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JUST In: House of Assembly stops pensions for ex-govs, deputies after leaving office, ex-gov kicks

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Abia House of Assembly has passed into law a bill to repeal the Abia state governors and deputy governors’ pensions Law No 4 of 2001 that legalised the payment of pension and gratuity to former governors and their deputies.

The Bill which is awaiting the assent of the governor of the state, Alex Otti was sponsored by the Majority Leader and Member Representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu.

The passage of the Bill came after it had scaled the first and second readings including the committee stage.

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According to the Abia Assembly speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, the Bill when assented to by the governor would be deemed to have come into effect from March 19.

Hon. Emeruwa explained that the Bill would now be known as “Abia State Governors and Deputy Governor’s (Repeal) Law 2024”, adding that the Bill would amongst other merits ensure that what he described as the outrageous cost of governance would be reduced to channel Abia State resources towards the development of the state.

The law also entertained H.A.B 10: A Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Cocoa Development and Marketing Board Bill 2024, Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Augustin Okezie passed its first reading.

The House further passed for its second reading H.A.B 9: A Bill for a Law to Establish Colleges of Nursing Sciences Owned by Faith-Based and Private Establishments in Abia State and for other related purposes.

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The Bill which is sponsored by the Chief Whip of the house, Hon. Emeka Obioma representing Umuahia South state constituency was committed to the House Committee on Health which was mandated to conduct a public hearing on the Bill and to revert to the house in a month for further legislative actions.

In a reply to the decision of the Abia lawmakers, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, Onyebuchi Ememanka said: “The attention of the immediate Past Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has been drawn to reports circulating online to the effect that the Abia State House of Assembly has repealed the 2001 Law under which former Governors and Deputy Governors are paid some money as pension

“The said reports, which are obviously sponsored, are mischievously couched to give the false impression that Dr Ikpeazu is amongst former Governors of the State currently receiving a pension from the Abia State Government

“Dr Okezie Ikpeazu wishes to make it abundantly clear that since after handing over the reins of power as Governor of Abia state on May 29th, 2023, he has neither requested for, nor received from the Abia State Government, any dime under any guise whatsoever, and has no intentions of doing so.

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“Former Governor Ikpeazu has since moved on with his life and is currently engaged in other areas of interest to him and advises the Abia State Government and her various organs to face the business of governance and desist from engaging in needless media sensationalism.”

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I’ve never lied against anyone, says Dele Farotimi after regaining freedom

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A human rights advocate, Dele Farotimi, has been released from the correctional centre in Ekiti State after meeting his bail conditions.

Farotimi was released on Tuesday morning.

Last week Friday, at a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, granted Farotimi bail conditions, including a N30 million bond, two sureties, one of whom must be a property owner, a submission of Farotimi’s passport and a prohibition of Farotimi granting media interviews once released.

However, addressing media personnel after his release, Farotimi said he had never had any course to lie against anyone in his life, adding that whatever he had said about someone or an institution was true.

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“It is not ever an easy journey when you are fighting evil, but some years back, before I started this work, God told me that the truth is enough. It is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria, which is the truth. In my war against the evil empire that we all lived in, I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know, I will say I don’t know,” he said.

Recall, on July 2, Farotimi released a book titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.

Months after the 116-page book’s release, renowned legal luminary Afe Babalola accused Farotimi of defamation, and this led to the human rights lawyer being arrested in a Gestapo-like manner at his Lagos office by a group of policemen attached to the Ekiti State Police Command on December 3.

Farotimi was then subsequently transported to Ekiti State.

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Apart from the defamation charges initially brought against Farotimi at an Ekiti State Magistrate Court by Babalola’s team, Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police also filed 12 additional charges against the lawyer at an Ekiti Federal High Court on December 6.

Apart from the defamation charges initially brought against Farotimi at an Ekiti State Magistrate Court by Babalola’s team, Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police also filed 12 additional charges against the lawyer at an Ekiti Federal High Court on December 6.

