Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has allayed fears of manipulation by any interest group in the ongoing economic reforms, saying his campaign was self-sponsored, without strings, or indebtedness to any individual or institution. The President, who received a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau, at the State House on Thursday, said his victory at the polls was purely by divine intervention, careful planning, and diligence in getting support from Nigerians. “I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections was my personal fortune. At some point, the odds were against me; banks were…

TRADITIONAL rulers have called for calm over the planned nationwide protest to demonstrate against the prevailing economic hardship in Nigeria. The protest which is billed to begin from August 1st, 2024 has garnered traction on social media, prompting a meeting between traditional and President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday. “We will listen to our youths because they lead the future. The power and the strength of Nigeria are certainly with the young people,” the Dein of Agbor, HRM Benjamin Keagborekuzi said after the meeting. “We feel your pain. I’m a young person myself. It’s been…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has admitted being part of different protests but without violence. The President said this when he received Letter of Credence from the newly appointed United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills Jr. at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He emphasized the importance of sustaining democracy and its institutions, noting that protests are an integral part of democracy, but that no government will condone demonstrations that lead to the destruction of lives and property. The President said, “Our relationship with America is rich. We believe in democracy and freedom. Some of your predecessors worked hard during our…

TWO weeks after the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to local governments (LGs) in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has declared that the electoral umpire is capable of successfully conducting LG elections if saddled with the responsibility by law. The INEC chief made this known when he appeared before a Joint National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters to present the Ondo and Edo off-cycle elections budget on Thursday. He, however, raised the question of funding for their by-elections in the country. Mahmood explained that the commission, which currently conducts hitch-free elections in the…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with Governors from the All Progressives Congress, under the aegis of the Progressives Governors Forum at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting which began at minutes past 02 pm follows growing calls for nationwide protests against economic hardship. Although the agenda of Thursday’s meeting is unknown, it may be connected to the planned protests scheduled for August 1 – 10. The protests, organised under the hashtag ‘EndBadGovernance,’ have gained significant traction on social media even as the organisers remain largely anonymous, with no group officially claiming responsibility. This meeting follows an earlier conclave of…

THE Federal Government says it is open to talks with the leaders of the planned nationwide protests slated for August 1-10. At an emergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, all the federal ministers were also directed to visit their respective states between Wednesday (July 24) and Thursday August 1, when the protests are scheduled to begin. This is as select ministers, the National Security Adviser will also meet with state governors at the 143rd session of the National Economic Council at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Thursday (today). This formed part of the action points…

FORMER Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, on Wednesday, met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Anyim served as the 9th President of the Senate from 2000 to 2003 and was Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) during Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency. Recently, he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). Accompanying Anyim to meet with Tinubu were the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru. Briefing journalists after the meeting, the former SGF said he joined the ruling party to contribute his quota towards…

AHEAD of the planned nationwide protest in August, the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government. The minister made the plea on Wednesday after a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. Briefing journalists after the meeting, Mohammed said the Federal Government was engaging with all stakeholders on the matter. “You see, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in everyone’s freedom within the laws to do what he thinks is right for him. Therefore, the President is not an opponent…

SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has announced that the newly approved minimum wage now applies to all workers across both public and private sectors, including maids and other domestic staff. Akpabio stated this during the plenary session on Tuesday. The bill was speedily passed by both chambers of the National Assembly just after it was transmitted by President Bola Tinubu. Speaking during the plenary, the Senate President said, “If you are a tailor and you employ additional hands, you cannot pay them below N70,000. If you are a mother with a newborn child and you want to hire a housemaid to…

THE Federal Government has scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday (today) morning in response to a planned nationwide protest slated for August 1. This comes after President Bola Tinubu pleaded with the organisers to shelve the protests and give his administration more time to execute people-oriented programmes. A circular shared with The PUNCH on Tuesday by sources with knowledge of the meeting indicated that all the ministers, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and the Special Advisers to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman; Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and former Minister of Youth…

