BIG STORY
Ajaero: Federal Government Knocks Labour As Strike Records Partial Compliance
Published
2 years agoon

- Tinubu not behind attack on Ajaero, escalating strike nationwide unreasonable – AGF office
- Lagos, Rivers, Kwara, Bauchi workers shun Labour, Kano, Edo, Delta, A’Ibom, others comply
The Federal Government on Tuesday berated the organised Labour over the ongoing nationwide strike declared by union leaders following the assault on the Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero.
Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Special Assistant to the Minister of the Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, in an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, said the strike was not in the interest of the country.
But President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo who also appeared on Arise Television, noted that the Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodimma, had not apologised over the brutalisation of Ajaero.
He said this as nationwide strike declared by the organised Labour recorded partial compliance in several states on Tuesday.
Faulting the Labour leaders, Ogundele said, “Declaring a strike at this time will not be in the interest of the country. The country is trying to regain economic control and to also recover in several sectors. Instead of looking for at how we progress as a nation, there is no need for us to try to be involved in actions that will constitute a clog in the process of the country.”
When asked if the FG had not talked to the labour unions before it got to this stage of protest, Ogundele said who spoke on what he described as the genesis of the strike, said, “They (the labour unions) claimed that the NLC president was attacked in Imo State and I understand that there was an order of the court banning them from assembling or protesting in Imo. But they went against the order of the court by assembling. The government of the day is not out to promote violence but the labour unions have not come out to say the president of the country had a hand in what happened on that day. Why are they now trying to escalate what happened in the state to the whole federation?”
Justifying the strike, Osifo stated, “We allowed some of the essential services workers to work because we are also patriotic people at the end of the day. From our assessment, the strike has been successful based on our template and if the government continuously foot drags, more institutions will be shut down.
On the court order stopping the strike, Osifo said, “The government can not continually take black market injunctions to cripple Labour. They will have to arrest the entire Nigerians.”
But there was partial compliance to the strike. While workers in Lagos, Rivers, Kwara, Bauchi, Zamfara, and several other states completely shunned the strike as offices, schools, and banks opened, there was partial compliance in some states where some sectors partly obeyed the strike directive.
Partial observance was recorded in Anambra, Ondo, Kaduna, Borno, and Ogun states as banks and overnment offices were open in some of them while workers did not report at work in others.
The strike was declared by the NLC and the TUC to protest the alleged brutalisation of the NLC president, during a workers‘ protest in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1.
Banks, government and private-owned schools, and tertiary institutions across Lagos did not obey the strike directive.
Also, business owners and parastatals carried on with their activities throughout Tuesday.
Some schools in Lagos, including Omole Grammar School, Olusosun Primary Health Centre, Oregun, and Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, were open for services.
Banks in the Oregun, Ikeja axis also opened their doors to customers.
However, students at the University of Lagos, Akoka, were sent away from their classrooms.
A student in the Department of Social Work, who gave his name simply as Emeka, said, “We came for a lecture at 9am but till 11am, we didn’t see our lecturer so we went back to our hostels while those leaving
off-campus went back home after we were told there was a strike.”
The Lagos State University, Ojo, did not participate in the strike as it went on with its ongoing examinations.
Students were seen reading and moving in and out of halls to sit for their exams.
A visit to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control office in the Oshodi area of the state also revealed that workers went about with their daily activities.
Public and private schools in Lagos state were open for regular school activities with no sign of strike observed.
Some teachers, who spoke to our correspondent, said they were aware of the directive by the NLC but had no reason to comply.
A teacher at a technical school, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “We have a full house here. All our teachers are
working, and all our students are here. We heard about the strike, but, as you can see, we are not on strike.”
It was also observed that some workers at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, were at their duty posts, while some offices only had a handful of staffers hanging around their offices when our correspondent visited.
The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State chapter of the NLC, Mr Ismail Adejumo, said the level of compliance would increase on Wednesday (today).
“We have a substantial level of compliance today (Tuesday). Most of our affiliates have complied and we are mobilising others to join the struggle.
“Both the NLC and the TUC are in this struggle together.
We are currently moving around to monitor and enforce compliance among all our sister affiliates. We are determined to ensure that there is total compliance,’’ he stated.
Rivers workers
In Rivers State, the labour action recorded no compliance as schools, banks, and the state secretariat were open to the public.
Banks on the entire stretch of Aba Road and Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt attended to customers.
