Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Stakeholders in the ongoing fight against corruption have tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other realted Offences commision (ICPC), and other relevant agencies on the compelling need to enhance their scope of disseminating information on gains recorded. The charge was given yesterday by the MacArthur foundation, United Nations office on Drug and crime (UNODO) as well as Transparency International (TI) at an event organised by the center for media and accountability (CMPA). 

His words: Our work is focused on accountability and anti-corruption and that is why we are investing in this. This work about anti-corruption is about life and death we are trying to improve the quality of lives of our children. 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has resolved the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the principal officers of the ruling party at the National Assembly, Daily Trust reliably gathered last night.  A fresh crisis erupted in the ruling party on Tuesday when the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, rejected the principal officers of the party announced by both the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. 

Akpabio and Abbas had announced the principal officers of the APC, including the majority leaders, chief whips and their deputies during the plenary. But shortly after the announcement, Adamu was quoted as saying the list did not emanate from the party although the governors of the party under the aegis of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) endorsed the new officers.

The erstwhile Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, is still in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) one week after he was suspended, Daily Trust reports. Although officials of the secret police have yet to make offence(s) of the embattled former anti-graft agency boss public, it was learnt that Bawa is still being grilled over his role in the currency redesign.

A source said there are other issues he’s being grilled on but his role in the February cash crunch topped his issues. It would be recalled that operatives of SSS immediately picked him up shortly after he was suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Meanwhile, human rights advocates and civil society organisations, have faulted the continued detention of the former EFCC chairman, calling on the secret police to either charge him to court or release him.

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is open to accepting Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso if he decides to defect to the party. Kwankwaso, a two-term Kano State governor, has experience in politics and has served as Minister of Defence and senator. Ganduje believes Kwankwaso's departure would make it easier for him to lobby for the party. The two political allies have not been on good terms since their first tenure.

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed ex-Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s claims that the ruling party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket was aimed at silencing the Christian community and boosting the Islamization of Nigeria. El-Rufai had in a video trending on social media said that President Bola Tinubu’s victory at the presidential poll has silenced  CAN. He also claimed that the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the Kaduna gubernatorial poll, which he initiated, would be sustained beyond 20 years in the state. 

However, Chairman of the Kaduna branch of CAN, Revd. Joseph Hayab said the former governor was seeking relevance and asked Nigerians to ignore him.  

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his assumption of office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A commissioner with the National Population Commission (NPC), Mr Joseph Shazin Kwali, has said the postponement of the 2023 house census exercise by the immediate past administration has given the commission the opportunity to further prefect its processes and system for conduct of the first ever digital census in the country. 

According to him, the commission has carried out all the preparatory activities towards the census such as Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) conduct of pre -test and trial census, recruitment and training of census field staff, procurement and configuration of personal digital assistant among others.

He called on media organizations on the need to continue to sensitize the public of the significance of the house census exercise, even as he informed the commission that the FCT permanent secretary, Adesola Olusade has pledged his support to the commission anytime the exercise will commence in the FCT.

The Governor of Bayelsa State on Tuesday led a high-powered delegation of Federal lawmakers from the state, party leaders and others to felicitate with former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson after his swearing-in as a second term Senator. Diri who described Dickson as their political leader and father said that it was important to ensure that emphasis is placed on experience in the choice of candidates for the National Assembly. The sad incidents affected the arrangement to celebrate the inauguration of the lawmakers in recognition of the mourning mood of the Ijaw nation.

The new federal lawmakers are H.E Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, Senator Konbowei Benson, Senator Benson Agadaga, Hon. Fred Agbedi, Hon.(Mrs.) Marie Ebikake, Hon. Mitema Obodor, Hon. Oboku Oforji, and Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has initiated talks with President Bola Tinubu on the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, who has been in detention since 2021 following his re-arrest in Kenya. After a private meeting with Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, talked about the release of Nnamdi Kanu. And we basically identified with that. We’ve banned sit-at-home on Mondays in Enugu. Need to, ” he emphasised. In terms of growing our economy from the current levels to $30bn. Which we believe partnering with the Federal Government,.

The senate yesterday rejected the controversial National Water resources bill 2023 after it was listed for concurence on the order paper for consideration and passage. the rejection put an end to controversy by governors and lawmakers, particularly those from the south. 

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has told the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to reconsider their intention to go on strike against fuel subsidy removal.

Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House, read Gbajabiamila’s letter of resignation at plenary in Abuja on Wednesday, June 14. Gbajabiamila said his resignation is to enable him to assume the role of Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

Speaker of the house of representative Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday, described Nigeria as an unfinished story. He made the declaration in his valedictory address to close the 9th assembly even as he hailed his colleagues commending the lawmakers for enacting historic laws and legislating on critical sectors to impact the lives of Nigerians.

