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Kogi Showdown! Organised labour battle ready over ‘unpaid salaries’

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Kogi Showdown! Organised labour battle ready over ‘unpaid salaries’

The organised labour in Kogi has threatened to call out its members for mass action, should government continues to default in the payment of salary to its workers.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) issued the threat in a statement in Lokoja on Tuesday.

Messrs Olakunle Faniyi, secretary of NLC, Mr James Kolawole, TUC and Mr Isa Abubakar of the JPSNC.

They said that the mass action was to protest government’s insensitivity and indifference to the plight of their members that had not been paid salaries for between two and 21 months.

The officers said though the unions directed the workers in the state to embark on indefinite strike since Sept. 27, the state government were yet to invite them for negotiation.

They said that workers would not succumb to threat of sack and called on them to remain firm and committed to the struggle.

“It is the right of workers to embark on strike when their employers have failed to meet with the terms of employment, therefore the principle of ‘no-pay-no-work’ also applies,” the unions said.

NLC, TUC and JPSNC commiserated with the family of late Edward Soje who committed suicide on Oct. 16 NAN

Caught in the Web: Oando declared dividends from unrealised profits, released false financial statements-SEC

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Caught in the Web: Oando declared dividends from unrealised profits, released false financial statements-SEC

Nigerian oil firm, Oando Plc, allegedly declared dividends from unrealised profits and released false financial statements to the public before it was suspended by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, a correspondence sent to the oil firm by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, shows.

Oando, which was suspended by the NSE on October 19, has been enmeshed in a protracted crisis for a while, Premium Times reports.

The NSE suspension followed an October 18 directive by the SEC, mandating the Nigerian bourse to sanction the oil firm.

Similarly, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, following an advice from the Nigerian bourse, also suspended the embattled firm on October 19.

But in a letter sent by SEC to the Group Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Wale Tinubu, and obtained exclusively by Premium Times, the commission said it found that the oil firm’s 2014 Rights Issue Circular ”contained misleading information.”

Oando Scan-1                                          Oando Scan-2

The letter, dated October 17, and signed by Braimoh Anastasia, Head of Legal department at SEC, said the oil company’s disposal of Oando Exploration Production Limited, OEPL, to Green Park Management Limited was done in contravention of the Investment and Securities Act, ISA, 2007 because the regulatory body was not informed.

In 2013, following the structuring of the OEPL transaction in a way SEC said contravened the ISA 2007, Oando recorded a profit of about N6 billion that erased a loss of N4.68 billion which made the company declare a profit of N1.4 billion for the same financial year.

The letter revealed that since the transaction was done in contravention of ISA 2007, Oando Plc restated its 2013 and 2014 audited accounts which contained “…material false and misleading information contrary to section 60(2) of the ISA 2007.”

The letter also revealed that the 2014 Rights Issue Circular of the company contained information on the profit reported by the company in 2013 arising from the sale of the OEPL, which the commission considered “false and misleading.”

This action, it said, amounted to a violation as contained in sections 85, 86 and 87 of the ISA 2007.

In the notice publicly released by SEC on October 18, the regulatory commission said it received petitions from a shareholder, Dahiru Mangal, and Ansbury Incorporated, with allegations of gross misconduct leveled against Oando’s management.

Nigerian oil company, Oando. [Photo credit: Guardian Newspaper]

The commission said it regarded Ansbury as a whistleblower.

Similarly, the commission noted that the corporate governance return submitted by the company in December 2016 showed that the renumeration of the GCEO, Mr. Tinubu, and the deputy GCEO were approved by the board while the GCEO approved the renumeration of other executive directors, a clear violation of part B 14.3 of the SEC Corporate Governance Code.

It also revealed that the last audit of the firm was done by KPMG in 2012, a development it also said contravened the SEC regulations.

Oando Scan-3                            Oando Scan-4

The letter also said that the firm paid dividends to its registrar in piecemeal, also a clear violation of the SEC regulations, even as independent auditors reported the going concern status of the company in 2016.

