Fri 31 july 2015 online

Nigeria loses N585bn to waivers on rice, others, says Senate Taiye Odewale, Abuja

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whopping sum of N585billion was lost by the Federal Government between 2011 and 2014 to waivers granted on importation of rice and

other agricultural products.

This was disclosed ¢ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱĚ ȱ ȱ the Senate when a motion on ‘Indiscriminate Use and Abuse of Waivers for Rice Importation’ was debated by senators

8UJHV )* WR VFUDS LW and a resolution was passed, urging the government to stop it forthwith.

Senate, upon the motion sponsored by ȱ ę ȱ ¢ ȱ

Ibrahim (APC Kwara South), also mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, ȱ ę ǰȱ ȱ the Comptroller General of Nigerian Cus-

toms Service, Abdullahi Dikko, to ensure that all import duties due to government are forthwith recovered.

The red chamber also set up an ad-hoc com Ĵ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ tor Adamu Aliero (APC

Kebbi Central) to look into this policy regime and simultaneously carry out its holistic review with a view to determining government revenues lost to waiver policy.

Continued on Page 4

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July 31, 2015

IINSIDE: 8 pages of n nationwide P Parliamentary rreports From Pg 21

Army appoints new GOCs, redeploys 95 Generals in major shake-up Pg 4

FRIDAY Lack of fund rocks PDP, moves to downsize, slash staff salary 50%

Major General Buratai

N150

NCAA threatens to publish names of debtor-airlines Pg 4

Pg 2

Why Buhari won’t implement confab report – ACF A BABA NEGEDU, Kaduna

p e x northern organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum

(ACF), yesterday, gave reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari will not implement the outcome of the 2014 National Conference

put together by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

ACF stated that the previous government was bias in favour of

the South in constituting the delegates of the confab, even when the North was the clear majority in the country.

The ACF’s position is a reaction to an interview granted by a chieftain of Afenifere, Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, that a

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari (right) being welcome by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on returning from Cameroon at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja ...yesterday. Others from left are: Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, Director General State Security Services (SSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, and Head of Civil Service, Mr. Danladi Kifasi.

northerner will not be disposed to implementing the confab report.

The ACF maintained that the delegates to the conference were not true representatives of the people as they were not elected.

The statement signed

by Muhammad Ibrahim, ACF National Publicity Secretary, in Kaduna, said, “The attention of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to a statement credited to Chief Ayo Adebanjo, an elder statesman and Afenifere chieftain in an interview he granted captioned ‘Northern interest won’t let Buhari implement confab report.’

“To quote the Chief precisely as published, ‘My own view and the view of Afenifere is that a Northerner will not be so disposed to changing the constitution, because they ȱ ȱ ę ¢ȱ ȱ what we are complaining about. Let them disprove that. About 500 distinguished Nigerians recommended Continued on Page 2

At pullout, ex-CDS Badeh bemoans fifth columnists in military

Pg 3

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Newswatch Times Friday, July 31, 2015

Why Buhari won’t implement confab report – ACF Continued from Page 1

a new constitution unanimously and nobody has come out to say what we did there was wrong.”

The ACF explained that “the selection process of delegates by President Jonathan’s government to the confab made the North, that has a population of 75,268,686 people (NPC 2006) with a land mass of 730,885 square km (80%) as a minority, with 189 delegates, while the South, with a population 65,151,458 people (NPC 2006) with a land mass of 193,438 square km (20%), as a majority with 303 delegates.

“The learned Chief ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ cess of constitution making and certainly the delegates to the 2014 confab did not qualify for such a process, as they were not elected as representatives of the people but selected or nominated by government and interest groups. The delegates, therefore, did not have the legitimate mandate of the people to draft or recommend a new constitution for Nigeria and did not even do so.”

The forum said, “It is not in our character and training in ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ Ĵ ȱ or fault statements of an elder statesman of Chief Adebanjo’s status on national issues.

However, we are constrained to disagree with his statement

quoted above and also considered it necessary and appropriate to put the issues he raised in their correct perspectives for Nigerians to know the other side.”

It stressed that, “Despite this glaring injustice and disadvantage, the North as a region did not only participate in the overall national interest of Nigeria, but also stabilized the conference on crucial issues of national unity. The 2014 confab was, therefore, not a platform for constitution making and did not unanimously recommend a new constitution for Nigeria as claimed by Chief Adebanjo.

