“Because of this feeling by the President and most of us in this administration believe that the issue of removal of subsidy should be handled with utmost care especially that sufficient planning needs to be done.

“Significant arrangement for absorbing the shock that will come with the removal should be done and the timing is such that the impacts and consequences will not add to hardships.

He said the sympathy for Nigerians is not about NLC.
“We are talking about every Nigerian.  NLC is just an organised part of the system. Our concern is beyond NLC.

“I am taking this opportunity to speak to TUC and NLC to shelve this their plan to go on strike or demonstration.  “It is totally unnecessary.  There is not going to be removal of subsidy so let us not create unnecessary tension where there should be none.

“Please forget about the 27th of January deadline.  We are supposed to come together and work assiduously to see that our country is stable that our people enjoy the benefits of Government programs and projects. “At the end of the day whatever decision we would be taking would be in the best interest of our people.”

NEWS

200 Lecturers Resign from Kaduna Varsity as ASUU Threatens Indefinite Strike

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Students appeal to ASUU to suspend 7 months-old strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) chapter, has raised the alarm over the resignation of more than 200 lecturers from the institution amid concerns over poor conditions of service and the non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement.

Chairman of ASUU-KASU, Dr Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday.

Abdullahi said the lecturers, including professors, had left the university for newer institutions within and outside Kaduna State.

SEE ALSO: FG Warns ASUU Against Strike, Insists On ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy

He attributed the mass exodus to poor remuneration and declining welfare conditions, noting that the situation could have serious consequences for teaching, research and academic development at the institution.

According to him, the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, which took effect in January 2026, provided improved conditions of service for academic staff in Nigerian universities.

However, he said implementation had yet to commence at KASU, despite several letters written by the union to the university management and governing council.

He added that the Visitor to the university, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, had also been notified of the situation.

Abdullahi expressed concern that more than eight months after the agreement was signed, KASU had yet to commence implementation, while many federal universities and some state-owned institutions had already started implementing the agreement.

He said some universities had also announced timelines for the payment of accrued arrears.

The ASUU chairman said the delay had made KASU academic staff among the least-paid university workers nationwide and warned that continued inaction would lead to the accumulation of salary arrears from January 2026.

He further warned that replacing experienced academics who had left the university would take years and require significant resources.

“Replacing highly skilled academics would take years and require significant resources,” he said.

The union has consequently issued a two-week ultimatum to the Kaduna State Government and university authorities to implement and domesticate the agreement.

Abdullahi warned that failure to meet the demands within the stipulated period could result in a total and indefinite strike at the university.

He disclosed that the ASUU-KASU congress met on August 12 to review the situation and resolved to declare an industrial dispute.

According to him, the decision was consistent with a resolution of ASUU’s National Executive Council following its meeting at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9.

Beyond the implementation of the agreement, Abdullahi listed other unresolved issues affecting members of the union, including university autonomy, excessive workload, promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance coverage, wage awards and pension remittances.

He urged the relevant authorities to urgently address the issues, saying timely intervention would help preserve peace and stability within the university.

The ASUU-KASU chairman also appealed to parents and other stakeholders to support efforts to avert industrial action.

He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to pursuing its demands through lawful means and expressed hope that the government and university authorities would take concrete steps before the ultimatum expires.

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International News

Ferrari’s First Electric Car Makes History With Record $40m Auction Sale

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Ferrari’s first fully electric car, the Luce, has made automotive history after a bespoke version of the vehicle sold for a record $40 million at a charity auction in California.

The tailor-made Ferrari Luce “Chassis 0” was sold during Monterey Car Week on Saturday, becoming the most expensive new car ever sold at auction, according to collector car auction company RM Sotheby’s.

The winning bid was 36 times the car’s original estimate of $1.1 million.

SEE MORE: Police Arrest Man For Driving Fake Ferrari In Italy

Ferrari USA celebrated the landmark sale in an Instagram post, saying, “The bids kept climbing. Then, history was made,” while describing the transaction as a new record for the highest-priced new car ever sold at auction.

The sale comes months after Ferrari unveiled the Luce in May. The electric model features a distinctive bubble-like design that differs significantly from the Italian automaker’s traditional angular styling and has received mixed reactions from some Ferrari enthusiasts.

Ferrari previously described the Luce as “a different sort of Ferrari for a different sort of Ferrari client.”
The Luce is powered by four electric motors, with one motor driving each of its four wheels.

The exclusive “Chassis 0” features a pearl-like semi-gloss finish with a personalised pigment that produces changing reflections ranging from green to violet when struck by light.

Its interior is equally distinctive, featuring Perla Le Mans metallic leather and black design elements against a predominantly white background.

Ferrari said proceeds from the record-breaking auction will go to The Ferrari Foundation to support educational initiatives.

Following the auction, the vehicle will return to Maranello, northern Italy, where it was built, before being delivered to the unnamed winning bidder in the first quarter of 2027.

Meanwhile, deliveries of the regular Ferrari Luce, priced at about €550,000 ($640,000), are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

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NEWS

ICPC Moves Against Corruption, Trains 100 Lake Chad Research Institute Staff

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FG Invites ICPC Over Diversion Of N-power Funds Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has sensitised 100 staff members of the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Maiduguri, Borno State, on the need to uphold integrity, accountability and transparency in public service.

The Commission disclosed this via its X account on Monday, following a one-day anti-corruption education workshop organised at the institute’s conference hall.

SEE ALSO: BREAKING: Four Police Officers Arrested for Extorting ICPC Chairman in Abuja

The programme, themed “Promoting Integrity, Accountability, and Transparency in Public Service: The Role of Staff in Combating Corruption,” was aimed at equipping the institute’s workforce with knowledge of ethical standards and corruption prevention strategies.

Speaking during the programme, the Executive Director of the Lake Chad Research Institute, Professor Babagana Kabir, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to transparency and collaboration with anti-corruption agencies.

Kabir urged staff to embrace professionalism and integrity, warning that corruption undermines institutional effectiveness, research development and public confidence in government institutions.

The Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Mr Linus Gubbi, highlighted the strategic importance of the Lake Chad Research Institute to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, particularly its contributions to agricultural research, crop improvement and land-use strategies that affect food security across the Lake Chad Basin.

Gubbi warned that vital public research could not thrive in an environment affected by corrupt practices.

He noted that when public resources, research grants or administrative processes are compromised through favouritism, procurement irregularities or financial opacity, citizens who depend on the institute’s innovations ultimately suffer the consequences.

The RACC stressed that the fight against corruption is not the sole responsibility of anti-corruption agencies but a collective duty that begins with individual public officers.

A lead paper titled “Anti-Corruption and Work Ethics in Organisations” was presented by ACS Abba Dzikwi.

The presentation examined the legal framework for combating corruption, various forms of corrupt practices in public institutions and the consequences of unethical conduct.

It also emphasised the importance of strong work ethics to organisational efficiency, effective service delivery and national development.

Participants subsequently engaged the ICPC team during an interactive question-and-answer session, seeking clarification on reporting mechanisms, whistleblowing procedures and the Commission’s mandate.

The ICPC team reiterated the importance of confidentiality in handling corruption reports.

Gubbi also encouraged the institute to strengthen its internal controls and transparency mechanisms, assuring the management of the Commission’s readiness to provide guidance and support for institutional integrity initiatives.

In his concluding remarks, he urged participants to go beyond merely receiving the sensitisation and instead put the lessons into practice by challenging unethical practices and promoting a culture of service that reflects the highest standards of the Nigerian Public Service.

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