Trending News:Bishop Okonkwo a National Treasure – Gov Abiodun Payment for Project Implementation: How FG, Contractors Reached Accord Through Kalu’s Diplomatic EffortsBREAKING: Gunmen Kidnap Wife, Daughter Of APC Chairman In KwaraBREAKING: Southern Kaduna Village Attack Survivor Dies, Death Toll Climbs To NineEl-Rufai: There Are Now More Poor Nigerians Than Our 1960 PopulationFG Calls for Truce as NUPENG Vows to Embark on Strike Today Over Dispute with DangoteCardoso: CBN Committed to Economic Stability, Stronger Banks, More Investment InflowsNULGE: AGF Plotting to Preempt S’Court, Set to Pay Osun LG Funds to APC Chairs, Councillors Sacked by CourtATCIS Nigeria Kicks against 100% Hike in Passport FeeRMRDC DG Hails Shea Nuts Ban, Insists Raw Materials Should Not Be Exported Without 30% Value Addition After Six Years, Court Clears First Nation CEO, Odukoya of Fraud AllegationsGas Flaring: Carbon Offset to Address Crime, Violence in N’DeltaMalnutrition: UNICEF Stresses Need for States’ Urgent, Sustained Investment in Child Nutrition, SurvivalTinubu Rejoices with Shettima, Others on Emergence as Fellows of Nigerian Economic Society Expert Warns against Catastrophe in Power Market as Senate Amends Electricity Act 2023 Two Years after Steel Devt’ Ministry Seeks Strengthening of NMDC, Jos to Align with FG’s Mandate United Nigeria, South West Airlines Seal Agreement for Delivery of 6 Boeing B737-800 Olori Atuwatse III Champion African Women’s Conference Towards Empowerment Leadway Holdings Announces Acquisition of PAL PensionsRep. Member Backs Enugu State over Alleged Contract Breach, Urges EFCC to Recover N5.7bn from ContractorBauchi Govt Recommits to Providing Quality, Free Healthcare Services to Pregnant Women, U-5 Children Nigeria Hosts Global Business Mixer Ahead of Global Entrepreneurship Festival in GhanaAzuh Arinze Conferred CIPA FellowshipWho is Afraid Of Yayi?FirstNation: EFCC Yet to Update Website Months After CEO’s AcquittalOramah, Others Reaffirm Commitment to Global AfricaEXCLUSIVE: Inside INEC’s Secret Plot To Manipulate 2027 Elections For Tinubu, APC; Abdulrazak Yusuf Tipped To Replace YakubuBREAKING: Sowore Writes X, Urges Platform To Reject ‘Unlawful’ DSS Request To Delete Post Criticising Tinubu, Warns Against Aiding State RepressionTinubu Rejoices With Shettima, Others On Emergence As Fellows of Nigerian Economic Society DSS Petitions Elon Musk’s X Platform, Demands Deactivation Of Sowore’s Account Over Post Criticising President TinubuPDP Govs, Wike’s Loyalists in Battle Over Chairmanship, Secretary2027: APC Desperately Plotting to Infiltrate Our Ranks, Hijack Our Structures, Labour Party Cries OutGov Alia Laments Killing of 76 Security Personnel in Benue in One Year, Doles out N5m to Deceased’s FamiliesIn Joint Operation, Troops Eliminate over 30 Insurgents in North-east, Recover Weapons from Armed Herders in BenueNLC Backs NUPENG’s Strike as Tanker Drivers Reject Industrial ActionIn Joint Operation, Troops Eliminate over 30 Insurgents in North-east, Recover Weapons from Armed Herders in BenueNEMA Confirms 231 Persons Dead, 607 Injured, 315,762 Affected in 2025 Flood in 86LGAs, 25 StatesAhmad: Tinubu Approved N158bn to Empower 650,000 Youths With Technical, Vocational, Digital SkillsCross River AGN Elects Beatrice Akonjom as ChairmanReturn to Clay Vessels ‘ll Save Nigeria Billions of Naira in Healthcare, Says Varsity DonNOA Intensifies Multi-media Enlightenment Campaigns in EkitiAdeniyi Urges Faster Integration, Outlines Measures to Reposition African ExportersAhead of 45th Anniversary, ESUT Faculty Of Engineering Lists AchievementsCelebrating Behind-the-Scenes Efforts of DSS in Arrest of Ansaru Terrorist LeadersBREAKING: Over 60 Residents, Soldiers Killed In Borno Community In Boko Haram MassacreNorrenberger Awarded Best Workplace in Financial Services-Nigeria 2025 by Great Place to WorkRising Insecurity: Sule Opts for Technological Warfare Food Security: