SOME top officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria have been arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over alleged mismanagement or diversion of the N90bn released by the Federal Government to subsidise the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The officials were arrested in their offices and taken to the anti-graft agency’s office following their failure to honour earlier invitations extended to them by the ICPC. A source at the commission added that the officials were interrogated for hours on the N90bn subsidy for pilgrims upon their arrival at the anti-graft agency’s office. Speaking…
Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani
VICE President Kashim Shettima has restated President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to support and empower more Nigerian youths to excel in their chosen vocations. According to him, the President holds Nigerian youths in high esteem, and his commitment is evident in his appointments and the administration’s policies and initiatives such as the Youth Investment Fund, iDICE Programme, and the National Youth Development Bank, among others. The Vice President spoke on Friday when he received the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) youth wing, led by the party’s National Youth Leader Dayo Israel, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential…
MRS Folashade Esan, outgoing Head of Service of the Federation, on Friday presented her successor, Mrs Esther Wilson-Jack to President Bola Tinubu on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Esan said the President made the transition seamless as Wilson-Jack, the incoming Head of Service, spent some weeks with her learning the ropes. She said she was sure that Wilson-Jack was ready to hit the ground running. “We also had a good time with Mr President, sharing his vision for the country, especially for the civil service with us. “This should prepare the incoming Head of Service so that she can…
THE Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West Africa States on Friday called for the return of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to the regional bloc. Speaking in Abuja while on a visit to the National Counter Terrorism Centre, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff and Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said their return is necessary to defeat the increasing insecurity ravaging the region, especially insurgency. General Musa disclosed that efforts are ongoing on the part of the Ecowas Chiefs of Defence Staff to ensure the three countries are…
A FORMER Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, has asked President Bola Tinubu to convene a national constituent assembly to produce a new draft constitution for the country. Anyaoku, who is also the Chairman of the Patriots, said this was part of the proposals put forward during the meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja. “We put some proposals to Mr. President and we urged him to send a president’s executive bill to the National Assembly, a bill that will call for two essential measures,” Anyaoku said. According to him, the National Constituent Assembly is to consist of individuals…
THE Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has clarified that it did not raid the secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). This is coming less than 24 hour after the Department of State Services als0 dismissed reports that its operatives raided the headquarters of the NLC. DSS Spokesperson Peter Afunanya stated that the agency had no involvement in the incident. Also in a Friday statement by the Police Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, the NPF said a suspected criminal was traced to a shop in the Centre Business District of Abuja which coincidentally was the NLC building. “Detectives, armed with the appropriate…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed chairmen and members of the governing councils of some federal universities and tertiary institutions across the country. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. “The President expects that the new members of the governing boards of these institutions will perform their functions effectively and creditably and within the ambits of their statutory responsibilities,” the statement read. See the full list below: Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State (1) Temi Harriman – Chairman (2) Adeola Adeogun – Member (3) Benedict Aguele – Member (4)…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed 10 persons to serve on the governing councils of two federal tertiary institutions: the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State. The Presidency announced the appointments on Wednesday in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu appoints governing councils of two federal tertiary institutions.’ See full list below: PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS GOVERNING COUNCILS OF FEDERAL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following Nigerians to the governing councils of these…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with his administration, assuring them that the country is transitioning from darkness to dawn. In an official video released by the State House on Wednesday, Tinubu acknowledged the ongoing hardships orchestrated by the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira. He noted that Nigerians’ pain was compounded by what he described as an “avoidable lag” between the subsidy removal and his helpful plans for the country. He said, “Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there’s no doubt that it is tough, but…
