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VOL. 6, NO. 1829 FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2011
TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH
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K N BAR S LL VE NS I GR FS O OA CC HIE 2B L AGE F E C N2 P 3 •From left: Prof. Soyinka, Ms Leagault, Fashola, Aliyu, Afuye (who represented Governor Kayode Fayemi) and Obaigbena ... yesterday
PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES
Soyinka calls for probe of ‘Yar’Adua’s concealment’
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OBEL laureate Prof Wole Soyinka yesterday set the first test for the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act. The new law, he said, should be used to unravel the concealment from Nigerians for almost one year of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
By Joseph Jibueze and Miriam Ndikanwu
Soyinka urged President Goodluck Jonathan to unmask those behind the hiding of an ailing President and who signed the Appropriation Bill purportedly signed by the late Yar’Adua. Soyinka spoke on the topic:
“Making FoI Law work for Nigeria” at a Townhall Meeting organised by the Newspaper Proprietors of Nigeria (NPAN) in Lagos. He said Nigerians deserved to know the circumstances under which the late Yar’Adua was hidden.
His words: “Many people think it’s all over. I beg to disagree. In this country, we had an instance where a whole human being was concealed for several months. This phantom actually travelled to Saudi Arabia, came back, still in concealment, in the dead of the night.
“Lights were doused at the airport and the phantom moved back to the seat of government. This phantom was not just an ordinary phantom. This phantom was a representative of the entire public will of Nigerians. He vanished out of sight for Continued on page 2
Jonathan backs push for new revenue formula Governors win battle for cash to pay minimum wage
States demand NNPC’s oil sales records
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•Dr Jonathan
OVERNORS have won their battle for more cash, with the President agreeing that the revenue allocation formula should be dumped for a new one. After a “business-minded” session, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday night backed the governors’ request to enable them pay the N18,000 minimum wage and address infrastructure. The President and the governors also agreed to set up a committee to address the Sovereign Wealth Fund and its management. Besides, the governors urged the
REVENUE DISTRIBUTION
CURRENT Fed Govt - 52% States - 26.72% Local Govts - 20.60% From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja
President to prevail on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to provide records of crude oil being sold and the proceeds. According to sources, most gov-
PROPOSED Fed Govt - 35% States - 42% Local Govts - 23% ernors at the meeting canvassed for the review of the revenue formula to be able to pay the N18,000 minimum wage and meet other socioeconomic challenges that could lead to better infrastructure, promote job creation and enhance standard of
living. It was gathered that the governors took note of the fact that the last review of the revenue allocation formula was in 2002. They claimed that the present formula is not equitable and could leave most states crippled. The revenue allocation formula is: Federal Government (52%); States (26.72%); and 770 Local Government Areas (20.60%). A committee raised by the Nigerian Governors Forum, headed by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, has recommended a drastic reduction in the Federal Government’s allocation. Continued on page 2
•KIDNAPPED EDO COMMISSIONER’S WIFE REGAINS FREEDOM P7