Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- October 8, 2024
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CAMEROONIAN PRESIDENT, PAUL BIYA, RUMOURED DEAD, SUCCESSION BATTLE BEGINS
CAMEROONIAN PRESIDENT, PAUL BIYA, RUMOURED DEAD, SUCCESSION BATTLE BEGINS CAMEROONIAN PRESIDENT, PAUL BIYA, RUMOURED DEAD, SUCCESSION BATTLE BEGINS Rumours of Cameroonian President Paul Biya’s death have ignited political speculation and controversy surrounding the country’s succession plans. Following Biya’s extended absence after the China-Africa Summit from September 4 to 6, 2024, lawyer Christian Ntimbane expressed concerns in an open letter to Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, the director of the Civil Cabinet. The absence of official updates on the 91-year-old president’s health has fueled widespread speculation, with reports suggesting he is either recovering in Switzerland or hospitalized in France. Ntimbane has called for transparency, urging the government to clarify the president’s situation, saying, “If he is on vacation, say so. If he is sick, say that too,” in a bid to calm public concerns. Biya’s absence has dominated media coverage, heightening anxiety among citizens about political stability after his 42-year reign. On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), public opinion is split. Some users speculate that France is attempting to install Biya’s eldest son, Franck Emmanuel Biya, as his successor, while others believe Cameroon is on the brink of freedom from Biya’s prolonged rule. According to Cameroon Concord, a political framework may already be in place to facilitate the transition, with Biya’s brother-in-law, Robert Nkili, positioned to serve as interim president. However, opposition leaders such as Maurice Kamto could mobilize to contest any attempt at dynastic succession, pushing for democratic reforms. Biya has been Cameroon’s president since November 6, 1982, following his role as prime minister from 1975 to 1982. He remains the second-longest-ruling president in Africa, the longest-serving non-royal national leader globally, and the oldest head of state. As speculation swirls, the government’s silence continues to fuel public uncertainty about Cameroon’s political future.
ABURE HAPPY OVER COURT VICTORY, WANTS OBI TO HELP UNITE PARTY
ABURE HAPPY OVER COURT VICTORY, WANTS OBI TO HELP UNITE PARTY Labour Party Chairman, Julius Abure, has issued a statement following the Federal High Court’s ruling affirming his leadership. Abure expressed gratitude and forgiveness, calling the victory “a triumph for justice and democracy.” “This victory is not just mine, but a victory for justice and democracy,” he said. According to Abure, he will forgive those who attempted to undermine the party and engaged in character assassination. He extended appreciation to the judiciary, particularly Justice Emeka Nwite, for upholding justice. Abure urged Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, to help unite the party. The Labour Party chairman emphasized the party’s commitment to fighting for the common man and Nigeria’s betterment. “With collective efforts, we will continue to work for a Labour Party that truly represents the hopes and aspirations of every Nigerian,” he said. The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday declared Abure as the substantive Chairman of the Labour Party. The judgement was pronounced by Justice Emeka Nwite on Tuesday, affirming the Abure-led leadership and the March 2024 Nnewi convention that produced the national leadership. The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Abure as the legitimate chairman, overriding INEC’s earlier stance that Abure’s leadership was invalid.
