The Abia State government has announced plans to pay off the N16.5 billion in salary arrears owed to workers in the state’s civil service in installments.

This decision was revealed by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara, during a press conference in Umuahia on Tuesday.

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Akpara emphasized the administration’s commitment to addressing the issue of unpaid salaries, stating, “A worker deserves his wages.”

He acknowledged that the current administration inherited a significant debt in salary arrears, particularly in state-owned educational institutions.

“We need to jumpstart the economy of the state, and for the velocity of money to improve in Abia, we need to stop going to bed by 7 pm,” Akpara said.

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He added that the government is determined to clear the arrears while also ensuring progress in other sectors of the economy.

While promising that the salary arrears will be paid, Akpara clarified that the payments will be made in tranches to avoid disrupting other economic activities.

He stated that the government aims to start settling the arrears for workers in state-owned educational institutions by July or August, with the goal of completing the payments by the end of the year.

The affected institutions include Abia State University (ABSU), College of Education Arochukwu, College of Health Sciences, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, and Abia State University Teaching Hospital.

Akpara mentioned that the government has already paid salary arrears for April and May to workers in ABSU.

He criticized the past administration’s approach of providing subventions to institutions that still failed to pay salaries, resulting in prolonged arrears.

“In the past, there was something called generate and use, and we noticed that things were not being done properly,” he said.

He noted that the previous administration owed substantial amounts: 33 months to Abia Polytechnic, 22 months to College of Education Arochukwu, and 11 months to Abia State University.

The commissioner assured that the current administration has not taken any new loans since assuming office and has been managing its finances effectively.

He explained that the government is completing the loan application processes initiated by the previous administration with the Africa Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank.

Akpara also highlighted the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that verification exercises will continue as needed to maintain order in the civil service.

“We will continue to apply ourselves to the good works that the state requires to ensure that the people get the dividend of democracy,” he concluded.

The Sokoto State Government has dismissed rumors that Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration intends to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

In a statement released on Tuesday, government spokesman Abubakar Bawa condemned what he called a campaign to tarnish the relationship between the state government and the Sultanate Council.

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The denial comes after the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) alleged a plot by the state government to dethrone the Sultan. Vice President Kashim Shettima, addressing the issue at the North-West Peace and Security Summit in Katsina State on Monday, emphasized the importance of the Sultanate as an institution that must be protected and respected.

“In all developmental issues in this country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, I want to use him as a point of reference to recognize and appreciate all our royal fathers present here,” Shettima said. “And to the deputy governor of Sokoto, I have a simple message for you. Yes, the Sultan is the Sultan of Sokoto, but he is much more than that; he represents an idea, he is an institution, that all of us in this country need to jealously guard, protect, promote, preserve and project for the growth of our nation.”

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In its response, the Sokoto State Government described MURIC’s accusations as baseless, assuring the Muslim community that there is no plot to dethrone the Sultan, who also serves as the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

Bawa stated, “The present administration, like its predecessors, cherishes and respects the Sultanate Council long before MURIC was established. The Sultanate Council, with its longstanding historical importance, is revered by all the people of Sokoto State. Therefore, we hold the institution in very high regard and esteem.”

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Bawa further emphasized the cordial relationship between Governor Aliyu’s administration and the Sultanate Council, noting that the government frequently consults with the Sultan on state matters and values his input in policy decisions.

Addressing recent actions involving district heads, Bawa explained, “The affected District Heads were accused of behaviors such as land racketeering, aiding insecurity, and insubordination. A committee was formed to investigate, and based on their recommendations, the government acted in the public interest.”

The statement concludes by reiterating the government’s respect for the Sultanate Council and denying any intentions to undermine its leadership.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, to forfeit ₦10 million to the Federal Government.

This order comes as a result of charges related to the alleged abuse of the Naira.

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This resolution was reached through a settlement agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which was formalized before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Tuesday.

During the proceedings, EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala informed the court that both parties had agreed to an out-of-court settlement, which had been signed.

The defendant’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Chikaosolu Ojukwu, praised the EFCC’s decision to settle the matter amicably.

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He noted that Cubana Chief Priest was remorseful and committed to improving his conduct.

Ojukwu also requested that the charges be dismissed in light of the settlement. Justice Ogundare adopted the terms of the settlement and struck out the charges.

According to the terms of the settlement, under Section 14 (2) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004:

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1. The agreement pertains only to the findings of law violations in the pending charges against the defendant.
2. The defendant will enter into a bond with the EFCC to maintain good behavior and avoid any economic and financial crimes or related offenses.
3. The defendant will engage in rigorous campaigns to sensitize the public against the abuse of coins and notes issued under the CBN Act.
4. The defendant will post at least two video clips bi-monthly on his social media platforms, promoting the campaign against Naira abuse and related offenses.
5. The defendant will pay ₦10 million to the consolidated revenue fund of the Federation upon executing this agreement.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of $1,426,175.14 linked to Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Ayokunle Faji, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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This decision stems from an interim forfeiture order obtained by the EFCC on May 29, 2014, which temporarily seized the funds.