“The 2014 confab in which ACF fully participated made about 600 far reaching recommendations on policy issues, legal and constitutional amendments to the 1999 Constitution as amended ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ report to the former President on 21st August 2014, and not a new Constitution.

President Jonathan had ample opportunity to implement some of the policy issues or even forward some of the recommendations that require legal and constitutional amendments to the National Assembly, but he did not do so.”

It asked, “Was it the Northern interest that stopped him being a southerner or a southern interest? The

confab report now being a public property is subject to the usual due process of implementation through the three arms of government and not singularly by President Buhari as Chief Adebanjo is canvassing.

“On the elder statesman’s claim that ‘nobody has come out to say what we did was wrong,’ we need to refresh his memory, that it is on record the Northern delegates at the confab raised serious objections to some of the recommendations, especially the issue of a new 2014 constitution which was never discussed during the conference plenary sessions, this forced the confab

management to drop the idea. Many other groups also objected to the recommendation on the creation of 18 additional states, dissolution of local government councils as third tier of government, resource control and revenue sharing formula, etc.

“ACF, therefore, considers it absurd and strange for Chief Adebanjo to say that the 2014 Confab recommended a new constitution and that it was never challenged. ACF feels embarrassed and disappointed with such statements from an elder statesman of Chief Adebanjo standing, who chose to make generalized statements on the ba-

sis of region or faith, ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ national issues.

“ACF considers this unfair and uncharitable to the North. Furthermore, what ben ę ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ a region, enjoying as claimed by Chief Adebanjo to the detriment of the South? ACF considers such statement sarcastic and in bad taste, knowing full well the security challenges in the North and its devastating effect on our people and the region’s socioeconomic activities in last six years.

“ACF, therefore, appeals to our elder statesmen, irrespective of where they come from, to look at issues

from a wider national perspective that will promote unity and cohesion, rather than on sectional or religious considerations. Elder statesmen are not only reservoir of wisdom and experience, but also exhibit leadership quality and show de ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ances and actions.

“President Buhari needs the support and cooperation of all Nigerians, especially our elders, irrespective of political and other considerations, to move the country forward and deliver his campaign promises to Nigerians.”

Some civilians rescued by troops of 21 Brigade and elements of Nigerian Army Engineers at a notorious terrorist camp at Chuogori and Shantumari, Borno State...yesterday.

Lack of fund rocks PDP, moves to downsize, slash staff salary 50% SAMINU IBRAHIM, Abuja

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ě ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to £ ȱ ȱ ěȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ěȱ ment by 50 percent may ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ěȱ ȱ the party yesterday kicked against the resolution.

Indeed, two directors of ȱ ¢Ȃ ȱ ěǰȱ ȱ rector of Finance, Omuya Joshua, and Director of Organization and Mobilization, Chief Adewale Fatona, were said to have resigned, while the third, Director of Administration, Alhaji Bawa Mohammed, was said to have held ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ because of the last-minute pressure by some leaders.

The National Working Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

the end of its 406th NWC meeting on Wednesday took some far reaching decisions, among which are to downsize its workforce and reduce allowances and emoluments by 50 percent.

Rising from an emergency meeting of the ȱ ěȱ ȱ ȱ held yesterday at the National Executive Committee (NEC) hall of the PDP secretariat in Abuja, how ǰȱ ȱ ěȱ ¢ȱ rejected the resolution of the party, which was circulated in a memo to all departments by the NWC and signed by the PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo.

The meeting, presided over by the chairman of ȱ ěȱ ȱ ǰȱ Ngozi Eze, commenced at 1.55pm and ended 2.55pm, after which it went into

Two directors resign

Newswatch Times investigation revealed that the acexecutive session which ěȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ěȱȱ ȱ also lasted for another one on their salaries and al- quel to a memo addressed to all Directors/PS/DD/ hour. lowances.