Further checks also revealed that certain persons classified as ‘insiders’ within the provision of section 315 of ISA, 2007, and were in possession of confidential price sensitive information not generally available to the public, had between January and October 2015 traded on Oando shares prior to the release of the company’s 2014 financial statement, in which the company reported a loss of N183 billion.

In 2013 and 2014, SEC revealed, Oando also declared dividends from unrealised profits even as certain Related Party Transactions were not conducted on arm’s length basis, all in violation of the SEC rules and regulations.

The commission said the findings were weighty and required further investigation by an independent team of auditors.

The regulatory body sais it had appointed a consortium of Akintola Williams Delloite, United Securities Limited, SPA Ajibade & Co, TJADAP Consulting and Associates, and Nasiru Muhammad and Co. to carry out the auditing.

“The cost implications of the exercises is N160,000,000.00 (One hundred and sixty million naira) and shall be borne by Oando Plc,” the letter stated.

Oando’s Head of Corporate Communications, Alero Balogun, declined comments but said the company would issue a statement on the matter on Tuesday. It’s a Premium Times exclusive

‘We are returning to a country of moderate Islam, open country’- Saudi Prince, Salman

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‘We are returning to a country of moderate Islam, open country’- Saudi Prince, Salman

Agency Report     Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged a “moderate, open” country on Tuesday, breaking with ultra-conservative clerics in favour of an image catering to foreign investors and Saudi youth.

“We are returning to what we were before — a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world,” he said at an economic forum in Riyadh.

“We will not spend the next 30 years of our lives dealing with destructive ideas. We will destroy them today,” he added.

“We will end extremism very soon.”

The crown prince’s statement is the most direct attack by a Saudi official on the Gulf country’s influential conservative religious circles, who have for decades wielded influence on policy.

While the Saudi government continues to draw criticism from international rights groups, Prince Mohammed has pushed ahead with reforms since his sudden appointment on June 21.

Authorities have vied to modernise certain sectors in the kingdom, hinting that long-banned cinemas would soon be permitted as part of ambitious reforms for a post-oil era that could shake up the austere kingdom’s cultural scene.

The young prince is widely regarded as being the force behind King Salman’s decision last month to lift a decades-long ban prohibiting women from driving.

Earlier Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced the launch of an independent economic zone along the kingdom’s northwestern coastline.

The project, dubbed NEOM, will operate under regulations separate from those that govern the rest of Saudi Arabia.

Monitors, including Amnesty International, say Saudi Arabia has in parallel stepped up its repression of peaceful rights activists.

Saudi authorities last month arrested dozens of activists, including clerics, without disclosing any charges against them.

Court summons Jonathan, Dassuki to testify in Olisa Metuh’s trial

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Court summons Jonathan, Dassuki to testify in Olisa Metuh’s trial

Agency Report      A judge on Tuesday ordered Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan to appear at the corruption trial of his party’s former spokesman.

The summons is a surprise development and will be keenly watched, as Jonathan has been cited in several corruption cases but is not thought to have been formally questioned.

But whether he appears depends on when or if he is formally served the court papers in time.

Olisa Metuh is on trial accused of having fraudulently received from 400 million naira ($1.1 million, 945,000 euros) from Jonathan’s national security advisor, Sambo Dasuki.

The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman maintains he received the money on Jonathan’s orders to fund his unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2015.

On Monday, Metuh’s lawyers said they intended to call the ex-head of state as a witness.

Judge Abang Okon, sitting at the Federal High Court in Abuja, said it would be “tantamount to violating the right of (Metuh) to (a) fair hearing not to sign the subpoena”.

“I have no option other than to sign a subpoena to compel former President Goodluck Jonathan to appear in court on October 25, 2017 to give evidence,” he added.

Metuh’s legal team has already successfully sought an order that Dasuki should give evidence.

The former army colonel is being tried separately, accused of illegally diverting some $2 billion in defence funds meant to equip Nigeria’s military against Boko Haram jihadists.

