The Chairman of the Benue State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Sales/Lease of government assets, companies, and markets, Justice Apollos Paul (rtd), has called for memoranda from the general public. This announcement follows the recent establishment of two commissions of inquiry by the Benue State Government: the Income and Expenditure Commission of Inquiry and the Sales and Lease of Government Assets 2024. In a press statement signed by Justice Apollos and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Friday, the Commission invited contributions and insights from individuals, organizations, stakeholders, and the public to aid in their investigations. Governor Hyacinth…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Nigerian government has established the governing councils for 111 federal tertiary institutions across the country. The Federal Ministry of Education released the list of appointed members on Saturday. According to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the inauguration and retreat for the councils will take place on May 30 and 31, 2024. “The inauguration and retreat for the Governing Councils will take place on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31, 2024, at the National Universities Commission, 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Both events will commence at 9:00 am daily,” Walson-Jack said…
The executive members of Galadima Ward Gusau of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who recently suspended the state chairman, Alhaji Umar Tukur Danfulani, have unanimously reversed their decision. The ward executives signed and submitted a letter of withdrawal of the suspension to the state headquarters of the party. Submitting the notice of withdrawal, Tijjani Abubakar Dan Ayya, the Gusau Local Government chairman of the party, explained that the executives were misled into signing the suspension letter. According to the publicity secretary, the initial suspension was orchestrated during a meeting with a senatorial aspirant who used the opportunity to advance his…
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, expressed the United Kingdom’s admiration for the security strategies implemented by President Bola Tinubu over the past year. Montgomery noted that the UK has also observed transparency and accountability in Tinubu’s administration, reaffirming the UK’s support for the Nigerian government in these efforts. Montgomery made these remarks on Friday during a High-level Dialogue on Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda themed “Nigeria’s Global Ambitions: From Hope to Reality,” held in Abuja. “I’d like to use this opportunity to express the full support of my government for the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency,…
In the early hours of Friday, two senior staff members of the National Assembly were reportedly brutalized by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly failing to properly identify themselves at the second gate of the Complex. The staff members, Chris Odoh, a Deputy Director, and John Nnadi, of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), encountered difficulties with the DSS operatives who have been assigned to secure the entire National Assembly Complex. The incident occurred around 11:45 am when the staff were asked to present their identification at the gate. According to reports, the DSS officers claimed…
The Federal Government has announced that the student loan scheme will be rolled out in phases, starting with federal institutions. This disclosure was made by Akintunde Swayerr, Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, during an interview with Arise Television on Friday, as monitored by media outlet. Swayerr revealed that the student loan application portal will open on May 24 for loan applications. He emphasized that the government is currently conducting a sensitization campaign to educate Nigerians on how the scheme will operate. “The loan scheme aims to bridge the financing gap for students in Nigeria, enabling them to…
The Lagos State House of Assembly held a public hearing on Friday for the Geographic Information Service Bill. The Speaker of the House, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, stated that the new bill would harmonize all geographic information service projects within the state. Speaking at the one-day public hearing at the assembly complex, Obasa emphasized the bill’s role in establishing a computerized central database for all information related to geospatial matters. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the bill is titled: “The Lagos Geographic Information Service Bill and other connected purposes.” Obasa, represented by Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the…
The Imo Political Awareness Group (IPAG) has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) of plotting to disrupt the forthcoming local government elections in Imo State. Representing citizens dedicated to promoting democracy and good governance in Imo State, IPAG issued a statement on Friday through its National Convener, Mr. Collins Opurozor. The group expressed deep concern over recent developments and the alarming rhetoric from opposition elements within the PDP and LP. The statement read in part: “In the last few days, the opposition lieutenants have gone haywire, bleating from one radio station to another, threatening fire…
Maverick entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, on Friday, claimed that Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, are essentially the same in their governance approach. Charly Boy alleged that Wike selected Fubara as his successor in Rivers State to continue exploiting the state’s funds. He expressed his views on X, criticizing Nigerians who support either politician despite the ongoing rift between them. Wike and Fubara have been at odds over political control in the state. In the midst of this conflict, Fubara declared that he had overcome his…
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asserted that he remains undistracted by the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. Wike made this statement on Friday while inspecting key projects in the FCT that are slated for commissioning by President Bola Tinubu, starting from May 27, marking the President’s first year in office. “If I were distracted, you would not see all these projects in the FCT,” Wike stated, addressing rumors that the political turmoil in Rivers State has hindered his focus on his ministerial duties. The former Rivers State governor emphasized that several projects are ready…