Groups Train Farmers on Organic Farming, Agroecology in KanoGen. Wahab: Culture of the Environment is Pivotal in Developing Military StrategyOsun 2026: Why I’m On Ward Tour, By BabayemiNOSDRA Reaffirms Commitment to Transparency, Collaboration in Safeguarding Nigerian EnvironmentNorth-east: Taraba Green House Will Protect Food Security, Settle Hunger Crisis, Says ZulumAfrica’s Security Landscape Demands Dynamic Responses, Says AgwaiSokoto Provides Relief to Victims of Bandit Attacks TFN Inducts 502 Professionals, 93 School Leaders into Fellowship ProgrammeBREAKING: Gunmen Kill Eight NSCDC Personnel, Kidnap Chinese National In Edo StateExport Ban on Shea Nuts: Stakeholders Urge Customs to Effectively Police All Borders2027: There’ll Be No Reason for S’East to Vote against Tinubu, Says APC ChieftainNBA, Enugu and a Conference Like No OtherAbia Moves to Mitigate Health Hazards of Underground Water Contamination in Oil CommunityVarsity Don Urges FG to Review Transport Policy, Reduces Carnage on HighwaysSokoto Reinforces Security Apparatus With New Vehicles, Motorcycles FAAN Urges Early Arrival as Airport Terminal Reconstruction BeginsBREAKING: 28 Persons Infected As Rare Disease Hits Adamawa, Authorities Await DiagnosisTambuwal: Tinubu, APC Destabilising Opposition Parties, Warns Against One-party StateSilent Killer: Experts Sound the Alarm on Hypertension SurgeIndia Oil Corporation Shuns US Crude, Buys 2m Barrels from NigeriaEid El Maulud: Governors, PDP, Wike, First Lady Preach Peace, Seek Nigeria’s ProgressAdeniyi: Nigeria Rallying African Heads of Customs to Clear Trade ObstaclesWanted Sujimoto CEO Pledges to Report to EFCC, Denies AllegationDSS Files Terrorism Charges Against Ansaru Leaders Linked to Kuje Prison BreakRewane: Nigeria’s GDP Will Hit $357bn if Power Supply Moves from 4,500MW to 8,000MWNDLEA Nabs 26 Suspected Traffickers With 41,410.53kg of Illicit Drugs76 Security Personnel Killed In Benue Over Past Year –Govt OfficialEbola Outbreak Reported in DR Congo, Claims 15 LivesFG Mourns Victims of Niger Boat MishapBREAKING: Bandits Abduct Serving Councillor In Southern KadunaReligious Body Seeks Collective Fight Against Corruption in NigeriaSERAP Trains N’Delta Women on Access to JusticeHow Dapo Abiodun is Transforming Ogun With Road ConstructionInsurgency: Ndume Urges Tinubu To Prioritise N’ east in 2026 Budget Nigerian Police Inspector Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 8-Year-Old Orphan In AbujaKano Corruption Allegations: CSOs Support EFCC, ICPCLagos Embarks on Statewide Educational Needs Assessment Project to Drive Policy ReformsKaduna Assembly Budgets N5.3Billion For Lawmakers’ Vehicles, Residences —More Than Constituency ProjectsLady, 21, Kills Father of Her Two Kids in DeltaKogi Commissioner Refutes False Debt ClaimsMartha Agba Applauds Gov Otu, Deputy for Successful Northern TourArmed Thugs Allegedly Loyal To Ex-Minister Sylva Invade Bayelsa Community Chiefs Council Meeting, Disrupt ProceedingsSulaiman-Ibrahim Charges Nigerian Women to ‘Arise, Aspire, Ascend’ at Lagos APC SummitRMRDC DG Hails Shea Nuts Ban, Insists Raw Materials Should Not Be Exported Without 30% Value AdditionBauchi Speaker Bags NIM Fellowship for Excellence in GovernanceKnight Frank Spotlights Infrastructure Growth, Market Resilience, Emerging Trends in New Report Appraising Wike: A Candid Political PrognosisDeputy Speaker Kalu, Finance Minister Resolve Indigenous Contractors Crisis With FGJonathan: Nigerian Politics is Full of Traitors, LiarsCBN Replacing Civil Servants with APC Members as LG Accounts’ Signatories, Says Osun ALGONAlausa Clarifies Donation to Teeneagle Winners, Says It’s Personal GiftPolice Summon Ex-Kaduna Gov, El-Rufai, Others for Disturbance of Public PeaceOil Sector in Frenzy after New Report Says Dangote Refinery Petrol Unit May be Out for 3 Months
