Author: Hamza Rufai

AFTER his successful participation at the summit on “A New Global Financing Pact” in Paris, France hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived Bissau, capital of Republic of Guinea-Bissau, for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). President Tinubu also used the opportunity of the summit to visit the Nigerian contingent stationed in the country under the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force. The 63rd Ordinary Session summit, which will open on Sunday July 9, 2023, will be the first international engagement of the…

THE Federal Government is set to commence the trial of about 2,000 Boko Haram members arrested for participating in terror activities and has lined up eight judges to handle the special trial. The trial will take place in Kainji, Niger State, under a secure environment provided by a special security outfit, Operation Safe Corridor, with many of the suspects already in detention at the facility. Top security and ministry sources confided in this newspaper that the arrangement for the trial of the suspects had been concluded by the Ministry of Justice in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, but…

A 21-YEAR-OLD woman, Maimuna Suleiman, has been arrested for allegedly stabbing her husband, Aliyu Mohammed, to death in Bauchi State.  The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the suspect had been taken into custody. He said the victim was pronounced dead by medical professionals due to a chest wound. ASP Aminu Gimba Ahmed, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, stated that the command will file charges against the suspect once investigation is complete. The statement read, “Acting on information received on 5th July 2023 at about 2340hrs, the detectives attached to the Township Divisional Police headquarters, Bauchi have…

TARABA State Governor, Agbu Kefas has declared primary and secondary schools education free in the state. Kefas made the declaration on an official visit to the Ebenezer Primary School in Wukari on Friday. According to him, starting from the next academic session, primary and secondary education in Taraba State will be  free. The governor emphasized that it is the government’s responsibility to bear the expenses and that students should not be subjected to any fees. He said that apart from fulfilling a campaign promise, the hardship occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy has made the move imperative.

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed a six-count charge against a suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari. The charges were filed at the High Court in Yola, the state capital, according to INEC’s spokesman, Festus Okoye. In a statement on Thursday, Okoye said the electoral body took the action after reviewing the case file from the police which established a prima facie case against Yunusa-Ari. “Having reviewed the case file from the Police which established a prima facie case against Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, the Commission has filed a six-count charge against him at…

THE Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a fresh two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government over the implementation of a 200% increment in the salary structure of its members, amongst other demands. The resident doctors reached the resolution on Wednesday at a virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting (E-NEC) to appraise the level of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government on May 19, 2023, following a five-day warning strike embarked upon by the Association on May 17, 2023. The communique was co-signed by NARD President, Orji Innocent, Secretary General, Chikezie Kelechi; and Publicity…

THE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from the principal officers announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The presiding officers of the National Assembly announced the new leaders at plenary on Tuesday. In the majority cacaus of the senate, Akpabio had named Opeyemi Bamidele, Majority Leader; David Umahi, Deputy Majority Leader; Mohammed Ali Ndume, Senate Majority Whip; and Lola Ashiru Deputy Majority Whip. While Abbas named Julius Ihonvbere, lawmaker representing Owan east/Owan west Federal Constituency of Edo was announced as the majority leader; legislator representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro of Kogi, Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, as deputy majority leader.…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said it will prosecute 215 cases of electoral offences committed during the 2023 general elections nationwide. INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, stated this while addressing all the Resident Electoral Commissioners at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He added that the electoral body will work closely with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which he said is willing to prosecute the cases free of charge. “We must acknowledge that there were some challenges — some, infrastructural; others, human. We are looking at the records of those who committed infractions,” Yakubu said. “[There are] 215…

EX-GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike and former Governor Aminu Tambuwal, allies turned foes, have lost out in the supremacy battle for the leadership of the minority caucus of the senate. While Wike, who held a series of meetings with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, pushing for a particular senator, Tambuwal made known his interest in the minority leadership position. But on Tuesday, Akpabio announced the new leaders of the minority caucus. Senator Simon Davou Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau) Minority leader Senator Oyewumi Olalere (PDP, Osun) Deputy Minority leader Senator Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia) Minority Whip Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano) Deputy Minority Whip

A FOUR-STOREY building of a hotel in Dape, Life Camp, Abuja has just collapsed, trapping more than 20 people, according to eyewitnesses at the site. This newspaper gathered that the hotel is owned by Summit Villa Hotel Services. Emergency responders including officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have so far rescued nine of those trapped in the collapsed building whilst search and rescue are ongoing.

THE National Youth Service Corps said the delay in the payment of June allowance to corps members is from the banks, saying it has completed all arrangements for the payment since June 27. The Director, Press and Public Relations, NYSC, Eddy Megwa, in a statement released on Sunday in reaction to agitations over the delay, assured that the corps management is interfacing with the banks to fast-track payment. He said: “The Management of National Youth Service Corps wishes to state that it is aware of worries and agitations by corps members over the delay in the payment of their June…

THE Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment and deployment of eight Commissioners of Police to State Commands in the country. In a statement by its spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission also commended the acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for adhering to its latest policy on gender sensitivity in his recommendation. The Commission however expects that the Inspector General in his subsequent proposals will include more Officers from the North-East and South-East geopolitical zones that have yet to record the benchmark of 15 percent as decided at its last plenary meeting. The newly appointed state commissioners of…

DONNINGTON Nigeria Ltd has asked the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Ahmed Salihijo Ahmed to “stop peddling lies” and face squarely the case of Money laundering against him, as confirmed by a letter from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, dated 12th April 2023. The Managing Director of Donnington Ltd, Mr. Muhammed Sani gave the advice in a press statement on Thursday. He was responding to statements in the media credited to the embattled REA boss, who is also facing criminal charges preferred against him by Donnington Ltd, as private prosecutors, at the Federal High Court…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will “soon” take action on the case of suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari. INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, who made this known on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, said the police have concluded investigations on the matter. Okoye also said the electoral umpire has enough proof to establish a case against Yunusa-Ari. “I am aware that the police have concluded investigations and I am aware that in the next few weeks, Nigerians will be informed of what will happen,” he said. “Under the law, it is…

THE federal government has said that budgetary allocations will no longer be made for professional bodies and councils, with effect from January 2024. Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, said this in a letter to the professional bodies and councils. The circular dated 26 June, with reference number: DG/BDT/GEN. CORR/2016/XII/3067, asked those affected to begin to make adjustments early so they can continue to run their organisations seamlessly after the government might have withdrawn its financial support. Akabueze said that the decision was in line with the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS). Many, however,…

THE Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 28 and Thursday, June 29, 2023 as Eid-El-Kabir holidays. This was contained in a statement by a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Oluwatoyin Akinlade. “The Federal Government has declared Wednesday June 28th and Thursday June 29th 2023 Public Holidays in commemoration of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration and heartily felicitates with the Muslim Ummah at home and in the diaspora,” the statement read. Akinlade enjoined Muslims and all Nigerians “to make sacrifices for the growth and development of our communities and our great country, Nigeria”. The permanent secretary expressed hope that the…

THE Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has sealed some branches of Access Bank, the Regional Office of Transmission Company of Nigeria and six other companies over tax liabilities amounting to N419.6 million. According to the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Zakari Muhammad, the affected bank and companies were closed based on a court order after they failed to settle their outstanding tax returns of N419.6 million. He identified the companies as Access Bank – N249.9 million; Transmission Company of Nigeria’s Regional Office – N56.3 million; Transmission Company of Nigeria’s sub-regional office – N67.7 million; and Sky Express Airways…

VICE-CHANCELLORS of Nigerian universities present at the 2023 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board have agreed on 140 as the minimum benchmark for the admissions of 2023/2024 academic session. However, universities are at liberty to decide individual cut-off marks but no university will be allowed to admit any candidate who scores below the 140 benchmark, JAMB registrar, Prof.Ishaq Oloyede, made this known during the 2023 policy meeting ongoing in Abuja. For instance, the University of Jos proposed 180 as cut-off mark for admissions; the University of Ibadan proposed 200; University of Benin proposed 200; University of Lagos…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Friday joined other world leaders for the closing ceremony of the New Global Financing Pact summit in France. The President had departed Nigeria for Paris on Tuesday for the summit. He used the opportunity of the event to review and sign a New Global Financial Pact that places vulnerable countries on a priority list for support and investment, following the devastating impact of climate change, the energy crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, News Point Nigeria reported how the President arrived at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, accompanied by his Aide-de-Camp, Nurudeen Yusuf. Tinubu was…

THE Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) says it shared a total sum of N786.161 billion to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Areas in May. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of FAAC meeting for June 2023. The meeting was chaired by the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, according to a statement by FAAC’s spokesman, Bawa Mokwa, on Thursday. Mokwa disclosed that the N786.161 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N519.545 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N251.607 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) of N14.370 billion,…