BILLIONAIRE business mogul, Femi Otedola, has explained why Nigerians, particularly the government should support the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, by creating an enabling environment to ensure businesses thrive. He argued that Dangote’s contributions which extend beyond industrial facilities to critical infrastructure, must be recognised and supported by all means. Otedola, who rose in defence of his friend and business ally in a post on his X account on Tuesday, described Dangote as a “titan that God created specially for mankind”. “In Nigeria, we have our own titans, and it is imperative that we recognize and support them. Aliko…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to shelve a planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest slated for next month. Information Minister Mohammed Idris, who briefed selected State House correspondents after a meeting with the President on Tuesday, said Tinubu urged the organisers of the protest to shelve the plan and await the President’s response to their complaints. “The issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that. He’s asked them to shelve that plan. He’s asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas,” the minister said. The protest against economic hardship, which is gaining…

THE Senate on Tuesday speedily passed the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 (Amendment Bill). The bill, which scaled second and third readings, just minutes after it was transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, was instantly passed by the upper chamber. In a unanimous vote after a clause consideration in the Committee of the Whole, the National Minimum Wage Bill scaled third reading and was passed. Earlier on Tuesday, the President transmitted the National Minimum Wage Bill to the National Assembly for consideration and passage. The President separately wrote the Senate and the House of Representatives requesting expedited consideration of a bill…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has transmitted a national minimum wage bill to the House of Representatives in the National Assembly for consideration and passage. The President and the leadership of the Organised Labour had last Thursday agreed on ₦70,000 as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers. Information Minister Mohammed Idris had said “the new national minimum that Mr President is expected to submit to the National Assembly is ₦70,000”. The truce between the government and labour sides followed a series of talks between labour leaders and the President in the last few weeks after months of failed talks between labour…

THE Senate and the National Council for Women Society (NCWS) have sought for inclusion of domestic servants in the proposed 70,000 naira National Minimum Wage Scheme. This was highlighted during a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour, and Productivity on a bill for an Act to Provide for Domestication and Registration of Domestic Workers and Employers in Nigeria. The Senator representing Imo West Osita Izunaso as well as the Acting National President of NCWS Geraldeen Etuk especially argued for the inclusion of domestic servants in the proposed National Minimum Wage law and asserted that part of the…

SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has raised alarm over the persistent economic sabotage that has undermined investor confidence in the petroleum sector, declaring that the Senate must identify and hold those accountable for the criminal acts. Akpabio made the declaration on Monday during the inauguration of the Senate ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged sabotage in the sector. At the inauguration, the Senate President stated that it is not merely an investigation but a rescue mission for the nation’s future. He said that it is a matter of national security and sovereignty and, if left unchecked, could cripple the economy for generations…

THE Federal Government has waded into the open spat between the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDPRA) and the newly established Dangote Refinery. Consequently, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has convened a crucial meeting with key stakeholders, including businessman Aliko Dangote and NMDPRA leadership, to address ongoing disputes affecting the take-off of Dangote Refinery. The meeting aimed to foster collaboration and resolve issues hindering the refinery’s operations, which many hoped would alleviate Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products. Present at the meeting were president of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; chief executive of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed;…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Sunday reeled out the achievements of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to African leaders. “We supported six member states in ratifying the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, and thirteen Member States have ratified the AFCFTA agreement,” the statement quoted Tinubu who is the regional bloc’s chairman. “The ECOWAS interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) is also operational in twelve Member States,” the President stated. Detailing the efforts on the humanitarian and social development front, President Tinubu said ECOWAS has allocated $9 million to assist persons of concern, including refugees, internally…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has felicitated Justice Stella Anukam, on her re-election as Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, for another term of six years. Justice Anukam was re-elected at the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting Executive Council in Accra, Ghana, on Friday. The Nigerian obtained her law degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (formerly known as University of Ife), Osun State, Nigeria, in 1984, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in August 1985. She is also a chartered secretary, chartered arbitrator, and seasoned administrator. Justice Anukam has served as former Director of Special Programmes at…

THE joint committee of the House of Representatives investigating arbitrary rise of cement price in the country, has asked major producers in the industry to tender documents on cost production to justify the price of cement in the market. The committee resolved to visit production plants of the companies after going though their books to ascertain the cost of production with a view to determine a fair price of cement for all Nigerians. The Chairman of the joint committee, Jonathan Gaza (APC-Nasarawa) made the demand on Friday at a public hearing while quizzing Dangote Cement Company and Lafarge Africa Plc…