NTDC Workers Stage Protest, Wants Folly Coker Fired

On Wednesday, November 29, 2017, workers of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) shut down the Abuja headquarters of the tourism agency to demand the sack of its Director-General, Mr Foluronsho Folarin Coker, fondly called Folly Coker.
The aggrieved employees of the NTDC accused the DG of high-handedness and poor welfare of workers.
They claimed he was not competent to occupy the position, calling on the Federal Government to remove him immediately.
The demonstrators carried placards conveying different messages including ‘NTDC staff not animals,’ and ‘MTDC staff says no to oppressor.’
Others are ‘DG Mr Folunrusho Coker, we are tired of your insults, we are not your slaves,’ ‘Coker, give us our job, we want to work,’ ‘Coker needs management training,’ ‘Coker, stop all impunity and financial recklessness in NTDC,’ ‘NTDC staff are not animals, treat us like human beings,’ ‘Special assistant is not a full time employment,’ ‘Let the staff work, what kind of a leader is Coker,’ ‘Seven months after assumption of duty, no meeting with staff,’ ‘Coker said Buhari has not been able to achieve anything in two years and so NTDC staff should not expect him to do magic,’ ‘Folunrunsho Coker lacks human relations, he is a bully,’ ‘PMB, as a matter of urgency, should sack Foluronsho Coker,’ ‘Only Coker attends foreign exhibition,’ among others.
They noted that Mr Coker set up a project unit which is not part of the NTDC nomenclature, but a conduit pipe to syphon money out of the NTDC.
The workers lamented that the DG has not been able to achieve anything since taking over NTDC barely eight months ago.
They expressed disappointment over what they called his poor leadership style and lack of respect for the workers.
Meanwhile, the management of NTDC has promised to respond appropriately to all the issues raised by the workers.
In recent years, NTDC has been dogged by controversies, staff protests and low workers’ morale, occasioned by poor leadership style, which started with Sally Mbanefo, the immediate past DG.
Stakeholders in the industry had a high expectation that Mr Coker will re-position NTDC by taking the corporation to a higher height, but with the recent protest by the workers, all that may now seem to be a mirage.
Mr Coker was appointed about seven months ago to help revive the dwindling fortunes of the Nigerian tourism industry, having served briefly in the same capacity as a Commissioner for Tourism and culture in Lagos state, where he was removed unceremoniously.

Boundary Dispute: Oyo, Ogun Govts Call For Peace

The governments of Oyo and Ogun States have appealed to the affected local government councils and respective traditional institutions of border communities to continue to ensure peaceful co-existence amongst themselves pending the conclusion of actions on the interstate boundary.

The two governments made the appeal in a communiqué issued at the end of a joint meeting of officials of Oyo/Ogun Interstate boundary held in Ibadan last week.

The communiqué signed by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State who was represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, DR. Olumide Ayeni and the Director, Internal Boundaries, Surv. Adamu A. Adaji assured that the two state governments will investigate the reported incidences of vandalization of the boundary pillars at the Bakatari and Eruwa sectors and take appropriate action to ensure continued peace.

The communiqué noted that the National Boundary Commission and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the federation together with the Surveyors-General and Attorneys-General of the two states to examine amongst others the discrepancies not later than the first quarter of 2018.

It stated that the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation shall ascertain the work done so far on the boundary and the required pillars of the remaining sector for possible award of contract by the Federal Government.

The communiqué also stressed that the Joint Technical Committee would be encouraged to have regular bilateral meetings to discuss issues relating to the boundary and douse tension to ensure continued peace amongst the border communities and report their findings submitted to National Boundary Commission.

