The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

  • Goodwin Offiono Moves Motion To Stop Illegal Deductions By Commercial Banks 

    Goodwin Offiono Moves Motion To Stop Illegal Deductions By Commercial Banks 

     

    The Member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives today, sponsored a motion on the floor of the house on the need to stop excess charges and illegal deductions by commercial banks in Nigeria.

    In his motion, Offiono accused commercial banks of causing hardship to customers through excess charges and illegal deductions, adding that the banks also charge outrageous interest rates on loans.

    He noted that the banks violate the Central Bank /Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) guideline with the arbitrary charges.

    “The creation of charges not recognized in the Central Bank guide to Bank charges is a common practice by Commercial Banks,” he said.

    He also raised concerns about “the wrong application of maintenance fees, banks overcharging maintenance fees, the inclusion of transactions exempted from maintenance charge, loan liquidation and bank-induced transactions amongst others.”

    Following the motion by Hon. Offiono, the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the practice of excess charges and illegal deductions by commercial banks in Nigeria.

    The lawmakers resolved to mandate the Committee on Banking and Currency (when constituted) to investigate the issue of excess charges and illegal deductions by commercial banks in Nigeria and report back within four (4) weeks for further action.

    The House also mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure implementation.

    GOFFIO MEDIA.

  • Odey Commends World Bank Funded APPEALS Project

    Odey Commends World Bank Funded APPEALS Project

    By Ukongikwen Adie

    The World Bank Agro Processing, Productivity, Enhancement and Livelihood improvement Support Project (APPEALS PROJECT) made up of the Task Team Leader, Mr. Manievel Sene, the National Project Coordinator, Mohammed Sani Jobdi, the State Project Coordinator Mr Marcel Agim and other high ranking officers called on the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Prince Bassey Otu, who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey.

    Speaking during the visit, Hon Peter Odey first appreciated the APPEALS Project leader and his team for the support given Cross River State. He conveyed the Governor’s commitment towards the project while assuring the team that they will continue to get the needed support because part of their mission is to commission the projects within the administration’s 100 days in office.

    Odey stated that having worked at the United Nations Development Programme, he is conversant with how donor- funded projects work. He assured the team that he will strive to see that Cross Riverians are not left behind. He added that as head of the State Steering Committee, he will go further to identify those contractors delaying the projects in order to give them the needed push to ensure that they deliver.

    Earlier, the Task Team Leader, Mr. Manievel Sene, thanked the governor for the support the project has received, while appealing for more support so that the projects can be completed early in August otherwise the funds will have to be returned to the World Bank and the opportunity for more funding will be lost.

    Also speaking, the National Project Coordinator Mohammed Sani Jobdi, thanked Sen Bassey Otu, for his timely intervention which will go a long way to add value to the the lives of Cross Riverians.

    On his part, the State Coordinator, Mr. Marcel Agim, said the project has done well so far with the efforts of the National office and Directors from the respective Federal Ministries who have done a lot to support the project. He added that since the assumption of the present administration, there has been very significant improvement and plenty of jubilation since His Excellency, Senator Bassey Otu directed that the restrictions on the project accounts be removed. He solicited the that the zeal he has shown should be sustained in the few months left to enable the APPEALS Project finished strong.

    He said many Cross Riverians can now afford their daily meals and send their children to school because of farms and agric businesses that they have. They have also become entrepreneurs because the APPEALS Project assisted in registering their companies.

    Others present during the visit are: Chidozie Onyedikachi, Mrs Eucharia Nonye Osakwe (Financial Management Specialist)
    Dr. Salisu Garba (Project Operations Manager) Jummai Hashima (National Projects Accountant) and Alhaji Bukar Mussa (Director PCU-FMARD)

  • Abandoned Obudu Dam Project: Peter Akpanke Makes Case For His Constituency

    Abandoned Obudu Dam Project: Peter Akpanke Makes Case For His Constituency

     

    The Member representing Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwarra Federal Constituency, Hon. Peter Akpanke, has called on his colleagues to look into the abandoned delapidated Obudu Dam Project.

    According to the MP, the Obudu Dam resort is a facility that not only supplies water to over 60,000 people in its vicinity but also offers recreational activities. Unfortunately, the resort was flooded in 2005, prompting the Cross River State Government to secure funding from the International Development Agency (IDA) for its rehabilitation.

