Category: Politics

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday apologised to the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for comparing her conduct in the Senate to that of a nightclub. During the plenary last Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan commented on a motion without the permission of the Senate President, an action which contravened the Senate standing order. While trying to correct the Kogi lawmaker for the misconduct, Akpabio told her to follow the rules and that the Senate is not a nightclub where anybody can talk anyhow. He has since come under fire from…

On Wednesday, the Lagos State Government debunked viral news on social media, stating that it had re-introduced the monthly environmental sanitation programme. A statement signed by the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, also emphasised that there would be no restriction of movement on the last Saturday in July as is being widely speculated. Wahab linked the report to the “work of mischief makers” who are keen on confusing residents. He urged all residents to disregard the viral news content and conduct lawful business. Wahab explained…

The House of Representatives at a plenary session on Thursday pledged to give up 50 per cent of their salaries for six months to address the hunger across the country. During the session presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu amended the motion, urging his colleagues to sacrifice 50% of their salaries. He made this plea when it was his turn to speak, seeking their support for this gesture. “This government is doing its best but one year is not enough to address the challenges of this…

President Bola Tinubu has approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers with a promise to review the national minimum wage law every three years. This is coming after the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress met with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday. From left: Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajero and President Trade Union Congress, Comrade Festus Osifo briefing State House Correspondents…

Governors on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP), have pledged to support Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers in the crisis between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, made the pledge in a communique the forum issued at the end of the forum’s meeting at the Government House, Enugu on Wednesday. According to him, the forum is aware of the ongoing crisis in Rivers and is committed to supporting Gov. Fubara, saying they had resolved that…

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has called on the residents to embrace subsistence farming by growing different crops within their homes to cushion the high cost of food items in the state. Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow crops to meet the needs of themselves and their families on smallholdings. Ms Abisola Olusanya, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, made the call at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos. Olusanya urged Lagos residents to embrace subsistence farming to boost food security. “We call on Lagos residents to…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday transmitted a letter to the Senate asking the lawmakers to approve 2024 supplementary appropriation by N6.2 trillion. According to the letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, this increases the 2024 budget to N34.9 trillion from an initial N28. 7 trillion budget President Tinubu had earlier signed into law on January 1. According to the letter, Tinubu is seeking an amendment to provide for N3.2 trillion for infrastructure projects and N3 trillion for recurrent expenditure. The letter reads in part, “Pursuant to section 58…

There was a mild drama at the Katsina State Government House, on Wednesday, when members of the state House of Assembly who were to hold a meeting with Governor Dikko Radda staged a walk out to protest security details’ directives asking them to drop their mobile phones at the reception of the council chamber, venue of the meeting. The lawmakers led by the speaker arrived in a coaster bus, disembarked and approached the Government House Council Chamber but were accosted at the entrance by security details who asked them to…

The leadership of Labour Party (LP) has condemned the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as the chief whip of the senate. At plenary on Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from the leadership of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) demanding the removal of Ndume as a principal officer in the 10th senate. The party also asked Ndume, who has been very critical of President Bola Tinubu, to resign and join any opposition party of his choice. But responding in a statement on Wednesday, Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary…

The United Arab Emirates has denied approving $10k bank balance, and N640k fee requirements for Nigerians applying for visas into the country, reports The Cable. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced on Monday, that the UAE authorities agreed to vacate travel restrictions imposed on Nigerians. Idris further revealed that applicants must fulfil certain conditions, including obtaining a document verification number on documentverificationhub.ae. According to the website, the verification costs a non-refundable N640,000 excluding VAT for each application. This does not include the visa fee. Additionally, applicants…

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed through the first reading a bill, seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to provide for a single term of six years for the Offices of the President, State Governors and Local Government Areas Chairmen to curb wastages occasioned by four years periodic elections. The private member bill was sponsored by the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere and 50 other lawmakers. The proposed bill seeks to alter Sections 7, 135, 137, 180 and 182 (1) of the 1999…