State workers said they were aware of the nationwide strike but that they had yet to receive any directive from their unions in the state to join the industrial action.
Similarly, normal activities were observed at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital where the staff attended to patients.
But the Nigerian Ports Authority’s entrance was barricaded by some union leaders who also prevented human and vehicular entry.
They used a MAC truck and several private cars to block the roundabout from the industry road axis of Port Harcourt all the way to the gate of Ports.
Following the development, some staff of the NPA were denied entry into the complex.
The state Chairman of the NLC, Alex Agwanwor, and his TUC counterpart, Okechukwu Onyefuru, had in a joint statement said they would comply fully with the strike directive.
In Kwara State, civil servants, including judicial workers, boycotted the strike as the ministries, departments, agencies, and courts operated in Ilorin, the state capital, throughout the day.
However, federal workers and bank officials did not report for work as their offices were under lock and key.
Commercial banks which opened to the public in the morning later shut their gates to customers following a directive from their union, while students who had earlier resumed classes were sent home by their teachers.
Most bank customers were left disappointed as the ATM machines were not dispensing cash.
Electricity consumers were not spared the pains of the strike as the Ibadan Electricity Distribution company locked its offices in Challenge and Baboko business centres.
The banner of the National Union of Electricity Employees was displayed at the gates of the business facility.
The security men informed the customers that the workers were on strike.
However, commercial transport operators in the state did not join the strike.
The NLC Chairman in the state, Saheed Olayinka, said that though some workers reported in their offices early in the day, they later left for their homes.
He said that a committee had been put in place by the NLC to monitor the strike, adding that members had been going around the offices to ensure that workers complied with the directive on the strike.
Bauchi schools
There was partial compliance in Bauchi State as some banks, schools, and filling stations opened for business in the metropolis.
The Fidelity Bank branch located close to Shagari Plaza opened to its customers but Taj, Access, and Eco banks located on Bank Road shut their gates.
A teacher at a government primary school disclosed that they were asked to send the pupils away and go home.
She said, “We opened our school today and we did our academic activities as usual but we got a circular from the Local Government Education Authority that we should close down. But because when the memo came we had a few minutes to close and the pupils were to write a test, so I just gave them the test and we closed.”
The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Ibrahim Inuwa, said that their members complied with the directives.
In Makurdi, Benue State, banks, schools, and the state secretariat were made to shut their gates as labour leaders in the state enforced the strike directive.
Primary and post-primary school pupils who were on their way to school were sent back and banks were forced to close.
Leaders of the NLC and TUC, Terungwa Igbe and Gideon Akaa, respectively described the level of compliance as ‘substantial.’
Some civil servants protested the action of the labour leaders and described it as ‘selfish.’
A worker, who simply identified himself as Amenger said, “I don’t know what has become of labour these days; because Ajaero was manhandled in Imo, all Nigerians must suffer.
“What did Ajaero do concerning those people recruited by (ex-governor Samuel) Ortom who were laid off by (Governor Hyacinth) Alia? Or what did he do when workers in Benue were not paid for several months?
Reacting to the question, Akaa replied, “One of the slogans of the labour union is an injury to one is injury to all,” adding that what labour was doing was to engage the government and stated, noting that what happened to workers in Benue was not peculiar to the state.
Workers in Enugu also snubbed the strike but the state NLC Chairman, Fabian Nwigbo, said they were working on how to mobilise them for the strike.
“We are at a meeting and I am trying to prepare a letter to galvanise the workers for the strike. You know the order is coming from the national secretariat,” he said.
However, it was observed that banks and offices were rendering services to their customers.
Similarly, academic activities were in full swing in both private and government schools.
The strike recorded partial compliance in the Federal Capital Territory as banks and the Abuja airport remained open.
In observance of the strike, members of staff and visitors to the National Assembly, Abuja, were prevented from accessing the complex.
The Federal Secretariat was notably less busy than usual as many of the offices, among which are the Ministry offices of Education and Health, were closed.
Similarly, banks in the area including Zenith, Access, and First City Monument banks, were closed, and only spotted a few customers at the banks’ ATMs.
Bayelsa workers
Civil servants in Bayelsa State stayed away from their offices leaving the secretariat deserted.
Many public schools were also closed, but a few private schools opened their gates to students.
