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Category: Governance

  • Hardship: FG Sets To Begin Food Distribution Nationwide 

    Hardship: FG Sets To Begin Food Distribution Nationwide 

    As part of efforts to cushion the impacts of the hardship in Nigeria the Federal Government is set to begin the distribution of grains nationwide.

    Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari disclosed this on Monday, hailing the resilience of the Nigerian people.

    He urged them to back President Bola Tinubu’s government in its quest to address the challenges facing the country.

    “Dear Fellow Nigerians,” he wrote on his official X handle. “In these trying times, I extend my sincere compassion to those affected by the hardships in the country. I understand the gravity of the situation, especially with the unfortunate event of foodstuff warehouse looting.

    “Amidst these challenges, I want to assure you that our commitment to your well-being remains resolute. We shall commence the distribution of 42,000 metric tons of grains, as approved by Mr. President, across the 36 states of the federation as one of the programs to be rolled out this week.

    “We are working hand in hand with NEMA and the DSS to ensure that the grains get to the right people in the right packages and quantities. Furthermore, 58,500 metric tons of milled rice from mega rice millers will also be released into the market for stabilization.”

    “I acknowledge the strength of the Nigerian people, and it is this resilience that will guide us through these difficult times. Let us stand together to support Mr. President in his strive for a better Nigeria,” Kyari said.

    “Our government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to addressing these challenges and working towards a more secure and prosperous future for all.”

  • NBA-NEC removes SPIDEL’S leadership

    NBA-NEC removes SPIDEL’S leadership

    The leadership of the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) has been removed by a unanimous vote of the Nigerian Bar Association’s National Executive Council (NBA-NEC).

    All the court cases that the outgoing SPIDEL executives filed are to be withdrawn, according to a caretaker committee that has been constituted.

    This was the outcome of the most recent NEC quarterly meeting, which took place in Jos.

    The caretaker committee is comprised of Ben Oji of the Warri Branch, Funke Aderemi of the Ilorin Branch, Yakubu Philemon, SAN of the Abuja Branch, and Eva Amadi of the Port Harcourt Branch.

    The committee was also mandated to withdraw all court cases filed by the removed SPIDEL leaders.

    The NBA NEC further proscribed the Forum of Body of vice chairmen and any other forum or body unknown to the NBA constitution.

    Additionally, the NEC passed a vote of confidence on the NBA executive committee led by President Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN.

    Maikyau had accused SPIDEL chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins of taking unauthorized actions beyond the section’s mandate.

    He consequently ordered officials to halt activities pending a meeting on February 1st.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has scheduled its 2024 national officers elections to take place on July 20th.

  • Senate Summons Wike Over Rising Insecurity

    Senate Summons Wike Over Rising Insecurity

    In response to the alarming surge in kidnappings, the Senate has summoned the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe.

    This comes after the abduction and tragic murder of Chris Agidy, an aide to Senator Ned Nwoko, in the Galadimawa area of Abuja in November 2023.

    Senator Nwoko, deeply affected by the incident, sponsored a motion leading to the Senate’s resolution. 

    The Red Chamber demanded the FCT Minister and the Police Commissioner to provide insights into the escalating kidnapping cases within Nigeria’s capital.

    Following an intense debate, the Senate mandated the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to enhance security patrols nationwide. 

    Additionally, the installation of CCTV cameras along Abuja highways and the establishment of a three-digit emergency number for swift police response were directed.

    In a bid to bolster emergency services, the Nigerian Communications Commission was tasked to ensure the functionality of dedicated emergency numbers for the police, ambulance, and fire services.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the seriousness of the matter, stating that both the FCT Minister and the Police Commissioner would meet with the Senate in a closed-door session. The aim is to discuss the measures and strategies in place to combat the growing threat of kidnappings not only in the FCT but across Nigeria.

    Akpabio concluded, “Incidences like the kidnapping and killing of Senator Nwoko’s Senior Legislative Aide and other residents are worrisome and must be stopped, not only in the FCT but also in Nigeria generally.”

  • Bandits Invade Nigerian Mosque, Kidnap Worshippers

    Bandits Invade Nigerian Mosque, Kidnap Worshippers

    Bandits have abducted about 30 worshippers in one of the mosques in Tsafe town, the headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    The bandits invaded the mosque around 5 a.m. on Thursday when the people were about to start the morning prayer.

    ”We were about to start the morning prayer today, Thursday when suddenly they (bandits) entered into the mosque and directed everybody to go out and follow them.

    “Everybody scampered for safety but the bandits blocked everywhere and warned us that they would kill anybody who tried to run away.

    “I was able to jump out of the window and ran quickly into one of the uncompleted buildings near the mosque where I hid myself”, an eyewitness, Garba said.

    Garba maintained that the bandits left their motorcycles far away from the mosque so that the worshippers would not notice their movement.

    “They came on foot, leaving their motorcycles outside the town so that they would not attract the attention of the people of the area.

    “They later marched the worshippers to their motorcycles and took them to the forest,” he added.