Prominent PDP figures and supporters are alleged to have received the money.

Metuh’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, told reporters outside court the request for Jonathan to attend was because “justice… demands all the cards to be placed perfectly on the table”.

Prosecutor Tahir Silvanus added: “We, the prosecution, have no problem with that.

“We look forward to having them, both Colonel Dasuki and the former president, in court so that they can assist in moving the wheel of justice forward.”

Dasuki, who is also using Jonathan as an alibi, has been in custody since his arrest in 2015, despite several court orders that he should be released on bail.

His lawyer, Ahmed Raji, said the issue should be postponed as compelling his client to appear was “very oppressive” and he was “not in the right frame of mind” after so long in custody.

“He doesn’t have access to any document,” he said, adding that he also had a constitutional right to remain silent. NAN

Breaking: Ladoja joins PDP chairmanship race

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Breaking: Ladoja joins PDP chairmanship race

A former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has joined the race for the national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Ladoja returned to the party a few weeks ago.

He left the party to join Accord about eight years ago.

The constitution of the party stipulates that a member of the party will need to remain a member for two consecutive years before he could contest any elective election.

Ladoja will, therefore, need a waiver from the party’ National Executive Committee before he could be cleared for the contest.

The former governor was among other chairmanship aspirants who met with the members of the National Caretaker Committee of the party today.

Chairman of the caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, presided over the meeting.

Those who were also at the meeting were Chief Bode George, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and Prince Uche Secondus.

Others were Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Chief Gbenga Daniel.

Punch

House of Representatives starts investigation on non-payment of salaries in Kogi

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House of Representatives starts investigation on non-payment of salaries in Kogi

The House of Representatives has mandated its Ad Hoc Committee on Bail-out Funds to investigate non-payment of salaries of Kogi workers and report back within one week.

The House also mandated the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) to within one week report and explain the utilisation of Salary Bail-out Fund given to states.

The directives followed a unanimous adoption of a Motion of Urgent National Importance moved by Rep. Sunday Karimi (Kogi-PDP) at the plenary presided by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara on Tuesday.

Moving the motion, Karim said in spite the federal statutory allocation, salary bail-out funds and Paris Club refund received by Kogi Government, non-payment of state and local government workers salaries lingered.

He said Mr Edward Soje, a Director in the Kogi Civil Service Commission committed suicide for not being able to meet his obligations as a father and a husband.

The legislator said the deceased took his life after his wife was delivered of a set of triplet at an Abuja hospital last week.

The lawmaker explained that the late senior civil servant was being owed 11 months salary which made it difficult for him to meet his responsibilities.

According to Karimi, the situation of Soje is the lot of the majority of the civil servants and pensioners in the state.

He expressed concern that the state government had opposed to and refused any authority to investigate the non-payment of staff salaries.

According to Karimi, if nothing is immediately done about the situation in Kogi, more civil servants who were frustrated will commit suicide

In her contribution, Rep. Nnkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia-PDP), she said it was sad for parents who worked for kogi government go several months without pay.

Onyejeocha called on legislators to support the motion and urged the committee to treat the matter with high speed.

Rep. Jimoh Olajide (Lagos-APC) commended the mover of the motion for the courage to speak for the people of Kogi.

He said the function of government was basically to ensure the welfare and security of the people.

According to Olajide, a situation where civil servants are committing suicide, nobody knows what is next.

The lawmaker, who advised the three tiers of government to be considerate and just, urged Nigerians not to commit suicide, no matter the difficulty.

The Hose urged the Federal and State as well as Local Governments to prioritise payment of salaries.

 

Photo: Cristiano Ronaldo remains FIFA’s world best

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Photo: Cristiano Ronaldo remains FIFA’s world best

Cristiano Ronaldo crowned the best player in the world for the second year running as Real Madrid star beats Lionel Messi and Neymar to collect FIFA’s The Best men’s player award in London

The forward holds his trophy alongside Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, who was named coach of the year in London
The forward holds his trophy alongside Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, who was named coach of the year in London

Cristiano Ronaldo retained his FIFA men’s player of the year crown on Monday night, beating Lionel Messi and Neymar to earn the accolade of the world’s best footballer.