Trending News:Bishop Okonkwo a National Treasure – Gov Abiodun Payment for Project Implementation: How FG, Contractors Reached Accord Through Kalu’s Diplomatic EffortsBREAKING: Gunmen Kidnap Wife, Daughter Of APC Chairman In KwaraBREAKING: Southern Kaduna Village Attack Survivor Dies, Death Toll Climbs To NineEl-Rufai: There Are Now More Poor Nigerians Than Our 1960 PopulationFG Calls for Truce as NUPENG Vows to Embark on Strike Today Over Dispute with DangoteCardoso: CBN Committed to Economic Stability, Stronger Banks, More Investment InflowsNULGE: AGF Plotting to Preempt S’Court, Set to Pay Osun LG Funds to APC Chairs, Councillors Sacked by CourtATCIS Nigeria Kicks against 100% Hike in Passport FeeRMRDC DG Hails Shea Nuts Ban, Insists Raw Materials Should Not Be Exported Without 30% Value Addition After Six Years, Court Clears First Nation CEO, Odukoya of Fraud AllegationsGas Flaring: Carbon Offset to Address Crime, Violence in N’DeltaMalnutrition: UNICEF Stresses Need for States’ Urgent, Sustained Investment in Child Nutrition, SurvivalTinubu Rejoices with Shettima, Others on Emergence as Fellows of Nigerian Economic Society Expert Warns against Catastrophe in Power Market as Senate Amends Electricity Act 2023 Two Years after Steel Devt’ Ministry Seeks Strengthening of NMDC, Jos to Align with FG’s Mandate United Nigeria, South West Airlines Seal Agreement for Delivery of 6 Boeing B737-800 Olori Atuwatse III Champion African Women’s Conference Towards Empowerment Leadway Holdings Announces Acquisition of PAL PensionsRep. Member Backs Enugu State over Alleged Contract Breach, Urges EFCC to Recover N5.7bn from ContractorBauchi Govt Recommits to Providing Quality, Free Healthcare Services to Pregnant Women, U-5 Children Nigeria Hosts Global Business Mixer Ahead of Global Entrepreneurship Festival in GhanaAzuh Arinze Conferred CIPA FellowshipWho is Afraid Of Yayi?FirstNation: EFCC Yet to Update Website Months After CEO’s AcquittalOramah, Others Reaffirm Commitment to Global AfricaEXCLUSIVE: Inside INEC’s Secret Plot To Manipulate 2027 Elections For Tinubu, APC; Abdulrazak Yusuf Tipped To Replace YakubuBREAKING: Sowore Writes X, Urges Platform To Reject ‘Unlawful’ DSS Request To Delete Post Criticising Tinubu, Warns Against Aiding State RepressionTinubu Rejoices With Shettima, Others On Emergence As Fellows of Nigerian Economic Society DSS Petitions Elon Musk’s X Platform, Demands Deactivation Of Sowore’s Account Over Post Criticising President TinubuPDP Govs, Wike’s Loyalists in Battle Over Chairmanship, Secretary2027: APC Desperately Plotting to Infiltrate Our Ranks, Hijack Our Structures, Labour Party Cries OutGov Alia Laments Killing of 76 Security Personnel in Benue in One Year, Doles out N5m to Deceased’s FamiliesIn Joint Operation, Troops Eliminate over 30 Insurgents in North-east, Recover Weapons from Armed Herders in BenueNLC Backs NUPENG’s Strike as Tanker Drivers Reject Industrial ActionIn Joint Operation, Troops Eliminate over 30 Insurgents in North-east, Recover Weapons from Armed Herders in BenueNEMA Confirms 231 Persons Dead, 607 Injured, 315,762 Affected in 2025 Flood in 86LGAs, 25 StatesAhmad: Tinubu Approved N158bn to Empower 650,000 Youths With Technical, Vocational, Digital SkillsCross River AGN Elects Beatrice Akonjom as ChairmanReturn to Clay Vessels ‘ll Save Nigeria Billions of Naira in Healthcare, Says Varsity DonNOA Intensifies Multi-media Enlightenment Campaigns in EkitiAdeniyi Urges Faster Integration, Outlines Measures to Reposition African ExportersAhead of 45th Anniversary, ESUT Faculty Of Engineering Lists AchievementsCelebrating Behind-the-Scenes Efforts of DSS in Arrest of Ansaru Terrorist LeadersBREAKING: Over 60 Residents, Soldiers Killed In Borno Community In Boko Haram MassacreNorrenberger Awarded Best Workplace in Financial Services-Nigeria 2025 by Great Place to WorkRising Insecurity: Sule Opts for Technological Warfare Food Security: Groups Train Farmers on Organic Farming, Agroecology in KanoGen. Wahab: Culture of the Environment is