Governors of the 36 states of the Federation under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum, have thrown their weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s decision to end fuel subsidy payments in the country and other early policy initiatives of the administration.

According to a statement issued by Director of Information in the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, the governors took turns to speak when President Tinubu hosted members of the Forum, led by its chairman, and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the State House. They expressed happiness with the President’s subsidy-removal decision, all-inclusive leadership and statesmanship.

Ahead of the November 11, 2023, Imo governorship election, the candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Maj. Gen.  Lincoln Ogunewe (rtd) has promised to carry out his campaign based on issues bothering the state. Ogunewe said this in an interaction with UK-based journalists during his strategic consultation with Imo people in the diaspora.

He noted that his campaign will be rancor-free and focus on issues of public interest that will spur Imo people to line up behind him and give him their votes. In a statement in Owerri, the retired general said that in his interactions with the Imo people in various parts of the diaspora, he had always maintained his firm belief in a people-driven society where laws of the land are put in place by the people and for the people. 

Hearing in the petition of thye presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar against the election of president Bola Tinubu, was stalled yesterday at the presidential election tribunal over alleged refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) to make some critical electoral materials available to him.

The court however adjourned further hearing in the petition till tomorrow, pending the time thr electoral body is expected to have responded to the request of Atiku and the People's Democratic Party PDP for release of documents.  

Suspected political thugs on Sunday night set on fire the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship campaign office in Lokoja, Kogi State. It was gathered that the thugs invaded the office located around Paparanda Square on IBB Way around 12am and carried out the act.

Residents reported that the arsonists chased away the security men at the office and thereafter set the office on fire, destroying valuables and documents, including vehicles. The SDP deputy governorship candidate for the November 11, gubernatorial election in the state, Dr. Sam Ranti Abenemi, said: “The hoodlums came in large numbers and set all the property in the office on fire, including generators, computers, campaign materials, and televisions.”

 

Kogi Gubernatorial race - SDP

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the auspices of the Centre for Leadership Legacy International have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise competence and character over party patronage when appointing ministers. In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the Executive Director of the Centre, Dr. Yakubu Yiri Idris, reminded the president that the buck stops with him and that if he fails to meet Nigerians’ expectations due to the appointment of people of questionable character, he will have to answer to posterity.

He also stated that the president should not appoint people who have failed in previous leadership roles to his administration, but rather people with proven pedigree and track records.

The Senate minority caucus has defended the procedure it adopted for the emergence of principal officers of the opposition parties. Senate President Godswill Akpabio had on Tuesday named the minority leaders without the input of the PDP, the major opposition party in the Red Chamber. He named Senator Simon Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau) as Senate Minority Leader and Senator Oyewunmi Olalere (PDP, Osun) as deputy. 

Other minority principal officers announced are Darlington Nwokeocha (LP, Abia) as (Minority Whip) and Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano), as Deputy Minority Whip. Akpabio said the announcement was in line with agreements by the minority caucus.

The National Industrial Court on Monday granted an interim order restraining the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on strike on Wednesday.

 Following its suspended strike action as a result of the ongoing negotiations and in respect to a court order against its planned nationwide protest, the National Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the National Industrial Court (NIC) of favouring the federal government not minding its implication on the masses and workers. 

Ekiti State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has congratulated Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) on his emergence as Senate leader of the 10th assembly, describing him as a fit and proper person to occupy such an exalted position. Governor Oyebanji thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the leadership of the National Assembly for the honour done to the Southwest and Ekiti State in particular with the choice of Bamidele.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Oyebanji said he was confident Bamidele would discharge his duties as Senate leader effectively and bring additional value to the legislative and oversight functions of the upper legislative chamber, as well as the good governance agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

Some indigenes and residents of Kano state have condemned in totality the demolition of historic Kano government roundabout by governor Abba Yusuf. Governor Abba Yusuf reportedly ordered the demolition in the early hours of Wednesday. The roundabout, known as Kano Golden Jubilee Monument, was erected in the year 2017, to commemorate Kano’s attainment of 50 years as a state.

Reacting to the development, former special adviser to former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, said the demolition broke his heart. Yakasai, who described the demolition as heartbreaking, said: “We’ve not seen any plans for a new Kano. We’ve not heard of ways to make Kano greater, all (the governor) has been doing since assuming office is vindictiveness, some justified others not so much. Once you lose the goodwill of Kano, there is no gaining it back, even if you will turn it to Mecca.