    Hon. Akpanke emphasized that restoring the dam would have multiple benefits, including facilitating irrigation on approximately 100 hectares of agricultural land, boosting fisheries, and promoting tourism in the northern part of the state.

    The motion which was sponsored by Hon. Akpanke, followed the recent assessment of the facility during a needs assessment tour of the federal constituency, and was seconded by Hon. Umar Usman Ajilo, representing Makarfi/Kudan Federal Constituency.

    The House mandated the committee on water resources (When constituted) to investigate why the contracts where abandoned and report back to the house within four weeks for further legislative actions.

    Awade Friday
    SSA Media and Publicity to Hon. Peter Akpanke.

  • What If The Mirror Is Lying To You? BY AGBA JALINGO

    What If The Mirror Is Lying To You? BY AGBA JALINGO

    What If The Mirror Is Lying To You?

     

    The mirror has numerous uses but the most common use of a mirror is looking at it to view a reflection of our image while we are at personal grooming. So most human beings in the world including the remotest hamlets, possess mirrors. There are even other mammals that consciously enjoy and relish a reflection of their images in a mirror.

    Looking at our image in a mirror swells our confidence more than a perfect description of our look by someone looking at us. We trust the image in the mirror more than the one in another’s eye. That’s because we are erroneously used to thinking we are seeing ourselves in the mirror as others see us in real life.

    Human images are not exactly symmetrical and the mirror only serves the purpose of a surface for throwing back our image, being incapable of absorbing it. So our reflection from that surface has its left and right backwards. Our reflection from the mirror is inverted. Let me explain, if you stand in front of a mirror and carry up your right hand, it will appear on the left side in the mirror.

    Similarly, if you open a book now, you can read the prints just perfectly? Go stand in front of a mirror while holding that same book and let the pages reflect in the mirror; then it will become difficult to read the reflection of the prints fluently. That is how your reflection looks different from you.

    Technology has further empowered the will and means to tamper with reflection. With modern cameras, lenses and even AI, our reflection can be tampered with, to suit desire. These days, we hear statements like, “he or she does not look in real life like what I saw in the picture or video.”

    It is congenitally desirable for most humans to see ourselves through other eyes, be it a mirror, a camera lens or a human retina. We seek perpetually to know how we look and how we are perceived by others. Our panting about external opinion of us, is compulsive. Yet, not one person who ever lived was able to behold a true reflection of his or her image. At best, we have only approximated in order to satiate an innate desire. Seeing our true reflection will remain illusory and out of grasp, not because it is not attainable but because truly truly, we all are a reflection of one God, whose image none has ever or will ever see.

    In a nutshell, it is the mirrors, the lenses, the human eyes and all such surfaces that reflect us, that show us the differences, the divisions and the clefts in mankind. It is them that divide us. It is them that give us the “we and them” mentality. Yet we cannot abandon them. We cannot live without them. We cannot afford to be blind to the reflection in the mirror. No we can’t! But if only we look more keenly, we may see that the mirror has been lying to us. It has never shown us the full picture.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Hope Francis Idika Challenges The Declaration Of Kichi-Akwo Godsgift As UNICAL SUG President Elect

    Hope Francis Idika Challenges The Declaration Of Kichi-Akwo Godsgift As UNICAL SUG President Elect

    Miss Idika, Hope Francis, 1st runner up in the just concluded SUG Presidential Election has written to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, UNICAL challenging the declaration of Sen. Kichi-Akwo God’sgift as President Elect of the Students’ Union Government, SUG by the Calabar University Electoral Commission, CUECO.

    According to her petition, the president elect at the time of election, was not qualified to contest the election based on the provision of section 49 (4) of the SUG constitution as his current CGPA falls below the 3.50 required by law.

    She prayed that;

    1. An order to the effect that a planned inauguration and swearing in ceremony of Sen. Kichi-Akwo Godsgift as the SUG president should be cancelled.

    2. That it be determined that all votes recorded for Sen. Kichi-Akwo Godsgift are wasted votes owing to his ineligibility. (which automatically makes her the winner of the presidential election for being the 1st runner up)

    3. That it be determined that in the basis of the above grounds, the petitioner scored the majority of lawful votes cast at the election and therefore satisfied the requirements to be declared the winner of the SUG Election.

