Month: August 2023

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey, released by Statistics South Africa today, revealed that 368 000 jobs were created in the Western Cape, between the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023. That is a 15.7% increase in employed people year-on-year, well ahead of all other provinces, with Gauteng creating 201 000 jobs over the same period.

Between quarter one and quarter two of this year, 54 000 jobs were created in the Western Cape.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is elated at the latest quarterly job statistics for the province. “We are making significant inroads in beating back unemployment and poverty, thanks to our efforts to enable and empower the private sector, ” he said.

The Western Cape recorded the largest decrease in the unemployment rate, down by 6,6 percentage points compared to the same period in 2022.

The expanded unemployment rate decreased by 6 percentage points between the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023.

Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said, “The Western Cape continues to have the lowest expanded and official unemployment rates in South Africa, while also creating more jobs than any other province. This is very welcome news. Guided by the recently launched ‘Growth For Jobs’ Strategy, premised on enabling the private sector, including the formal, informal, and township-based businesses, we will push harder than ever to stimulate economic growth, that leads to the creation of many more jobs in the Western Cape.”

The Premier stated, “We have a long way to go still but we are more determined than ever to push forward and continue with this positive momentum. These latest numbers give us all hope that we are on the right track toward achieving breakout economic growth. Every job created translates into hope for our residents.”

Source: Government of South Africa

Mr Abdullahi Usman of Taraba, has petitioned the Acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Mr Folashodun Shonubi over alleged plans by Gov. Agbu Kefas to access a N206 billion loan facility.

Usman alleged that the governor planned on getting the loan from commercial banks in violation of laws guiding the process of loan application by the various tiers of government.

He urged the acting CBN governor to, as a matter urgency, instruct the affected commercial banks to suspend any consideration of granting the requested loan.

“If the CBN governor does not urgently wade into this matter, the state will be thrown into a perpetual state of abject poverty.

“The state will also be saddled with an excruciating debt burden and an inability to meet its financial obligations, which will impact negatively on the capacity of the state to remain a viable entity,’’ he said.

In addition to the suspension of the loan request, the petitioner also prayed the CBN governor to instruct the affected banks to present copies of relevant approvals from all agencies.

“They should also present limitation of use of commercial bank loans to fund capital expenditures and state budgets and finally, restriction of all loan facilities to Taraba until after the final determination of the ongoing gubernatorial litigation by the Supreme Court,’’ he said.

The petitioner, through his counsel said that the petition became necessary in order to draw the attention of the CBN governor to the planned contravention of the law.

He said the petition was also necessary to enable the CBN to take proactive steps and investigate the matter with the aim of discouraging the affected banks from getting involved in the process.

Copied in the petition were President Bola Tinubu, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Ministry of Finance.

Others are the Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), amongst others.

According to Usman, the loan facility requested by the Taraba government from some commercial banks is hasty, ill-conceived and a wasteful venture that is politically motivated.

“This is to consolidate the power of an embattled governor and an attempt to put Taraba in a state of perpetual servitude of paying debts beyond its means and penury.

“All this under the guise of embarking on purported developmental activities,’’ the petitioner said.

The petitioner said that the Taraba House of Assembly’s prompt approval of the governor’s letter read on the floor of the house by the speaker with regards to the loan was hasty and ill-advised.

He said that one of the grounds on which he was challenging the proposed loan was that the process was shabby and had a defective risk assessment for the loan facilities.

He further argued that the loan was unrealistic and had an unsustainable repayment plan just as it had political inducement and motives.

“ Taraba is one of the poorest states in Nigeria, and is already overburdened with humungous debts and repayment of various facilities.

`How then can any commercial bank in Nigeria resort to inaccurate, unsustainable and unrealistic cash flow projections to avail Taraba any loan facility at the moment?

“All the cash flow projections for Taraba cannot adequately accommodate the repayment plan of a loan of N206 billion for a tenure of four years at 23 per cent interest rate,’’ he said.

The petitioner expressed concerns that the governor was currently defending his election at Taraba Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which had yet to deliver judgment.

“The loan amount from Taraba government can easily be diverted to other projects unconnected with what the loan is meant for.

“Since the position of the current government is shaky and may be set aside by the court, what will happen to the repayment of the huge loans granted to Taraba ?”

He decried what he described as the incessant attitude of commercial banks giving loans to state governments without following due process.

“In fact, it now appears that this form of armchair banking is what has been adapted by many commercial banks in going after states with meager and unsustainable cash flow.

“It is an easy way of making huge profits at the detriment of the state governments and their poor citizens.