THE members of the House of Representatives have yet to implement their resolution to slash their salaries by 50 per cent for the next six months. The federal lawmakers made the resolution on July 18 and it was expected to reflect in their salaries for the month of July but the spokesman for the House of Representatives, Rotimi Akin, blamed bureaucracy for the delayed implementation. “The House of Representatives remains committed to the resolution passed on July 18, which mandates a 50 per cent reduction in the salaries of honourable members for the period from July to December 2024. “We…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Aminu Masari as Board Chairman of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as well as other members of the board. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Tuesday. According to the statement, the President expects the new members of the board of this pivotal institutional vehicle to be dedicated and committed to driving TETFund’s objective of providing the needed support for tertiary education with a view to enhancing the productivity and quality of higher education See full statement below: PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of seven qualified Nigerians to head strategic agencies and programmes under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Tuesday. Those appointed are: (1) Dr. Badamasi Lawal — Chief Executive Officer, National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). (2) Ms. Funmilola Olotu — Programme Manager, National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office (3) Ms. Aishat Alubankudi — Programme Manager, Grant for Vulnerable Groups (4) Princess Aderemi Adebowale — Programme Manager, Home Grown School Feeding (5)…
A FORMER Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume has apologised to the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) for not consulting the party before publicly accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of maladministration. Ndume who represents Borno South in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, however, said that he stands by his words, insisting that whatever he said or did was out of patriotism. “Yesterday I was invited by the party and here I am to discuss family matters with what has happened which you are all aware, actually the national chairman is not just…
THE Federal Government has concluded plans to sell a 50kg bag of rice at N40,000 to public servants with a view to alleviating the food crisis in the nation and its effects on Nigerians. This was disclosed in a letter sighted by News Point Nigeria from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, which was signed by the Director of Human Resources of the Ministry, Jaiyesimi Abimbola. The letter said all interested staff members were to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website and submit it to the director of human resources for endorsement. It noted that…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has postponed this week’s Federal Executive Council to an undisclosed date, and will instead meet with service chiefs. The meeting is expected to have in attendance the vice president, the national security adviser, all service chiefs, the inspector general of police, the comptroller generals of customs, and immigration, and the chief of staff to the president. Sources close to the matter told News Point Nigeria on condition of anonymity, that the urgent meeting with security chiefs may not be unconnected to the ongoing nationwide hunger and hardship protests. Reports indicate that Nigerians, mostly youths, are regrouping across…
THE Federal Government has released N570bn to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, President Bola Tinubu announced on Sunday. He also revealed that Nigeria spends N2tn monthly to import Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil, otherwise known as diesel. Tinubu stated this during his nationwide broadcast to Nigerians, as he disclosed that N9.1tn was accumulated as total fiscal revenue to the Federal Government’s coffers during the first half of 2024, marking a significant increase from what was earned by the previous administration. “Also, more than N570bn has been released to the 36…
BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY BOLA AHMED TINUBU, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE NATIONWIDE PROTEST DATE: SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST 2024 My fellow Nigerians, 1. I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states. 2. Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled. 3. I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano,…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will address Nigerians on the nationwide protests, according to presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale. The nationwide broadcast will be on Sunday (tomorrow), August 4th 2024, at 7 am. “Television, radio, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to plug into the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the broadcast.,” Ajuri said in a Saturday statement. See full statement below: PRESIDENT TINUBU TO ADDRESS THE NATION President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 7:00 am. Television, radio, and other…
THE Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu says President Bola Tinubu is monitoring the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country. Nigeria’s recent protests are owing to the high cost of living, worsened by the floating of the naira and the stoppage of fuel subsidy removal by the Tinubu administration. Although there have been calls for Tinubu to address the nation after the demonstrations entered the third day – petering out though – the president is yet to do that. However, Bagudu, said the Nigerian leader is well aware of the situation. “Mr President has been monitoring the situation, as…
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his administration is undertaking bold economic policies to propel Nigeria’s economy out of the downturn occasioned by multiple shocks in the global economy. He also called for global cooperation among African countries to tackle their shared economic challenges and take advantage of opportunities. The President spoke on Friday when he declared open the 2024 African Caucus Meeting at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja. Tinubu’s remarks are coming on the back of protests against harship which started on Thursday across the country. He noted that although Africa was grappling with “numerous challenges across economic, humanitarian and…