  • Parliamentary Staff Association Advocates passage of Harmonised Retirement Age Bill

    Parliamentary Staff Association Advocates passage of Harmonised Retirement Age Bill

    In response to the ongoing legislative discourse surrounding the retirement age for staff of the National Assembly Service, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), National Assembly Chapter, has issued a statement urging the Senate to consider and pass the Harmonised Retirement Age for Staff of National Assembly Service in Nigeria Bill, 2024.

    The association highlights the history of the issue, citing the extension of the retirement age to 65 years or 40 years of service by the 8th National Assembly, which was subsequently reversed due to inconsistencies with existing legislation.

    Following consultations and the introduction of various bills, the current iteration, introduced by the 10th House of Representatives, has gained significant support within the legislative body.

    Emphasizing the importance of this legislation, the association underscores the need to address the shortage of qualified staff within the Legislative Arm of Government, which has been exacerbated by instability in career progression and adherence to Public Service Rules.

    They argue that increasing the retirement age will help fill this vacuum and maximize the knowledge and experience of existing staff, while also building the capacity of younger staff members.

    Furthermore, the association draws parallels with similar legislation in other sectors, such as the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, and the Retirement Age of Staff of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education (Harmonisation) Act, 2012, to highlight the necessity of aligning retirement policies with international best practices.

    Also, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria urges the Senate to pass the Harmonised Retirement Age for Staff of National Assembly Service in Nigeria Bill into law, emphasizing its significance in stabilizing and developing capacity within the National Assembly Service, sustaining democracy, and upholding the doctrine of separation of powers.

  • Tinubu promises Restructuring Nigeria

    Tinubu promises Restructuring Nigeria

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his determination to restructure Nigeria but emphasised that the proper foundations must be laid in order for the goals to align properly. 

    Tinubu assured that with the structures put in place by his administration, the country will soon be better off, and Nigerians will be out of the current economic hardship.

    The President stated this at a meeting with the National Leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, at his country home in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Wednesday.

    The meeting with the leaders of the mainstream Yoruba group was held behind closed doors.

    In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Jare Ajayi, and disclosed to newsmen, the core issues on how to move the country forward were the focus of the meeting.

    According to Ajayi, the President said, “I prayed for it, I danced for it, I campaigned for it, and I got it. I know the enormous amount of responsibility, so don’t pity me, Baba, just sit down and relax.”

    “He (Tinubu) assured Nigerians that the struggle he undertook and that he is trying to build the structures that will not be reversed.

    “He said that the structure he is trying to put in place in Nigeria economically, socially, and politically would be such that it would bring Nigeria back to where it was supposed to be.

    “We should eat the food we grow. Doing so would prevent us from depending on foods from foreign sources. A nation that fully depends on food from outside cannot get it,” Ajayi added.

    Fasoranti, who commended Tinubu for keeping his word to return to his residence after emerging as President, stated, “Your performance so far has shown that you understand the full gravity of your mandate, which is to show the Nigerian people that a good government is possible.

    “We seek, therefore, a true Federal Republic that would reflect fiscal federalism. If the derivation principle is good for oil, why is it not good for value-added tax, for example?”

  • Telecoms Begin Blocking Of Sims Not Linked To NIN

    Telecoms Begin Blocking Of Sims Not Linked To NIN

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has emphasized its directive for telecom operators to disconnect phone subscribers not linked to their National Identification Numbers (NIN) by February 28, 2024. 

    Speaking at the 45th Kaduna International Trade Fair, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, stressed the importance of linking NIN to SIM for national security reasons. 

    Maida said:

    “To this end, the National Communication Commission has directed all telecommunication operators to bar phone lines of subscribers whose lines are not linked to their NINs on or before February 28, 2024,” he added.

    This, the executive vice chairman said, was apt as the theme resonated with the principles and objectives of the commission in promoting local content development in the telecom industry.

    Maida also said the NCC was committed to protecting consumers’ rights while ensuring their satisfaction and noting that the commission has created a universally acceptable environment to access “affordable and equitable service and supports the nation’s economic growth.”

    “As a regulator of the telecommunications sector in the country, the Commission carries out its functions to ensure service availability, affordability, and sustainability for all categories of consumers, who are leveraging on ICT/Telecoms to drive personal and business activities,” he said.

  • Oronsanye Report: Nigerians Won’t Lose Their Jobs – FG

    Oronsanye Report: Nigerians Won’t Lose Their Jobs – FG

    The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has said that the implementation of the 12-year-old Steve Oronsaye report will not lead to the retrenchment of workers.

    He stated that the essence of the implementation was not to retrench workers but to maximise the agencies’ effectiveness and efficiency and reduce costs.

    Idris disclosed this during his remarks at the Ministerial Press Briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Federal Executive on Monday approved the implementation of the recommendations of the Oronsaye panel on the restructuring and rationalisation of the Federal Government’s agencies and commissions.

