President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday administered oaths of office on members of the newly-constituted Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) in Abuja. He also set an agenda of what they should accomplish in the shortest possible time. Speaking at a meeting with the 8-man Council chaired by Prof. Doyin Salami, President Buhari charged them to focus on developing reliable data that will properly reflect what is happening in the country. The President, who called the task before the PEAC ‘‘most important national assignment’’, said: “As you develop your baseline study, I would like you to focus on primary data collection. ‘‘Today,…
Author: Emmanuel Anthony
Workers yet to be captured under the Federal Government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform risk not being paid by the end of October 2019. This was revealed by President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2020 budget presentation to the joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday. President Buhari stated that a directive has been issued to stop the salary of any Federal Government in a bid to manage personnel cost. “We shall also sustain our efforts in managing personnel costs. “Accordingly, I have directed the stoppage of the salary of any Federal Government staff that is not…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said that he lost his voice due to cold and his hard work. The President said this during the presentation of the 2020 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly. Buhari, who was about to commence the reading of his speech, apologised to lawmakers for losing his voice and his inability to speak audibly. According to Buhari: “Before I proceed to read the details of the budget, let me apologise for my voice. As you can hear in my voice, I have cold because I am working hard and it’s sign that I’m…
Forces against Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, are allegedly considering giving him the ‘Onnoghen’ exit route. In addition to pushing for Osinbajo’s investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the forces are reportedly insisting that the vice president should account for Social Investment Programme (SIP) funds which were under his supervision before the general election. In January, a non-governmental organisation, Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative (ARDI) forwarded a petition to the Code of Conduct Bureaun(CCB), wherein it detailed fraud allegations against then Chief Justice of the Federation, Walter Onnoghen. ARDI Executive Secretary, Dennis Aghanya, explained then that his petition…
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has declared that his second term in office is not negotiable insisting that he deserves another term in office because he has fulfilled most of his promises to Edo people and need to consolidate on his developmental strides in the state. Obaseki who when said this when he received members of the Benin Unity League in his office, insisted that “no individual can determine who will become governor. Only God and the people can make the decision.” The governor said his interest to continue in office was for the right reasons, saying, “I have said it…
The Bauchi State Government Funds and Assets Recovery Committee has alleged that the immediate past governor, Mohammed Abubakar, sold to himself seven luxury government vehicles for N19,877,275 shortly before leaving the office. The state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, had inaugurated the committee on July 12, 2019, with the mandate to recover all government funds and assets carted away by officials of the former administration. Speaking at a press conference at the VIP 9 in Bauchi, the Public Relations Officer 1 of the committee, Alhaji Umar Ningi, flanked by other members, said the committee operated within the ambit of the laws…
One of the lawyers on the legal team representing Omoyele Sowore, Inibehe Effiong, has cried out over the bail conditions set for the release of the activist. Effiong, in an interview with newsmen said the conditions set by the court for Sowore to be released is impossible to fulfill. It would be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, October 4, granted a N100 million bail to Sowore. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, who gave the bail conditions said the publisher would produce two sureties – in like sum – who are owners of landed property within the…
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has given reasons for criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. Ezekwesili, lamenting about the state of the nation under president Buhari’s administration, said her criticism was not based on a personal level but against ‘bad governance. The former minister explained that she speaks up against the present government because of the state of education, health care system and welfare of Nigerians. According to her, “the government took an economy that was already on the precipice and crashed it so severely and yet refuses to own the consequences of the disaster it created.” On her Twitter page,…
Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has reacted to an Abuja court ruling, which granted bail to the co-convener of RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore. Sani described the bail granted Sowore as a welcome development. In a tweet, the former lawmaker also called on the Department of State Services, DSS, to comply with the court ruling. “@YeleSowore bail, a welcome development; next is compliance,” he tweeted. Recall that the Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu-led court had granted Sowore bail in the sum of N100 million, on Friday and two sureties in like sum. Ojukwu held that the prosecution failed to show good reasons…
Queen of Afrobeats, Tiwa Savage has finally addressed the issue of her alleged relationship with Wizkid, saying they are friends with benefits. Tiwa Savage spoke during an interview with Beats FM, after she was asked if she was seeing any man since her marriage with TeeBillz crashed. It would be recalled that there have been wide speculations that Wizkid and Tiwa Savage are in a romantic relationship. According to the former first lady of Mavin records, she is a friend with benefit to the star boy because they do music and attend ‘public and private’ shows together. Asked why she…