The court mandated that the order be published in newspapers to notify any potential claimants, providing them the opportunity to contest the forfeiture.

During Tuesday’s hearing, EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala stated that the commission had complied with the publication order, and no claims to the funds had been made.

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Buhari-Bala asserted that the money was obtained through unlawful activities by Emefiele, who allegedly received kickbacks for approving foreign exchange allocations to multinational firms during Nigeria’s forex crisis.

The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Emefiele used intermediaries to conceal the illegal proceeds. David Jayeoba, an EFCC investigator, disclosed in an affidavit that the money was traced through direct intelligence.

According to the investigation, entities paid substantial bribes to secure forex approvals, with transactions funneled through accounts under fictitious names.

The funds, initially amounting to $26,552,000, were deposited into an account at Titan Trust Bank. The deposits were made between November 2021 and September 2022, in increments ranging from $652,000 to $6,450,000.

The investigation revealed that the money was subsequently laundered through foreign accounts and then reintroduced into Nigeria.

The court’s decision to forfeit the remaining $1,426,175.14 to the Nigerian government is supported by Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-related Offences Act.

This ruling follows another recent forfeiture order involving properties worth N12.18 billion linked to Emefiele, issued by Justice C.J. Aneke.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has reaffirmed that the list of successful candidates for recruitment into the Constables cadre of the Nigeria Police Force remains valid and unchanged.

This clarification came from Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations of the PSC, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

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Ani addressed the rumors circulating on social media, which falsely claimed that the PSC had succumbed to pressure and canceled the final list of successful candidates.

He clarified that these statements did not originate from the PSC and urged the public to disregard them.

“The recruitment exercise was conducted in strict adherence to relevant guidelines and legal provisions,” Ani stated.

He added that the commission had recently completed a routine maintenance of its portal, which contains the list of successful candidates, and has since restored the portal to its original state.

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“The commission is fully in control of the situation and has restored the recruitment portal with its original contents intact.”

“Successful candidates should ignore these deliberate attempts by desperate groups to undermine the commission’s good work,” Ani emphasized.

He reiterated the PSC’s commitment to a merit-based and inclusive recruitment process, ensuring that federal character, gender sensitivity, and merit are the foundations of its recruitment efforts.

Ani also warned those behind the false statements to desist from attempting to undermine the recruitment exercise, stating that any individuals caught in such acts would face consequences.

The PSC continues to assure the public of its dedication to a transparent and fair recruitment process for the Nigeria Police Force.

President Bola Tinubu will engage in further consultations before making a final decision on the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers, according to Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation.

The announcement came after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

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Idris revealed that the report from the tripartite committee on the new wage was presented and deliberated upon during the FEC meeting.

However, it was set aside to allow the President to consult more extensively, particularly with state governors and the organized private sector.

“We discussed the new minimum wage issue at the council meeting. The new national minimum wage involves not just the federal government but also the state governments, local governments, and the organized private sector. The memo was stepped down to enable Mr. President to consult further, especially with the state governors and organized private sector,” Idris stated.

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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, also briefed the council on government finances and debts, emphasizing the importance of managing the country’s financial exposure in dollar terms.

“When we interrogate the figures over the first quarter of this year, starting from the middle of December 2023 to the end of March this year; if we want to be positive, what we will say is that the glass is half full. The total debt stock of Nigerians in dollar terms fell by 15 per cent, which is very positive. Any rating agency, creditor, or investor looking at that will see it as a positive move,” Edun said.

He noted that despite the fall in dollar-denominated debt, the exchange rates increased by 8 trillion, and the total external and domestic debt in Naira terms had risen by 25 per cent.

Edun stressed the government’s focus on ensuring robust revenue collection using technology and implementing stringent debt and expenditure controls.

“We are implementing expenditure controls, also very ably empowered by technology. Mr. President inherited a legacy of N3.4 trillion in outstanding ways and means which have been securitized on the eve of his administration. We are conducting a forensic audit of that figure because it’s a liability on which we have to pay interest,” Edun explained.

In the healthcare sector, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, announced that the council approved significant upgrades to key infrastructure.

This includes the engagement of a transaction adviser for a public-private partnership to expand and modernize six teaching hospitals.

The hospitals include the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, and University College Hospital, Ibadan, among others.

Pate also provided updates on ongoing disease outbreaks, particularly Cholera and yellow fever, with efforts coordinated by the National Centre for Disease Control in collaboration with state authorities.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, announced the procurement of Mikano CNG vehicles for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and two full-body scanners for Lagos and Abuja International airports.

Minister of Works David Umahi updated the council on road projects across the country, assuring that most ongoing construction and rehabilitation projects would be completed by October.