COURT AFFAIRS JULIUS ABURE AS CHAIRMAN OF LABOUR PARTY
COURT AFFIRMS JULIUS ABURE AS LABOUR PARTY CHAIRMAN The Federal High Court in Abuja in a suit brought before Justice Emeka Nwite has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Julius Abure as the substantive Chairman of the Labour Party. Justice Nwite on Tuesday delivered the ruling validating the Abure-led leadership of the party. He also validated the March 2024 Nnewi convention of the Party that produced the national leadership, while issuing an order compelling the INEC to recognise the leadership. The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) had accused the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, of betrayal. Abure camp had made the accusation after the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) announcement that it did not recognise Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party. In a counter-affidavit filed by INEC at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the electoral body responded to a lawsuit by the Labour Party, which challenged its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. INEC had argued that the party’s leadership, including Abure, was invalid and that the March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Abure as chairman violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act. INEC had emphasised, “It only deals with parties that have legitimate leadership in place.” The electoral body, through its legal team led by Tanko Inuwa, SAN, also stated that the Labour Party’s suit sought declaratory reliefs that could not be granted based on admissions alone, asserting that the party needed to prove its case. Due to the failure of the Labour Party to meet legal requirements for holding its national convention, INEC argued, the party no longer had valid leadership. The commission had urged the court to dismiss the Labour Party’s suit, maintaining, “The Labour Party is not entitled to the reliefs it is seeking.” The Abure-led faction in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, had criticised those pushing for Abure’s removal, saying that many lacked the funds to purchase nomination forms ahead of the 2023 elections. It had also been reported in May that the Labour Party crisis deepened as a Federal Capital Territory High Court issued an order barring the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure and the National Secretary, Farouk Ibrahim from parading themselves as national leaders of the party. Also restrained by the court from parading themselves as the national officers of the Labour are the National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu and the Treasurer, Oluchi Opara. Recall that a post-election crisis rocked the party over the suspension of Abure by the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party.
I KNELT COUNTLESS TIMES TO BEG WIKE – FUBARA
I KNELT COUNTLESS TIMES TO BEG WIKE – FUBARA Amid the escalating crisis in River State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has said that he has knelt unnumbered times to appeal to his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to allow peace to reign in the state. Fubara, who said he had no regret after conducting local government elections across the state last Saturday amid opposition from Wike’s loyalists, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he had humbly approached Wike in a gesture of reconciliation. The governor expressed that he had made every effort to maintain a cooperative relationship with his predecessor in the interest of fostering peace within the state, yet these efforts did not yield the desired results. “There is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign. I can tell you the number of times I have knelt to beg that let’s allow this issue to go. I have done everything,” the Governor said on Monday, October 7, during an appearance on Channels Television’s program, Politics Today. The ongoing political tensions between Fubara and Wike escalated significantly as the state held local council elections over the weekend. In spite of the withdrawal of the PDP, APC, and police from the electoral process, the governor moved forward with the elections on Saturday. On Monday, following the swearing-in of 22 winners from the contentious local government elections, the state descended into turmoil. Violent confrontations broke out in at least four local government areas, with thugs setting parts of buildings ablaze in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council offices. Additionally, sporadic gunfire was reported in Ahoada East as a form of resistance against the newly appointed council officials. This unrest occurred after police officers, who were meant to secure the 23 council premises, were withdrawn as per the directive of the commissioner of police.
PENSIONERS TO RECEIVE INCREMENTAL BENEFITS – PENCOM