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is to introduce a new currency in November, a member of the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has said. A renowned economist, Eddie Cross, who made this known in an interview with Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday said that the new currency would be introduced in a move set to curb current cash shortages in the country. “He commended President ( Emmerson) Mnangagwa for taking a bold decision to freeze accounts of companies suspected of fueling the instability of exchange rates , saying what is needed now is to act on such economic saboteurs , ” the…
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has sacked all Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants, according to a report by TheNation. Governor Obaseki had appointed 192 Special Assistants representing each ward in the state and 54 Senior Special Assistants comprising three persons from each local government areas Obaseki later appointed 18 Special Assistants (females) on Gender. In a letter signed by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, the sacking of the SAs and SSAs was with immediate effect. Ogie said the sacking was in line with efforts to reorganise governance structure to enhance efficient service delivery to Edo people.…
The Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Wednesday affirmed the election of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal. The three-man tribunal dismissed the petition of the APC and its governorship candidate, Ahmed Aliyu, for lacking in merit. In delivering judgment, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Abbas Bawale said the petitioners had failed to establish their claims of non compliance to the Electoral Act and the issue of over voting. Bawale also said the evidences of the petitioners’ witnesses especially witness number ten amounted to hearsay which could not prove any of the allegations. Aliyu had gone to the tribunal seeking to…
The All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has predicted a better future for Nigeria, saying what the country had overcome in the past had given the confidence and courage to believe that it can achieve even more. This is contained in his message to the nation on the occasion of the 59th independence anniversary. The statement was released in Lagos on Tuesday by his Media Office. Asiwaju Tinubu said: “Today we celebrate the 59th birthday of our beloved nation. We stand today with our feet planted firmly in the present but with our gaze both on the past…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has berated President Muhammadu Buhari, describing his Independence Day broadcast as an insult on the psyche of Nigerians. The party said the broadcast was a mockery of the nation’s integrity as an independent state. According to the PDP, Buhari’s speech was completely unpresidential, lacking in patriotic stance and replete with manifest inconsistencies, contradictions, paradoxes and false performance claims. This was contained in a statement Tuesday signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan. It said “President Buhari, in his recorded address, failed to forcefully address the key issues of freedom, social justice,…
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of turning Nigeria into a joke, adding that there is nothing to celebrate except pains, division, incompetence, banditry, tribalism, and hopelessness as the country turn 59. CUPP said that Buhari’s leadership style and incompetence is a mockery of the efforts of the nation’s founding fathers. In a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere on Monday, the political parties also claimed that Nigeria is now on the path to imminent collapse if Buhari is not stopped by the Supreme Court justices. The statement added, “Tomorrow being Tuesday,…
A constitutional lawyer in Abuja, Mr Realwan Okpanachi, has said that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo cannot waive his immunity. The legal practitioner told newsmen on Monday in Abuja that the only effective way Osinbajo could waive his immunity, “if he sincerely desires to do so is to resign from his position as vice president.” “He cannot remain in office and waive his immunity as the immunity is attached to that office and not his person,” the lawyer said. Okpanachi was reacting to the statement credited to the vice president that he would waive his constitutional immunity to clear his name over the…
President Muhammadu Buhari, at the weekend, reacted to the reported rescue of 400 men and boys in a building in Kaduna, where the detainees were allegedly abused and tortured.His reaction was contained in a statement signed by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu. It read: “In commending the police for their discovery of this horrific hub and arrest of suspected operators of the unedifying, so-called “reform institution,” the administration of President Buhari categorically condemns rights abuses whether of adults or of children. ‘‘We are glad that Muslim authorities have dismissed the notion of the embarrassing and horrifying spectacle as Islamic School. ‘‘The…
President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Chairman, Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST), Mr. Siaka Isiah Idoko-Akoh.This was contained in a circular by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse. “I write to convey the approval of Mr. President for your removal from office as the Chairman of the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST) with immediate effect”, it read. “Accordingly, you are required to hand over the office of the Chairman including all property(ies) of the IST in your custody to Mr. J. I. Udunni, a full time member of the Tribunal, who by this same letter from…
Senior Pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ Gospel Church, Pastor Adewale Giwa, has faulted Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for purchasing brand new SUVs for judges in Ondo State. Akeredolu had presented 16 brand new 2019 model Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs for the use the Chief Judge of the state and other judges. Making the presentation on Wednesday in Akure, the state capital, the he said the gesture was to demonstrate his administration’s promise to create a conducive atmosphere to the workforce. The vehicles were received by the Chief Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu, at the Government House, Alagbaka,…