The Real Madrid star picked up the award ahead of his rivals from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain on the back of triumphs in La Liga and the Champions League last season.

The Madrid star turned up with girlfriend Rodriguez and son Cristiano Jnr at FIFA's The Best Awards on Monday night
The Madrid star turned up with girlfriend Rodriguez and son Cristiano Jnr at FIFA’s The Best Awards on Monday night

Ronaldo has scored 44 goals for club and country so far in 2017 and scored twice in the Champions League final in June as Real retained the trophy and became European champions for a record-extending 12th time.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi arrived with his wife but he failed to pick up the FIFA men's player of the year crown in London
Barcelona star Lionel Messi arrived with his wife but he failed to pick up the FIFA men’s player of the year crown in London

 

Neymar, the final man up for the player of the year crown, donned a claret jacket at the high-profile event in the English capital
Neymar, the final man up for the player of the year crown, donned a claret jacket at the high-profile event in the English capital

 

Judge’s absence stalls FG’s $406.8m suit against Shell

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Judge’s absence stalls FG’s $406.8m suit against Shell

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday was forced to adjourn continuation of hearing until Nov. 15 in a suit filed by the Federal Government against Shell Western Supply and Trading Ltd over alleged crude oil shipment worth 406.8 million dollars.

The suit, filed by the federal government’s counsel, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), has Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd and its subsidiary — Shell Western Supply & Trading Ltd as defendants.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that continuation of trial was stalled on Monday following the absence of the judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who was said to be attending a conference in Abuja.

Similarly, a similar case before the same court involving the federal government and Agip which was also scheduled for Monday, was also fixed for Nov. 15 for hearing.

The plaintiff is claiming the sum of 406.8 million dollars from the defendants, representing the shortfall of money paid into the Federal Government’s account with the Central Bank.

The money is for crude oil lifted in 2013 and 2014.

In a supporting affidavit, the federal government had accused the Anglo-Dutch company of not declaring or under declaring crude oil shipments during the period.

It said it was discovered following a forensic analysis of bills of laden and shipping documents, adding that Shell cheated Nigeria of the revenue.

According to the affidavit, the consortium of experts tracked the global movements of the country’s hydro-carbons, including crude oil and gas.

It identified the companies engaged in the practices that led to missing revenues from crude oil and gas export sales to different parts of the world.

It also revealed discrepancies in the export records from Nigeria with the import records at U.S. ports.

The plaintiff averred that the undeclared shipments between January 2013 and December 2014 brought the total value of the entire shortfall to 406.75 million dollars.

The defendants were said to have failed to respond to a federal government letter through its legal representative, seeking clarification on the discrepancies.

The federal government is, therefore, seeking a court order to compel the two companies to pay 406.8 million dollars being the total value of the missing revenue and interest payment at 21 per cent per annum.

In addition, the government is also asking Shell to pay general exemplary damages in the sum of 406.75 million dollars as well as the cost of the legal action instituted against it.

NAN also reports the federal government had also sued Chevron, Total and Agip in a similar case before the court.

FG is asking for a total of 12.7 billion dollars over alleged non-declaration of 57 million barrels of crude shipped to the U.S. between 2011 and 2014.

The oil companies are among 15 oil majors targeted by the government for the recovery of 17 billion dollars in deprived revenue. NAN

Liberia Presidential Poll: George Weah visits Synagogue Church of All Nations, seeks TB Joshua’s support

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Liberia Presidential Poll: George Weah visits Synagogue Church of All Nations, seeks TB Joshua’s support

Football icon and leading Liberia’s presidential candidate, George Weah, on Sunday visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Ikotun, Lagos, to seek the support of Prophet TB Joshua, in his bid to lead Liberia.

