BudgIT, a civic society accountability organisation, has decried the illegal arrest and detention of its Niger State Project Tracking Officer, PTO, Moses Motoni.
The group, which described Mr. Motoni’s arrest as an assault on democratic accountability in the country, said it intends to press charges against the Police for the unlawful conduct.
In a statement by its communications lead, Abiola Afolabi-Sosami, BudgIT said contrary to the claim by the Police that Mr. Motoni was “inciting public disturbance”, it was unaware of any such attempt.
“We maintain that his arrest was on the order of Senator Mohammed Sani of Niger State and abuse against human rights provision, which Moses has as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We also ask that the Nigerian Police should respect the rights of citizens and embrace reforms that further professional conduct,” she said.
Recounting Mr. Motoni’s ordeal, Abiola Afolabi-Sosami said the controversy started when he visited Bida, Niger South Senatorial District to sensitize the community members on the zonal intervention projects awarded to their constituency in the 2017 Budget.
“The exact project was the “installation of transformers and electrification of the following communities: Nowanya-Tawadzuru tiffin-Emitswachi- TawadzuruTako in Gbako LGA, Niger South Senatorial District, Niger State for N25million, as stated in the 2017 Appropriation Act.
“Moses encouraged the community members to engage their representatives at the National Assembly and ensure the budgeted projects are implemented.
“Shortly after the town hall meeting in Bida, Senator Sani Mohammed put a phone call through to our PTO, Moses Motoni, inviting him to a meeting in his house, which he declined as there were instructions that BudgIT tracking personnel are not allowed to meet with public officials privately.
However, on December 5, 2017, Moses received an SMS instructing him to pick up a DHL parcel at Markafi market in Kaduna. Unknown to our PTO, it was a decoy by the Nigerian Police Force to apprehend him. Upon arrival, he was forcefully taken into a car, handcuffed, maltreated and driven off by SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) officials who disguised as DHL personnel,” Afolabi-Sosami narrated”
“BudgIT was distraught at the development considering that Moses Motoni was merely exercising his rights as a citizen in a democratic nation like Nigeria. It is important to note that public information is the right of every Nigerian citizen, with regards to public funds meant for developmental projects. The information received pointed Senator Mohammed Sani of Niger State as the alleged architect of the arrest involving the SARS and our officer, Moses Motoni.” She added.
Following his arrest, he said Mr. Motoni was taken to the Metro Police Station, Enugu Road in Kaduna and subsequently transferred to Abuja in hands and legs’ cuffs, while his aged mother wailed on as he was led away by the police.
Mr. Motoni spent the night at the SARS Office, Old Abattoir, Abuja, despite all efforts to get him out.
In its statement on Wednesday, the police said Mr. Motoni was arrested for reportedly “inciting public disturbance.” He was later released on bail. Regardless, BudgIT management said it intends to press charges for the arrest and detention of the official.
“We count this as an assault on democracy and that Moses is unaware and does not participate in any move to topple any king within the domain.”
BudgIT also addressed a press conference in Abuja, where its co-founder, OluseunOnigbinde, made similar statements. Narrating his ordeal to the Media, Mr. Motoni said on December 2 he visited Bida to sensitize the community members on the zonal intervention projects awarded to their constituency in 2017 Budget.
“The exact project was the installation of transformers and electrification in Nowanya- Tawadzuru, tiffin-Emitswachi- TawadzuruTako communities in Gbako Local Governement area of Niger State.
My assignment was to encourage the community members to engage their representatives at the National Assembly and ensure the budgeted projects are implemented. Shortly after the town hall meeting in Bida, Senator Sani Mohammed put a call through to me inviting me to a meeting in his house which I declined as there were instructions that we are not allowed to meet public officials privately,” he added.
“However, Mr. Motoni said his friend who he was with received an SMS to pick a DHL parcel at Makarfi market in Kaduna on December 5. Upon arrival before we could blink, we were forcefully taken into a car, handcuffed, manhandled by security operatives on mufti and driven to a police station around Tudun Wada. My friend was later released but I was subsequently transferred to Abuja with both hands and legs cuffed and driven to SARS office Old Abattoir, Apo, Abuja where I spent the night”, he added.
The Port Harcourt-Aba train service, spanning 62 kilometres, has been launched by the federal government.
To promote and increase the use of the rail service, FG also announced a 4-day free train ride from May 1-4.
It is anticipated that commercial services will begin on May 7.
