 Welcome once again to the breakfast here on PLOS TV Africa and now for off the press let's go straight to the Nigerian Tribune just before we introduce our guests and share some of the major stories begin headlines across the country today. The first one now the big one which should be on your screen just a few seconds is on the NDDC it says over 13,777 NDDC projects compromised says the report. As federal government receives forensic report vows to prosecute people behind abuse of six trillion Naira Commission's funds. 2023 article moves meetings to Ibadon wades into Makhinde or your PDP chief James Fugh and bailout funds Kogi debunks EFC's allegations it was a story that we shared yesterday where 20 billion Naira loan which was given to the Kogi state government for to augment you know salaries and some of all of that was allegedly paid into a totally different bank accounts to generate interest according to the EFCC. Still on the Nigerian Tribune federal government robbing south-south of gas revenues. Aqa Ibn Govna laments at meeting with RM AFC and also only PDP NEC can suspend me says Uche Secundus. Inigo Assembly passes anti-open grazing bill SEC going bankrupt. Senate raises alarm. 5,890 terrorists have surrendered says Defense Headquarters and police rescue five abducted Zamfra students. Afaka students abduction suspect arrested. 27.4 million Nigerians earn less than 100,000 Naira per annum. And federal government to make COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for civil servants. Let's take a look at the next newspaper it's the leadership. The headline says citing poor working conditions, remuneration, doctors, health workers, and backed on strike 10 times in six years. Nigeria has a ratio of one doctor per 2,753 citizens. Against WHO's recommended one doctor to 600 percent. 33,000 of nation's 74,000 registered doctors leave for greener pasture. Federal government to make COVID-19 vaccine compulsory for workers. Also on the leadership newspaper Delta cot verdict has nothing to do with Boonee committee. That's according to the APC bailout funds. Cogidabunk's EFC claims threatens legal action. Fresh tension in worry as Atoha said the third moves to the robe or Lobushiri others. 25.7 billion Naira theft court freezes Atoche's 19.1 billion Naira in 24 banks. All right away from the leadership let's see what we can find on the punch newspapers this morning. Big story there rising spending. Federal government's three-year deficit hits 15.4 trillion Naira amid revenue crisis. Revenue stood at 12.79 trillion Naira. Aggregate expenditure 28.14 trillion. Reduce high cost of governance. Boost taxes. Experts advise federal government. Also this morning on the punch Twitter ban remains as NCC as Nigerians lose 220.36 billion Naira. No quick fix to doctor's demand says Mamora. And we can also see here Tackle insecurity. Ministers sacking diversionary. Minority reps tell Bowering. And also federal government plans compulsion COVID-19 vaccination for civil servants. Still on the punch uncompletedprojects.nigerdelta. Despite six trillion Naira NDDC allocation says the federal government. And under residents decried 10-year blackout blame been in disco. Blasphemy. Sharia court orders mental valuation of Islamic cleric. And a peacemaker stabbed to death during scuffle in a Legos bar. I think it was quickly just end with stop-up doctrines. UNICEF tells for the government as five Zamfra students are freed. These are the big ones on the punch newspapers this morning. Wow interesting stories there. Let's take a final look at the daily independent. APC ignores court order to proceed with local government congresses. Expells YOLA south local government chairman for criticising Buhari. Party's actions reflects impunity in the country. That's according to the NBA chief. This one says military hands over five hundred and eight five thousand eight hundred and ninety surrendered terrorists to Borno government queues sixty-five. COVID-19 federal government to make vaccination mandatory for employees. Enegro assembly passes anti-open grazing deal. The NNPC is explaining how price differential is fueling petrol smuggling. Forgiving repentance, Buhari members are traumatised. They are victims. That's according to Dogo. Federal government moves to probe and persecute officials over NDDC funds. Concerned over uncompleted unverified development projects says over thirteen thousand seven hundred and seventy seven projects were compromised with six trillion errors since 2001 and courts freezes the assets of a Tuche from a bank PHBMD. Let's now say good morning to our guest, the chief lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Jide Johnson. Good morning. Thank you for joining us. Jide Johnson, can you hear us? Before we of course connect with Jide Johnson, it seems we might have we having slight challenges there. You know remember it's still off the press and I want to you know pretty much start with the story on the six trillionaire gone to the NDDC. Oh my. Yeah you know and it says the federal government vows to prosecute people behind abuse of six trillionaire commission's funds. Now good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, can you hear me? Yes, you can. Welcome. Go ahead please. Okay. Yeah, please. Let's start with the story that captures what you have in your talking point in the press show. We talked about the value of Naira and how it has affected the economy and how it has affected, which is SG3S deficit, 815.3 trillion. Another very new crisis. 