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Category: News

  • Bauchi Governor Signs Six Executive Bills Into Law

    Bauchi Governor Signs Six Executive Bills Into Law

    Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has taken significant steps towards effective governance by signing six executive bills into law. 

    Among these bills are measures aimed at renaming the state-owned university, establishing key boards, and promoting children’s access to education.

    The bills, meticulously examined by the State House of Assembly, signify a collaborative effort between the legislative and executive branches of government. 

    Governor Mohammed lauded this cooperation, emphasizing its vital role in driving socio-economic progress and ensuring the welfare of the people.

    The renamed Sa’adu Zungur University, Gadau, underscores a commitment to honoring individuals who have made notable contributions to the state.

    Additionally, the establishment of boards and authorities such as the Bauchi State Farmers/Herders Board and the Bauchi State Rural Access Road Authority (RARA) 2024 reflects a strategic focus on agricultural development and rural infrastructure.

    Speaker Rt Hon Abubakar Suleiman emphasized the transformative potential of these laws, urging continued support for the administration’s agenda. 

    The harmonious collaboration between the legislature and the executive has been instrumental in shaping Bauchi State’s progress, with infrastructure and development initiatives serving as tangible outcomes.

  • Reps seek regulation of house rent, activities of landlords

    Reps seek regulation of house rent, activities of landlords

    On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a resolution urging the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to devise policies aimed at regulating house rents and landlord activities in Abuja.

    This decision stemmed from the adoption of a motion presented by Rep. Emmanuel Udo (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) during the House session in Abuja.

    The resolution emphasized the need for the implementation of monthly rent structures to foster an inclusive rental system and mitigate the arbitrary escalation of house rents in the FCT.

    Rep. Udo highlighted that Nigeria is ready for an inclusive rental system, which would alleviate the housing strain on working-class families and provide affordable monthly rental options for low and middle-income earners.

    He underscored that a significant portion of FCT residents, including civil servants and artisans, reside in satellite towns due to their limited incomes, making the current rent hikes burdensome for many.

    “One-bedroom self-contain goes for between N1 and N1.5 million, while two bedrooms go for between N2 and N3 million while three bedrooms go for between N3 and N5 million,” he said.

    This, according to him, is due to the current economic hardship for civil servants, who are already grappling with fuel subsidy removal, rising foreign exchange rates, electricity tariff increases, and tax or levies.

    He said he was convinced that the monthly rent would provide tenants with flexibility, better cash flow management, reasonable move-out options, and a stable income stream.

    He further urged the federal government to build affordable houses for civil servants in Abuja to reduce the burden of paying exorbitant rents.

    Adopting the motion, the House mandated the committee on FCT to look into the matter of arbitrary house rent increases in FCT.

    The House said that the committee should recommend effective policies to regulate the activities of landlords and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

  • Death Toll In Kano Mosque Attack Rises To Eleven 

    Death Toll In Kano Mosque Attack Rises To Eleven 

    Eleven individuals have now lost their lives in a devastating arson attack on a mosque in Kano State. 

    The attack, carried out by 38-year-old Shafiu Abubakar, occurred during the early morning prayer at Gadan village.

    Reports indicate that approximately 40 worshippers were inside the mosque when Abubakar ignited the fire and locked them inside, preventing their escape.

    Rabiu Gadan, a resident of the village, confirmed the death toll, with eight funerals already conducted and preparations underway for the remaining three victims. 

    According to witnesses, Abubakar had a history of violence, including previous assaults on family members.

    The assailant, now in police custody, confessed to his actions, citing frustration over an inheritance dispute as his motive. Despite warnings to his family to cease mistreatment, his grievances allegedly went unaddressed.

    While details surrounding the inheritance disagreement remain unclear, the tragic incident has left the community reeling, with injured individuals receiving treatment at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.

    Deputy Inspector General of Police, AIG Umar Mamman Sanda, expressed condolences and confirmed the suspect’s cooperation with authorities. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

  • “You’re overstepping your bounds” – Imams warn Tinubu’s minister over stance on mass marriage

    “You’re overstepping your bounds” – Imams warn Tinubu’s minister over stance on mass marriage

    The Niger State Council of Imams has given the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, a one-week ultimatum to withdraw her comments condemning the plan by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, to sponsor the mass weddings of 100 girls of marriage age in his constituency, who are either orphans or their parents are too poor to fund their weddings.

    The Secretary of the Imam Council in the state, Umar Abdullahi, made this known at a press conference on Wednesday, where he warned the minister not to overstep her bounds.

    Abdullahi said the Niger Imam Council viewed the minister’s utterances as capable of causing a crisis in the state and the country in general.

    The minister had on Tuesday in Abuja condemned the planned mass weddings, saying it was a violation of the Child Rights Act.

    Kennedy-Ohanenye disclosed that she had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to stop the weddings, adding that she had also filed a suit, seeking a restraining injunction against the Niger Speaker.

    Reacting, however, on Tuesday, the Niger Council of Imams warned the minister to steer clear of religious and cultural matters and face her ministerial assignment.