Who Will Save Folly Coker From Gov Ambode? (unveiling the many wars between Tinubu’s godsons

There is no love lost between the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode and the frontman of NTDC, Mr Folly Coker.
As much as the duo who had loved to conceal the hatred for each other, their difference has deepened to the point that the politicians are tearing at each other at any given opportunity.
Those in the know claimed the two Lagos politicians who ere both proteges of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu have had been at each other’s throat for a long time.
Sources revealed that Governor Ambode had long had the opinion that Folly Coker had been using his closeness to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to secure appointments.
He was said to have officially lamented to confidant how Folly was imposed on him and he had to show evidence of his recklessness to Tinubu before he got the approval to sack him from his cabinet.
Folly was said to have taken the sack personal and had since been a critic of all the policies of the Lagos State government before he was later appointed the boss of the NTDC.
The feud deepened when Lagos State published an advertorial in the papers with claims that the government had succeeded in flushing out all the bad eggs in Ambode’s government.
The Lagos State government was also alleged to have sponsored the recent protest by some NTDC staffers who demonstrated and asked for the sack of Folly Coker as their Director General.
Folly was said to have reported to Tinubu, but he met a brickwall as the top politician told him his issue with Governor Ambode was a personal one he should be able to handle.
Folly was said to have fought back and he was alleged to be the sponsor of an incident where a lady claimed she was raped at the Lagos carnival by officials of the event.
Folly claimed the One Lagos project was his initiative and he wasn’t happy the State continues the project after his sack.
Sources revealed that the owner of the Browns cafe is about launching a counter project named ‘ONE NIGERIA’ to counter the Lagos State project.
It was also said that the war had spread amongst the aides of the two gladiators.
An encounter played out at this year’s Nottinghill Carnival in London where he Lagos State’s Commissioner of Information, Steve Ayorinde prevented the recognition of the NTDC boss, Folly Coker at the event.

Paris Club Refund: Court Orders Akwa Ibom Govt to Deposit N20bn in Bank Over Failure to Pay Mauritz Walton Consultancy Fee

A Federal High Court on Friday ordered Akwa Ibom State government to deposit the sum of N20bn in any of the three banks, namely First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank, respectively, in respect of a suit filed by Mauritz Walton Nig. Ltd against the government.
Mauritz had sued the Minister of Finance, Accountant General of the Federation, Central Bank of Nigeria, and Akwa State government, as the 1, 2, 3, and 4 defendants over the refusal of the government of Akwa Ibom to pay it consultancy fee over the Paris Club Refund.
Mauritz challenged the defendants on ground of their refusal to abide by the Court’s interlocutory order freezing Akwa Ibom State Paris Club Refund Account, pending the determination of suit filed against the state over refusal to pay it consultancy fee on the Paris Club Refund.
Mauritz dragged the state before the court seeking the attachment of the said amount as a result of the failure of the state government to pay the applicant 30 per cent of the state’s Paris Club refund by the Federal Government being consultancy charge for the services it rendered to the state government in pursuing the refund on behalf of the government.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole gave the order Friday in the suit marked: NO FHC/ABJ/CS/1154/2017.
In a ruling, Justice Kolawole held: “Upon the application of the plaintiff’s counsel, Ahmed Rsji, SAN, informing the court of the irregularities on the Defendants Affidavit to show cause as ordered by the court of 30/11/2017; it is hereby ordered as follows:
“That in the absence of any affidavit to show cause, and the one filed by the first defendant having been held to be irregular field, it is the interest of justice that prayer in the plaintiff motion ex parte dated 31/11/17 be granted as prayed to abide the hearing and determination of the plaintiff motion and notice interlocutory injunction which may be held at future date with fourth defendant notice of preliminary objection dated 12/12/17.
“That the said prayer granted shall enable the first, second and third defendants to pay the said sum in prayer five into an interest yielding account with any of these banks: Zenith Bank, GTB PLC, and or First Bank PLC
“That this should be ruling of this court based on the agenda which I have set for today’s proceeding on 30/11/17 when the plaintiff ex parte motion was held.”
The matter was adjourned till January 30, 2018.
Justice Kolawole had frozen seven accounts linked to Governors’ Forum, which, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, were used by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to launder the sum of N10bn said to be derived from the proceeds of the Paris Club refund.
Justice Kolawole directed that the freezing order would last for 45 days within which the EFCC must either institute charges in respect of the transactions against the relevant suspects or apply to the court for an extension of the order.
The judge also gave seven days to the account owners, if interested in seeking the setting aside of the freezing order, to file an application which must be served on the EFCC.