Pivotal in Developing Military StrategyOsun 2026: Why I’m On Ward Tour, By BabayemiNOSDRA Reaffirms Commitment to Transparency, Collaboration in Safeguarding Nigerian EnvironmentNorth-east: Taraba Green House Will Protect Food Security, Settle Hunger Crisis, Says ZulumAfrica’s Security Landscape Demands Dynamic Responses, Says AgwaiSokoto Provides Relief to Victims of Bandit Attacks TFN Inducts 502 Professionals, 93 School Leaders into Fellowship ProgrammeBREAKING: Gunmen Kill Eight NSCDC Personnel, Kidnap Chinese National In Edo StateExport Ban on Shea Nuts: Stakeholders Urge Customs to Effectively Police All Borders2027: There’ll Be No Reason for S’East to Vote against Tinubu, Says APC ChieftainNBA, Enugu and a Conference Like No OtherAbia Moves to Mitigate Health Hazards of Underground Water Contamination in Oil CommunityVarsity Don Urges FG to Review Transport Policy, Reduces Carnage on HighwaysSokoto Reinforces Security Apparatus With New Vehicles, Motorcycles FAAN Urges Early Arrival as Airport Terminal Reconstruction BeginsBREAKING: 28 Persons Infected As Rare Disease Hits Adamawa, Authorities Await DiagnosisTambuwal: Tinubu, APC Destabilising Opposition Parties, Warns Against One-party StateSilent Killer: Experts Sound the Alarm on Hypertension SurgeIndia Oil Corporation Shuns US Crude, Buys 2m Barrels from NigeriaEid El Maulud: Governors, PDP, Wike, First Lady Preach Peace, Seek Nigeria’s ProgressAdeniyi: Nigeria Rallying African Heads of Customs to Clear Trade ObstaclesWanted Sujimoto CEO Pledges to Report to EFCC, Denies AllegationDSS Files Terrorism Charges Against Ansaru Leaders Linked to Kuje Prison BreakRewane: Nigeria’s GDP Will Hit $357bn if Power Supply Moves from 4,500MW to 8,000MWNDLEA Nabs 26 Suspected Traffickers With 41,410.53kg of Illicit Drugs76 Security Personnel Killed In Benue Over Past Year –Govt OfficialEbola Outbreak Reported in DR Congo, Claims 15 LivesFG Mourns Victims of Niger Boat MishapBREAKING: Bandits Abduct Serving Councillor In Southern KadunaReligious Body Seeks Collective Fight Against Corruption in NigeriaSERAP Trains N’Delta Women on Access to JusticeHow Dapo Abiodun is Transforming Ogun With Road ConstructionInsurgency: Ndume Urges Tinubu To Prioritise N’ east in 2026 Budget Nigerian Police Inspector Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 8-Year-Old Orphan In AbujaKano Corruption Allegations: CSOs Support EFCC, ICPCLagos Embarks on Statewide Educational Needs Assessment Project to Drive Policy ReformsKaduna Assembly Budgets N5.3Billion For Lawmakers’ Vehicles, Residences —More Than Constituency ProjectsLady, 21, Kills Father of Her Two Kids in DeltaKogi Commissioner Refutes False Debt ClaimsMartha Agba Applauds Gov Otu, Deputy for Successful Northern TourArmed Thugs Allegedly Loyal To Ex-Minister Sylva Invade Bayelsa Community Chiefs Council Meeting, Disrupt ProceedingsSulaiman-Ibrahim Charges Nigerian Women to ‘Arise, Aspire, Ascend’ at Lagos APC SummitRMRDC DG Hails Shea Nuts Ban, Insists Raw Materials Should Not Be Exported Without 30% Value AdditionBauchi Speaker Bags NIM Fellowship for Excellence in GovernanceKnight Frank Spotlights Infrastructure Growth, Market Resilience, Emerging Trends in New Report Appraising Wike: A Candid Political PrognosisDeputy Speaker Kalu, Finance Minister Resolve Indigenous Contractors Crisis With FGJonathan: Nigerian Politics is Full of Traitors, LiarsCBN Replacing Civil Servants with APC Members as LG Accounts’ Signatories, Says Osun ALGONAlausa Clarifies Donation to Teeneagle Winners, Says It’s Personal GiftPolice Summon Ex-Kaduna Gov, El-Rufai, Others for Disturbance of Public PeaceOil Sector in Frenzy after New Report Says Dangote Refinery Petrol Unit May be Out for 3 Months
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the Abuja office of TLS Contact, a travel agency, over persistent consumer complaints and alleged assaults on government officials and security personnel.