PENSIONERS TO RECEIVE INCREMENTAL BENEFITS – PENCOM THE National Pension Commission, PenCom, has given a hint that it is working towards ensuring that public service retirees get pension increments as provided for in the nation’s Constitution. Acting Director General of PenCom, Ms Omolola Oloworararan, gave this hint in Lagos. Among others, Ms Oloworararan, said “We are working to ensure that pensioners under the CPS and other pension arrangements benefit from pension increments provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).” The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantee pensioners’ rights to periodic reviews of their pensions ¹. Unfortunately, the Federal Government and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja have not fulfilled their duties to review pensions every five years as required by the Constitution. The Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 objects, functions, and powers include regulating, supervising, and ensuring the effective administration of pension matters and retirement benefits in Nigeria. PenCom is yet to issue specific regulations, directives, or rules respecting the review of pensions for federal government employees or the FCTA. The Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP has been clamouring for the Constitutional provisions to be implemented. Increasingly, there are pressures for non-state actors, especially civil society organisations, CSOs, to institute public interest claims before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to ensure that the Federal Government and the Minister of the FCTA perform, through PenCom and the Pension Transitional Administration Department, PTAD, respect the Constitutional Provisions. Recently, NUP Secretary in Kaduna State, Alhassan Musa, described the condition of the retirees as “pathetic”. Musa, who is also the NUP secretary in charge of the 19 Northern states and the North-West, however, said only retirees in Kaduna State were earning N30,000 minimum pension monthly. The secretary recalled that the Kaduna state governmnet in 2020 implemented N30,000 minimum pension during the administration of Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i. According to him, “The union proposed a 50 per cent increment even under the defunct N30,000 national minimum wage. “We are anticipating that the 50 per cent increament would be approved in line with the new N70,000 national minimum wage. Even under the Federal Government, some pensioners are receiving N10,000 minimum pension. “We are hoping that the Federal Government will balance it up so that no pensioner will receive less than N70,000 as his/her monthly pension. “Let pensioners also enjoy the same benefits the workers are enjoying. “If a worker is receiving N70,000 minimum salary, so, let the pensioner enjoy the same. Musa said workers who retired under the contributory pension scheme, CPS, were facing formidable challenges, noting “Honestly, these people are facing a lot of challenges because some of them retired in the last 10 years, and yet to draw their benefits. “It is really pathetic, this is happening in Kaduna and other states. “Even under the federal government, those who retired under the contributory pension scheme are suffering as their accruals are yet to be remitted into their accounts.
I’M A BIT CONCERNED WHEN TINUBU MENTIONED ONLY MY NAME – FUBARA
I’M A BIT CONCERNED WHEN TINUBU MENTIONED ONLY MY NAME – FUBARA Governor Siminalayi Fubara has expressed worry over President Bola Tinubu’s mention of his name in his statement on the destruction of local government secretariats in Rivers State. Fubara was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday. Violent clashes erupted in at least four local government areas — with parts of the buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premises set ablaze by rampaging political hoodlums, while gunshots were fired sporadically in Ahoada East to resist newly elected council officials on Monday. The burning of LG secretariats followed the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats by the police early Monday. Though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the police opted out of the election that produced the newly elected LG chairmen, Fubara insisted that the election be held on Saturday. The Action People’s Party (APP) won 22 chairmanship positions out of 23 in the oil-rich state while the Action Alliance (AA) won a seat. Fubara immediately swore in the 23 newly elected local government chairmen on Sunday but some of the LG bosses were attacked upon assumption of office on Monday. Some council secretariats were also set ablaze by political opponents. Late Monday, Tinubu, in a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, ordered the police to secure the local government secretariats in the oil-rich state. The President also “called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law”. Reacting to Tinubu’s statement on the crisis, Fubara said, “I do not have any issue with it (the President’s intervention) but I am a bit concerned when my name was only mentioned. “The issue is very simple. It’s as simple as ABC, everyone in Nigeria, everyone in Rivers State knows where this issue is coming from. It’s not rocket science. We know what the issue is and the issue is not Fubara, it is not. “I believe strongly that with the recent intervention of the Inspector General of Police, maybe we will have a breathing space. “Maybe as a result of him pulling his men out of those secretariats might be one of the reasons they (hoodlums) took advantage of the situation but I will appeal that while the men are there, the elected officers should have the opportunity to do their work, at least, let them provide security for them, which was even what I was thinking of. “I was never of the opinion that the police should pull out completely. No. When they said they were moving out, it was what allowed these miscreants to take advantage of the secretariats to destroy them.”