At the end, the forum, “We reject the directive AD/HOD/SAs/PAs, all Es ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱřŖ ȱ ¢ǰȱ ȱ ěȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ěǰȱ ȱŘş ȱ 2015 and addressed to the ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ July, 2015 and signed by national secretary, copied state chapters as this will National Secretary of the to former president Good- amount to accepting our party, Professor Wale Olaluck Jonathan, chairman unlawful disengagement dipo, entitled: “Reorganization and Restructuring PDP BoT; Deputy Senate from service.”

President, PDP Caucus in A source close to the ȱ ěȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ the National Assembly, meeting, who pleaded Secretariat of PDP.” The memo noted that the Chairman PDP, Gover- anonymity said, “On the nors’ Forum and all PDP issue of 50 percent salary National Working Comgovernors, stated that the reduction, it was resolved Ĵ ȱ ǻ Ǽȱ ȱ ȱ ŚŖŜ ȱ ěȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ - that it should be based on meeting held on Wednesday 29th July, 2015, contariat were engaged on the mutual agreement. basis of a well-articulated “I have served this party sidered the report on the establishment manual that for 16 years, how can peo- reorganization and reexpressly states the condi- ple who came yesterday ȱ ȱ ěȱ ȱ ȱ tion of service therein. hand down this punitive national secretariat and The forum stated that, resolution on us? Where is approved the reduction of “We reject in totality the the N11billion money real- the allowances of all NWC ȱ ȱ ȱ ěȱ ized from the sale of nomi- members by 50 percent.

The circular said the emolument by 50 percent. nation and expression of This is because unlike the interest forms in the last NWC also approved reduction of the number of members of the NWC, the general election?”

ȱ ěȱ ȱ ȱ ty’s NWC members by 50 percent, even as security ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĝ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ reduced by 50 percent.

It also stated other measures, including “the reduction of the salaries ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ěȱ ǻ ȱ ȱ ěȱ of NWC members) by 50 ȱ ě ȱ ǰȱ 2015; abolition of the Research Directorate and transfer of its functions to the Peoples Democratic Institute.”

The party, however, observed that establishment ěȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ are required to obtain in ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ tion from their state party chapters within one month of the circular “as to their suitability for service at the national secretariat.”

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Newswatch Times Friday, July 31, 2015

Nigeria loses N585bn to waivers on rice, others, says Senate Continued from Page 2

‘Žȹ ÂŒÂ˜Â–Â–Â’Ä´ÂŽÂŽČą Â ÂŠÂœČą also mandated to look into all issues relating to waivers, concessions and grants with a view to determining full government revenues in respect of the policy.

Senator Ibrahim, in his lead debate, said the ̊Â?›Š—Â?ČąÂŠÂ‹ÂžÂœÂŽČąÂ˜Â?ȹ Š’Â&#x;Ž›ȹ scheme has severely eroded Federal Government’s rice production policy by allowing importation of huge quantities of the com-

modity in excess of their approved quota.

According to him, a recent Senate interaction with CBN revealed how importers have overshot their quota and, consequently, owing the Federal Gov-

ernment import duties running into billions of naira.

He argued that instead of importers paying as huge as 70 per cent duties and levies to the Federal Government, they were grant-

L-R: President, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Chief Philip Asiodu; Former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh; former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper and celebrant, Chief Sam Amuka-Pemu, during a book launch to mark the 80th birthday of the publisher of Vanguard newspapers in Lagos‌yesterday.

Photo: Segun Padonu

Army appoints new GOCs, redeploys 95 Generals in major shake-up Cyril Mbah, Abuja

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bout 95 generals of the Nigerian Army have been rotated in ÂŠČąÂ–ÂŠÂ“Â˜Â›ČąÂ›ÂŽÂœÂ‘ÂžÄ?ŽȹŠ—Â?Čą redeployment exercise carried out by the ‘’ŽÂ?Čą ˜Â?Čą ›–¢ȹ Â?Šěǰȹ Major-General Tukur Buratai.

The exercise included the appointment of —Ž ȹ Ž—Ž›Š•ȹ ÄœÂŒÂŽÂ›ÂœČą Commanding some divisions of the Nigerian Army and new Â™Â›Â’Â—ÂŒÂ’Â™ÂŠÂ•ČąÂœÂ?ÂŠÄ›ČąÂ˜ÄœÂŒÂŽÂ›ÂœČą picked from the military hierarchy to run Â?Â‘ÂŽČąÂŠÄ›ÂŠÂ’Â›ÂœČąÂ˜Â?Čą ›–¢ȹ’—ȹ the headquarters.