    The government said the implementation of the policy would involve the merging, subsuming, and scrapping of agencies with similar functions.

    Sharing more details on the development, the Information Minister said, “There are some aspects of the report that have been reviewed, but those aspects that have to do with merging, scrapping, and subsuming have already been undertaken.

    “Now, the whole idea is that the government wants to reduce costs and improve service delivery.

    “That does not necessarily mean that government is out to retrench workers and throw people into the labour market. That is not the original intention of the government.

    “The intention is that efficiency has to be brought in, because, some of these agencies are actually having an overlap in their operations. We are doing this for people to have the benefit of democracy.”

  • You’ve Grown Wings – APC Knocks Seyi Makinde For Criticizing Tinubu

    You’ve Grown Wings – APC Knocks Seyi Makinde For Criticizing Tinubu

    The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized Governor Seyi Makinde for condemning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to remove the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as fuel. 

    In a statement, the APC accused Makinde of overstepping his bounds and lacking the authority to criticize Tinubu’s leadership.

    APC’s Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Olawale Sadare, emphasized that Makinde is the only governor openly criticizing the incumbent president for the subsidy removal. 

    Sadare argued that the governor should focus on addressing challenges within the state rather than blaming Tinubu for the economic situation.

    The statement highlighted Makinde’s past silence during the subsidy removal under former President Muhammadu Buhari and accused him of exploiting the recent labour protest to deflect blame from his administration. 

    The APC also raised concerns about the utilization of allocations, claiming that Makinde received over N207 billion without significant positive impact.

    APC accused him of engaging in wasteful spending, capital flight, and misplaced priorities, leaving the state grappling with issues of hunger, poverty, and unemployment.

    The statement reads: “Makinde has grown more wings in his penchant for misleading the public and sacrificing others for his ineptitude in government. Funny enough, the PDP-dominated State House of Assembly spoke in the same tone on the same day, and we understand the script being played by the governor.

    “Gov. Makinde holds the record of the only governor in Nigeria who constantly blames the sitting President for his failure to add value in his state. Out of the 36 governors, the Oyo State helmsman was the only one who criticized President Bola Tinubu over the removal of fuel subsidy when he stated that the decision was untimely and not well thought out. This was what he did to former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2019 and 2023 as he distanced himself from Aso Villa on account of ego and thereby denied the Pacesetter state a lot of opportunities for four years.

    “As he is wont to do, Makinde attempted to take advantage of the labour protest on Tuesday to heap all the blame for the bad economy in the country on the federal government, forgetting that governors like him were more culpable for the extent to which the quality of life has degenerated. Why blame President Tinubu for stopping wasteful spending on fuel subsidy when the decision has been enabling you to collect improved allocations in the last nine months, although without much to show for it?

    “The Oyo State government has received over N207 billion in allocations from Abuja since May last year, and this excludes the billions of naira accrued to the 33 local government councils which the governor hijacked from them.

    “Rather than use the whopping allocations to create wealth, Gov. Makinde mopped up more funds from loans, grants, IGR, and illegal sale of government assets without accountability. So, who then addresses hunger, poverty, and unemployment in Oyo State when the governor always engages in wasteful spending, capital flight, and misplaced priorities?” the statement added

  • Why Oronsaye Report Won’t Reduce Governance Cost — Falana

    Why Oronsaye Report Won’t Reduce Governance Cost — Falana

    A Senior Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana, SAN has stated why the Oronsaye reported adopted for implementation by the Tinubu led federal government will not reduce the cost of governance. 

    Falana, described the 12-year old Steve Oronsaye Report as outdated. 

    In a statement on Tuesday, the Senior lawyer, said the report won’t “substantially reduce the enormous costs of governance in the country as it does not reflect the current situation in the public service,” contrary to the belief in official circles. 

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by President Bola Tinubu had on Monday approved the full implementation of the Oronsaye report.

    According to the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, the move was in line with the need to reduce cost of governance and streamline efficiency across the governance value chain.

    Falana said, “No doubt, the implementation of some of the recommendations of the Panel will take appreciable time as the merger of certain bodies require constitutional amendments or repeal of a number of statutes.

    “The 800-page report of the Steve Oronsaye Panel recommended the reduction of statutory agencies from 263 to 161, scrapping 38 agencies, merging 52, and reverting 14 to departments in different ministries,

    “Since the Goodluck Jonathan administration produced a White Paper on the Steve Oronsaye Report in 2014, the Federal Government has created more ministries, departments and agencies.

    “Whereas the Report recommended the reduction of 263 agencies to 151, the number of ministries, departments and agencies has increased to 1316. Even the current administration has increased the number of ministries and created new agencies. To that extent, the Steve Oronsaye Report is completely outdated.

    “However, in implementing the Oronsaye Report the Federal Government should ensure that the crisis of insecurity is not compounded through the retrenchment of hundreds of thousands of workers.

    “Instead of downsizing the public service the Federal Government should ensure that the two houses of the National Assembly are merged while the number of Ministers, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants is significantly reduced.”