It was also observed that some banks including GTB, Access, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, and Keystone attended to customers in Yenagoa, the state capital.
There was full compliance in Plateau State as the offices were shut.
The union leaders in the state were said to have locked the federal and state secretariats around 5am in compliance with the directive from their headquarters.
Staff of the University of Jos who reported for work in the morning were seen returning home before 10 am.
The state NLC Chairman, Eugene Manji, declared that the workers would continue to observe the strike until otherwise directed by their national leaders.
In Edo, the state secretariat was shut on Tuesday by the NLC executives in the state.
The NLC Chairman, Odion Olaye, explained that he had sent his members to schools, the airport, petrol stations, and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Corporation to enforce compliance with the strike action.
Banks along Akpapava, Mission roads, forestry, and other areas were also shut down with customers trying to get money from a few ATMs that dispensed cash.
At Benin Airport, an official said planes were landing and taking off as the facility was operating without any hitches.
In Warri, Delta State, labour leaders were seen locking the gates to the NPA; the Warri South Local Government secretariat was equally shut down.
The situation was not different in Kano where the Audu Bako State Secretariat which houses most of the ministries, was also closed down.
Staff members who reported for work were turned back even as banks and other financial institutions were locked down.
Bayero University students who were writing their first-semester examination were also affected by the strike as a number of them who went to the campus could not sit for their exam due to the strike.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Ministry of Education has suspended the 2023 Secondary Schools Qualifying Examination scheduled till further notice.
Workers in Zamfara State completely shunned the strike directive as many of them reported for duty.
Some of the workers said they were no longer in support of the labour union leaders as, according to them, “The union leaders are only fighting for themselves.”
Ilyasu Mohammed said it would be a mistake for any civil servant to embark on a strike as directed by the labour union leaders.
He said, “We are tired of wasting our time going on strike which will at the end of the day become a fruitless effort. The labour leaders will use the opportunity to negotiate with the government, get money and later suspend the strike”.
“This has happened several times and nothing has been achieved. We are tired and we will not embark on strike as directed by the labour union”.
Another worker, Musa Garba, vowed, “I will not join the strike because it will not change anything.”
Findings further showed there was compliance with the strike order in Akwa Ibom, Osun, Ebonyi, Cross River, and Niger states while the labour action was partially successful in Anambra, Ondo, Kaduna, Borno, Ogun, and a few other states.
In Anambra State, there were full economic and commercial activities were recorded in the commercial city of Onitsha, as banks opened for customers while primary and secondary schools were also in session.
Also, some commercial banks in Akure, the Ondo State capital did not totally comply as they attended to customers. Similarly, teachers in some public schools in the state were also in the class teaching their pupils.
The NLC Chairman in Ebonyi State, Prof. Egwu Oguguo said the exercise recorded over 90 per cent compliance by workers in the state In Kaduna State, the headquarters of Kaduna Electric Distribution Company along Bank Road by Ahmadu Bello Way in the metropolis was shut to customers and workers as the officials of the National Union of Electricity Employees ensured that the main gate was firmed locked, but banks in the state attended to customers.
But there was total compliance in Delta State. The state secretariat popularly called Prof. Chike Edozien secretariat, was locked.
However, many workers in government ministries and other establishments in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Tuesday, were busy doing their duties.
The strike however recorded full compliance in Niger State as most public places were shut down.
Schools and hospitals in Ogun State complied with the directive of the organised Labour, banks shunned it. There was partial compliance in Bauchi State as some banks, schools, and filling stations opened in the Bauchi metropolis on Monday.
Labour berates Presidency
Meanwhile, the NLC has said the strike is not a blackmail of the Presidency.
The Congress further noted that President Bola Tinubu-led administration ought to be grateful for the “uncommon” patience displayed by the Organized Labour despite the sufferings faced by citizens following the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit known as petrol.
The NLC said this in a statement on Tuesday signed by its head of information, Benson Upah, in response to the statement on Monday by the Special Adviser to the president on Information and Strategy, Chief Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga had said the nationwide strike by the Organized Labour was an attempt to blackmail the Presidency.
But the NLC said, “We would have ignored Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy because we know him plus his penchant for unwarranted bellicosity and belligerence.
“We could equally have forgiven him, knowing full well that overzealous hirelings like him easily go into overdrive in the mistaken belief that they’d earn the confidence of their principals.’’
