The Nation June 3 2011

Page 1

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News House urges Ajimobi to probe Alao-Akala’s contracts P10 Sport Argentina coach under fire for losing to Super Eagles P24 Business FirstBank declares N26.9 billion profit after tax P2 http://www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 6, NO. 1779 FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2011

G

OVERNORS and other Nigerians who have been pushing for a new revenue allocation formula may have won a major victory. Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) chair Elias Mbam yesterday said it will produce a new, equitable and just sharing formula early next year. Governors have been calling for a review of the formula which is largely skewed in favour of the

New revenue formula coming From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

Federal Government that, according to critics, has little to do, to the detriment of states and local governments. The Federal Government takes 52 per cent from the federation account, leaving the 36 states to share 26.72 per cent. The 774 local gov-

ernments get 20.60 per cent. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) revenue panel headed by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, has recommended a drastic reduction in the Federal Government’s allocation. It proposes 35 per cent for the Federal Government, 42 per cent for the states and 23 per cent for

the local governments. The RMAFC also asked Akwa Ibom State to refund N10.91billion to Rivers State, following the recommendation of the committee set up to look into the Supreme Court judgment on disputed oil wells between the two states. The RMAFC boss spoke in

N150.00 Abuja after receiving the report of the committee on the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Attorney General of Rivers State versus Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and the Attorney General of the Federation. Mbam described as desirable, a new revenue allocation formula for the country, saying his first action on assumption of office as Continued on page 2

Confusion hits PDP over choice of House Speaker P

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leaders were battling yesterday to resolve the logjam over the choice of House of Representatives Speaker. They met last night in Abuja with governors who were said to have agreed to back Mrs Mulikat AdeolaAkande. It was all in a bid to pacify First Lady Patience Jonathan, who is said to be in support of Mrs. AdeolaAkande – in line with her campaign promise of 35 per cent affirmation. Party leaders, including

Party chiefs, governors 120 sign up Protest votes may back Adeola-Akande for Southwest give it to Northwest From Yusuf Alli and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

National Chairman Dr. Mohammed Haliru Bello and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), held a marathon meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on the stalemate yesterday. The Nation learnt that the party’s game plan on Speaker changed on Tuesday when

Bello was briefed on Mrs. Adeola-Akande. It was gathered that Bello was mandated by the Presidency to convey its position to a group of Reps-elect on Tuesday night. But, at the night session, Bello was said to have read the mood of members and instead of briefing the whole house, he confided only in a few Reps-elect on the new

disposition. It was learnt that the Repselect, who are backing Muraina Ajibola, told the PDP National Chairman that the new game plan might “not work”. All attempts to change the adopted candidate from Ajibola to Mrs. AdeolaAkande left the party divided. The worst-hit is said to be

the camp of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which sees Ajibola as its candidate from the Southwest. Based on the division, the President convened a meeting at the Presidential Villa yesterday, with some members of the Board of Trustees, NWC, and Bello in attendance. The party leaders, including governors, went into an-

other round of talks as from 10pm. At the night meeting at the Rivers Governor’s Lodge were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Bello, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim and Chief Tony Anenih. Governors Forum chair Continued on page 2

APGA, LP, ANPP may join govt •ACN ‘won’t participate’ From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

M

ORE facts emerged yesterday on the President’s meeting with leaders of opposition parties. At the talks were leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party (LP) in Abuja on Wednesday. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Party (ICPC) was not represented at the meeting. The Accord Party has kicked against its exclusion from the parley. Three parties- APGA, LP and ANPP- were said to have advised President Goodluck Jonathan to consider giving some cabinet slots to opposition parties. The ACN may not nominate candidates into the cabinet, its Deputy Chairman Boss Mustapha said last night. Another source claimed last night that President Goodluck Jonathan, in fact, offered opposition parties some slots. The offer has already created anxiety among ex-ministers, many of whom have shelved their statutory leave to intensify their lobby. Continued on page 2

•From left: Group Managing Director, First Bank Plc, Mr Bisi Onasanya; Chairman, Prince Ajibola Afonja; and Secretary, Mr PHOTO: NAN Tijjani Borodo, at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja ... yesterday. Story on page 2.

•POLITCS P13 •AGRIC P17 •SOCIETY P29•BRANDS P47•FOREIGN P62


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.