The house of Representatives committee on aviation yesterday declared the launch of Nigeria Air by the immediate past administration as a fraud. Chairman of the committee, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, made the declaration at a meeting with officials of the ministry of aviation and the interim management of the national carrier and the heads of the avaition agencies at the National Assembly.

Acareful review of the process indicates the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy and capable of rediculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before inter5national community, He said.  

Rivers State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the European Union report on a former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike. The European Union in its report accused the former governor of stopping other political parties in the state from carrying out their campaign.

The party in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday by the former spokesman of the PDP campaign council, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, expressed surprise that the EU could indict the former governor without verifying its findings. “The EU report, to our surprise, has accused the former governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, of preventing members of the opposition from going about their campaigns in Rivers State. We are miffed by the fact that a reputable body such as the EU would descend so low to a point where heresy is implored to taint the image of others.

The All Progressives Congress may have struck a peace deal to douse the tension unleashed by the scramble for majority principal offices in the National Assembly. Arrived at a “win-win template last night”. The source added: the party expects a stable Senate. “The party doesn’t need to foist leadership on the Senate, we cannot be watching our senators split over a manageable situation. Next Stay “Both Bamidele and Ndume in particular are highly experienced. They also contributed to the emergence of the President of the Senate, ” The deputy leader position was being finalised last night. A member of the National Working Committee confirmed the party’s breakthrough. To Nasarawa State for a check-up. Kingsley Chinda from Rivers State, confirmed that he is bidding for the position of minority leader. We are in the process of selecting minority leader. A zone that is sometimes neglected so to say.

President Tinubu's letter, although lacking specific names, outlined his intention to establish a team of 20 special advisers. The contents of the letter were disclosed during the session, capturing the attention of the senators.

Labour party presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi yesterday said he would have adopted a dentist appraoch in tackling the issue of removal of subsidy from petroleum products. 

He said "it is not the same thing as pulling the tooth forcefully, the pain you feel will be different. For me, i will go with the approach of the dentist while supporting the removal of the tooth because i wouldn't want to go through the pain of the forceful removal.

Mr Dele Alake, Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy to the President, has clarified that only his boss, Bola Tinubu, has the final say on those that would be appointed his ministers. Alake made this clarification yesterday while responding to questions on insinuations making rounds concerning those purportedly pencilled down for ministerial slots. Alake said: “But the simple truth is that this is an executive Presidency, we’re not running a parliamentary system. So, the President, the buck stops on his table, and he decides when it’s fit and proper for him to make his cabinet list.

Prince Adewole Adebayo was the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections. In this interview, he speaks on the effects of fuel subsidy removal and unification of the exchange rate on Nigerians. Given the biting effects of the increase in fuel pump price due to the removal of subsidy, would you still label those criticising the removal of subsidy hypocrites?

There are two types of people who criticise the subsidy removal. Some of them are hypocrites and some are consistent. Those who criticise subsidy removal like me and other people, have grounds. But those who supported anyone, any platform that said they would remove subsidies from day one are hypocritical. Once you agreed to throw a five-year-old child from 10 floors of a building, you cannot say I am surprised the child broke his limbs. There is no way you will implement the policy they are implementing now that you are not going to have the same consequences. Economics does not admit cheating. You can cheat in politics, you can inflate your numbers in politics, but when it comes to economics, you can’t. You have to take the right policies. If you don’t take the right policies, the consequences of the wrong policies will follow.

What steps do you recommend as the government is also taking steps about palliatives? First, we should stop misusing the word palliative. Policy watchers shouldn’t behave as if they didn’t know what was in the offing. It appears the government is not aware of what we call monetary neutrality. When you have no food, you have no means of transportation, when you have no medicare, throwing money at you is not going to increase the number of service providers, is not going to increase the value of real goods in the market. What it is going to do is that there would be wastage; the money will not be well used. When the money gets to the end user, it is useless to them in real terms because it does not have goods to chase with the money. In the end, it may cause a little bit of inflation.

Are you saying the policy by the Tinubu administration of unification of the foreign exchange market and removal of the fuel subsidy is to help the friends of the government? I am not saying it pejoratively. In economics, everything is about choice. There are many alternative routes to development. Nigeria is a resource-rich country. I am not saying that because of the number, I am saying it because of the quality of people we have. Nigeria is rich in manpower. I think it is not too late for the government, starting with President Tinubu and co, to rethink and have a backup plan because I have a feeling and I am saying it with every sense of responsibility that if they go the way they are going, they will fail woefully. Not because they hate the people but because they are adopting models that never worked. It will surprise even President Tinubu that in the past two months, more people have entered into poverty and are yet to succeed in lifting five people out of poverty. The measures they are taking now will not help the economy. Subsidy is one out of about 2000 government programmes that require spending government money.