“It is also to the detriment of the Federal Government and all Nigerians, who will bear the burden of bailing out failed states, when they cannot meet their financial obligations to the commercial banks.”

The petitioner also said that he had instructed his counsel to take necessary steps required by law, including instituting legal action, to restrain the affected banks from granting the loan to Taraba.(NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has charged the youth the Niger Delta Region to set the stage for success by rising above the ‘entitlement mentality’.

The Interim Administrator of the PAP, retired Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu, said this in a statement by Mr Musa Wilfred, Head of Reintegration, on Monday in Abuja.

Ndiomu said that if the youth in the Niger Delta Region could rise above the “entitlement mentality”, the sky would be too small to be their starting point.

He urged the youth of the region to begin to think out of the box and come up with innovative ideas.

According to him, if the youth in the Niger Delta Region can rise above entitlement mentality, the sky will be too small to be their starting point.

“Everybody stands a chance, so the youth of the region must begin to think out of the box and come up with innovative ideas.

He noted that the recent Niger Delta 3rd MSME Summit in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, was an avenue to sensitise the youths of the region.

“We have decided to begin to reason outside the box. We must understand the times and take proper advantage as well as map out opportunities for success.

“The war between Russia and Ukraine has exposed the harsh realities surrounding grains globally.

“Currently, there is scarcity of grains and starch globally; and we have cassava plantations all over the region.

“Very soon, brewery companies in Nigeria will start looking for starch. This global shift affects everybody, and we must begin to take advantage of the current situation,” he said.

Ndiomu reiterated that the mandate of the PAP was to manage the destiny of thousands youths, adding that in view of this, the youth must be reminded that there was virtue in adversity and resilience, as nothing comes cheaply.

“We must be in a place, where we are able to adequately predict the future. We must innovate, we must remind ourselves that there is virtue in adversity and resilience, and nothing good comes cheaply.

“There is a notion about the region out there, and we must all agree jointly to alter that narrative.

“As young business owners, you must understand that beyond innovation, collaboration, networking, access to funds, loans and grants, lobbying, you have a role to play,” he said.

He admonished the youth of the region to embrace discipline and mentoring, as there was a price to pay for every height to be attained.

“There is a price to pay for every height you want to attain, so as young leaders you must be ready and willing to pay the price.

“You must also keep calm heads, as skills without character are useless, so you must be worthy in skill and character,” he said

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Contractor, Mr Christian Igbo, on Tuesday, said he will appeal a ruling by an FCT High Court, Abuja setting aside its June 22 judgment directing the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to pay over N29 million balance of the contract sum legitimately awarded and executed by him.

Igbo made this known through his lawyer, Pascal Obioha, shortly after Justice Edward Okpe vacated the judgment he earlier delivered against the NSCDC on the grounds that it was given without jurisidtcion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Okpe had, on June 22 in a judgment, ordered the NSCDC to pay Mr Igbo over N29 million balance of the contract sum following his execution of the projects awarded by the corps.

The judge also restrained the NSCDC, its Commander-General (C-G), Ahmed Audi; and others from further harassing the contractor over a completed contract.

But in a motion on notice marked: CV/2115/2023 filed by its Director of Legal Services, Umar Mohammed, the corps sought an order setting aside the judgment delivered on June 22 directing them to pay Igbo his balance (N29, 360, 697.00) of the contract sum.

Giving six grounds why the judgment should be vacated, Mohammed argued that the court gave the judgment without jurisdiction.

Evelyn Charles-Iyanya, who appeared for NSCDC during proceedings, urged the court to set aside Relief 4 as contained in Igbo’s originating motion on the payment of the judgment sum of over N29 million, having fallen outside the fundamental rights enforcement rules of the court.

She said the judgment was delivered without jurisidtcion.

But Igbo’s counsel, Pascal Obioha, prayed the court to dismiss NSCDC’s application on the grounds that the court had become functus officio to vacate the judgment it delivered.

The lawyer maintained that the court had jurisdiction to have given the June 22 judgment and that the court as at this time, lacked the powers to either review, revisit or set aside its own judgment, as doing so would amount to the court sitting on appeal over its own decision or judgment.

Obioha, in a counter affidavit, said Igbo’s originating motion was dully served on the respondents which enabled them to put up several appearances before the court, but they decided not to file counter affidavit to oppose their application.

He said the court gave them several opportunities to defend the suit or raise objection as to the jurisdiction of the court, where necessary, but they waived their right to do so.

The lawyer, who submitted that the court gave the judgment on merit, said by the content of the said judgement, the court had become functus officio in the matter.

But delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Okpe agreed with the NSCDC that he gave the judgment without jurisidtcion.