Credit: The Punch
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JUST IN: US Clarifies New Visa Rule For Nigerians, Cites Global Security Standards
Published
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July 11, 2025
The United States government says its decision to limit most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry and a three-month validity is based on “global security standards”, not a retaliatory move.
A statement released by the US Department of State on Tuesday said the updated policy, which took effect on July 8, 2025, applies to new visa issuances and will not affect visas granted before that date.
“U.S. visa criteria and standards are designed to protect the integrity of U.S. immigration systems. These standards are based on global technical and security benchmarks. The U.S. Mission is working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria can meet the criteria,” the statement reads.
The statement explained that visa reciprocity is subject to continuous review and can be adjusted at any time, including changes to the number of permitted entries and visa validity periods.
The new visa policy affects only non-immigrant and non-diplomatic categories, meaning most short-term travelers for business, tourism, and study will now receive visas valid for just three months and for one entry into the US.
The announcement generated mixed reactions with reports linking the move to Nigeria’s stance on third-world deportees.
But a statement by the US mission in Nigeria on Friday said the changes are part of a global effort to align visa policies with security priorities, not a country-specific decision.
“This reduction is not the result of any nation’s stance on third-country deportees, introduction of e-visa policies, or affiliations with groups like BRICS,” the statement reads.
“The reduction in validity is part of an ongoing global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries using technical and security benchmarks to safeguard U.S. immigration systems.
“We value our longstanding partnership with Nigeria and remain committed to working closely with the Nigerian public and government officials to help them meet those criteria and benchmarks, thereby ensuring safe, lawful, and mutually beneficial travel between our nations.”
Since taking office, US President Donald Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders aimed at deporting millions of “illegal immigrants” — many of whom are asylum seekers — back to their countries of origin.
Diplomatic sources had said Trump has been putting pressure on many countries to serve as temporary homes for asylum seekers until their cases are treated, and this usually takes up to seven years.
A few countries have already received some deportees. However, Nigeria has refused to be part of the arrangement. Discussions took place but were unsuccessful owing to Nigeria’s unwillingness to accept non-citizens, many of whom had a number of years left to finalise their asylum applications.
The sources said Nigeria’s refusal to accept asylum seekers from the United States is partly responsible for the recent visa restrictions.
BIG STORY
Autonomy Standoff: Governors Get N4.5tn Local Government Funds One Year After Supreme Court Ruling
Published
19 hours agoon
July 11, 2025
Exactly one year after the Supreme Court granted full autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, the Federal Government continues to route allocations through state governments.
An analysis by The Punch reveals that state governors have retained control over council funds amounting to N4.5tn, in defiance of the historic ruling that mandated direct disbursement of funds to local governments.
On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court declared that local governments should receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account, ruling that the previous practice of passing funds through state governments was unconstitutional.
Following the verdict, the Federal Government set up an inter-agency committee to enforce the decision and instructed the Central Bank of Nigeria to create dedicated accounts for each of the 774 local government councils to enable direct payments.
But one year later, findings by The Punch indicate that the directive remains largely unimplemented.
Allocations to local governments are still being funneled through state governments, with the process hampered by delays and disagreements involving the Central Bank, state governments, local council authorities, and other stakeholders.
Data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee shows that between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of N4.496tn was allocated to local government councils.
This represents 24.87 per cent of the N18.074tn shared among the three tiers of government over the 12-month period.
According to the monthly communiqués released by FAAC, N337.02bn was allocated to LGs in July 2024, N343.70bn in August, N306.53bn in September, N329.86bn in October, and N355.62bn in November.
In December, local governments received N402.55bn, followed by N361.75bn in January 2025, N434.57bn in February, and N410.56bn in March.
Subsequent allocations included N387bn in April, N406.63bn in May, and N419.97bn in June.
Although the percentage of the total allocation going to local governments has remained steady, ranging between 24 and 25 per cent each month, the method of disbursement continues to breach the Supreme Court’s judgment.
An official at the Office of The Attorney General of the Federation, told The PUNCH that the AGF had done his bit, stating that the FG set up a committee to work on ensuring that the LGs were granted full autonomy.
Our source said, “The Attorney General is not the one in charge of disbursing of funds. The implementation committee raised by the Federal Government is chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. AGF is just a member there and he is not even the secretary. The Minister of Finance is there.