15.4 actually. 15.4 trillion revenue crisis. And here if you keep borrowing money, and here there's nothing to show for it in the economy. And you begin to wonder what's the role of the National Assembly as as as the law making voting as the as the body that has authority over funds. And in another story, in another related story, you know there's a story that said decided Christ out as a result of drop in the in the SCSEC funding. So you begin to wonder politically we are not getting it right. Economically we are not getting it right. Security wise we are not getting it right. And then you are wondering what is really going on the way of governors and we do have governors in this in this in this in this country. You take the story, you relate the story with Andy DC the post. This story was seen across the papers regarding over 13,777 projects being compromised with about six trillion Naira. I mean when I took a look at the story I saw that the federal government had to basically engage the services of 16 audit firms to look into the accounts of the NDC, you know before this corruption was uncovered. I mean what really can we make of this situation to see that the corruption in the NDC covered with about six trillion Naira and that would have gone you know unnoticed if these you know audits were not done. I need to hold the mic. Remember the mic incident. So I need to hold the mic. I think we need to hold the mic in this video so that Nigerians don't hear what we are hearing and they don't see what we are saying. If close to 15,000 projects were compromised then you begin to ask what are the due processes that were put in place? What what is the essence of the due diligence and the due process office that you have? What about the ministry that has oversight function? What about the internal mechanism and then what about the national assembly that has an oversight function over NDC? That's just NDC. You recall last week we see NNPC declared a profit after close to 40 years that they have never declared any profit and we said how come they didn't declare profit last year? All of a sudden this year they declare profit and there is the need for government to do regular auditing. Now you recall there was one time that the general appeared before the national assembly and it was making it was some of our soldiers administration because by virtue of the standalone of the country the auditor general of the federation should appear before the national assembly. I think that's the first and the last time we have had something of that nature that the auditor general would go before the national assembly and every federation with the report of the account of the federation would be done. We can continue like this to have a country whereby there are too many loopholes too many loopholes economically in the country. That tells us what is wrong why our economy is, is that why inflation is right, why the price index is up commodity price index is up and the center cannot meet people are struggling to meet eggs within the country and you don't need to orchestrate, player will not solve the problem player will not solve the problem first thing will not solve the problem it's just about us doing the needful and those we have elected into into offices to do the writing and those that we have appointed into the civil service to represent the public should serve the public and nothing will do that we continue to have these stories damaged to lose your head and wonder what is happening. Jina Johnson I want us to Jina Johnson I want us to still talk about this final economic story it's a Sarah report on the Nigerian Tribune that says that 27.4 million Nigerians end less than a 100,000 era per annum. Jina Johnson 100,000 era per annum and that's 27.4 million Nigerians what does that really say about the standards of living in this country? You see they have been economically up with the truth it depends on the analysis and the industry are using for analysis I am sure if you go further down other than 27 million I'm sure 26 million will be earning less than 30,000 26 will be earning less than 30,000 what is the minimum wage now what is the minimum wage if government is struggling to pay the minimum wage even the one that the NSE agreed with the federal government so state government are not paying it it's clear that poverty pervades the land it's clear that people are struggling you know how many people are in it you know how many people ask you for for for poverty you all right Jina Johnson let's move over to talking away from the economy let's talk security a little bit I'm going to lump three stories together I'll start with the Enugu State Assembly this is on the Nigerian Tribune now it says Enugu Assembly passes anti-open grazing bill also 5,890 terrorists have surrendered says defense headquarters and of course police rescue five abducted Zamfara students if you can you know lump those three together and let's get your thoughts on them Judy Johnson can you hear us well let's try to reconnect with Judy Johnson but really this story about the repentance terrorists really shook me it shook me so bad seeing that the military said they had handed over 5,890 surrendered terrorists to the bonus state governor Jina Johnson can you hear us Jina Johnson can you hear us clearly all right we still have those challenges