President Bola Tinubu, “With the signing of the constitutional amendment bill, ” a statement signed by the State House Director of Information, The statement was titled, as amended, 2023’ presented by the outgoing 9th National Assembly, While signing the amendment bill into law, Tinubu pledged his administration’s dedication to strengthening the judiciary, ensuring the rule of law, and empowering judicial officers to execute their responsibilities effectively.. 

The new law extends the retirement age of high court judges from 65 to 70 years

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last night approved the indefinite suspension of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa, to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office. Immediately after the suspension, the Department of State Services (DSS) invited Bawa for interrogation.

It was learnt that he arrived the headquarters of the DSS at about 9:02pm. A source said he was already being grilled at the facility popularly called "yellow house" over his alleged activities when he held sway in the commision. The spokesman of the DSS, Peter Afunanya confirmed Bawa's Presence. Bawa arrived a few hours ago. the invitation relates to some investigative activities concerning him, Afunanya said in his statement.

President Bola Tinubu yesterday inaugurated the immediate past minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs, George Akume, as the 21st secretary to the givernment of the federation (SGF) 

The president has last friday named Akume as the SGF. He also appointed the outgoing speaker of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. as his new Chief of Staff while the former deputy governor of Jigawa state, Sen Ibrahim Hadejia, was appointed as deputy Chief of Staff.

President Bola Tinubu, Wednesday, swore-in Senator George Akume as the 21st Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The brief event, was witnessed by dignitaries, including some service and former former governors, saw Senator Akume taking his Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office at about 11:06 am inside the Council Chambers of the Villa.

Speaking to State House Correspondents, in tears the immediate past Minister of Special Duties, pledged that he will not disappoint Nigerians. He said he was privileged out of millions of Nigerians to serve the nation in that capacity.

President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) will file their written addresses at the Presidential Election Petitions Court on July 19 after closing their case. A five-member panel of justices led by Justice Haruna Tsammani granted Tinubu and others 10 days from Wednesday to file their written addresses on the petition against Obi and LP, and PDP and Atiku.

The court also granted the petitioners (PDP and LP) seven days to reply while the respondents (Tinubu and APC) were given five days to further reply on points of law. At the conclusion of the evidence of the star witness of Tinubu, Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Majority Leader, both Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) informed the court they won’t be calling further witnesses.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar have called their first subpoenaed witness who told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) how Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to transmit results of the disputed election real time as promised.

The witness, Ndubisi Nwobu, from Anambra State, an ad hoc staff of the commission, gave his evidence amid objections raised by counsel to the respondents against his testimony.It was his evidence-in-chief that for his quick intervention, some staff of the commission would have been attacked for their failure to upload results real time.

Supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have stated that Nigeria’s democracy should be protected and defended by all for the sake of the country’s peace and stability. In a statement issued yesterday, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Vanguard acknowledged the contributions of late Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, saying he should be remembered for championing the course of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

While reflecting on the gains of June 12, Femi Ibitoye, Publicity Secretary of BAT Vanguard, emphasized that the nation must honor its past while securing the future, and praised former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, for his role in the fight against insecurity in the country.

The World Bank has predicted a 2.8% slow economic growth for Nigeria in 2023 ahead of a new government. The global bank in its latest Africa report published on Wednesday stressed that Nigeria’s economy will underperform due to weaker local currency, foreign exchange scarcity, and rising inflation.

 

The World Bank has predicted a 2.8% slow economic growth for Nigeria in 2023 ahead of a new government. The global bank in its latest Africa report published on Wednesday stressed that Nigeria’s economy will underperform due to weaker local currency, foreign exchange scarcity, and rising inflation.

 

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Tuesday approved the release of 312 tractors for allocation to farmers’ cooperatives in each of the 312 wards across Borno’s 27 local government areas. The tractors were given on loan at a 50% discount from the market price. Governor Zulum ordered the releases during a ceremony at the state’s farm centre located along the Maiduguri-Gamboru highway in Jere Local Government Area. The Governor however gave conditions. To allocate the tractors, Zulum noted that each ward should form an agricultural cooperative society with a membership of not less than five and a maximum of ten persons. The governor added that all tractors allocated cannot be sold or used outside of Borno State. Zulum noted that while his administration procured over 312 ploughing and harrowing facilities, over 1000 tractors were procured during the administration of then-Governor Kashim Shettima, now the Vice President.