“The AGF has already gone to court and won the case and the moratorium, which was given to the governors before, was for them to conduct their local government elections, which I think all of them have complied with.
“The committee that was raised, ALGON is part of it, Labour is part of it. Those are the people to direct some of these questions to.”
The General Secretary of the Association of Local Governments Employees, Muhammed Abubakar, while speaking with The PUNCH on Thursday evening said the association was patiently waiting on the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to give updates on the documents submitted to President Bola Tinubu.
According to Abubakar, Tinubu listened to the concerns of the governors and mandated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to work on the bottlenecks affecting the implementation of the judgment.
“No one has gone quiet. The process is still ongoing. The governors had some concerns and the President gave a listening ear to the governors. The President then mandated the SGF and AGF to work on the bottlenecks and concerns raised by the governors. They have communicated it to the Presidency. We are just waiting for the SGF to share updates on whether the President has received all the details.”
Confirming the delay in implementing the court ruling, the Gombe State, NLC chairman, Yusuf Bello, said nothing has changed nationwide.
He noted that appointed chairmen still lacked control over funds, while autonomy remained elusive.
According to him, only local government elections conducted by the FG can bring meaningful change and improve grassroots governance.
He said, “Does any chairman have the right to touch the money? It’s still pocketed, it’s the same scenario all over the nation.”
A source at the NULGE Gombe office under anonymity said that the challenge of implementation is nationwide.
He said, “I can confirm that all paper works have been completed. Implementation is not only a Gombe issue, it’s nationwide. Gombe is not one of the states where the executive puts eyes on the resources each LGA is allowed to spend freely.”
It was also gathered that the 16 LGs in Kwara State were yet to open accounst with the CBN.
The Chairman, NULGE, Kwara chapter, Seun Oyinlade, disclosed this in a telephone conversation with Punch correspondent in Ilorin on Tuesday.
“The local government chairmen are yet to open accounts with the CBN.”
Chairman of the state branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Saheed Olayinka said he was not aware that the LGs had opened the CBN account, adding that the accounts might be opened this month.
It was further gathered that the 44 LGs in Kano State were yet to comply with the directive of the CBN on the opening of accounts at the apex bank.
A reliable source at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH, “To my knowledge, none of the 44 councils in the state has opened accounts with the CBN.
“We heard that the apex bank has opened an account for each of the local governments and what remains is to regularise the accounts, which is yet to be done,” the source said.
Our source accused the local government council chairmen and the NULGE officials of not making moves or efforts to ensure that the councils opened the accounts as directed by the apex bank because of what he described as personal benefits.
The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, confirmed that local governments in the state were yet to begin receiving statutory allocations directly from the FG.
He described the issue as national, adding that most northern states had not completed the internal requirements needed for full compliance, including setting up LG service commissions.
Waiya said Kano has made progress by establishing its own commission, chaired by Malam Ibrahim Jibrin.
He added that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had granted LGs autonomy to manage resources independently.
The Chairman, NULGE, Bayelsa State, Comrade ThankGod Singer, says states and local government councils all over Nigeria operated the Joint Account Allocation Committee.
Singer said several local government councils were yet to open dedicated accounts with the CBN but added that there was no problem in Bayelsa as the state government and the local government councils sat at JAAC to manage the allocations.
“JAAC is still being operated all over the country and here in Bayelsa State, we have no problem. Salaries are being paid, projects are going on and the state government is assisting the local governments in the payment of teachers’ salaries,” he stated.
According to The Punch, Benue State Government was yet to comply with the Supreme Court ruling.
Despite public claims by the government that autonomy had been implemented, findings by our correspondent indicated otherwise, with several local government chairmen in the state dismissing such claims as false and misleading.
Three council chairmen, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the administration’s declaration of local government autonomy was a mere facade.
One chairman from Benue North East expressed disappointment with the recent statement by the state ALGON chairman, Maurice Orwourgh, who claimed that local councils in the state operated autonomously.
He stated, “If autonomy truly exists, why does the state government still allocate us N10m monthly as security votes? The least LGs receive is N385m monthly from federal allocation—why do we need state subvention?”
Another chairman from Benue North West lamented that none of the 23 LGAs has executed any meaningful project since the current administration came on board.
“Not even a culvert has been constructed,” he said, describing the government’s position as lip service.
From Benue South, a chairman linked the denial of LG funds to rising insecurity.
“What can N10m do as security vote in a month? It can’t even cover fuel costs,” he said.