um so we've spoken about you know repentance terrorists for a long time and um this is maybe the first time that it's been you know boldly written as terrorists repentant terrorists are surrendering Enugu State of course we spoke about earlier passing the anti-open grazing law and the five abducted Zamfara students which have been rescued I don't know if this you know tells or shows that maybe the rest of them could be rescued is it also does it also mean that the police know where the rest of these students are what steps will be taken after you know the the five were rescued it would also be important to know how they were even rescued if it was you know on their way to wherever they were taken that were rescued all five of them you know ran away from terrorist camp it's a lot of questions that need to be you know asked and need to be answered and um you know yesterday I remember that I mentioned you know the need to know if the if these regions really have the DSS you know who exactly is gathering information or intelligence in these regions what exactly are they doing you know are they you know have they completely moved you know out of the northeast um and left you know the police or whoever else is remaining there to handle security challenges Julie Johnson can you hear us I can hear you all right because the the the thing is that when you reward criminality you are encouraging criminality that's just it I would who gives who gives the military that authority is it the national assembly or is it the cough do we have respect for the laws of the land if somebody should just steal let me say steal a card what do you think the judicial system will do to that person now we're not talking about people that have been destroyed lives and property destroyed homes destroy many things and then you're handing them over you are saying they are repentant who how do you measure it repentance ah what was the mechanism is he repentant scientifically can you measure it what is it did you did you open the art of the person or you use a light detector or there's a technology for measuring repentance we do that we are sending work signals we are sending we are sending work signals and that demonstrate the level of impunity that agencies of state and government have for us as a country and have for us as a nation and they have for us as a people which takes me to the story of the apc now the apc said they are not stopping them from having their energy congresses tomorrow now if an institution in a democratic society which is the party system which is the platform which you use to gain access to control power state power an authority says he has no respect for god order now what do you expect community we are witnessing what stops the party from stopping the congress tomorrow and try to resolve that is that has been able that if it also affected the pdp2 second dose in the in another story in the new super sec it's only the sec and it's only the national executive committee that has the power to suck him so the ruling party is medieval with crisis the the the opposition party is medieval with the crisis both parties have no respect for their constitution just imagine those parties emerge as the governing party in Nigeria they have no respect for the culture of Nigeria and they reward community just like you are seeing rewarding repentant and and terrorists and saying that oh they have repented they have done this they have done that i don't think we'll leave that as a reason i want us to take a look at the story that we um read earlier on the leadership newspaper and it said that doctors and health workers embarked on strike 10 times in six years citing poor walking conditions and remuneration and the question is how long are we going to continue this cycle that was practically my family was a victim of these i lost my wife in 2019 so i could i could explain all the process if i if i catalog by experience of what i experienced in Nigerian medical facility you'll be shocked and um the situation whereby you have you you you you you read all the data one to almost three thousand patients whereas the global standard is one to six hundred and thirty three thousand out of the seventy four thousand medical doctors we have that's over 40 percent of our medical doctors are migrating abroad why better better walking condition better environment and we seems not we seems not to to to be bothered about it you wonder who is the minister of health who is the minister of state for health is someone that has left medicine for a very long time that the minister of state for health is someone that has left medicine for a very long time person it's a moment for me to get increasing again from from an umbrella state i have left medical parties and i'm going into politics and these are the people that are managing your health sector these are the people that are fed on on on the nation's on the nation's work because the moment you become a minister you become a senator you become a governor you don't you're not bothered about whatever happens again what you eat what you drink what you wear the state takes care of it for you so as a result of that these are the people that you put at the top of managing your policies for you and and that and that's the challenge and that's the challenge we have it is pathetic all you need to do identity may you pray not to be sick if you pray to be sick may you pray for god to