A list of the new changes also showed that corps commanders, special task forces commanders, as well as a new commander for the MultiNational Joint Task Force were appointed, while new defence advisers were also named for the nation’s foreign missions.

Those appointed ÂŠÂœČą Ž—Ž›Š•ȹ ÄœÂŒÂŽÂ›ÂœČą

Commanding [GOCs] are Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, who was formerly the Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College, Abuja. He will move over to Kaduna as GOC ‘1’ Division. Major-General L.C. Ilo was elevated to GOC 2 Division, Ibadan, to replace Major-General SM Muazu, who becomes the new Commander, Infantry Corps, Jaji, while Major-General H. Umaru takes over as the new GOC, 3 Armoured Division, Jos. The massive shakeup also saw the appointment of MajorGeneral MA Koleoso to take over from the new Chief of Defence Â?Šěǰȹ ÂŠÂ“Â˜Â›Čą Ž—Ž›Š•ȹ Olonishakin as Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Minna. Koleoso was formerly the Director of Administration at Defence Headquarters.

Others are Ma-

jor General H. Edet, formerly Commandant, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, who now becomes the GOC 81 Division, Lagos.

BrigadierGeneral Ibrahim Attahiru, formerly the Brigade Commander, 13 Brigade, Calabar, was posted to Enugu as Acting GOC, 82 Division, Enugu, while the former occupant of the position, Major-General S. Yusuf, was redeployed to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Training and Operations.

The long list of afÂ?ÂŽÂŒÂ?ÂŽÂ?ČąÂ˜ÄœÂŒÂŽÂ›ÂœČąÂ’Â—ÂŒÂ•ÂžÂ?ÂŽČą Major-General F.O. Alli, the former GOC 3 Division, Jos, who now becomes the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP) at Army Headquarters; the former Defence Adviser New York, Major-General Ogunewe, becomes the new Chief of Policy and Plans, while Major General Christopher Jemitola was assigned to the Corps

of Signal Headquarters, Lagos as new Commander.

Major-General Chris Olukolade was replaced as Director of Defence Information [DDI] by Colonel Rabe Abubakar, former Commandant of the Nigerian Army Information School, Bonny Camp, Lagos, who will occupy the position in acting capacity.

Also, Brigadier General A.T Hamman becomes the new Provost-Marshal, Nigerian Army, while Brigadier General A.H. Sahad is the new Director of Defence Intelligence (DMI).

Other appointments include that of the new Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force. The new commander is Major General Illiyasu Abbah; he was formerly the Military Secretary (Army). He takes over from the new Chief of Army Â?Šěǰȹ ÂŠÂ“Â˜Â›ČŹ Ž—Ž›Š•ȹ Tukur Buratai.

ed waivers and thereby denying Nigerians legitimate revenues.

He also said instead of punishing defaulting importers, the past Federal administration rewarded them with fresh waivers to import more in its twilight.

Ibrahim also disclosed that government loses as much as N71 billion on duty waivers to importers of rice, palm oil, energy equipment, steel and vegetable oil annually, recalling how the government gave import duty waivers to 10 rice and palm oil importers, amounting to N150 billion in 2011.

Žȹ ›Ž�›ŽĴŽ�ȹ �‘Š�ȹ �‘Žȹ Nigerian Customs, which ought to enforce compliance of the duty policy at the borders, has failed to live up to its responsibility.

While supporting the motion, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC Sokoto ˜›Â?Â‘ÇźÇ°ČąÂœÂŠÂ’Â?ȹę—Â?’—Â?ÂœČąÂ˜Â—Čą waivers had shown that N585 billion worth of waivers were granted by the Federal Government between 2011 and 2014.

Gobir argued that if this sum was shared

among the 36 states of the federation, each of the three senatorial districts in a state will have N5.3 billion which, he said, was enough to provide 5,000 jobs in various states.

He, therefore, called for a complete stop of waivers.

Also speaking, Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi ÂŽÂœÂ?ǟȹ œŠ’Â?Čą ›ŽŒŽ—Â?Čą ę—Â?ings showed that over N400 billion had been granted as waivers in recent times.