BOBRISKY: AGAIN, VDM INDICTS EFCC, PRISON OFFICIALS, SAN
BOBRISKY: AGAIN, VDM INDICTS EFCC, PRISON OFFICIALS, SANThe ongoing saga involving the controversial figure Idris ‘Bobrisky’ Okuneye has taken a new turn with a recent audio release from social media influencer Martins ‘VeryDarkMan’ Otse.VeryDarkMan had shared a leaked phone call audio on his Instagram page, wherein Bobrisky recounted details of his six-month jail term.In the audio, Bobrisky alleged that the EFCC collected N15 million from him to drop money laundering charges against him.He also alleged that prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, Falz, approached him for a presidential pardon and requested N10 million.These serious allegations have sparked a heated public debate, leading to significant actions such as suspending senior officials at the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), investigations by the EFCC, and a probe initiated by the House of Representatives.In a new audio leak posted on his Instagram on Monday, VeryDarkMan revealed that Bobrisky had a conversation with another individual on 16 May.In the latest recording, Bobrisky admitted that he was never in prison but stayed in a well-furnished apartment near the prison.He reiterated that the EFCC dropped the charges against him after discovering the substantial amount of money in his account.In the leaked audio, Bobrisky said: “I don’t have enough time because I don’t talk to people, but I want to talk to you about this because I haven’t been speaking to anyone or replying to messages sent to me. I don’t want anybody to know I have my phone, but you know what happened to me. So, before the EFCC, of course, they were investigating me about the cars, money, and everything, all this while. I knew they would come for me one day because of all the noise, but it’s okay.“When they were investigating me, they blocked my account, they froze my account. Obviously, they didn’t want me to carry out any transactions during their ongoing investigation. Initially, they added money laundering charges because of the funds they found in my account and the money passed through it. So, they had some money, but we were able to plead with them and give them some funds to drop the money laundering charges against me.”Additionally, Bobrisky alleged that the money laundering charges were merely an attempt by the EFCC to detain him unjustly.In a leaked audio, he expressed his shock at being taken to court simply for spending his hard-earned money.“I can’t be facing money laundering charges—God forbid. I know they were just looking for something to hold against me because I was the only one spraying money, but they chose to target me for that, which is strange. But I’m strong and ready for whatever comes my way. One thing that made me happy was that after their investigation, they realised I was not involved in money laundering, fraud, or any illegal dealings with politicians.“They did a thorough check and couldn’t find any evidence against me. They went to my house, seized my car and everything. During their investigation, they saw the people I did business with. I earned all the money I have legitimately through my influencing work. I can easily make around £10,000 from one job. They don’t know how much I charge, but I clarified that I can charge as much as $100,000 for influencing. So, if you think you can’t do it, remember not all fingers are equal. Some people do it, and God blesses them, too.”Furthermore, the crossdresser claimed the judge sentenced him unjustly for spraying his hard-earned money.Judge Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos handed Bobrisky a six-month prison sentence for Naira abuse after dismissing money laundering charges against him.“Unfortunately, I encountered a very terrible judge. The judge wasn’t showing up, he wasn’t available,” he said.In the leaked audio,…
CONFLICTING COURT DECISIONS CAPABLE OF DERAILING NIGERIAN DEMOCRACY – OZEKHOME
CONFLICTING COURT DECISIONS CAPABLE OF DERAILING NIGERIAN DEMOCRACY – OZEKHOMEWorried by the confusion caused by conflicting rulings and judgments of courts of coordinate jurisdiction, a professor of Law, Mike Ozekhome said the development must be fought frontally as it has the capacity to derail the country’s democracy.Recently, precisely September 30, 2024, a Federal High Court in Abuja and that of Rivers state division, with coordinate jurisdiction gave conflicting rulings in suits on the Rivers state Local Government election held on Saturday, October 5, 2024.While Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Division of the Court stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC) for the purpose of conducting the local government election in the state, Justice I.P.C Igwe of the Rivers State Judicial Division okayed the conduct of the Local Government election in the state.Justice Lifu issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit brought before him by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the legality or otherwise of the processes leading to fixing of October 5 date for the election.The court also barred the Inspector General of Police (IGP and the Department of the State Service (DSS) from participating and providing security for