Former governor Samuel Ortom also criticised the incumbent Governor Hyacinth Alia for flouting the Supreme Court judgment.
In a statement issued through his media adviser, Terver Akase, Ortom questioned why the governor is still controlling council finances, despite the court’s directive.
“That none of the 23 LGAs has constructed even a single culvert shows how starved they are of their funds,” he said.
The NULGE in Nasarawa State said the 13 LGs in the state had long opened their accounts, and ready to receive direct allocation from the FG.
The chairman of NULGE in the state, Adamu Sharhabilu, however, noted that the local councils were yet to receive their allocations directly from the FG.
He said, “At the moment, there are currently no obvious plans by the Nasarawa State government to shortchange the local government workers or frustrate the LG Autonomy implementation in the state.
“I can inform you that Governor Abdullahi Sule has been expressing his commitment to work towards ensuring that local government workers get what is due to them and also enjoy all the benefits of the LG autonomy.
“However, the FG has not given the LGs a single Kobo in Nasarawa. The money has always been sent to the joint accounts. No local government has received funds directly from the Federation Account.”
The Bauchi State chapter Chairman of NULGE, Muhammad Yunusa, said despite the Supreme Court’s judgment, local governments in the state have also not been able to open bank accounts with CBN.
He explained that the union was working tirelessly to ensure the implementation of the judgment.
“The union has submitted a memorandum to the Senate and plans to do the same with the House of Representatives, all on the matter.”
Also, the Jigawa State NLC chairman, Sanusi Maigatari, said LGs in the state had been receiving their funds from federal allocation prior to the apex court order.
However, he couldn’t shed light on whether the LGs had opened bank accounts with the CBN for direct allocation reception.
Maigatari advised the state government to fill gaps necessary for enhancement of financial and administrative autonomy of LGs for state development.
On his part, the NULGE chairman in Jigawa, Abubakar Shitu, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the state had almost achieved 95 per cent LG autonomy.
“Unlike in some other places, here in Jigawa, we don’t have issues with LG financial autonomy but administrative autonomy,” he said.
He highlighted some deductions made by the state government, including two per cent contribution to Sule Lamido University and one per cent to the state Local Government Service Commission, which he clarified were duly recognised by the law of the state.
“These deductions include 2.5 per cent for the Ministry of Local Government. Despite these deductions, Jigawa State LGs seem to be functioning relatively autonomously,” he stated.
Shitu also emphasised that the problem with LG autonomy lied with the FG, citing the lack of a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment.
However, while other LGs lament the delay in implementation of the ruling, the Adamawa State Chairman, ALGON, and Chairman, Toungo LG, Suleiman Gankuba, confirmed to The PUNCH that councils received federal allocations directly from the FG.
“Governor Ahmadu Fintiri granted local governments autonomy before the Supreme Court judgment, so for us in Adamawa, councils’ autonomy is not a new issue to us,” he said.
The state’s Commissioner of Finance, Augustina Wandamiya, told The PUNCH, “Adamawa is the first state to implement local autonomy without waiting for the Supreme Court judgment because Governor Fintiri believes in the rule of law and separation of powers,” she said.
SANs fault non-implementation
Some of Nigeria’s most prominent constitutional lawyers have faulted the continued disregard for the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy, one year after the landmark judgement was delivered.
Senior Advocates of Nigeria, in separate interviews, described the non-compliance as a blatant affront to the rule of law, with some calling out both the Federal and state governments for frustrating enforcement.
Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN) condemned what he described as a deliberate effort by state governors to circumvent and disobey the Supreme Court’s judgement.
He noted that the ruling was unambiguous in declaring that allocations from the Federation Account under Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution should no longer be routed through the State Joint Local Government Account, but paid directly to the councils.
“The judgment was clear, as clean as a whistle. It was meant to end the practice where governors deduct funds at source, starving the third tier of government of the resources needed to serve grassroots communities,” he said.
Ozekhome also pointed to the power imbalance between state governors and local government chairmen, many of whom, he argued, never truly won elections but were appointed and remain beholden to the governors.
“The story has not changed. The Supreme Court judgement is so far consigned to mere Law Reports,” he added.
Femi Falana (SAN) took aim at the Federal Government, particularly the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), whom he accused of failing to enforce the very judgment he once celebrated. Falana questioned why the AGF had not invoked the provisions of the Constitution to compel compliance, especially after publicly warning that non-compliance would amount to treason.