Six political parties converged in Kaduna State on Thursday to prepare for dislodging the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. The summit, themed “Solid Political Party Structure Critical to the Sustainability of the Democratic Process,” was convened by the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Attendees included the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the KOWA Party, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP). Summit chairman Lawal Nalado highlighted the “unbearable hardship” faced by Nigerians, emphasizing…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared it will not alter its stance on the vacation of seats by former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement, the main opposition party emphasized it was not under any pressure to compromise its position in court. The PDP reiterated that the lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as of December 11, 2023, the date they publicly announced their defection. The party’s statement follows reports on social media suggesting there were attempts to undermine the…
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara expressed sadness on Thursday over attacks on his supporters, allegedly orchestrated by the state’s outgoing local government council chairmen. Fubara made this statement while announcing the commencement of the N80.3 billion, 33.5-kilometre Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road dual carriageway and bridge project in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. Amid a battle of supremacy with his immediate predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Governor Fubara warned that those who attack innocent citizens for political reasons would face consequences. “It is unfortunate that after we inaugurated the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road project on Tuesday and left, some people went there and attacked our…
Senator Magnus Abe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has referred to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as an influential member of President Bola Tinubu’s government, despite not being a member of the APC. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Abe recounted his efforts to convince Wike, then governor of Rivers State, to work with Tinubu. He expressed his comfort in working with Wike, emphasizing their friendship and the need to collaborate. Abe clarified that Wike’s role as a minister in the APC government did not require him to be a member of…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that a total of 2,128,288 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected by registered voters in Edo State since February 2023. This was disclosed by Professor Rhoda H. Gumsus, the commission’s National Commissioner in charge of Edo State, at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Benin City on Thursday. Gumsus, represented by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Anugbum Onuoha, stated that the collected PVCs were out of the total number of 2,501,081 registered voters in the state. Additionally, a total of 373,030 PVCs remain uncollected. She explained that the continuous voter registration (CVR)…
The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission has announced that elections will be conducted across the 16 local government areas of the state on September 21, 2024. In a statement issued in Ilorin on Thursday, the commission stated, “Arrangement is being put in place to make this happen within the set date. We will give further breakdown on the election timetable of activities soon, all things being equal.” The commission urged all stakeholders to stay updated with their public communications and prepare for the elections within the specified timeframe.
Seven governorship aspirants who contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket in Ondo State on April 20 have thrown their support behind Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The aspirants endorsed Governor Aiyedatiwa about a month after the shadow primary was held in the state, ahead of the November 16 governorship election. The aspirants, including Morayo Lebi, Dayo Faduyile, Soji Ehinlanwo, Diran Iyantan, Mayowa Akinfolarin, Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, and Jimi Odimayo, appealed to party members to prioritize peace and unity over division within the party. In a statement signed by the seven aspirants, they emphasized the need for party members to focus on…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State has announced plans to commence the distribution of approximately 373,030 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) on May 27. The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin on Thursday, regarding the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Onuoha explained that the PVC collection exercise would run concurrently with the CVR exercise, both slated to begin on May 27. The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had earlier announced the commencement of the CVR exercise in Edo and Ondo states ahead of the governorship elections in the…
A Federal High Court in Osogbo, presided over by Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, has dismissed a suit filed by Mr. Kanmi Ajibola, seeking permission to continue appearing to defend clients after becoming a lawmaker. In the suit, numbered FHC/OS/CS/42/2023, Ajibola, who is now a member of the Osun House of Assembly, requested permission to provide pro bono legal services while serving as a lawmaker and public servant. Justice Ayo-Emmanuel, in his ruling on Thursday, cited the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), stating that public servants are prohibited from engaging in self-serving activities or businesses for personal…
The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to launch a thorough investigation into the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops in Nigeria by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). The decision was made following the adoption of a motion on the need to investigate the introduction of GM crops in Nigeria, moved during Thursday’s plenary by Muktar Shagaya. The House called on the federal government to halt the introduction of new GM crops until the investigation by the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services is completed and its findings are disclosed to the public.…