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Timi Frank Condemns GCON Award to Gilbert Chagoury
Timi Frank criticises the conferment of GCON on Gilbert Chagoury, calling it a dark moment for Nigeria and raising concerns over corruption and public trust
Timi Frank, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, has condemned the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on businessman Gilbert Chagoury, describing it as a dark moment for Nigeria.
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Frank warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the award sends a dangerous signal, suggesting that corruption and conflicts of interest are being normalised at the highest levels of power.
The former APC official noted that Chagoury’s widely reported involvement in money-laundering cases linked to the late General Sani Abacha regime undermines public trust and Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
A Swiss court convicted Chagoury in 2000 over laundering Abacha loot, after which he allegedly paid a fine of one million Swiss francs and returned about $66 million to the Nigerian government.
“Today ranks among the saddest days of my life as a Nigerian,” Frank said.
“To bestow one of our highest national honours on a person publicly tainted by allegations and judicial findings of corruption sends a deeply troubling message about our national values.”
Frank questioned the criteria for awarding the GCON, urging Nigerians to seek clarity on Chagoury’s contributions to national development.
“What hospitals, schools, or scholarships has he built or funded to merit this honour?” he asked.
He added that the decision has broader implications for governance and international perception of Nigeria’s integrity.
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The remarks followed a congratulatory post by Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola to Chagoury on social media.
In a decisive move aimed at alleviating the economic burdens of retired public servants, Zamfara State Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal, has officially approved increased monthly pension payments for all former workers from both state and local government offices. The approval follows an extensive financial review of retirees’ living conditions, with particular attention to those in lower-income brackets who have been disproportionately affected by the prevailing cost-of-living crisis.
The decision was precipitated by the findings and recommendations of a special committee empaneled to evaluate the welfare situation of pensioners across the state. The committee’s report highlighted acute financial distress among aging retirees and called for immediate remedial action. In response, the state government has authorized a substantive upward adjustment in monthly pension stipends.
This increment aligns seamlessly with the Federal Government’s Minimum Wage Act of 2024, which explicitly recommended an additional monthly sum of at least N32,000 for pensioners. Governor Lawal has opted for full implementation of this advisory for all retired state and local government employees a policy intervention expected to benefit thousands of households across Zamfara. The state government has subsequently issued binding directives to all relevant agencies to ensure the expeditious and seamless disbursement of the enhanced payments without procedural delays.
Speaking on the development, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, characterized the policy as a tangible demonstration of Governor Lawal’s unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for both active and former government workers. According to the Commissioner, the administration operates on the principle that dignified retirement includes access to basic necessities and financial comfort. Beneficiaries across all local government areas have been assured of prompt payment once implementation commences.
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