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, voided the impeachment of Phillip Shuaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State. Justice Omotosho, while delivering judgment in the suit, ordered that Shaibu be reinstated to office because the Edo State House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in impeaching him. Justice Omotosho also set aside the appointment of the new Deputy Governor who replaced Shaibu. Obaseki’s estranged ex-deputy pledges loyalty to Benin monarch as tongues wag over controversial court case The court held that…

The Senate has removed Senator Ali Ndume as the Chief Whip and replaced him with Senator Tahir Monguno. Ndume’s replacement by the Senate followed a directive issued to that effect in a letter written by the National Chairman of the party, Umar Ganduje and National Secretary, Senator Bashir Ajibola. At plenary on Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from the leadership of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) demanding the removal of Ndume as a principal officer in the 10th senate. The party also asked Ndume, who has been…

Justice Amina Aliyu of Kano State High Court has perpetually restrained Aminu Ado-Bayero and four other deposed Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye from parading themselves as Emirs. Delivering the judgment on Monday, Justice Aliyu further restrained the 15th Emir of Kano and four other dethroned Emirs by themselves, servants, privies and any other persons appointed by them from parading themselves as Emirs of Kano, Bichi, Gaya, Rano, Karaye. Recall that the Kano State Government had filed a suit asking the state High Court to stop the 15th Emir,…

Following an attempt on the life of former United States President Donald Trump at a political rally on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Pennsylvania, authorities have identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks. “Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, is the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania,” USA Today quoted the Federal Bureau of Investigation as saying in a statement on Sunday. The bureau added, “This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that…

Donald Trump says he has been shot in the ear at a political rally, describing a “whizzing sound” and feeling a “bullet ripping through skin” A male attacker was shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service after the apparent assassination attempt on Trump at the event in Butler, Pennsylvania The attacker killed one spectator at the rally, and two others are critically injured, according to the Secret Service A witness at the rally told BBC they saw a man with a rifle crawling on a nearby roof…

An early morning fire outbreak has burnt a section of the Gidan Rumfa palace of the 16th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II. PUNCH Online gathered that the fire outbreak, which happened on Friday night, around 11 pm, was set by yet-to-be-identified persons. A source, who spoke with Daily Trust, said the palace located at Kofar Kudu, where the Emir sits every Monday for the court, was seriously affected by the fire. The source added that the throne, air conditioners, and other valuables were destroyed in the inferno. “It…

James Onanefe Ibori, a former Governor of Delta State, has faulted the Supreme Court judgment that granted full autonomy to local governments in Nigeria, saying it dealt “a severe setback on the principles of federalism.” Ibori, in a post on X shortly after the judgment, expressed his disagreement with the verdict, referencing constitutional provisions to substantiate his claim that the decision undermines the foundations of federalism. After an intense back and forth between the Federal Government and state governors, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that it is unconstitutional for…

The federal government has threatened to revoke the sale of residential quarters belonging to the Ministry of Interior in the Ikoyi area of Lagos. The affected property is the Ikoyi liaison residential quarters of the ministry. In 2020, the Federal Ministry of Justice, through the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), commissioned an agent to identify and recover possession of landed properties belonging to the federal government that are currently being used and occupied by unauthorised persons. Although details of the sale, including the date and buyer,…

Barring last-minute change of decision, the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lt. Col. Nurudeen Yusuf, will be appointed the next Elemona of Ilemona in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Yusuf, if appointed, will succeed his father and late monarch, Oba Yusuf Omokanye Oyekanmi, who died in May, at the age of 95. According to reports credited to Daily Trust the process of his announcement is only waiting to be ratified by the state government. Senior palace sources and top stakeholders in Oyun who confirmed his selection…

Anamekwe Nwabuoku, a former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, has pleaded with Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja to give him more time to conclude the refund of the public funds allegedly looted by him and his co-defendant. Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, who are facing 11 counts of money laundering to the tune of N1.6bn, made the plea on Wednesday. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting them of committing to the act while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts…

Nigeria’s Supreme Court declared on Thursday that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations. The seven-man panel, in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves. The apex court held that the power of the government is portioned into three arms of government, the federal, the state and the local government. The court further declared that a state government has no power to elect a caretaker committee and a…

The Federal Government is on the verge of agreeing on a new national minimum wage as President Bola Tinubu has invited the organised labour consisting of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to a meeting at the Aso Villa on Thursday. A close source in the labour leadership who craved anonymity made this known to our correspondent on Wednesday. According to him, Tinubu is willing to settle the lingering talks on minimum wage on Thursday and has invited the joint union presidents to a meeting.

The House of Representatives has queried the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, for spending unrelated expenditures, including N45m for a New Year party, N20m for sanitary pads, the News Agency of Nigeria reports on Wednesday. Others include N1.5m for vehicle fuel. NAN reports that Rep Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, led the interrogation of the minister, over the non-payment of N1.5bn to contractors despite the fund release in Abuja. She said that the investigative hearing was aimed at uncovering the truth and not witch-hunting…

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Livestock Development. In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, the association’s President, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, said the establishment of the ministry would unleash the potential of the trillion-naira livestock industry. Othman-Ngelzarma said the ministry intends to generate high-quality and efficient employment opportunities throughout the livestock value chain with the aim of enhancing the Nigerian economy. He said, “With this development, MACBAN believes, the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under…

The House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on the arbitrary increase in the price of cement, on Tuesday, threatened to arrest the management of Dangote Cement if it fails to appear at its next hearing. Recall that the legislative chamber had on May 7, 2024, issued a 14-day ultimatum to cement manufacturers to appear before its joint committee and make their submissions on the arbitrary increment of cement prices in Nigeria. The Chairman, House Committee on Solid Minerals, Jonathan Gbefwi, gave the summon at a public hearing to investigate the arbitrary…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that he is neither deterred nor worried by Thursday’s Appeal Court judgment which returned Martin Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers to the state House of Assembly. The Appeal Court had nullified the order of a Rivers State High Court which restrained Amaewhule and the other lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from parading themselves as lawmakers. The court also said only the Federal High Court has the jurisdiction to entertain the matter of the lawmakers. Meanwhile, Fubara…

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, said on Wednesday that he is not interested in being a running mate to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential election. A statement by Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, said, “A faceless group, which sarcastically named itself Diri Angels, in a statement, had made the suggestion to Alhaji Abubakar.” Atiku was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 presidential election, which he lost to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress. According to…

A former speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara on Wednesday said lawmakers’ monthly earnings can not last them for more than three days. He urged the legislators to open their finances to dispel the insinuation that they were taking a humongous monthly salary. Dogara disclosed this during the first legislative open week of the House in Abuja. According to the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, his monthly salary was less than N400,000 during his time as a Rep member, while his monthly allowance as a presiding officer was N25…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he did not discuss the issue of releasing Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) during his discussion with the South-East Governors, on Tuesday. Our correspondent reports that Governors under the umbrella of the South-East Governors’ Forum met in Enugu, on Tuesday, and resolved to meet with President Bola Tinubu to seek the release of Kanu. Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo and chairman of the forum, announced the resolution at the end of a meeting of the governors held in Enugu.…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the National Construction and Household Support Programme during the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday in Abuja. According to a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the programme is aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening the economy, and providing immediate economic relief for Nigerian households. Ngelale added that the programme, which was supported by the NEC, includes financial allocations and infrastructure projects across all geo-political zones in the country. He added that a key component of the programme is the approval of the…

Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, who was absent for his scheduled arraignment and plea bargain, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, Thursday, wrote the court a letter that he would prefer to be tried in his state. In the letter he wrote through his team of lawyers led by Abdulwahab Mohammed, Bello claimed that only the Kogi High Court in Lokoja has the territorial jurisdiction to preside over the allegations brought against him. Adeola Adedipe, one of the lawyers in Bello’s team, told the court about…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised an alarm over alleged plan by Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. The Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Isiaq Akintola, raised the alarm in a statement on Monday. The development is coming amid the controversy and tension over the deposition of some monarchs in Kano State. Governor Aliyu had earlier deposed 15 traditional rulers for various offences. In his statement, Akintola said Nigerian Muslims reject any thought of deposing the Sultan. “Feelers…