“The Central Bank asked LGs to open accounts, and they did. Then they were told to provide two years of audited reports. But how can councils produce audit reports for periods when they never directly handled funds?” he queried.
Citing Section 287 of the Constitution, Falana maintained that judgments of the Supreme Court are binding on all persons and authorities and must be obeyed regardless of convenience or politics.
In contrast, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) offered a nuanced view, admitting that while the judgment had good intentions, it contradicted existing constitutional provisions.
He explained that the Constitution currently recognises the State Joint Local Government Account, and until an amendment is made, direct payment to LGs may technically breach the law.
“The Supreme Court meant well, but it ignored the reality of what the Constitution provides. The Constitution has to be amended before that judgment can be fully and legitimately enforced,” he said.
Another senior lawyer, Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), described the ruling as a landmark affirmation of local government autonomy but lamented its hollow implementation.
He said that state governments remain unwilling to give up their control, both politically and financially, over local councils.
“The states are still running caretaker committees and controlling joint accounts in violation of both the Constitution and the judgment,” he stated.
Adedeji also placed part of the blame on the Federal Government, noting that it is the constitutional duty of the Attorney General to ensure enforcement.
“What we are seeing is a lack of political will by both tiers of government. Until they commit to respecting constitutional governance, this ruling will remain a legal milestone with no practical impact,” he added.
Also, Paul Obi (SAN) stated, “It’s quite unfortunate that despite the clear provisions of the constitution on this subject matter and the extant judgment of the Supreme Court on this, the governors are deliberately and intentionally kicking against the judgment and observing the directives more in breach than in conformity.
“It’s quite sad, but that’s what happens when you have politicians that are self-centered and fight only for their personal interest and not the common good. Truly sad.”
Credit: The Punch
BIG STORY
Corrupt Politicians Using Crypto Wallets To Launder Money — EFCC Chairman Olukoyede
Published
19 hours agoon
July 11, 2025
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has alerted the public that some corrupt Nigerian politicians are now concealing their illegal wealth in cryptocurrencies to avoid detection by anti-graft agencies.
Olukoyede explained that the EFCC had identified a rising pattern in which dishonest public officials were using cryptocurrency wallets to hide embezzled funds and carry out illicit financial transactions.
He disclosed this on Thursday during an event marking Africa Anti-Corruption Day.
The event, monitored by The PUNCH, was held concurrently in Abuja, Lagos, and Ibadan, Oyo State.
Other speakers at the gathering expressed concern that Nigerians frequently fall victim to crypto-related scams, including the CBEX fraud, which saw citizens lose more than N1.3tn.
Olukoyede stated, “Virtual asset fraud is on the rise. Our findings show that fraudulent politicians are already perfecting schemes and hiding their loot in cryptocurrencies to beat the investigative blackness of anti-corruption agencies. Stolen funds and unexplained wealth are being warehoused in wallets and payment for services are being done through this window.”
He cautioned that although virtual assets have revolutionised global financial transactions, they have also opened new channels for money laundering and economic crimes.
He said, “Technology is moving at a supersonic speed around the world. The advent of virtual assets is a response to one of the qualities of money as a store of value like it is known in our elementary economies. However, as with every progressive innovation, fraud starts to usually evolve, evolve ways of perverting their genuine purposes.”
Olukoyede noted that the EFCC was not overwhelmed by these new methods, as ongoing training and intelligence collaboration had empowered the commission to detect and pursue such activities.
“But for us in the EFCC, virtual asset fraud and investment scams are not hard nuts to crack. Proactive and broad-based training and intelligence are bringing fraudulent schemes to the fore,” he said.
At the Lagos event, Olukoyede, represented by Chief of Staff/Lagos Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, C. E. Michael Nzekwe, noted that virtual assets had become powerful tools for fraudsters and corrupt officials.
He observed that crypto fraud was growing both in Nigeria and across Africa, with criminals taking advantage of the anonymity and borderless features of blockchain platforms.
He pointed out that although virtual assets were created for convenience and as a value store, some individuals had repurposed them for illegal use.
Speaking in Ibadan, where the event was held at the Jagz Hotel conference hall, Olukoyede, represented by Acting Zonal Director of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate, Hauwa Ringin, said virtual asset fraud was spreading rapidly across Africa, much like investment fraud.