Speaking during the enforcement action against the company in Abuja, FCCPC Director of Surveillance and Investigations, Boladale Adeyinka, said TLS defied all efforts to resolve the issues amicably and even assaulted officers from the commission.
She said, “This is an enforcement operation against TLS Contact. As you are aware, they provide visa support services to Nigerian consumers.
“On the 25th of March 2025, based on consumer complaint, a letter was served on them to address the complaint, as is the process of amicable resolution.”
According to her, instead of addressing the issues raised, TLS officials allegedly assaulted FCCPC officers during an earlier visit.
Adeyinka said, “Rather than receive the consumer complaint, they proceeded to assault our officers who were conducting the lawful duty of protecting and implementing the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.”
The situation escalated when TLS staff also allegedly assaulted uniformed police officers who were providing security support.
“Officers of TLS, again, not only assaulted our officers but also assaulted uniformed police officers,” Adeyinka added.
Following the incident, the FCCPC issued summons to the company’s senior officers, including the centre and country managers.
She said, “They are required to appear at the Commission on Friday, 20th June 2025, on or before 2p.m., to explain why they wilfully obstructed the investigation process.”
Citing Section 33 of the FCCPA, Adeyinka warned that any person who fails to comply with the summons “commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding N20 million, or both.”
According to her, “A person who wilfully obstructs or interrupts the proceedings of the Commission, commits an offence,” referencing TLS’s conduct.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Mr. Tunji Bello, had directed that the TLS premises be sealed in line with Section 18(1)(f) of the Act, noting that their continued operations pose a risk to consumer welfare, THISDAY further gathered.
Adeyinka said, “The property and the premises have been considered inimical to consumer interest, and their operations are suspended by the sealing of the offices.”
She stressed that complaints are still pouring in from consumers, noting that “While we are still here, the commission has received fresh complaints regarding the services being rendered by TLS.”
That, she said, underscored the reason the agency must “appear before the commission and explain their operations in Nigeria”.
However, TLS is yet to respond publicly to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
The founder and presiding bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, has been described as a national treasure worthy of celebration because his life has been a blessing far beyond the pulpit.
Governor Dapo Abiodun made this known at the thanksgiving service for the 80th birthday celebration of Bishop Okonkwo, held at the TREM national headquarters in Gbagada, Lagos.
Governor Abiodun, represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, noted that the celebration of this unique milestone in the life of the man of God is a demonstration of the respect that is not only accorded to spiritual fathers in the state but also to an elder statesman who embodies outstanding personality, courage, and impeccable character.
He added that the celebrant is an icon, a father in faith, a bridge builder, and a true servant of God, with proof of a life lived purposefully, faithfully, and impactfully.
“Today, we celebrate his age and the remarkable legacy he has built. Bishop Okonkwo’s contributions to faith and community development echo across generations. Through The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, he has built more than churches; he has built people, raised leaders, and fostered hope across generations. His voice has consistently championed integrity, unity, and righteousness in a nation in need of such a moral compass,” Gov. Abiodun said.
Prince Abiodun reiterated that the programs under the leadership of Bishop Okonkwo have uplifted the underserved, offered hope to the hopeless, and provided opportunities for countless individuals to realize their potential. He added that his commitment to the spiritual and physical well-being of the communities is a testament to his character and love for humanity.
He therefore promised continuous support, recognition, and identification with notable philanthropists for their invaluable contributions to the continued growth and development of humanity and the successful implementation of the “Building Our Future Together” agenda of his administration.