The PUNCH reports that Farotimi was arraigned in court on charges bordering on defamation and cyberbullying, stemming from a petition by legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola, who alleged that Farotimi defamed him in his book.

According to the police, Farotimi, in the book, accused Babalola and other SANs of corrupting Justices of the Supreme Court.

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Doctors demand 70-year retirement age in new FEC memo

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The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria has revealed that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, is set to submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council regarding their demands to harmonise the retirement age for medical consultants to 70 years.

Additionally, Pate and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, plan to submit a joint memo to the Presidential Committee on Salaries, advocating the universal application of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for medical lecturers.

MDCAN recently embarked on a seven-day warning strike on November 18 to push for these demands.

The strike, however, was suspended after six days, following government intervention in a dispute over the Vice-Chancellor position at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, which addressed one of the association’s core concerns.

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The association has reiterated its demand for the harmonisation of medical consultants’ retirement age to 70 years and for the universal application of CONMESS to all medical and dental officers.

Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, MDCAN President, Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, confirmed progress on the memos.

“We have seen the draft of the memo and included our input, but I am unsure of its current stage with the ministers. They are in the process of submitting it to the Federal Executive Council for consideration,” he said.

“The Minister of Health and the Minister of Education will jointly submit the memo on salary harmonisation to the Presidential Committee on Salaries.

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We urge them to fulfil their commitments from the conciliation process to resolve these issues before our next meeting in January 2025.”

MDCAN’s next meeting is scheduled to take place from January 20 to 25, 2025, where further actions may be determined.

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Ex-Presidents’ wives lament disrespect after husbands’ tenure

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Wives of former presidents of African countries have lamented that they suffer systemic neglect, find themselves abandoned, stripped of their resources and dignity and relegated to obscurity after their husbands leave office or pass away.

The ex-presidents’ wives rendered these lamentations when they converged on Conakry, Republic of Guinea, for a conference aimed at having a formidable Former Presidents’ Wives Coalition.

From one former President’s wife to the others who spoke, it was similar tales of struggle and loss that they suffered, attributing it to a systemic issue that required urgent attention.

Championing the cause, Andre Toure, widow of Guinea’s late President Sekou Toure, said the coalition aimed to revive the aspirations of former Presidents’ wives and ensure they do not fade into oblivion after their public service.

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“The coalition is to challenge the stigma and neglect faced by former Presidents’ wives, advocating their dignity and respect in society; to create a historical narrative that honours their contributions by establishing a museum dedicated to their lives and legacies, thus ensuring their stories are documented and remembered,” Toure said in a statement made available to The PUNCH.

Toure said the coalition’s vision is shared by former Presidents’ wives, Fatmata Momoh (Sierra Leone); and Isabel Vieira (Guinea-Bissau).

“We are here to combat the unfortunate reality that many former Presidents’ wives face after their husbands leave office.

“These women, who once held esteemed positions, often find themselves abandoned, stripped of their resources and dignity, and relegated to obscurity.

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We are united by our shared experiences and our commitment to change this narrative.

“We are not just figures from the past; we have played significant roles in our nation’s histories, and we deserve recognition and respect. But, we are treated with indifference and disrespect after our husbands’ political careers end,” Toure said.

The tales of the struggle and loss of the widow of late President Samuel Kedo were also relayed at the conference.

Though she noted that the coalition’s impact waned over time due to disappointments and lack of sustained commitment from potential allies, she said the former Presidents’ wives were now dedicated to empowering their members and advocating for their rights.

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‎‎As part of the efforts, Toure said the coalition would embark on a tour across various African nations, introducing their initiative to other former Presidents’ wives and seeking support from international partners.

‎‎She said, “The coalition’s mission is not only about advocacy; it’s a call for international partners, governments, and civil society to recognise the vital roles these women have played and to support their initiatives aimed at creating a more equitable and dignified existence for former Presidents’ wives across Africa.

“Their journey is a collective effort to reshape the narrative around women in leadership roles and to ensure that the sacrifices and contributions of these women are honoured and preserved for future generations.”

Credit: PUNCH

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