Transportation is one of President Bola Tinubu’s eight top priorities, according to a statement released by the federal ministry of transportation on Tuesday. As a result, the minister has directed his attention on the eastern rail corridor project since entering office.
Alkali said the commencement of the train service is part of the intensified drive by FG to facilitate trade, enhance mobility, and accessibility, as well as ensure connectivity between regions.
“With the completion of the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt to Aba rail corridor, the Ministry will continue to vigorously drive the contractor Messrs CCECC towards the speedy completion and delivery of the 181 kilometres Aba-Enugu stretch,” Alkali said.
“The fare for the Port-Harcourt to Aba train service has been pegged at #1000 for VIP & #800 for economy class.”
Fidet Okhiria, the managing director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), said the locomotives and coaches used for the flag-off are refurbished ones.
Okhiria said the contractor is expected to deliver 50 narrow gauge locomotives and 100 narrow gauge coaches to be deployed along existing train corridors in the country.
On March 2, FG said the train services would commence by the end of March.
However, on March 29, the launch was postponed to April.
The rail line is a section of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railroad project initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero says the federal government’s announcement of a pay rise for civil servants is mischievous.
The federal government, on Tuesday, approved a pay rise of between 25 and 35 percent for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.
Ajaero, speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, said the last minimum wage of N30,000 expired on April 18.
“We should be in the regime of new minimum wage as of today. Discussions were supposed to have been concluded,” Ajaero said.
“The federal government through the national assembly legislated on it. But we saw that the discussion entered voice mail because the federal government refused to reconvene the meeting that was adjourned.
“I think the announcement now appears mischievous because there is no wage increase that government is announcing. For them to announce it now, it is an issue that we are worried about at the NLC and even at the TUC.”
Breakdown Of Living Wage
Ajaero further said organised labour has agreed on N615,000 as the living wage for civil servants.
“Living wage is such that will, at least keep you alive. It is not a wage that will make you poor and poorer. It is not a wage that will make you borrow to go to work. It is not a wage that will lead you to be in the hospital everyday because of malnutrition. For that living wage, we have tried to look at N615, 000,” he added.
“Let me give you a breakdown of how we arrived at that figure. We have housing and accommodation of N40,000. We asked for electricity of N20,000 — of course that was before the current tariff increase. Nobody can spend this amount currently. We have utility that is about N10,000. We looked at kerosene and gas that is about N25,000 to N35,000.
“We looked at food for a family of six, that is about N9,000 in a day. For 30 days, that is about N270,000. Look at medical, N50,000 provided there will be no surgery or whatever.
“For clothing, we looked at N20,000. For education, N50,000. I don’t know for those who tried to put their children in private school, they will not be able to cope with this amount. We also have sanitation of N10,000.
“I think where we have another bulk of the money is transportation. This is because the workers stay in the fringes and because of the cost of PMS, that amounted to N110,000.
“That brought the whole living wage to N615,000 and I want anyone to subject this to further investigation and find out whether there will be any savings when you pay somebody on this rate.”
Special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, says no agreement or deal was signed between the Nigerian government and the shipping giant, Maersk.
According to The Cable, Onanuga, on Tuesday, said there was only talk “of possible investment in Nigeria” by Maersk.
Following the meeting between President Tinubu and Robert Maersk Uggla on April 28, the presidency declared in a statement that the shipping business had committed to investing $600 million in Nigeria’s seaport sector.
“Danish shipping company, A.P Moller-Maersk plans $600m investment in Nigeria. Danish shipping and logistics company A.P Moller-Maersk has disclosed a planned investment of $600 million in Nigeria to accommodate more container shipping services in Nigerian ports,” Onanuga wrote on X.
It was gathered that the presidential aide’s social media post has been deleted, Maersk officials have confirmed that no such agreement is in place and no deals have been signed.
When contacted, Onanuga confirmed that no agreement on investment had been reached by the two parties.
“I think the statement issued by Maersk did not talk about a deal. There was no deal according to that statement that I read. However, there was talk of investment,” the special adviser said.
“No document or agreement was signed, so there was no deal. But there was talk of a possible investment in the country.
“So, go and read the statement again. They never said any deal was signed between the Nigerian government and the Dutch company. There was nothing like that.”
Citing Maersk’s statement, Onanuga said the company was unable to comment on investment talks, stressing that it did not expressly deny that there was an investment talk.
He said people are “unnecessarily giddy over nothing”.
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