The NERC’s decision to adjust tariffs underscores the complex challenges facing Nigeria’s energy sector. With ongoing discussions and debates surrounding the issue, the path forward remains uncertain, as stakeholders continue to advocate for a fair and sustainable solution to the country’s electricity woes.
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As Supreme Court hears naira suit today, Ogun joins govs pushing for post-election deadline
There are indications more governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) states will file for joinder in a suit at the Supreme Court seeking to extend indefinitely the February 10 deadline for the use of the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes.
Indeed, the grand plan, it was learnt, was to push the deadline to post-election date in order to have an opportunity to use the old notes during the election (vote buying).
As hearing in the case begins today, Ogun State Government has also filed a separate application to be joined in the Supreme Court suit.
Some state governments are said to be warming up too, all aimed at frustrating the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from stopping the use of the old naira notes, especially since the new notes are not sufficiently available.
Three state governments, Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara, which instituted the suit, got the Supreme Court to suspend the February 10 deadline last week until the determination of the substantive suit.
The suit has been joined by Ondo, Kano, Ekiti states, and now Ogun State.
Rivers, according to a Thisday report, is also indicating its preparedness to join.
It also quoted sources at the Federal Ministry of Justice as saying that the design of the state governors joining the Supreme Court suit was to delay the judgement and have the old currency run till after the elections.
One of the sources, who pleaded to remain anonymous had said, “It is the design of the governors, who are adding many joinder suits, to delay the judgement and try to keep the state of affairs whereby the old currency would continue to be in use, while they lobby Supreme Court justices so that they cannot reach a judgement, and to push the Supreme Court decision on this matter until after the presidential election.
“They want to use the cash for the presidential election. So, they are adding more joinder suits to delay the outcome of the judgement so that the two currencies can work together. So, what we see is that the vote-buyers are fighting back.”
The Supreme Court being the final court in the country joined in the matter which had generated intense controversy, when it last week halted the federal government from proceeding to stop the use of the old banknotes from February 10, 2023.
Justice John Okoro, who gave the restraining order against the federal government, held that the order would subsist until today, when it would hear the case of the aggrieved states.
The action of the apex court was sequel to an exparte application brought before it on February 3, by the Attorneys-General of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states.
Since its order on February 8, the apex court has come under heavy knocks by some critics of the administration for venturing into what they believed was the exclusive of the executive, although some others including senior lawyers saw nothing wrong in the action of the apex court since the order made was a temporary one.
When the matter comes up today, it would be expected that the issue of jurisdiction which is very crucial in any case must first be resolved.
More worrisome is the issue of enforceability of the said order, which has further thrown the nation into confusion as some commercial banks and businesses despite the order of the apex court and the pledge by the federal government to obey the order have continued to reject the old naira notes.
Also, lawyers and litigants are being prevented from filing court processes at the Lagos High Court, as officials insisted they would only accept new naira notes.
In the suit marked: SC/CV/162/2023 and filed on February 3, plaintiffs are seeking among other things, a declaration that the demonetisation policy of the federation being currently carried out by the CBN under the directive of the president was not in compliance with the extant provisions of the constitution and CBN Act, 2007 and actual laws on the subject.
Besides, plaintiffs wanted a declaration that the three-month notice given by the federal government through the CBN under the directive of the president, the expiration of which was expected to render the old banknotes inadmissible as legal tender, was in gross violation of the provisions of Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007, which specifies that reasonable notice must be given before such a policy.
Although, Mr. Mahmood Magaji, SAN, the lawyer representing the AGF who was the sole respondent in the suit, was present during the hearing and subsequent grant of the ex parte application he however filed the government’s objection to the suit.
The Federal Government in the Notice of Preliminary Objection dated February 8, claimed that the Supreme Court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to entertain the suit in the first place.
According to their argument, the plaintiffs ought to have commenced the suit before a Federal High Court and not at the Supreme Court.
Besides, the respondent argued that “the plaintiffs have equally not shown reasonable cause of action” against it.
Besides the objection, the AGF, Abubakar Malami also stated that the federal government would take steps to vacate the order when the court resumes, on the grounds that the law allows the government to challenge any order that it is not pleased with and that the government will do so in this instant case by the instrumentality of the law.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Government, in a Motion of Notice filed by its counsel, Afe Babalola and Co, on February 13, sought to be joined as 4th plaintiff/applicant, in a suit number SC/CV/162/2023.
The applicant in the notice further stated that it sought to be a co-plaintiff for the just and effective determination in the suit instituted by the other three plaintiffs.
The plaintiff also notified the Supreme Court that it would rely on all the processes already filed in this action in addition to the affidavit in support of the application.
Listing 13 grounds upon which the application was predicated, the plaintiff submitted among others, that the implementation of the Federal Government-sanctioned policy had thus far negatively affected the citizens all over the federation which includes Ogun State, and left several residents of the state stranded, cash strapped and frustrated leading to riots, grievous interruption of commercial activities, and a gradual economic downturn in the state.