the conduct of the local government poll.Justice Lifu held that the RSIEC was wrong in fixing the October 5 date for the conduct of the election when all relevant laws guiding the election had not been complied with and further held, among others, that the Rivers State electoral body violated provisions of the local government election conduct law by not publishing the mandatory 90 days notice before fixing the date.He also held that the update and revision of voters’ register by INEC ought to have been concluded 90 days before an election date can be legally and validity fixed in law and consequently ordered INEC not to make the certified voters’ register available to RSIEC until all relevant laws have been fully complied with and also barred the RSIEC from accepting any voters’ register from INEC or using it for the purpose of the October 5 local governments election.Justice Igwe of the Rivers state Division had, in his own ruling on the suit filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) held that, the RSIEC, Rivers State Government and the Governor of Rivers State who are Defendants are bound to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Councils of Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the Local Government Councils in Rivers State are conducted by democratically elected Local Government Councils.He declared that in view of Section 5 (a) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No 2 of 2018, Section 9(1)(a), (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the exigencies of the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on July 11, 2024 in suit numbered, SC/CV/343/2024 between the Attorney-General of the Federation Vs Attorney-General of Abia State and 35 others, RSIEC is entitled to utilize the national register of voters for the 2023 general elections compiled by INEC pursuant to Section 9(1)(a), (4) to (6) of the Electoral Act, 2022 to conduct election into the 23 Local Government Councils of Rivers State.Justice Igwe said, with the judgement of the apex court and the expiration of the tenure of the former democratically elected Local Government Councils in Rivers State on June 17, 2024, the Defendants are bound to conduct election into the Local Government Councils in Rivers State within the shortest possible time to comply with aforesaid judgment of the Supreme Court.He then issued an order of mandatory injunction, “Compelling the 1st Defendant (RSIEC) to conduct election into Local Government Councils of Rivers State on the 5th Day of October…
TINUBU SAD AS NIGERIANS LABEL HIM ‘TPAIN’ DUE TO HARDSHIP
TINUBU SAD AS NIGERIANS LABEL HIM “TPAIN” DUE TO HARDSHIPPresident Bola Tinubu has been seething inside the State House after Nigerians lashing out over worsening economic crisis labelled him ‘Tpain’ barely one year into his administration, according to internal memo and aides with direct knowledge of the president’s quandary.During a recent meeting at the Presidential Villa, the president told two guests and aides present that he was “very sad” that Nigerians won’t stop blaming his administration for the raging economic crisis, adding that most citizens would rather ridicule him than offer potential solutions to the country’s challenges, internal notes and our sources said.“The president has been very sad and not hiding his frustration over how quickly the so-called Tpain label was allowed to spread on social media,” an aide at the meeting told Peoples Gazette. “The president was mostly angry with unpatriotic people who sit on social media to call him names without offering any unique solutions of their own but only to malign the government.”Another aide subsequently corroborated the account. Both officials sought anonymity to discuss the president’s annoyance with The Gazette, fearing administrative backlash.One of the officials said the president was not particularly seeking to muzzle speech and other fundamental rights on social media, but only decried the undesired impact of its unfettered deployment on the government’s ability to deliver on its promises without distractions. The Gazette reviewed internal deliberations among a restricted loop of presidential aides where countermeasures against the social media derision of the president were suggested.“We’re just trying to determine where the campaign to humiliate the president and people working for him is coming from,” the official said. “The president respects the rights of Nigerians to express themselves, but some of us will push back hard against the attackers before they do further damage to the country’s image.”A presidential spokesman declined comments for this story on Monday morning.The Gazette could not pin the label to a specific point in time, but it appeared to have gained rapid resonation among Nigerians on social media in recent weeks. It was a play on the first letter of the president’s last name, presumably with inspiration from American rapper Faheem Najm, who goes by the stage name T-Pain.Some of the earliest uses in reference to Mr Tinubu were tracked to April 2024, but The Gazette noticed that the label spiked around September 16, after a handle on X used it in discussing the president’s arrival in Maiduguri to soothe flood victims that Monday