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Nationalists Movement Back Obasanjo on Port Harcourt Refiner
The Nationalists Movement (NM) has thrown its weight behind former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent claims about the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) mismanagement of the nation’s refineries.
In a statement signed by Elder Ogbor Awuru, the group said Obasanjo’s revelation that over $2 billion has been squandered on the refineries, which still remain non-functional, is a damning indictment of the NNPCL’s leadership.
The movement agreed with the ex-president that the NNPCL’s decision to reject Aliko Dangote’s $750 million offer to manage the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries in 2007 was a gross misjudgment.
According to Awuru, this decision has led to billions of dollars being squandered on the refineries without achieving any meaningful results.
Contrary to the NNPCL’s claims, he noted that Port Harcourt refinery is merely blending and not refining crude oil.
Awuru lamented that this deception is unacceptable and highlights the need for urgent action to address the corruption and mismanagement that have plagued the NNPCL.
“The Nationalists Movement is throwing its weight behind former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent claims about the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) mismanagement of the nation’s refineries,” the statement said.
“Obasanjo’s revelation that over $2 billion has been squandered on the refineries, which still remain non-functional, is a damning indictment of the NNPCL’s leadership.
“We concur with Obasanjo that the NNPCL’s decision to reject Aliko Dangote’s $750 million offer to manage the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries in 2007 was a gross misjudgment.
“It is even more appalling that the NNPCL has gone on to squander billions of dollars on the refineries without achieving any meaningful results. The NNPCL’s claim that the Port Harcourt refinery has commenced crude oil processing has proven incorrect.
“The truth is that the refinery is merely blending and not refining. This level of deception is unacceptable and underscores the need for urgent action to address the corruption and mismanagement that have plagued the NNPCL.”
The group also raised concerns over Mele Kyari’s tenure as the NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) which it said has been marred by mismanagement, corruption, and a blatant disregard for accountability.
Aware said: “His leadership style is defined by a lack of transparency and a reluctance to confront the systemic problems plaguing the oil and gas industry.
“Kyari’s handling of the Port Harcourt Refinery issue is a prime example of his modus operandi: using elaborate publicity stunts to mask underlying failures.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the corruption and mismanagement at the NNPCL. The Nigerian people deserve better, and it is time for the government to take decisive action to ensure that the nation’s resources are managed efficiently and effectively.”
The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has expressed deep concern over the welfare of workers in the state, calling on the Osun State Government to prioritize the needs and aspirations of civil servants and public workers.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Thursday by the Chairman of the Party, Wole Adedoyin, and made available to newsmen in Osogbo.
According to the statement, APGA recognizes and appreciates the indispensable role that Osun workers play in the administration and development of the state. Without the hard work, loyalty, and sacrifice of civil servants, governance would grind to a halt, and public service delivery would be severely impaired.
The party noted that while workers across the country face similar challenges, the plight of Osun workers demands special attention. Delayed salaries, pension arrears, poor working environments, and lack of adequate motivation have continued to diminish the morale of workers in the state.
“Osun workers deserve better,” Adedoyin said. “It is unacceptable that in 2025, workers still struggle with irregular salary payments, inadequate housing, and insufficient health coverage. This is a violation of their rights and a breach of trust between the government and its employees.”
APGA called on the state government to implement a comprehensive worker-friendly policy that includes prompt payment of salaries and pensions, professional training opportunities, and improved infrastructure in public offices. According to the party, a motivated workforce is the bedrock of any successful administration.
The party also urged the state government to engage directly with workers’ unions and associations to identify critical areas of need and to ensure a participatory approach to policy-making regarding labor and employment matters.
APGA used the opportunity to salute the resilience and patriotism of Osun workers, especially teachers, health professionals, law enforcement officers, and local government staff, who continue to discharge their duties in the face of adversity. “Your commitment to the state does not go unnoticed,” the statement read.
Wole Adedoyin reaffirmed APGA’s commitment to the protection of workers’ rights, stressing that the party’s philosophy—Be Your Brother and Sister’s Keeper—would remain its guiding principle in standing with the workforce of Osun State.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has refuted allegations of misappropriation and mismanagement of student loan funds.
In a statement on Thursday, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the fund’s director of strategic communications, said some media reports are circulating “unverified, context-free, and inflammatory” claims suggesting that it mismanaged student loan monies.
Oluwatuyi said these allegations are “false, grossly irresponsible, and damaging” to the integrity of the scheme.
TheCable earlier reported that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced an investigation into alleged discrepancies in the disbursement of student loan funds.
A report had claimed that 51 tertiary institutions were involved in illegal deductions and exploitation related to the NELFund scheme.
The ICPC said that of the N100 billion released by the federal government reportedly for the student loan scheme, only N28.8 billion had been disbursed to students as of the time of the report, leaving about N71.2 billion unaccounted for.
It noted that its special task force has invited key stakeholders for questioning, including the director general of the budget office, the accountant general of the federation, and officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFund’s managing director, has also been invited to provide relevant documentation.
The ICPC said N203.8 billion had been received by NELFund as of March 19, 2024, from multiple channels.
These include allocations from the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Of that figure, ICPC said N44.2 billion had been disbursed to 299 beneficiary institutions, covering 293,178 students.
Oluwatuyi said no funds have been stolen under the current student loan scheme, which officially launched its application portal in 2024.
“All institutional fees are paid directly to verified institutions, while upkeep allowances go into the verified bank accounts of eligible students,” she said.
“The reports circulating in the public space are based on outdated figures and previous interventions that predate our operations.”
The communications director said NELFund operates an automated loan system to eliminate the possibility of financial misconduct.
Every application and disbursement, according to her, is digitally tracked, time-stamped, and verifiable.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has called for a review of the revenue allocation formula to ensure that funds are disbursed directly from the Federation Account to local government chairmen, in accordance with the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming local government financial autonomy.
RMAFC arrived at this decision at the end of a workshop in Akwa Ibom State. In a communiqué, the commission said that it aligns itself with the Supreme Court’s judgement of July 11, 2024, on local government financial autonomy, considering the fact that the current formula has been in existence for about 16 years.
The communiqué also called for a constitutional amendment to allow the inclusion of the local government chairmen and councillors among the beneficiaries of the remuneration package listed in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
It stated that Section 162(6) of the Constitution should be amended to ensure that the allocations of the local governments are paid directly to them from the Federation Account, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling delivered on July 11, 2024, on local government financial autonomy.
The communiqué called for the amendment of Section 162(2) to establish a clear timeline for presidential submission of RMAFC proposals to the National Assembly.
Besides, the commission called for the establishment of a National Revenue Dashboard for digital, real-time revenue tracking.
“The commission should advocate the amendment of the relevant sections of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to expand the composition of the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited to include representatives of states, local governments, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); creation of a distinct Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, separate from that of the Federal Government,” it said.
The commission, in the communiqué, said it would intensify its constitutional mandate of monitoring revenue accruals to ensure that all revenues due to the Federation Account are remitted accurately and promptly by the revenue-generating agencies.
The communiqué also stated that, according to the spirit and letter of the Constitution, the advice of the RMAFC on the remuneration package of political, public, and judicial office holders is binding on the federal and state governments.
The retreat was attended by top federal and state officials, such as the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, represented by Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Natagwandu, and the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno who delivered a goodwill message; the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi and other distinguished personalities.