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PIA: We Did Not Receive $10m Bribe, Lawan Debunks Reports

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Senate President Ahmad Lawan
Senate President Ahmad Lawan
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President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan has debunked reports suggesting that members of the National Assembly were bribed to the tune of $10 million to pass the three per cent allocation to host communities as stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Lawan told State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday that he took exception to the spread of falsehood propagated to mislead the public.

“That is funny but also very serious,” the Senate President said of the allegation. “I really want to take this opportunity to take exception to those kinds of unwarranted, unprovable, false and fake information being fed to the Nigerian public.”

His comment is the latest development in the controversy that has followed the National Assembly’s decision to shun calls for five per cent allocation to the host communities in favour of the three per cent allocation when they passed  the Petroleum Industry Bill 2021.

President Buhari signed the bill into law on August 16, three days after returning from his trip to the United Kingdom, a move that further fueled debates over the choice of three percent allocation to the host communities.

Beyond the debates, reports emerged claiming the lawmakers’ decision in passing the bill was influenced by kickbacks, reports the Senate President says are part of a dangerous trend.

“The danger people will face with this is, you cause unnecessary damage to the reputation of people,” he said.

Such allegations, Senator Lawan said, amounted to slander.

“I had an occasion to take someone to court because of this kind of thing previously, about three months ago,” he added, signalling his willingness to take legal action when necessary.

While urging Nigerians to speak the truth at all times, he gave the assurance that the Senate was working in the best interest of the people.

Meanwhile, the President’s assent has led to the emergence of the Petroleum Industry Act which provides legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry.

Under the act, host communities are expected to get three per cent of the operating expenditure of oil companies, while 30 per cent of the revenue is set aside for frontier exploration, an agreement which some, especially those from the South-South, have vehemently frowned at, demanding a higher allocation.

The host communities allocation debate, argued on the pages of dailies, and in parliament, has continued even after the National Assembly settled for three per cent mid July and the President’s assent to the bill, the birth of a much-anticipated Act.

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Uba Sani To PDP’s Ashiru: Join Hands With My Govt For Kaduna’s Development 

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Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani
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Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has hailed the judgement of the Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which upheld his victory in the March 18 gubernatorial election in the state.

Sani, in a statement on Thursday, September 28, 2023, urged his challenger in the election, Isah Mohammed Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join hands with his government to develop Kaduna State.

Sani contested the gubernatorial election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor, who commended Ashiru for challenging his victory in the court, stated: “I am extremely delighted and humbled by the ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal affirming my victory in the 2023 Kaduna State Governorship Elections.

“The judgement is an unequivocal affirmation of the popular mandate graciously given to me by the good people of Kaduna State. I commend the Tribunal for their thoroughness and lucidity. They have enriched our jurisprudence and practice of electoral democracy.

“I also commend my dear brother, Hon. Isah Ashiru Kudan for approaching the Tribunal to ventilate his grievances. This is a clear demonstration of his belief in the principles of democracy and the imperative of civility in the conduct of political actors.

“I call on Hon. Isah Ashiru and members of the opposition parties in Kaduna State to join hands with us as we strive to move our dear state to a higher level. We are all stakeholders in Project Kaduna.

“It is not about personal glory. Our people want all hands to be on deck to address the myriad challenges confronting the state. If political actors are united, a clear signal will be sent to our people that the quest for peace, security, progress, and development of our state are the driving forces of our participation in politics.”

He, therefore, enjoined the APC members in Kaduna State to moderate their celebration of his election victory, saying they should extend an olive branch to other members of political parties in the state.

“Instead of celebrating, we should bow down in prayers to the Almighty God for His continued guidance and protection. Let us focus on the tasks ahead,” Governor Sani added.

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Subsidy: NLC, TUC Declare Indefinite Strike From October 3

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The leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) will commence an indefinite strike on Tuesday, October 3.

This followed a joint press briefing held by both leadership of the union in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Tuesday (today).

The unions also asked their state chapters to mobilize for protests across the country.

It was gathered that the leaders of the two labour centres have resolved their differences that made only NLC embark on a two-day warning strike without the participation of TUC.

According to the notice of meeting signed by the NLC Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the meeting is holding virtually.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong has appealed to the NLC leadership to shelve the planned strike, assuring them that the Federal Government is determined to address the concerns raised.

The minister also noted that one of the major demands of the NLC in their last meeting has been met, which has to do with the release of the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport workers.

A statement signed by the spokesman of the spokesman of the ministry’s Olajide Oshundu, urged the workers’ unions to give the government a little more time to address other issues.

On Tuesday, September 5 and Wednesday 6, 2023, NLC embarked on a two-day warning strike to force the government to address the mass suffering of Nigerians, especially workers.

Sources privy to the matter said the two sides after their separate organs’ meetings, commenced a joint press briefing at 3 p.m. on Tuesday to announce an indefinite nationwide strike following the Federal Government’s failure to address the suffering and other socioeconomic hardships occasioned by the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

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Three Injured As Gunmen Kidnap Nasarawa Poly Student

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Three students have been injured following an attack by gunmen in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

A student of the Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic in Lafia was abducted by gunmen who struck on Monday night.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed this to Channels Television in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

He said the abduction was during a robbery raid at Ombi 1 in Lafia, a student village where most of the enrollees of the polytechnic reside.

According to the police spokesman, a distress call was received by 10 p.m. on Monday over an armed robbery taking place at a house at Ombi 1, Lafia.

“Upon receipt of the report, policemen were immediately drafted to the scene; on arrival, it was discovered that three people were injured,” the police spokesman said.

“The victims were rushed by the police to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital for treatment. Upon their return to the scene of the incident, it was later discovered that one person named Jumoke (surname withheld) was missing.”

The police spokesman assured the public that the command had launched an investigation as the Commissioner of Police had deployed all tactical teams of the command to the area.

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