In Abuja, Muhammad Abdullahi, Deputy Governor of Economic Policy, representing Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Yemi Cardoso, revealed that Nigeria had witnessed a surge in crypto transactions, raising systemic financial risks.
He said over $56bn worth of crypto transactions were recorded in Nigeria between July 2022 and June 2023.
He said, “In Nigeria, over $56bn in crypto-related transactions were recorded between July 2022 and June 2023, making the country Africa’s digital transaction leader.”
However, he warned that this expansion had negative consequences.
He cited the CBN’s 2024 Financial Stability Report, which showed a 45% increase in financial fraud, with 70% of recorded losses linked to digital platforms and unregulated virtual asset services.
“Furthermore, over 30 Ponzi-style investment schemes exploiting digital currency narratives have been flagged by the SEC and other agencies,” he said.
He warned that these trends could tarnish Nigeria’s image on the international financial scene.
“These developments pose major risks, including loss of consumer confidence, weakening of financial integrity, and reputational challenges for Nigeria in the global financial system,” he said.
Cardoso noted that the CBN and the Securities and Exchange Commission had established a joint task force to oversee the virtual asset space, with backing from the EFCC and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
He said, “We have intensified our regulatory and supervisory responses in several critical areas. Namely, on virtual accounts, following an extensive review of the operations of virtual accounts by deposit money banks and their fintech partners, we uncovered systemic weaknesses. These include poor KYC, knowing of customer practices, and insufficient transaction monitoring. We have acted to ensure that all firms strengthen KYC processes, improve oversight of fintech partnerships, and adhere to AML-CFT obligations.”
Cardoso also said the CBN was collaborating with the EFCC to develop a National Virtual Asset Wallet to store confiscated digital assets.
He emphasised the need for public education, particularly targeting youths who are often misled by fraudulent investment platforms.
“Technology-driven financial crimes are borderless, faceless, and fast-moving. Combating them requires strong institutions and coordinated action,” he said.
In Lagos, anti-fraud expert Kaina Garba explained key concepts surrounding virtual assets.
He described cryptocurrencies and tokens as digital forms of value that could be transferred online but are different from traditional money or securities like stocks.
Garba cautioned that the growth of digital finance had led to new crimes, including Ponzi schemes disguised as crypto projects, fake coin launches, phishing of crypto wallets, and laundering funds via crypto mixers.
“Criminals now exploit virtual assets to defraud unsuspecting investors. Many disappear with people’s hard-earned money after marketing fictitious tokens or projects,” he said.
He noted that while crypto had been unregulated in Nigeria in the past, the new Investment and Securities Act 2025 had created a legal framework for oversight.
He said the EFCC had responded by enhancing cybercrime units, investing in digital forensics, and increasing local and global collaboration.
Speaking for the SEC, Divisional Head of Legal and Enforcement, John Achile, reaffirmed the agency’s responsibility under the 2025 Investment and Securities Act.
“The SEC has a dual responsibility: investor protection and market development. With digital assets now legally recognised, we are regulating this space through structured incubation programmes and licensing procedures,” Achile stated.
He said the SEC had formed a Digital Asset Division and designed two streams—accelerated and managed—for evaluating applicants’ business models before granting licences.
“We do not just issue licences. We engage prospective exchanges or service providers to understand their operations and determine compliance before approval,” he explained.
In Ibadan, during a lecture themed “Understanding Virtual Asset and Investment Fraud,” criminology professor Oludayo Tade said, “People fall victim to fraud. What can we do? We need to ensure that anything too good to be true is a red flag. It’s a red flag because you know that we are in Nigeria and you know the condition of things. You know that even if you invest in a bank, the returns cannot be 50 per cent and somebody is offering you that to happen within a week. Another thing that they do is also to use the image, the reputation of individuals and organisations to launder their fraudulent tactics. But to prevent virtual fraud, virtual assets, you need to increase and improve on awareness level. How many Nigerians are aware of it? I’m very sure that those who fell victim to CBEX would find another scheme that is coming and will still join because people are looking for opportunities.”
In a goodwill message, Oyo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Rosemary Alo, represented by DCC OPS, Olugbesan, noted that joint efforts to monitor vehicle movement, especially against unregistered, fake, or cloned number plates, had helped disrupt illicit financial flows and aided the recovery of criminal proceeds.
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