Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said the 114 per cent increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the president, vice president, governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders is still a proposal.

RMAFC chairman, Muhammadu Shehu, represented by a federal commissioner, Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, had presented reports of the reviewed remuneration package to Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, on Tuesday. Shehu was reported to have urged the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly to hasten efforts on amendment of relevant laws to give room for upward review of remuneration packages for political, judicial and public officers.

RMAFC is saddled with the responsibility of determining the appropriate remuneration for political officeholders including the president, vice president, governors, deputy governors, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, legislators and the holders of the offices as mentioned in sections 84 and 124 of the constitution. The proposal, which was developed during ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, needs the approval of 2/3 of states assemblies before it is presented to the President for assent.

Former governor of Gombe State, Mohammed Danjuma Goje, has filed an appeal against the judgement affirming his dismissal from the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Senator representing Gombe  Central Senatorial District also filed a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. A Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Obiora Egwuatu had on June 27 dismissed the suit filed by Goje challenging his dismissal from the APC for lacking in merit. 

In an appeal dated July 4 and filed through his counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), Goje submitted that the trial judge’s reliance on the technicality that the deponent was a practicing lawyer in the law firm representing Goje although he was not involved in the suit, was not substantial justice.

The International Press Centre (IPC) has charged the media and civil society organisations (CSOs) to hold President Bola Ahmed Tinubu accountable on his campaign promises. The IPC Executive Director, Mr Lanre Arongudade, gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja at the stakeholders’ round table on accountability, incorporating the public presentation of independently compiled campaign promises of Tinubu and the launch of an iOS/web app of media code for election. 

The event was to sensitise the media and civil society to their oversight functions as an institution that is given the constitutional responsibility to monitor governance and hold the government accountable to the people. During the campaigns, we documented the campaign promises of all the presidential candidates. Normally it is our tradition to publish that of the president so that we can look at these promises in our respective way.

These days we talk about solution-driven journalism but you can’t have solutions when you don’t pick promises, follow them, and ensure that they are actually implemented and also ask questions if there are challenges of implementation or there are changes to that plan,” Arogundade said.

`President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFFC, Mr. AbdulRassheed Bawa, to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office.

Bassey stated that Bawa has been directed to immediately handover the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations. in the commission, who will oversee the affairs of the office of the chairman ofthe commission, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Mr Bawa has been directed to immediately handover the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations in the commission, who will oversee the affairs of the office of of the chairman of the commission pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Although the matter leading to his contempt conviction was filed before his tenure as EFFCchairman, Bawa,s failure to submit himself for arrest vexed many including lawyers and civil society organizations who call for his revoval from office by former President Muhammadu Buhari.