Index to Nigerian Newspapers

President Bola Tinubu has requested the Senate's confirmation of three nominees for appointment as ministers, but failed to make a fresh nominee from the South East. In July, Tinubu named 48 ministerial-nominees, but only five slots were allocated to the South East. The Senate confirmed 45 nominees in August, with three new nominees formally requested. The Senate has not fixed a date for screening and possible confirmation of the new nominees. Senate Committee on Gas, led by Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has urged the executive to present a 2023 supplementary budget to the National Assembly to kick-start his Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project. They insisted the law frowns at extra budgetary spending and warned against extra budgetary expenditure through 'Ways and Means'. The Federal Government has commissioned four refurbished buses for the immediate use of its staff, pending the delivery of the CNG buses. The buses are to operate within four designated routes, pending the delivery of the CNG buses. The head of service, Folasade Yemi-Esan, commended the resilience of the staff and called on them to make effective use of the buses.

Former Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate and senator-elect for Bauchi Central, Abdul Ahmed Ningi, on Wednesday, said there are at least 67 of his colleagues who have keyed into the aspiration of Orji Uzor Kalu and Abdulaziz Yari to emerge as Presiding Officers of the Senate. He said majority of the contenders for the Senate Presidency are working together and that discussions were ongoing among them. 

This is coming, even as a parliamentary watchdog, the Coalition for Parliamentary Democracy (CPD), warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against its insistence on micro zoning the Senate Presidency to Godswill Akpabio, saying the party might inadvertently be playing into the hands of the opposition.

 

The 10th National Assembly in Nigeria is gradually settling down, but the question of the manner of parliament remains. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas was overwhelmingly voted as the Speaker of the House on June 13, winning 353 votes. Abbas's leadership has created a united, people-friendly, and focused House. The ruling APC's endorsement of Abbas generated furor, but Abbas remains committed to upholding checks and balances. The 10th Assembly will work closely with the Executive and Judiciary to provide good governance and uplift citizens' lives.

Abbas's leadership is based on transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law. He owes a debt of gratitude to his colleagues for their massive support during the contest, but his emergence was a product of a unanimous decision by members, and he does not owe anyone in particular but service to humanity and Nigerians.