“The implementation of the policy has totally paralyzed and brought to standstill the economic activities of Ogun State and also severely impaired the government’s ability to deliver on its economic agenda to the people,” it stated.
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Why Atiku is afraid of the coastal highway project success – Presidency
Why Atiku is afraid of the coastal highway project success – Presidency
The presidency announced yesterday that Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election, is opposed to the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway because it will end his presidential campaign in 2027.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, “If not blinded by political ill-will, Atiku knows that the right thing for him to do is to applaud President Bola Tinubu for the ambitious and audacious Lagos-Calabar Highway, which the Federal Executive Council authorised.”
In a statement released on Sunday, Atiku accused President Tinubu of a conflict of interest in awarding the project to Hitech, a company owned by his business partner, the Chagoury family.
The former vice president also revealed that Seyi Tinubu is a board member of one of the companies owned by Chagoury family, saying that demolishing structures to give way for the coastal highway will impede foreign direct investment into the country.
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But reacting to Atiku’s statement, Onanuga said there was no conflict of interest anywhere. Seyi Tinubu is an adult and can conduct his lawful business anywhere in the country or elsewhere.
The special adviser also explained that the statement credited to Atiku that Nigeria is now the fourth economy in Africa was no longer news but added quickly that the country would soon bounce back to become the first economy in the continent.
He said: “Atiku has been waging an unrelenting war against this all-important and transformative project for no justifiable reasons other than bad politics.
“Atiku knows that its grand success and other projects to be unfurled, such as the Badagry-Sokoto superhighway, will be a major boost for President Tinubu and finally upend his perennial presidential ambition.”
He also said that the IMF’s reclassification of the Nigerian economy as the fourth largest in Africa is stale news. This happened because of the devaluation of the naira and President Tinubu’s determined effort to set the economy on sustainable growth.
“Under President Tinubu’s progressive, bold, inventive, and innovative leadership, Nigeria will bounce back to where it rightfully belongs as Africa’s largest market and biggest economy.”
Why Atiku is afraid of the coastal highway project success – Presidency
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Electricity customers insist on reversal of tariff increase, scorn reduction
Electricity customers insist on reversal of tariff increase, scorn reduction
Nigerians across various sectors have voiced their dissatisfaction with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) decision to reduce the tariff payable by Band A customers. Despite the reduction from N225/kWh to N206.8/kWh, stakeholders including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, electricity consumers, and civil society organizations are calling for a complete reversal to the subsidy era tariff.
The initial tariff hike, implemented just 33 days prior, saw a staggering 240 per cent increase in electricity tariffs for Band A customers. This move, which withdrew subsidies completely from Band A consumers, was met with widespread criticism and opposition from various quarters.
While the Federal Government cited potential savings of N1.5tn as justification for the tariff adjustment, concerns have been raised about the impact on consumers, particularly the financially vulnerable. The House of Representatives, organized labor, and the Nigerian Bar Association have all condemned the hike, with calls for its suspension and reversal.
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Defending the increase, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu warned of a nationwide blackout within three months if the tariff hike was not implemented. Despite opposition, government spokesperson Florence Eke asserted that the tariff adjustment would remain in place.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the NERC announced an eight per cent reduction in tariffs for Band A customers, attributing the decision to changes in macroeconomic indices, particularly the appreciation of the naira against the dollar. Following the NERC’s directive, several electricity distribution companies (Discos), including Abuja, Ikeja, and Ibadan, promptly announced the implementation of the tariff reduction.
While the reduction may provide some relief to consumers, stakeholders remain skeptical, emphasizing the need for broader reforms in the energy sector. Critics argue that mere tariff reductions do not address fundamental issues such as inadequate fuel supply and the overall inefficiency of the electricity supply system.
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Nigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct
Nigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct
In an unexpected turn of events, the Governing Council of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has suspended Vice-Chancellor Augustine Angba on allegations of severe misconduct.
The decision was reached at a meeting of the Governing Council on Monday, May 6, 2024, where they resolved to release Angba of his duties with immediate effect.
The council has nominated Professor Stephen Oshang of the Faculty of Agriculture to serve as the interim Vice-Chancellor until further notice.
The suspension comes on the heels of a vote-of-no-confidence passed by some staff members of the university on January 17, 2024.
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The staff, who were protesting the non-payment of five months’ salary arrears, had carried placards with slogans like “This Management and the VC must go” and “We don’t want them any longer.”
Angba had previously criticized the staff unions, claiming that four members had hijacked the union and incited others to protest on the streets.
However, the Governing Council’s decision suggests that they found merit in the allegations against the embattled Vice-Chancellor.
Despite several attempts, Vanguard efforts to reach the university’s spokesperson, Mr. Onen Onen, for comments on the matter were unsuccessful, as his phone line was not answered at the time of filing this report.
Similarly, Professor Angba’s phone line was busy when contacted.
Nigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct
(Vanguard)
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