Governor Abiodun enjoined Nigerians to learn to appreciate those who have genuinely contributed to the growth and development of society while they are still alive.
In his sermon, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, urged the congregation to emulate Bishop Okonkwo in diligence in their service to God.
He said that any diligent man will stand before kings and not mean men.
Pastor Adeboye noted that for any man to reach the top, he must be diligent in hearing the word of God, prayer, worship, and in holiness.
He thereafter prayed for the celebrant, his family, and the church as a whole.
There was an outpouring of goodwill messages from notably great men of God, among whom was the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Wale Oke.
In his response, the octogenarian celebrant, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, appreciated Prince Dapo Abiodun, the God Generals, his family, and the entire Tremites who came to celebrate him on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
The founder and presiding bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, has been described as a national treasure worthy of celebration because his life has been a
The post Bishop Okonkwo a National Treasure – Gov Abiodun appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.
Payment for Project Implementation: How FG, Contractors Reached Accord Through Kalu’s Diplomatic Efforts
Payment for Project Implementation: How FG, Contractors Reached Accord Through Kalu’s Diplomatic Efforts
By Johnson Eze
A palpable sense of tension permeated the air as they trickled into the compound. Aggression stamped on their faces. Their countenances etched with the weight of prolonged pecuniary neglect. They had emerged from a street protest, looking more agitated and pugnacious for any eventuality. Months of unpaid fees for jobs done had ignited a cauldron of discontent, threatening to boil over into unbridled acrimony between them and the federal government. They looked determined, uncouth and unguided in both their utterances and action, clearly depicting the old aphorism that “a hungry man is an angry man”. In fact, showdown was the only word appropriate to define both their mood and intent.
Yet, through the deft facilitation of a visionary mediator, the atmospherics underwent a spontaneous profound metamorphosis.
Those were the members of the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria (AICAN) who decried their months of upaid remuneration after project implementation. They had been invited to a meeting with the government stakeholders to find an immediate solution to the impasse.
Date was Thursday, September 4, 2025 and venue, Asokoro, Abuja.
Feelers at the meeting submitted that, at first, they had resolved to boycott any meeting that would be called, citing the failure of the previous ones to lift their confidence in the officials.
But on hearing that the intervention was coming at the instance of the House of Representatives with the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR presiding, the members, led by their National President, Comrade Jackson Ifeanyi Nwosu and the secretary, Babatunde Shehu who were at the time holding a peaceful protest at the main entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja, decided to give the meeting a shot.
Top government officials present at the meeting included the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamshudeen Ogunjimi, amongst others.
As the meeting got underway with the Deputy Speaker, Kalu giving a profound background and amplifying its solution-driven nature, one could read the minds of the contractors. And just as expected, their National President when called upon to speak, furiously stammerred into a culdesac, insisting on their payment or nothing.
His insistence found favour with his members who received it with the chants of “Injury to One, Injury to All”. This got the atmosphere even more tense.
At that juncture, every eye guess shifted on Kalu who himself clearly understood the situation. To calm the already frayed nerves down, the Deputy Speaker adopted high-pitched native intelligence quotient, activated his legal and legislative acumen, putting empathy and diplomacy to work. In fact, tact, mien and administrative finesse were at their lavish peak.
Exercising astute statesmanship, Kalu, an elected representative chose the popular route, pitching his tent with the people while skilfully affording the government negotiators a dignified way forward to facilite a mutually beneficial outcome.
His intermittent anecdotal narratives paid off as he gave more opportunities to the individual contractors outside their leadership to ventilate their feelings. Where he needed to beg and appeal, he wasted no time doing so. This, in no small measure, placated the people and the officials who commended his wisdom.
Perhaps, the best time during the meeting was when Kalu, working as the mediator, called on the Accountant-General to also speak to the issue of payment protocols and processes, touching on their accounting jargons amongst which was “finalization”.
The outcome of the explanation and the confirmation that funds to offset the debts have been “uploaded” and currently available at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gladdened the heart of the contractors who later agreed with Kalu’s suggestion that a batch-by-batch formula was most suitable to clear the backlogs.
In that poignant vignette, one could witness the transformative power of diplomacy in action.
By the time, Ogunjimi said that payment had been initiated at the appropriate quarters, except for the public holiday on Friday which would potentially delay it till Monday for them to start receiving bank alerts, smiles started beaming on their faces.
