Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • Tinubu Orders Review Of Governing Councils List After ASUU’s Rejection

    Tinubu Orders Review Of Governing Councils List After ASUU’s Rejection

    President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, called for a review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions before the inauguration and retreat being planned for the nominees.

    The Ministry of Education last week released a list of governing councils for 111 federal tertiary institutions in the country.

    The list contained names of technocrats, politicians and traditional rulers for 50 universities, 37 polytechnics, and 24 colleges of education.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who released the statement containing the list had stated that inauguration and retreat of the councils would hold on May 30 and 31, 2024.

    The list, however, was rejected by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), among others.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement released on Thursday said Tinubu had ordered a review of the list.

    He said, “President Bola Tinubu has directed a total and comprehensive review of the recently announced governing boards of tertiary institutions in Nigeria before the inauguration and retreat being planned for the nominees.

    “The Federal Ministry of Education recently released names of nominees for chairmen, Pro-Chancellors, and members of the boards and councils of universities, Polytechnics, and colleges of education. It also announced that the inauguration and retreat for the nominees will take place on 31 May.

    “However, public reactions showed that the nominations did not reflect the federal character of the country as some states got just one nomination, while some others got many. In directing a complete review of the list of members, President Tinubu acknowledges the feedback across the country.

    “President Tinubu is committed to ensuring strict compliance with the principle of federal character as entrenched in the constitution. The review will also take into consideration national spread and ensure every part of the country is adequately represented.”

  • Sanusi’s Son Reacts As Kano Govt Sacks Five Emirs

    Sanusi’s Son Reacts As Kano Govt Sacks Five Emirs

    Ashraf Sanusi, the son of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi II, has asserted that the state has corrected an injustice.

    Ashraf stated this while reacting to the state assembly’s abolishment of the five emirate councils and his father’s possible reinstatement as Emir of Kano.

    There is no official statement yet on Sanusi’s reinstatement, but sources privy to the situation told the LEADERSHIP newspaper that Sanusi will be in Kano on Friday

    Reacting to the latest development, Ashraf, in a post on his Instagram page, prayed that Allah would deliver his father from the plots of deceivers and allow him to see through their shallow smiles.

    He wrote, “O Allah, Lord of all dominion! You give dominion to whom You will, and take away dominion from whom You will, and You exalt whom You will, and abase whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. By your hand an injustice has been corrected today Alhamdulillah.

    “Ya Allah save the Emir of Kano, HH Muhammad Sanusi II from the evil & whispers of devils, the plots of deceivers and allow him to see through their shallow smiles. Ya Allah increase him in charity and increase him in piety, Ya Allah save him from the love of this world and increase him in the love of the hereafter.”

  • Kano Assembly dethrones five emirs

    Kano Assembly dethrones five emirs

    The Kano State House of Assembly has passed the Kano Emirates Council Law (repeal bill) 2024 on Thursday.

    This was sequel to deliberations on the floor of the house during plenary on Thursday.

    The law, which was passed after scaling 3rd reading, had abolished the establishment of five emirate councils in the state.

    The new bill would revert the state’s highest ranking traditional institution to its former structure of one emir as all the offices established under the previous law had been dissolved.

    The bill had also provided that all district heads elevated or appointed under the repealed law are to revert to their previous positions.

    The bill, titled Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment number 2) Law, 2024, was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member representing the Dala Constituency, Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa.

    Recall that the former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, on December 5, 2019, assented to the law that created five new emirates in the state.

    The governor assented to an amendment to the law on 14 October, 2020 and signed another amendment on 11 April, 2023.

  • Why I Will Keep Contesting For Presidency – Atiku

    Why I Will Keep Contesting For Presidency – Atiku

    The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said he will keep contesting for the Nigerian presidency as long as he is hale and hearty.

    The former Vice President is 77 years old and will be 81 in three years, ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

    The PDP chieftain ran for the country’s number one office six times but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions in 2007, 2019, and 2023.

    Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on the Hausa service of the Voice of America (VOA) in Abuja, Atiku said he will continue to contest for the presidency because of his love for the country.

    The former vice president said he is consoled by the fact that former United States President Abraham Lincoln did not win the presidential vote on the first time of asking.

    He said: “Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy.

    “Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning.”

  • Tinubu announces new appointments

    Tinubu announces new appointments

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Chukwuemeka Woke as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA.

    Similarly, Mr Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr Adedeji Ashiru, as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA.

    Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Mr Ngelale said that Woke is an engineer, environmental specialist and a politician.

    He said that the appointee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, and had served under the Environmental, Safety, and Operations Departments of the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

    The Presidential spokesman said Woke was Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State and Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, for many years.

    Mr Ngelale said that Ashiru holds a Doctorate degree in Engineering from the Common Wealth University, UK, and has led a consortium of blue-chip companies, in addition to earning many stripes in his professional endeavour.

    “The President expects the new Chief Executive Officers to deploy their competencies to these critical agencies for sustainable gains and turnaround, while maintaining utmost transparency in their operations.”

  • FG bans money ritual, five other vices in Nollywood movies

    FG bans money ritual, five other vices in Nollywood movies

    Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), announced that the Federal Government has approved a ban on depicting money rituals and the glamorization of vices in Nollywood movies.

    This announcement was made at a National Stakeholder Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood, held in Enugu on Wednesday.

    The NFVCB organised the event in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
     
    The engagement brought together movie producers, directors, actors, and leaders of various guilds and associations from across the Nigerian film industry.

    Husseini emphasised the urgent need for bold and ambitious actions from parents, guardians, and stakeholders to address the industry’s current challenges.

    “When my predecessor discussed with the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the need for legislation to reduce smoking in Nigerian movies, it became clear that money rituals should also be addressed,” Husseini stated. “This regulation now includes ritual killings and the glamorization of other crimes to further sanitize the film industry.”

    He announced that the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has approved the regulation under section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004.

    The new regulation, titled “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorisation Display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits” Regulations 2024, has been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for gazetting.

    Husseini highlighted that the sensitization program aims to educate stakeholders about the dangers of depicting smoking in Nigerian movies.

    Besides health risks, he noted that glamorizing smoking negatively influences teens and young adults, who are the primary audience of Nigerian films.

    The NFVCB plans to undertake extensive enlightenment programs in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other institutions.

    “The film industry plays a vital role in the entertainment and creative sector, and it is crucial that we prioritize its progress,” Husseini said. “

  • ASUU knocks FG over appointment of new governing council boards

    ASUU knocks FG over appointment of new governing council boards

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Bauchi zone, on Tuesday, decried the appointment of governing boards across Federal Tertiary Institutions, saying that the Bola Tinubu-led administration should instead reinstate the earlier dissolved members.

    The zone, comprising executives from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State University Gadau, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State University, Plateau State University, and the University of Jos, made these disclosures after its meeting in Gombe State.

    Speaking, Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Namo Aku, noted that the union didn’t demand fresh appointments for boards, adding that the Tinubu should reinstate the previously sacked members.

    Aku disclosed that the vacuum caused by the sack of governing council boards, made Vice Chancellors act as emperors and empresses.

    He said, “NEC-in-session expressed utter dismay over the continued erosion of autonomy of public universities, which is a clear violation of the Universities Miscellaneous ACT 1993 (as amended in 2012). The illegal dissolution of the Governing Councils by the President Tinubu-led Government, as well as some state governments, is tantamount to a coup against the public University System.

    “This unwholesome act has emboldened some Vice-chancellors to govern universities as emperors/emperesses with the introduction of obnoxious policies that are antithetical to the university culture. Some university administrators now place adverts for the appointment of vice-chancellors without authorisation from the Governing Councils.

    “Some vice-chancellors, in collaboration with Federal and State Ministries of Education, engage in illegal recruitment and discipline of staff as well as the management of university finances without regard for transparency and accountability.

    “ASUU condemns these acts of corruption and calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as affected State Governments to respect the laws establishing the universities, by re-instating Governing Councils whose terms have not lapsed and to re-constitute those whose terms have lapsed.”

    While urging for reconsideration of Nimi Briggs’ committee report following present economic realities, Aku added, “In 2009, the Federal and State Governments signed a comprehensive agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The Agreement provided for a new salary package for academic staff and improved working conditions and funding of universities.”

    Aku added, “The Agreement also reaffirmed the autonomy of the universities as contained in the previous agreements. It was agreed that the agreement would be reviewed every three years. Since 2012, the Union has prevailed on Federal and State Governments to return to the negotiation table to no avail.

    “After a series of agitations and strike actions, the re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreement began in 2017, first with Dr. Wale Babalakin as Chairman of the Re-negotiation Committee and later Emeritus Prof. Munzali Jibril and the late Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs. A draft Agreement was reached with the late Prof. Briggs-led Committee in 2021. Alas, agents of the Buhari-led Government refused to sign the draft Agreement for implementation.”