He compared the issue of waivers to plea bargain, which he said was a good idea when conceived, but has now been abused as he alleged that the Nigerian Customs has been conniving with importers who evade import duties.

While also advocating removal of waivers, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) said waivers on rice, cement, palm oil, among others, should be completely removed, adding that local production should be enhanced, while the Nigerian economy is protected like that of Malaysia.

NCAA threatens to publish names of debtor airlines Biodun Komolafe, Agency Report

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he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday threatened to publish names of airlines Â Â‘Â˜Čą ‘ŠÂ?Čą —˜Â?Čą ‹ŽŽ—ȹ ›Ž–’Ĵ’—Â?Čą Â?‘ŽȹęÂ&#x;ÂŽČąÂ™ÂŽÂ›ČąÂŒÂŽÂ—Â?Čą ’Œ”ŽÂ?Čą ÂŠÂ•ÂŽÂœČą Charge (TSC) to the authority.

NCAA, in a statement by its General Manager, Public Ä›ÂŠÂ’Â›ÂœÇ°Čą ›ȹ Š—ȹ Â?ÂžÂ‹ÂžÂ˜Â”ÂŽÇ°Čą in Lagos, said the airlines  Ž›Žȹ ÂŠÂ•ÂœÂ˜Čą —˜Â?Čą ›Ž–’Ĵ’—Â?Čą Š›go Sales Charge (CSC).

It gave the erring airline operators a 30-day ultimatum to comply with the di›ŽŒÂ?Â’Â&#x;ÂŽČą Â˜Â—Čą Â›ÂŽÂ–Â’Ä´ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽČą ˜Â?Čą Â?‘Žȹ outstanding payments.

The statement said the authority would enforce the provisions of section 27(3) of the Civil Aviation Act if they failed to pay the outstanding debts. ``NCAA will, therefore, take all measures contained therein to enforce the collection of the debts. ``In addition, the names of the debtor airlines and amount owed shall be pub•’œ‘ŽÂ?ȹ’—ȹŠÂ?ČąÂ•ÂŽÂŠÂœÂ?ȹęÂ&#x;Žȹ—ŠÂ?Â’Â˜Â—ÂŠÂ•Čą dailies. ``The names of the promoters of these airlines, directors and other related parties will be included in the publication upon the expiration of this ultimatum,â€? it said.

According to the statement, these measures will be taken in furtherance to the Federal

Government’s directives on recovery of public debt. ``It is to be noted that the offending airlines have failed to ˜ěœŽÂ?Čą Â?‘Žȹ ŠŒŒž–ž•ŠÂ?ÂŽÂ?Čą Â?Ž‹Â?ÂœČą despite several appeals, reconciliation meetings, visits and reminders. ``The NCAA wishes to reiterate to the airlines that section 12(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 provides that `there ÂœÂ‘ÂŠÂ•Â•ČąÂŒÂ˜Â—Â?’—žŽȹÂ?Â˜ČąÂ‹ÂŽČąÂŠČąÄ™Â&#x;Žȹ™Ž›ȹ cent air ticket contract, charter and cargo sales charge to be collected by the airlines and paid to the authority’. ``Importantly, the authority wishes to inform the genŽ›Š•ȹ Â™ÂžÂ‹Â•Â’ÂŒČą Â?‘ŠÂ?Čą Â?‘Žȹ Ä™Â&#x;ÂŽČą ™Ž›ȹ cent ticket/cargo sales charge represents charges collected at source from the travelling public by airlines on behalf of the civil aviation agencies,â€? it said.

The statement said its nonÂ›ÂŽÂ–Â’Ä´ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂŽČą ÂŠÂœČą Š—Â?Čą  ‘Ž—ȹ Â?žŽȹ was tantamount to a breach of trust and a violation of the above provision.

It said the NCAA was issuing the ultimatum to the operators who had collected, but failed to remit same to the authority, to do so within 30 days.

The statement said the NCAA would continue to implement the “no payment, Â—Â˜Čą œŽ›Â&#x;Â’ÂŒÂŽČ„Čą Ä™Â—ÂŠÂ—ÂŒÂ’ÂŠÂ•Čą Â™Â˜Â•Â’ÂŒÂ˘Čą to ensure complete clearance of the indebtedness to the Authority.