    The Imams insisted that no amount of court action would stop the wedding from taking place as planned for May 24.

    The council secretary said, “The planned weddings have the blessing of all the religious and traditional leaders from the area. The sponsor of the wedding consulted widely before accepting to take the responsibility and we are strongly behind him.

    “The girls are not underage and they are not being forced into the marriage as the minister has made the public to believe. This is what the minister failed to investigate.”

  • INEC Declares Isa Dogonyaro’s Seat Vacant 

    INEC Declares Isa Dogonyaro’s Seat Vacant 

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared a federal lawmaker’s seat vacant following the untimely death of Hon Isa Dogonyaro. 

    The vacancy extends to three state constituencies, including Khana 2 State Constituency of Rivers state, Bagwai/Shanono State Constituency of Kano State, and Zaria Kewaye State Constituency of Kaduna State.

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, announced plans to conduct bye-elections in the affected constituencies once preparations are finalized.

    He emphasized the importance of media support in mobilizing Nigerians for continuous voter registration, especially in Edo and Ondo states ahead of off-cycle governorship elections.

    Furthermore, Prof. Yakubu urged media organizations to promptly apply for accreditation to report on the elections, ensuring transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

  • NEMA receives 150 Nigerians from Chad 

    NEMA receives 150 Nigerians from Chad 

    The National Emergency Management Agency has received 150 Nigerians repatriated from Chad, following a voluntary repatriation facilitated by the United Nations’ International Organisation for Migration.

    The repatraited Nigerians consisting of 23 males, 48 females, 71 children, and eight infants, arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, aboard an Air Cargo flight with registration number SU-BUR.

    This development was announced by NEMA in a post on X.com on Wednesday

    The post reads: “150 distressed Nigerians have been repatriated back to Nigeria from Chad.

    “The Nigerians were assisted back in a voluntary repatriation exercise programme by the United Nation’s International Organisation for Migrationon Tuesday 14th May, 2024.

    “The flight Air Cargo with registration number SU- BUR landed at the Cargo Wing of Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at about 2030 hours.

    “The profiles of the returnees indicate that 23 males, 48 females, 71 children and eight infants arrived Nigeria aboard the flight.”

    According to the statement, some of the returnees demonstrated their joy for the success of their return back to Nigeria. 

    Agencies on the ground to receive the Nigerians were NEMA, Immigration Services, Nigeria Port Health Services FAAN, and Nigeria Refugee Commission.”

  • Abuja property: Court rules in Abacha family/FG legal battle, June 27

    Abuja property: Court rules in Abacha family/FG legal battle, June 27

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, will on June 27, deliver judgment in a suit by the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha challenging the revocation of the property of the former Military ruler in the Maitama District of Abuja.

    The suit was instituted before Justice Peter Lifu by wife of the late General Abacha, Hajia Maryam Abacha and her eldest surviving son, Mohammed Sani Abacha.

    The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/463/2016, have the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Salamed Ventures Limited as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    The plaintiff, through her council, Dr Reuben Okpanachi Atabo SAN, wants the court to nullify and set aside the purported revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy(CoO) of the property of the late General Sani Abacha located in the Maitama District.

    The Certificate of Occupancy marked FCT/ABUKN 2478 covering plot 3119 issued on June 25, 1993 was said by the family to have been illegally and unlawfully revoked by the defendants.

    In their statement of claims, the Abacha family said that the FCT under Nasir El-Rufai had instructed them to submit the Certificate of Occupancy in their possession for re-certification.

    They claimed that the 2nd plaintiff, Mohammed Sani Abacha promptly complied with the directive by delivering the Certificate of Occupancy to the FCDA and acknowledgement copy issued to him.

    While waiting for a new Certificate of Occupancy to be issued to them, plaintiffs asserted that Mohammed Abacha received a letter on February 3, 2006 notifying them that the Certificate of Occupancy had been revoked without any reason adduced in the letter.

    Besides the failure to give any reason for the revocation, the Abacha family alleged that adequate compensation was not paid as required by law.

    The family therefore asked the Judge to declare as unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null and void and of no effect, the purported revocation of the property.

    They sought order of the Court setting aside the purported revocation and holding that their Certificate of Occupancy is valid and subsisting having been revoked without payment of adequate compensation.

    According to them, the Certificate of Occupancy issued to the late Head of State was maliciously revoked without legal basis or justification

    The plaintiffs asked for an order of injunction prohibiting the defendants from taking any further step on the disputed revocation.

    Similarly, the prayed Justice Lifu to award N500M as damages to be paid to them by the four defendants.

    Meanwhile, counsel to the defendants, Dr James Ogwu Onoja SAN, in their counter affidavits and preliminary objections asked for outright dismissal of the suit.

    Among other reasons, the defendants claimed that the suit at the time it was instituted had become statute barred having not been filed within time allowed by law.

    Although, some of the defendants were not in court at Wednesday’s proceedings, Justice Lifu invoked the rule of the Court in adopting their processes already filed.

  • Off-cycle Elections: INEC Unveils Plans to Distribute Uncollected Voters Cards

    Off-cycle Elections: INEC Unveils Plans to Distribute Uncollected Voters Cards

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled its comprehensive strategy to ensure the availability of Uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) ahead of the upcoming off-cycle elections later this year. The announcement came during the Commission’s second quarterly meeting with the media held at its headquarters in Abuja.

    During the meeting, the Chairman of INEC reiterated the Commission’s unwavering commitment to facilitating robust voter participation in the electoral process. As part of this initiative, the Commission disclosed plans to publish the list of uncollected PVCs both in its offices and on its official website in the coming days. This measure aims to streamline the process for voters to locate and collect their cards efficiently.

    Emphasizing the significance of personal collection, the chairman underscored that no PVCs would be collected by proxy, urging registered voters to retrieve their cards in person. Furthermore, the Commission clarified that the final list of candidates for the upcoming off-cycle elections in Edo has been published following the conclusion of party primaries and the withdrawal/substitution period.

    Campaign activities by political parties in public commenced on April 24th, 2024, and will conclude 24 hours before the election date as mandated by law. In preparation for the Edo elections, media organizations have been urged to promptly apply for accreditation to cover the event. The Commission stressed the importance of adhering to the designated deadline and meeting accreditation criteria to ensure smooth processing.

    Addressing outstanding bye-elections, the Commission announced vacancies in four states, including State Assembly and Federal Constituency seats. Dates for bye-elections in these constituencies will be announced once preparations are finalized.

    Additionally, the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise is set to take place in Edo and Ondo States simultaneously from May 27th to June 5th, 2024. Eligible citizens who are not registered voters will have the opportunity to register, while registered voters can transfer their registration or replace lost/damaged cards. To accommodate the limited time before the elections, the registration will occur at ward levels and state headquarters, totaling 397 walk-in registration centers across the two states.

    In preparation for the CVR exercise, training for at least 794 officials will commence soon. Detailed information on registration centers and procedures has been made available on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

    The chairman emphasized the pivotal role of the media in mobilizing prospective registrants for the CVR exercise, urging early registration to avoid last-minute rushes.

    Collaboration with the media was also solicited to ensure the success of the registration exercise and subsequent electoral processes, highlighting the importance of voter participation in shaping the democratic process.

  • Labour Rejects N45,000 Minimum Wage

    Labour Rejects N45,000 Minimum Wage

    The organized labour has rejected the Federal Government’s offer of N45,000 as the national minimum wage.

    They stormed out of the minimum wage committee meeting on Wednesday.

    Recall that the organized labour had made a demand of N615,000 as the new minimum wage and had given the government up till May 31 to conclude negotiations on new living wage.

    The Tripartite Committee on New National Minimum Wage resumed negotiations on Wednesday.

    Representatives of the organized labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, were enraged over the government offer.

    Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, who is one of the representatives of the NLC, said, “we asked whether the N45,000 is for transport, food, clothing, housing or for what.

    “So we just told them that since they are not serious, we better just leave, so we stormed out of the place.”

    He said that the government offer was presented to them by the Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Office.

  • Atiku criticizes Tinubu govt’s plan to utilize pension funds for infrastructure projects

    Atiku criticizes Tinubu govt’s plan to utilize pension funds for infrastructure projects

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has voiced strong opposition to the Federal Government’s proposal to unlock N20 trillion from the nation’s pension funds and other sources for critical infrastructure projects.

    Atiku was reacting to recent remarks made by Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    Edun had said the Bola Tinubu-led government will unlock N20 trillion from the nation’s pension funds and other funds to finance critical infrastructure projects across the country.

    According to Atiku, the lack of transparency surrounding the initiative is alarming, adding that specific details regarding the utilization of pension funds, such as the percentage to be withdrawn, were not disclosed.

    He said: “He (Edun) provided no useful details, such as the percentage of the funds to be mopped up from the Pension Funds, for example. Even at that, this move must be halted immediately!

    “It is a misguided initiative that could lead to disastrous consequences on the lives of Nigeria’s hardworking men and women who toiled and saved and who now survive on their pensions having retired from service.

    “It is another attempt to perpetrate illegality by the Federal Government. The government must be cautioned to act strictly within the provisions of the Pension Reform Act of 2014 (PRA 2014), along with the revised Regulation on Investment of Pension Assets issued by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

    “In particular, the Federal Government must not act contrary to the provisions of the extant Regulation on investment limits to wit: Pension Funds can invest no more than 5% of total pension funds’ assets in infrastructure investments.

    “I note that as of December 2023, total pension funds assets were approximately N18 Trillion, of which 75% of these are investments in FGN Securities.

    “There is NO free Pension Funds that is more than 5% of the total value of the nation’s pension fund for Mr. Edun to fiddle with. There are no easy ways for Mr. Edun to address the challenges of funding infrastructure development in Nigeria. He can’t cut corners.

    “He must introduce the necessary reforms to restore investor confidence in the Nigerian economy and to leverage private resources, skills, and technology.”