heal you because if you go for example i can tell you that i spent six weeks in the hospital and i've had cost to a great consultant that was treating her wife without telling them who i am and not knowing who who are you what what makes a doctor a doctor it's his ability to to study medicine and everybody's a researcher because through observation the key research element we have is observation so i was with my wife i know my wife medical situation more than anybody because i was always with her and then you see the way issues and mismanage and if that's doctors and networkers what are we doing concerning this all right if you read the story of of of the person that succeeded me my colleague that succeeded me as the current deputy provost of nigerian stock generalism he lost his wife last but he lost his wife you need to read this story he says even with the medical situation in nigeria it's pathetic now what do you expect a doctor to do when it won't doctor we attend to three thousand people whereas he's expected to attend to only six hundred people so it's it's about the failure of of of the system and when our leaders the national leader of the apc traveled abroad for medical for medical the president when he sick he travels abroad everyone of them why would they why would they want to resolve the problem in the x-sector we have said it and we are saying it anyone that is in public service should not seek medical help abroad we should pass it as a law anyone that is in public service should not set is our general to the private institution not to talk concerning the general to schools abroad all right jenny johnson should be the standard here let's now let's move away from health um and now look a little bit into financial fraud the allegations of you know there's two stories here that uh pretty interesting first of all in kogis states there was a story yesterday that said that um the kogis state government received the 20 billion dollar loan and instead of using to augment salaries as it was meant for it was placed in a certain bank account to generate um you know a profit interest interest rather there's that one and then there's also the atouche story it's on the leadership it says 25.7 billion naira theft caught freezes atouche's 19.1 billion naira in 24 banks so quickly share your thoughts on those two stories now if you ask yourself this question when you see the bottom line say how do they make money how do they come about this every year because for you to get in for you to get loans just approach the bank how many loans are banks granting to smaller medium scale enterprise and then you wonder you see the amount of money now the one in kogis state should not surprise anybody what they may not do with the financial fund it's what is done across the state of the federation and is a systemic failure is about people that are going to do what you have these people will take all resources that are located for a particular and they will place it in bank for three months for six months and then they will collect interest it's it's it's it's it's a criminal act and at the end of the day we'll see this story on the pages of this and then before you know it you say that oh they have said to that of course it's a serious report that so stick to it first and then take that case i think we're struggling once again with the connection for to gd johnson this morning but you can't you know deny there's so many of these very very huge and interesting stories in the papers this morning is i wish we had time to go through every single one of them every you know every um of the papers that we've shared this morning very interesting stories um i i read the tucci story once again and you know 24 banks 24 banks i'm i'm i'm shocked you know if we have that many banks in anglia that you know you can quickly throw money in if these allegations are true and there's also not the first time that i've heard of you know government agencies or you know politicians putting billions of nair that are meant for the state in certain bank accounts to generate interest um you know after a couple of months and then withdrawing you know and and keeping interest for for themselves this is just tales that you hear here in Nigeria the challenge and the question will always be what next you know when you hear these things same thing with the end of DC story of six trillion nair um if for this many years we've not still seen anybody who really have been prosecuted or jailed and if we're being honest with ourselves it is a whole cartel that needs to be jailed in certain things you know or prosecuted with certain things like this not just the person who's accused of stealing person who assisted the person in the banks the persons who there's so many of them the auditor general of you know in each organization the people who you know are meant to be even you know signing off on certain things there's so many of these people who are meant to be you know rested for these crimes but if we don't get any of these things that we're going to we're just going to keep hearing the stories not long ago somebody fainted during a panel and that was the end of that you know that investigation anyway yes let's take a break here to return with um today in history i'm going to the air 1981 to talk about a very important law for women and i'm going to be sharing once again a call that took place here in africa in 1987 we'll be back