Weah will face Joseph Boakai, the incumbent vice-president, in a runoff slated for November 7.

Yormie Johnson, a former Liberian warlord, and one of the 20 candidates who participated in the first round of the election, accompanied Weah to the church.

Speaking on Weah’s visit during the Sunday service, Prophet Joshua stated: “My brother is here today because he loves his country and wants God’s choice for his country.”

“He is not here to impose himself. What does God say about his country, Liberia? What is God’s opinion? That is why he is here.

“We are not herbalists or witch-doctors; we are people of God. God’s choice is our choice. We cannot pray against God’s will.

“Without God’s corresponding power, we cannot pray to Him. For every step we take – every movement and action – intimation comes first.

“There must be suggestion from the Spirit to move before we move. If truly I am a man of God, I must hear from God – move or don’t move.

“God’s opinion is what we should seek in our country – simple! God is the Answer, the Final.”

Among the top politicians on the continent who have visited Joshua’s church are Tanzania’s President, John Magufuli; John Atta Mills, the late president of Ghana; Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi; Morgan Tsvangarai, Zimbabwean prime minister and Julius Malema, South African opposition leader

Ronaldo, Zidane tipped to win FIFA awards

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Ronaldo, Zidane tipped to win FIFA awards

Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning exploits with Real Madrid make him the strong favourite to win the 2017 Best FIFA Men’s Player Award at Monday’s ceremony in London.

His coach, Frenchman Zinedine Zidane is also favoured to be named Best FIFA Men’s Coach after becoming the first man to mastermind a successful defence of the European Cup in the Champions League era.

Ronaldo, who won last year’s inaugural award, fired Madrid to glory in La Liga and scored 12 goals as they won the Champions League for the third time in four seasons.

He is nominated alongside his eternal rival Lionel Messi and Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate Neymar, now of Paris Saint-Germain.

“In the end, Ronaldo is ahead of the others,” Roma icon Francesco Totti told the FIFA website ahead of the ceremony at the London Palladium.

“He had an amazing season and also accomplished all of his goals with the most prestigious of teams.”

Should Ronaldo prevail, it will pave the way for him to match Messi’s record of five Ballons d’Or when France Football magazine announces the winner of that award early next year.

Ronaldo, 32, won the inaugural Best FIFA Men’s Player Award last year after a six-year merger between the FIFA honour and the Ballon d’Or.

Ronaldo previously won the FIFA World Player of the Year award, the precursor to the Best FIFA award, in 2008.

Messi, 30, scored 54 goals last season as Barcelona won the Copa del Rey.

The Argentina great has made a superb start to the current campaign, scoring 15 goals for Barcelona and earning his country a place at next year’s World Cup with a magical hat-trick against Ecuador.

“We all know who is the best player in the world,” says Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.

“The truth is, the handing out of a trophy isn’t something that worries me too much.”

Zidane eyes coach crown 

Brazil star Neymar, 25, won the Copa del Rey with Barcelona last season before joining PSG in a blockbuster 222 million euros ($262 million) deal that obliterated the world transfer record.

The voting for the award, equally weighted between national team captains, national team coaches, media and fans, closed last month.

Zidane is up against Chelsea’s Antonio Conte and Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, for the Best Coach award.

“To be sincere, if they give me it, I’ll take it with pleasure,” Zidane said.

“But if the question is, ‘Am I the best coach in the world?’ No, and I’m sure of it.”

Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is shortlisted for the Best FIFA Goalkeeper prize alongside Ronaldo’s Madrid team-mate Keylor Navas and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer.

The shortlist for the Best FIFA Women’s Player award comprises Venezuela’s Deyna Castellanos, American star Carli Lloyd and Dutchwoman Lieke Martens.

The winner of the Puskas Award for the best goal of 2017 will also be announced.

The favourites are Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud’s ‘scorpion kick’ volley against Crystal Palace and South African goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke’s remarkable overhead bicycle kick for Baroka against Orlando Pirates.

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