Of course, the meeting, which began at about 3pm ended at about 7pm, lasting well over 4 hours.
But as the marathon drew to a close, it was not in doubt to everyone present that a remarkable transformation had taken place. Kalu’s diplomatic efforts had yielded a mutually beneficial accord, one that did not only address the concerns of the contractors and the government representatives but also revitalized a sense of trust and cooperation.
What had appeared like an irate assembly of men at the beginning later gave way to understanding and empathy in a manner that was aglow with renewed hope and optimism. The apparent indignation and frustration of the contractors suddenly disappeared. In the end, what seemed like an atmosphere of a fiery confrontation gave way to smiles and expressions of gratitude.
Leaving the meeting, Nwosu and the entirety of the membership of the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria expressed satisfaction with the resolutions reached, commending the Deputy Speaker for his intervention and pledging to discontinue the protest.
In his remarks thereafter, Kalu applauded all parties, announcing the date of a follow-up meeting to evaluate disbursements and report progress.
He said: “First of all, I want to thank the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass, PhD, GCON, the leadership of the House for finding me worthy to be the Chairman of Budget Implementation Committee of the House. We met yesterday, cut down our holidays to be able to reconvene and look into this all important matters.
“We met on Wednesday with the Finance Minister, Minister of Budget and Planning as well as the Accountant-General of the Federation and we sat down for about four hours with representatives that cut across all the zonal caucuses of the House, including representatives of the Appropriation and Finance Committees of the House. Those are the core members of this new committee whose job is to make that in the implementation of the budget, the right things are done. And one of them happens to be the issue of non payment of contractors.
“They explained to us yesterday and today, we saw the protest and asked them to come, lets have a conversation. I want to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for appointing these gentlemen to occupy the positions they occupy. They have shown humility in service. They have shown dedication. They have shown diligence in the way this matter has been handled and as a parliament, we are happy with they way they came yesterday and all we discussed yesterday, they started implementing from today, the ability to engage with the people.
“They came in their hundreds. As you noticed they are just leaving here now. Once again, we had over 4 hours engagement and they left here smiling because we got a strategy in place. We gor their concerns sorted out and the implementation timeline was drawn and all them were happy. We are going to come back on the 21st of this month to review what we’ve done so far, how we’ve ticked the boxes, what needs to be done and the way forward.
“They are going to be focusing on the ones we have chosen now especially from February to May, 2025. Those backlogs, they are looking into uploading them and I am sure this will stipulate the economy once more and help to strengthen so many areas of our country’s economy once the contractors received their money. I want to thank the members of the association who put themselves together and were willing to communicate through dialogue and this is the Nigeria we are proud of”.
Lending his voice also, the minister of finance, Edun commended the Deputy Speaker for his intervention, assuring that the payment will commence next week.
“Under the leadership of the Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, we did hold a marathon meeting today where all the issues were discussed and a timeline was put in place and a way forward was mapped out and all parties at the end of it left knowing that contractors would be paid for jobs done and we have an orderly and systematic way of dealing with the backlogs which had approved overtime.
“Once again, we commend the leadership of the House of Representatives and the contractors for their willingness to sit down and dialogue. The Accountant-General of the Federation made some commitments which helped us to chart the way forward.
“We had a peaceful solution. A timeline was put in place and everyone accepted that there are steps that need to be taken, approvals, finalization and orderly procedure for payments. After Friday’s holiday, the Central Bank will open again on Monday and payments will commence immediately”, he said.
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Ogunjimi corroborated the position of the minister of finance.
“This process is ongoing. We’ve been paying contractors and we will continue to pay. From Monday, payments will start dropping”, he said.
Kalu’s timely and cautious intervention ultimately showcased the transformative power of adept diplomacy and the boundless potential for resolution that lies within the realm of constructive dialogue. It lends credence to the fact that all the challenges of governance in the country can honestly be addressed with the right tone and strategy to deepen democracy and foster more economic development. Indeed, it is better to “jaw, jaw” than to “war war”.
*Eze, a public affairs analyst who observed the proceedings of the meeting wrote in this piece from Abuja.
By Johnson Eze A palpable sense of tension permeated the air as they trickled into the compound. Aggression stamped on their faces. Their countenances etched with the weight of prolonged
The post Payment for Project Implementation: How FG, Contractors Reached Accord Through Kalu’s Diplomatic Efforts appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.
Hot Source