    ALTERNATIVE TO 3 ABOVE

    An order cancelling the election and compelling the Calabar University Electoral Commission (CUECO) to conduct a fresh election at which Sen. Kichi-Akwo Godsgift shall not participate.

    Credit: Calabar Blog 

  • Peter Odey Pledges Government Response To The Needs Of Ukelle Nation

    Peter Odey Pledges Government Response To The Needs Of Ukelle Nation

    By Charity Ohotu

    The Cross River State Deputy Governor, Hon Peter Odey has pledged government’s commitment to respond to the needs of Ukelle Nation.

    The Deputy Governor made the pledge in his office when the leadership of Ukelle paid him a courtesy visit.

    Hon Odey acknowledge the concerns of the Ukelle people for infrastructural development in the area and sued for unity and cooperation.

    He pledged Sen Bassey Otu’s commitment to the plight of Ukelle Nation and will respond positively to their needs.

    Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Rt. Hon Ogana Lukpata, noted that it was necessary that Ukelle nation identifies with the Deputy Governor having been elevated to the position of Deputy Governor. He Reminisced on the long term relationship and bond that has existed between them and held that the time to strengthen the bond is now more than ever.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Julius Okputu, PhD, noted that Ukelle Nation had suffered infrastructural decay in the past and use the opportunity to call on the Deputy Governor to rise to the challenge to give hope to Ukelle Nation.

    Okputu held that the guiding light of righteousness, justice, truth and love should guide the decisions that this government will make for the benefit of the people.

  • Cross River Journalist Elected National Coordinator Of Leg’ACEs Community 

    Cross River Journalist Elected National Coordinator Of Leg’ACEs Community 

     

    Cross River Journalist, Efio-Ita Nyok is now the National Coordinator of the Active Citizens Engaging the Legislature (Leg’ACEs) Programme, NEGROIDHAVEN can report authoritatively.

    He assumed the leadership of the national caucus of the community in company of two others, namely, Deborah Obiabo (National Deputy Coordinator North/FCT Caucus Coodinator of the OPN Leg’ACEs) and Ukeme Anwan the National Deputy Coordinator South/Akwa Ibom Caucus Coodinator of OPN Leg’ACEs via an election which held on Friday the 30th of June 2023. Their tenures will last for one year.

    While notifying the community of Leg’ACEs, Temidayo Taiwo-Sidiq the
    Senior Programme Executive of OrderPaper Nigeria, said ‘As part of reform measures to infuse a breath of fresh ideas into the Active Citizens Engaging the Legislature (Leg’ACEs) Programme, we are pleased to formally announce the election of a national leadership for the National Caucus of the Leg’ACEs at a Special Meeting of the Zonal and State Caucus Leaders yesterday.

    ‘National Coordinator: Efio-Ita Nyok,
    Deputy National Coordinator (DNC) North: Deborah Obiabo, Deputy National Coordinator (DNC), South: Anwan Ukeme Archibong.

    ‘With great pleasure, OrderPaper congratulates these leaders on their well-deserved election and are confident that they will galvanise the Leg’ACEs Community towards greater heights.’

    The new national leadership also comprises Rabo Michael who is the
    National Chief Whip and Coordinator of the OPN Leg’ACEs in Nasarawa, and Effiong Innocent the Deputy National Chief Whip.

    In an address before the election, the Executive Director of Order Paper, Oke Epia said that two of the areas of concern for the Leg’ACEs is for the programme to aim at opening up the civic space in Nigeria view of facilitating engagement by the citizenry to demand quality public service from the national and state assemblies; as well as developing the best way to interact with the House of Assemblies.

    The Leg’ACEs initiative was created to fulfil the mandate of bridging the gap between citizens and parliament, the objectives of the community is to explore co-creation opportunities with stakeholders in furtherance of parliamentary reporting and education, and activate the agency of responsible citizenship to promote accountability from legislators.

    Order Paper is Nigeria’s leading policy think tank and media group aspires to bridges the gap between the citizenry and parliament. As a media body she has been dedicated to reporting, tracking, analysing and archiving activities of the Nigerian legislature in the digital age with a vision of being a parliamentary reporting, advocacy and public policy advisory in Africa, and vision of providing simple and ‘authoritative parliamentary data that empowers citizens to take action’.

  • CRSHOA Deputy Speaker Gets Seven Aides

    CRSHOA Deputy Speaker Gets Seven Aides

    The Deputy Speaker the of Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Sylvester Agabi has gotten seven (7) staff appointed into in his office.