He said after perusing the applications filed by parties, he agreed with the NSCDC that Relief 4 of the contractor seeking for the payment of the judgment sum did not fall under the fundamental rights enforcement rules as canvassed by the claimant.

Besides, the judge held that Igbo failed to respond to the argument of counsel to the security agency that Relief 4 ought to be set aside, having granted without jurisidtcion.

He said where a respondent did not respond to arguments raised by an applicant, such argument would be deemed to have been admitted by the party.

According to him, the respondent (Igbo) did not file a reply to douse the applicant (NSCDC)’s prayer.

“Therefore, Relief 4 cannot be assessed through the application filed by the respondent (Igbo),” he said.

He said the jurisidtcion of the court cannot be exercised where the main claim was not for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the claimant.

Okpe held that from the facts available before the court, Relief 4 falls under a contract, and cannot be brought under the enforcement of fundamental rights rules.

“If a judgment is a nullity, the court which made it can set it aside based on Supreme Court decision,” he said.

He said the submission had dislodged Igbo’s argument.

“Therefore, the court has the power to set aside its own judgment or decision where it is null and avoid or there is a fundamental defect.

“Where an order of the court is a nullity, the court that made it is empowered to set it aside and an appeal is not necessary.

“It is now settled that a party cannot confer jurisdiction on the court where there is none,” he said.

The judge consequently set aside the order directing the NSCDC to pay Igbo the balance sum of over N29 million allegedly being owed.

Speaking after the ruling, Obioha vowed to appeal the ruling.

The lawyer, who decsribed the ruling as strange, insisted that the court had become functus officio to review the judgment it delivered.

He said this was even more so that the NSCDC did not file any defence to controvert their application.

NAN reports that Igbo had, in an originating motion on notice marked: CV/2115/2023 and filed by Obioha, sued the NSCDC, the C-G, and some agency’s officials.

Others joined as respondents include Fabian Ejezie (Finance), Mpamugo Ifeanyi Bartholomew, Victor Olarenwaju, Mr Kukuyi (Accountant General Staff in Charge of CPO) and Chukwuemeka Okeke.

Igbo, managing director of Davenchris Ventures LTD, IB-Technicals Ltd and Chrisreubben Enterprises, had sought seven reliefs which include an order to enforce his fundamental human rights of freedom, personal liberty, fair hearing and human dignity as guaranteed by Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution.

The judge, while delivering the judgment in favour of Igbo on June 22, had held that where an application was not controverted by a party, averments therein would be deemed to have been admitted by the party.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Jami’iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya, an Islamic organisation, has urged the Niger military junta to develop a comprehensive transition plan for the restoration of democratic governance in the country.

The National Secretary of the group, Malam Muhammad Yahaya, made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

“We appeal to the military rulers in Niger to abide by the Islamic principles and immediately initiate a dialogue with all the political stakeholders, including the representatives of the deposed government, opposition leaders and the Civil Society Organisations.

“This inclusive dialogue should aim to develop a comprehensive transition plan that leads to the restoration of democratic governance in Niger,” he said.

Yahaya emphasised the need for the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) to focus more attention to a peaceful resolution of the political crisis in Niger.

“We urge our leaders to exhaust all diplomatic channels to engage the military leadership in Niger by emphasising the importance of respecting democratic processes, the restoration of constitutional order and the rights of the Nigerien people.”

He called on the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) to support ECOWAS in its efforts to address political crisis in Niger, noting that both UN and AU charters uphold the principles of peace, security and respect for human rights.

“We firmly believe in the principles of ECOWAS, AU and the UN charters and most importantly in the teachings of Islam, which call for peaceful resolution of conflict through dialogue and mutual respect for each other.

“We also firmly support the preservation of basic human rights and dignities of all humanity regardless of ethnicity, religious, regional or social status. That is the true teachings of Islam.

“We, as an organisation, hold strong reservation about the military coup in Niger Republic, which has undermined democratic process and disregarded the will of the people.”

He, however, said that it was imperative that everyone desirous of a peaceful solution should address the crisis in a manner that adhere to the Islamic principles of peace, equity, fairness and justice.

“We, therefore, call on the leadership of ECOWAS, especially our respected President Bola Tinubu, to continue with their commitment to dialogue with the Niger military junta, as a preferred option.

“Let the use of force be the last resort which may not be used at all. Already, Niger and all her neighbours, including some part of Nigeria, are going through untold hardship and misery.”

He commended the selfless efforts of the President General of the Jami’iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, for being the first to initiate a dialogue with the Niger military junta’.

He also commended other Islamic clerics in the country for their tireless efforts toward ensuring peaceful resolution of the crisis in Niger.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria