The Federal Government has announced a name change for the University of Abuja. It is now to be known and addressed as Yakubu Gowon University. This offers the management of the university an ample opportunity for re-branding.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris announced the name change, Monday in Abuja, shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting, the last for the year 2024.
At the end of the meeting which was chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister announced to the waiting media corps of State House Correspondents that the decision to name the university after the former military head of state taken in recognition of General Gowon’s contribution to nation building.
This name change may be a form of birthday gift to the elder statesman who recently celebrated his birthday.
A professor who spoke to Nigerian Anchor on the subject opines that the name change may also open a new vista of funding opportunity for the university.
A tragic motor accident occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge early Monday morning, claiming one life and injuring five.
The accident involved two vehicles that ran into each other in a head on collision at Ilubirin, inward, around 6 a.m.
Lagos state traffic management agency, LASTMA stated that the crash involved a Peugeot J5 Bus (registration number FKJ724YC) and a Mercedes truck (FKJ746YC).
It was reported that the Bus, loaded with pepper and other perishable farm produce allegedly suffered a break failure while on speed thereby leading to the collision.
LASTMA officials and bystanders that arrived fairly timely at the scene were able to rescue four victims while one of the passengers, who was severely injured succumbed to the injuries.
Emergency respondents, comprising the Lagos Response Unit, LASTMA, Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police and Lagos State Ambulance Service effectively managed the aftermath of the accident as they successfully rushed the injured and even the dead to the hospital.
As would be expected, a traffic gridlock formed immediately, causing the traffic management officials to swing into action to curtail it.
In a humble act of statemanlinessPresident Bola Tinubu, the beneficiary of the highly discredited 2023 Nigerian election has commended Ghana’s recent peaceful elections, describing it as a model of democratic maturity.
President Tinubu who spoke while opening the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja, urged other African leaders to draw inspiration from the Ghanaian example.
“I urge all of us in the region to learn from this good democratic practice and prioritise our country’s national unity to ensure political stability of the region so that this manner of peaceful transition becomes the culture of democracy not only in West Africa but also in the entire Africa continent,” he stated.
“Despite the challenges of interrupted democratic governance in some West African countries, the region has continued to record democratic gains. Just a week ago, on December 7 2024, Presidential and Parliamentary elections took place in Ghana, the second-largest democracy in our region,” Mr. Tinubu reminded the gathering of Heads of State of Governments of West African countries of which he is the chairman.
“One of the leading candidates who happens to be the incumbent Vice President, His Excellency Mahamudu Bawumia, together with the leadership of the ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP), conceded defeat and accepted the outcome of the Presidential election by congratulating the President-elect, His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama of National Democratic Congress (NDC) for his victory, even before the official announcement of the election results.
“This gesture, as it happened in Nigeria in 2015, demonstrates political maturity and respect for the will of the people of Ghana,” President Tinubu stressed.
In a press statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga praised President Akufo-Addo for the electoral feat.
President Tinubu, in his second term as ECOWAS Chair, highlighted achievements from his first term, to include strides in regional integration, economic growth, conflict resolution, and counterterrorism efforts.
He said the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and Common External Tariff (CET) have strengthened trade and economic cooperation.
“Similarly, regional infrastructure projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline, the West Africa Power Pool, and modernising key border posts with advanced equipment and joint border operations utilising state-of-the-art technology have significantly enhanced connectivity and promoted greater regional integration.
“Furthermore, our efforts in stabilising our region through peacekeeping missions currently in the Gambia and Guinea Bissau, as well as previous operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, have demonstrated our capacity to act decisively in the face of adversity.
President Tinubu said the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on the Fight Against Terrorism has provided a comprehensive framework to combat violent extremism and enhance regional security.
As ECOWAS nears its 50th anniversary in 2025, President Tinubu urged member states to recommit to the bloc’s founding ideals of economic integration, peace, and prosperity.
“As a regional community, we must maintain our fundamental responsibility: to protect our citizens and create an enabling environment where they can prosper.
“As leaders, we know that security is not a luxury but a necessity. Equally, enhancing the living standards of our people is not an aspiration but an obligation,” he said.
The Presidents of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, and Senegal attended in person alongside the Vice President of Sierra Leone, the Finance Minister of the Benin Republic, the Minister of foreign affairs of Togo, and the Ambassador of Cape Verde to Nigeria.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, commended Nigeria for paying 100 per cent of its community levy for 2023 and substantial remittances for 2024, reflecting Nigeria’s leadership and commitment under President Tinubu.
“For the first time in 19 years, Nigeria has paid 100% of its community levy from 2023. I’m therefore pleased to announce that on Friday, December 13, 2024, Nigeria paid N85 billion and $54 million, representing 100% of the 2023 levy and the 2024 levy up to July 2024.
“We all agree that this payment underscores the leadership and commitment of President Tinubu, the government and the people of Nigeria to our community. At a more personal level, it represents confidence in the management I have been privileged to lead since 2022.
He encouraged other member states to meet their financial commitments diligently.
President Bola Tinubu has announced Nwakuche Sylvester Ndidi as the acting controller-general of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The appointment will officially begin on December 15, 2024, as Haliru Nababa’s tenure concludes.
Ndidi, who was born on November 26, 1966, in Oguta, Imo State, has been serving as the deputy controller-general overseeing training and staff development.
He is recognized as a fellow of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies and holds the title of Member of the Federal Republic.
The presidency expressed confidence in Ndidi’s ability to excel in this new role, citing his extensive professional experience.
The police in Benue State have apprehended Dr. Tersagh Ichor, a lecturer at Joseph Saawuan Tarka University Makurdi (JOSTUM), in connection with the kidnapping of Susan Anyagh, wife of the ASUU JOSTUM chapter chairman.
The incident occurred on December 7 when Anyagh was abducted on Otukpo Road in Makurdi.
She was taken by force from her vehicle and driven to an undisclosed location. During her captivity, her abductors received a phone call from Ichor, who allegedly ordered that she be killed.
However, when they came across a police checkpoint, they abandoned the plan, moved to a secluded area, and assaulted her before abandoning her on the roadside, where she was found unconscious and later taken for medical treatment.
Police investigations are ongoing, and Ichor has been detained while authorities work to gather further details.
Concerned by widely circulating reports about sharp practices bordering on land grabbing, amongst others, the Nigerian Senate has instructed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to stop all demolitions in the FCT, except those ordered by the courts.
The instruction by the senate shall subsist until full investigation is completed on the demolition exercise in the FCT.
An ad hoc committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, has therefore, been empaneled to look into the matter.
The committee is expected to submit a report within two weeks.
This decision follows concerns raised by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who claimed that proper procedures were not followed during the demolitions that were recently approved by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT.
The Nigerian Senate has issued a strong warning to federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), threatening to withhold their 2025 budget allocations if they fail to provide comprehensive expenditure reports for 2024.
This decision follows widespread discrepancies in financial records and concerns over inefficient revenue management.
During a session led by the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa, lawmakers scrutinized the state of financial accountability across MDAs.
The committee flagged inconsistencies in revenue reports, poor budget performance, and delays in fund disbursements. Agencies such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and others were highlighted for discrepancies in remittances and dividends.
The committee also criticized the centralized payment system managed by the Accountant General’s office, attributing delays in project funding and execution to bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Lawmakers reported that contractors were allegedly pressured to pay unofficial fees to expedite payments, further eroding public trust.
In her defence, the Accountant General explained that the centralized system was designed to reduce inefficiencies and prevent unspent funds from being rolled over.
However, senators argued for more autonomy for MDAs while ensuring oversight to prevent misuse.
The Senate plans to summon additional stakeholders, including the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), for a joint review of financial irregularities.
Deliberations on whether to reform or abolish the centralized payment system are also expected to address delays and inefficiencies in budget implementation.
…The EFCC counters his bail application, based on the argument that it was ill-timed and violated legal standards.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has declined the bail request of Yahaya Bello, a former Kogi State governor, citing procedural lapses in the application process.
Justice Maryanne Anenih ruled that the application was submitted prematurely, as it was filed before Bello’s arraignment or his formal custody.
Bello, charged alongside two others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a case involving alleged laundering of N110 billion, appeared in court after his November 26 arrest.
The bail request, submitted on November 22, predates his November 27 arraignment, rendering it invalid under procedural guidelines.
While Bello’s legal team argued for his release, claiming he posed no risk of absconding, the EFCC countered that the timing of the application violated legal standards.
The court upheld the EFCC’s position, rejecting Bello’s bail.
In contrast, the second defendant, Umar Oricha, was granted bail on stringent conditions, including a bond of N300 million and property guarantees in Abuja.
Until these terms are met, Oricha will remain in custody.
Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, today in Abuja, takes over as the 24th Chief of Army Staff.
He replaces Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja who died recently after a brief illness.
A formal ceremony entailing the lowering and raising of the command flag was staged at the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Monday to start off his leadership.
Oluyede’s appointment followed his nomination by President Bola Tinubu on October 30, stepping into the role after the passing of his predecessor, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
His position was confirmed by both the Senate and House of Representatives, ensuring his leadership was officially endorsed.
Prior to this role, Oluyede was the Commander of the elite Infantry Corps, headquartered in Jaji, Kaduna.
The 56-year-old officer was commissioned in 1992 and rose to the rank of Major General by September 2020.
His extensive military career spans years of service, and he shares a strong professional connection with his predecessor, as they were both members of the 39th Regular Course at the Nigeria Defence Academy.
The handover of the insignia of office by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Christopher Musa followed the provisions outlined in the Armed Forces Act, completing Oluyede’s transition into his new role.
The South East Caucus of the Nigerian Senate has called for extensive consultations on the Tax Reform Bills currently under consideration in the National Assembly.
The caucus, comprising Senators from the five states in the South East region, reached this consensus during a closed-door meeting held in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking on behalf of the caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South) stated that while the Senators are not opposed to the proposed reforms, the lack of stakeholder engagement in drafting the bills raises concerns about inclusivity and fairness.
“We are not against the Tax Reform Bills before both chambers of the National Assembly. However, we believe wider consultations should be carried out to ensure they are equitable and reflective of the interests of all Nigerians,” Senator Abaribe said.
The proposed legislations, including the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2024, and Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024, were submitted by President Bola Tinubu on October 3, 2024.
The reform sought in the bills aim to overhaul the country’s tax structure to improve revenue generation.
The South East Senators plan to consult constituents, state governments, and other stakeholders in the region’s 15 senatorial districts to gather input.
“We have reviewed the bills and want to share our findings with stakeholders in the South East Zone. This engagement will help us advocate for a more balanced approach to the proposed tax reforms,” Senator Abaribe added.
This position aligns with the calls from other groups, such as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Northern Senators Forum, and the Arewa Consultative Forum, all of whom have expressed reservations about passing the bills without comprehensive input from the public.
In contrast, the Presidency and the South-South Caucus in the Senate have urged for the bills’ swift passage, arguing that they are crucial for addressing Nigeria’s fiscal challenges.
The South East Caucus emphasized that incorporating diverse perspectives is essential for achieving equitable tax reforms that will be acceptable to all Nigerians.
Legislative deliberations on the bills are ongoing in both chambers of the National Assembly.