    The was contained in a release signed and made available by the Director of Legislative Matter – Edi. M,  for the Clerk of the House.

    It stated that all appointments are with immediate effect.

    Those appointed are:

    Joseph Odama – Chief of Staff

    Anakia John Akawu – Protocol Officer

    |Agbor Mathias Ogar – Press Secretary

    Orim Daniel Asu – Media Liaison Officer

    Akpanke David – Special Assistant

    Adung Odey – Personal Assistant I

    Ekawu Odey Sunday – Personal Assistant II

  • Otu Bars All Former Aides From Official Functions

    Otu Bars All Former Aides From Official Functions

    The Cross River State Governor, Sen Bassey Otu, has barred all former appointees of the previous administration from representing or parading themselves as representatives of the State government, insisting that they have been relieved of their duties.

    In the same development, the office of the Governor has also called out Oscar Ofuka, former Special Adviser on Cocoa Development and Control to former Governor Ben Ayade, to stay clear from government functions concerning that office.

    In a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche, sighted by TheLumineNews, the State government warned also that: “Any agreement entered into on acquisition of Cocoa plots beyond December 31, 2023, do so at his or her own risk and are advised to review such erroneous transactions with Mr. Oscar Ofuka and seek for their refunds.”

    The release further stressed that : “It is imperative to inform the general public that Mr. Oscar Ofuka, former SA on Cocoa, has since been relieved of his appointment and is strongly advised to desist from presenting himself in that light.”

    The release added: “The State Government is reviewing activities in the cocoa value chain to ensure transparency and accountability and exploit the inherent potential in the sector as a veritable revenue earner.

    “Therefore, any attempt by any individual or group to undermine the government’s directive in this regard will be seriously dealt with. The Cross River State Government wishes to reiterate that all former political appointees have been relieved of their appointments, therefore, cannot act on behalf of the State Government.”

  • Prof Florence Obi Is The Reason More Women Should Given Higher Offices BY RAMSEY BASSEY

    Prof Florence Obi Is The Reason More Women Should Given Higher Offices BY RAMSEY BASSEY

     

    For years, managers of the University of Calabar continued to roll in their own putrescence, like pigs in a sty, luxiriating among the dirt very much in the manner of worms, while mixing illiterates in a cauldron of half baked broth which they served as graduates. No knock-need narrative can change this truth, because it is self evident. It is only now, after more than a decade, that the world is beginning to look at the institution with some measure of respect because quite a lot has changed since Professor Florence Obi became its Vice Chancellor. And I am in a position to know.

    Now things are beginning to look like old times again and students have returned to the classroom both to attend lectures and to study. It is always dreadful when I recall how examinations were written in hotel rooms and living quatres on Goldie Street and elsewhere in the city. Do we really forget so easily? To do so will be rank mischief. No, we have not forgotten. We are just prosecuting private wars for jaded kings, and dear old Unical will always be the worse for it.

    Are students required to register for courses, yes. Do they do so, most of the time, no. Before the last exams the portal for registration of courses was shutdown in good time, to enable departments plan for the exams with the correct numbers. The battle cry went, up. “Oh Professor Florence has no heart, how can she shut down the portal for registration”. And 24,000 many of who could not register sat for supplementary examinations. Yes, you read me right, 24,000 students!

    So this time she ordered that the portal be left open for a little longer to enable students register for all their courses, main, elective, et all. And until it is shut down as it was yesterday, no department will know the correct numbers and no concrete timetable could be drawn up. Boom, “exam timetables are not out and students have been made to stress too much.” Common now, who is ringing the bell and who is wagging the tail?

    For those whose minds are preset in a particular negative direction, Professor Florence Obi will always be guilty even before she is charged. But such is the way of the world. As a growing child in my village, I read an inscription on the tail board of the lorry ‘Gongoro’ that used to come on market days – SUCH IS LIFE. It was only when I grew up that I came to understand the true meaning of that cryptic phrase.

    Do you know that the integrity of the exams have been further enhanced by the addition of barcode on the answer sheets and the strict supervision of the process? Professor Florence Obi has done very well and because of her work ethic and achievements, many more women are likely to be given higher responsibilities in the coming days even if you eat your heart out or not.

    RAMSEY BASSEY writes from the University of Calabar.