The Ondo state chapter of the Southwest Youth Congress (SYC) has unveiled Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s 2023 Presidential campaign poster saying no plan by the enemy can stop him from becoming Nigeria’s president in 2023. The group made this known during a procession for Osinbajo’s candidacy in Akure, the state capital. Bamise Akintomide, who led the state chapter of SYC, alleged that “desperate cabals” are responsible for the “campaign of calumny” against Osinbajo to stop the presidency from moving to the south-west. “While we are confident that the perceived threat against Professor Osinbajo bears the imprints of a desperate cabal’s wicked strategy for relevance, sadly…
The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, October 1, as public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 59th Independence Anniversary. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mrs Georgina Ehuriah, announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. She said the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the declaration on behalf of the federal government. The minister congratulated Nigerians at home and abroad on the commemoration of this year’s anniversary. He assured citizens of government’s commitment to end the current spate of insecurity in the country. According to him, peace and stability are necessary conditions for the development of any nation. Aregbesola,…
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has declared his readiness to waive his constitutional immunity to “enable the most robust adjudication” of several baseless allegations, insinuation and falsehoods against his person and office. Prof. Osinbajo made this declaration in a tweet he personally authored via his official Twitter handle @profOsinbajo, Wednesday afternoon. Below is the full text of his tweet: “In the past few days, a spate of reckless and malicious falsehoods have been peddled in the media against me by a group of malicious individuals. “The defamatory and misleading assertions invented by this clique had mostly been making the social…
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgments in three separate appeals brought before it on the senatorial election of Senator Dino Melaye, which was last month quashed by the National Assembly election petition tribunal. The three separate appeals were brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and Dino Melaye, with the three of them praying the appellate court to set aside the majority decision of the tribunal which voided the election of Melaye of Kogi West Senatorial District. Justice Abubakar Datti Yahaya, who presided over the three appeals announced that the date…
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate redeployment of two Ministers of State This was contained in a statement Tuesday evening by Willie Bassey, Director Information, Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation. “Mr. Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs is to move to Ministry of Labour and Employment as Minister of State,” it read. “Senator Tayo Alasoadura is to move to Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as Minister of State” “This redeployment takes effect from today, Tuesday 24th September, 2019.” Festus Keyamo has reacted to his immediate redeployment by President Muhammadu Buhari. A statement…
Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, has reacted to his victory at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Mallami Umar-Dogondagi, had dismissed the petition of the candidate of the Action Alliance Party, Mr Uche Nwosu, for incompetence.In a unanimous decision, the three-member panel, also struck out the petition of the All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate, Sen. Hope Uzodinma. Three petitions were filed by the governorship candidates of AA, APC and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),asking the tribunal to nullify the election of Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on the ground that he was unlawfully declared…
President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, in New York announced robust plans and initiatives by his administration to reverse the negative effects of climate change in Nigeria. The plans were revealed in his address to the United Nations Climate Action Summit with the theme, “A Race We Can Win. A Race We Must Win.”The full text of his speech is reproduced below: “I share the sentiment expressed by the Secretary-General that the world is on the verge of climate catastrophe. Undeniably, Climate Change is a human-induced phenomenon. “It is now imperative that we must step-up our collective climate actions in line with…
The Bayelsa chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned the former senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Sen. Nimi Amange, following his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).Amange was a PDP senator from 2007 to 2011 and represented former President Goodluck Jonathan’s constituency. But reacting to Amange’s defection in a statement issued in Yenagoa, the state Chairman of PDP, Mr Moses Cleopas, stated that the former lawmaker did not defect directly from PDP.Cleopas said that Amange ceased to be a member of PDP before the February National Assembly (NASS) elections when he defected from PDP to…
A Kogi governorship candidate on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Dabo Dantele Yusuf has alleged that the November 16 governorship election result has already been written in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He made the statement at an interactive session with the Forum of Igala journalists (FORIJA) on Saturday in Abuja. He said the result was made possible with collaboration of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in the state. “I am a politician and an insider. I have intelligence reports made available to me by some of my friends in their camp. “The result…
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, reacted to reports of the UN report on violence in Nigeria. His spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement said while the presidency agrees that the violence in Nigeria, or in any country, is a major concern and that there is a rippling effect, it was disappointed that the rapporteur was silent on intra-group violence. He said: “In Benue, Taraba, Cross River States and many parts of the country, most of the casualties result from intra-group, inter-group and community violence. Many of the displaced persons across the nation are also victims of these conflicts. “There is absolutely…