afternoon.The label has now become a regular feature of social media commentary among Nigerians despite the administration’s efforts to scapegoat some prominent voices on microblogging platform X, formerly Twitter. Pidom Nigeria, an ardent critic of the Tinubu administration known for receiving leaks of vouchers indicating wasteful earmarks at the Presidential Villa, was arrested on August 5, 2024, and held for several weeks by the police, regaining freedom only last week.Deprecating nicknames have long been assigned to Nigerian leaders, including Ibrahim ‘Maradona’ Babangida and Goodluck ‘Badluck’ Jonathan, but only Mr Tinubu’s has complained about the source of his label: social media.Mr Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, when the U.S. dollar was exchanging at about N425. The rate has since increased rapidly, peaking at N1,900 at both official and black market bargains last week before after the government launched a nationwide assault on money changers and alleged speculators, which purportedly include cryptocurrency platforms Binance and Coinbase.Together with the removal of subsidy on petrol, the foreign exchange crisis has led directly to high inflation rates — 38 per cent this year— and fast-spreading hunger among the 200 million-strong population.Several Nigerian cities, including Kano and Ibadan, held demonstrations throughout August after rice, bread and other basic food items became unaffordable to wage…
PAY OUR SALARIES TO LOCAL GOVT SERVICE COMMISSION – NULGE, NUT, NUP TELL FEDERAL GOVT
PAY OUR SALARIES TO LOCAL GOVT SERVICE COMMISSION – NULGE, NUT, NUP TELL FEDERAL GOVT The Joint Action Committee of Local Government-based Unions, made up of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and Nigeria Union of Pensioners, has called on the federal government to pay all salaries, training and pension funds accruing to them directly into the Local Government Service Commission account. This, the JAC said, would foster transparency and prudent management of resources at the council level. The new appeal by the unions to the federal government is coming against the backdrop of recent pronouncement by the Supreme Court, which gives financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria. Justifying its stance, the unions stated that the move is necessary for industrial stability of the local government system. The unions amplified this fear in a jointly signed memorandum made available to Blueprint on Monday by NUT president; Titus Amba, NULGE president; Ambali Akeem and NUP president, Godwin Abumisi. According to the unions, “the federal government should make workers’ salaries a first-line charge on the Federation Account and paid directly to statutory bodies, including the Local Government Service Commission.” To secure their preferred fiscal allocation model, the unions further urged the federal government to restructure all the supervisory institutions controlling and supervising local government workers by expanding their governing boards to include the workers’ and council chairmen’s representatives. The unions also requested that 25% of the gross salary of teachers and local government workers be deducted from the LG allocation to pay pension and gratuity and be domiciled with the Local Government Staff Pension Board. The gross salary of primary school teachers and 1.5% of the total LGA allocation for running the State Universal Basic Education Board according to them should be domiciled with the Board. It further said, “For workers’ welfare and industrial harmony, training and capacity building and sustainability of industrial stability in the local government system, payment of the gross salary of local government workers should be made a first-line charge and domiciled in the relevant agencies. “On 11 July 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for governors to hold funds allocated to the LGs, saying the councils should determine how to maintain and utilize their funds. “Following the judgment, the federal government expressed its commitment to its implementation. It set up a 10-man committee under the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to work out the modalities for enforcing the judgment. “The committee also set up a subcommittee headed by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, to work with stakeholders on the technical details of the enforcement. “However, despite the general sentiments in favour of the apex court judgment, there are concerns about the capacity of the local councils to discharge the responsibilities bestowed on them efficiently. “Gross Salary of Local Government Workers should be domiciled with the Local Government Service Commission while “2% of total LG allocation for Local Government Commission running grants and Local Government Training should be domiciled with the Commission.” On a final note, they urged the federal government to pay the 5% statutory grant for traditional rulers to the traditional councils’ account. “We recommend the enforcement of procurement policy in all local governments; enforcement of NFIU guidelines; creation of the Audit Department; and appointment of the Auditor-General for the LG from chartered accountants in the LG,” the statement added.