    Also, Immediate Past Coordinator, Lawan Abubakar said reconstitution of boards wasn’t the demand of the union, saying, “Government should do the needful because the union will meet at the end of timeframe given at the National Executive Council meeting. It’s for the government to do what is needed.

    The constitution of the governing council that the government has just done was not initially part of our request. We asked for reinstatement because it was unlawful for the government to dissolve the universities governing councils.”

    Also speaking, Comrade Alphonsus Alubo, SAN, called for the restoration of council boards, saying, “Nigerians appear to welcome the constitution of councils but for us we ask for reinstatement of the councils, the restoration of cou

  • May 29: Tinubu orders low-key celebration of first anniversary

    May 29: Tinubu orders low-key celebration of first anniversary

    The Nigerian government is going to hold a “low-key” official ceremony to mark the one year in office of President Bola Tinubu, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

    Mr Idris stated this on Wednesday at the ministerial press briefing series held at the Radio House in Abuja.

    It is not clear if the government intends to hold the ceremony on 12 June, the day officially recognised as Democracy Day.

    Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration was being held on May 29 before President Buhari changed it to 12 June in commemoration of the 12 June 1993, presidential election annulled by the military government.

    Election data showed Moshood Abiola won the polls but he was never formally declared winner and was not sworn into office by the military government of Ibrahim Babangida.

  • Iran fixes date for Presidential Poll

    Iran fixes date for Presidential Poll

    As Iranians continue to mourn the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash over the weekend, the Islamic State will now hold a presidential election on June 28.

    This is coming as the United States gave a positive nod to the demise of President Ebrahim Raisi, claiming that Iranians are “probably better off” without him.

    Meanwhile, the decision according to local media to hold the election for his replacement was published after a meeting between the heads of the republic’s judicial, executive, and legislative authorities.

    Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has taken on the role of Acting President of Iran following Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s approval on Monday. It is unclear whether Mokhber himself will run.

    Candidate registration will take place from May 30 to June 3, followed by electoral campaigns scheduled to run from June 12 to 27. 

    Individuals, according to the report, will be vetted by the Guardian Council, a 12-member body of clerics and jurists that administers elections. 

    The president of Iran is usually elected every four years by a “direct vote of the people,” indicating that an election was due in or before June 2025.

    The announcement comes two days after the fatal helicopter crash, which killed the Iranian president. Raisi and several other senior officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were killed when the helicopter they were travelling in went down in the mountainous East Azerbaijan province in northwest Iran. After more than ten hours of searching – hampered by fog and rain – the president and his entourage were found and confirmed dead.

    The head of state was returning from the inauguration ceremony of a dam on the Iran-Azerbaijan border, having pledged to visit each of Iran’s 30 provinces at least once a year.

    Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said that condolences offered over Raisi’s death were merely a formality, adding that Iranians are “probably better off” without President Ebrahim Raisi.

    The State Department had expressed its “official condolences” in a brief statement on Monday, while reaffirming Washington’s “support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

    Blinken was grilled about the statement during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday, when Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) claimed it was “shocking” that the administration would mourn a “sworn enemy of the free world.”

    “We expressed official condolences as we’ve done when countries – adversaries, enemies or not – have lost leaders,” Blinken explained. “It changes nothing about the fact that Mr. Raisi was engaged in reprehensible conduct, including repressing his own people for many years.”

    Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) pressed Blinken further, asking whether the top US diplomat believed “the world is better today now that Raisi is dead.”

    “Given the horrible acts that he engaged in, both as a judge and as president, to the extent that he can no longer engage in them, yes, the Iranian people are probably better off,” Blinken replied.

  • Again, Labour rejects FG’s minimum wage proposal 

    Again, Labour rejects FG’s minimum wage proposal 

    Organised Labour has on Tuesday rejected the N54,000 proposed by the Federal government as new minimum wage.

    FG had in a meeting with Labour proposed N54,000 as against its earlier N48,000 offer. One of the leaders of the Organised Labour who attended the meeting revealed this to Vanguard in a telephone conversation.

    Recall that Organised Labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, walked out on the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage following the proposed N48,000 as minimum wage by the Federal Government.

    Last week Organised Labour told FG to perish any thought of offering N100,000 as the new minimum wage.

    It also asked the government to be serious with negotiations on the issue of workers’ wages, insisting that it used the lowest minimum in arriving at N615,000 as the new minimum