Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

VICE President Kashim Shettima has dismissed insinuations about President Bola Tinubu’s health, saying his principal is a man full of ideas. President Tinubu had during the Democracy Day celebration last month missed his steps, an incident that elicited conversations about the former Lagos State governor’s health status to lead the country. But at a town hall meeting by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja on Friday, Shettima faulted comments about Tinubu’s health status. “We are not asking you not to question the eligibility of your president’s condition. But…

THOUSANDS of Nigerian students have expressed delight as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has approved the disbursement of federal government-backed student loan. In a press statement published on its X platform on Thursday, the directive was given following its inaugural board meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. Signed by its Head, Media and Public Relations, Nasir Ayitogo, the statement said the meeting marked a significant milestone in the organisation’s commitment to empowering students through financial support. It said, “Under the leadership of the Board Chairman, Mr. Jim Ovia, top in agenda was the approval for disbursement of student loan to…

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has stepped down consideration and deliberation on the memo on the new minimum wage to allow President Bola Tinubu engage in more consultation with stakeholders. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing State House correspondents on the decisions taken at the council meeting. He said the President has studied the report submitted by the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage and would consult further before a final submission on a new national minimum wage to the National Assembly. Talks for a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers have been…

A SENIOR officer of the Nigerian Customs Services (name withheld) has passed on at the National Assembly clinic, Abuja. The deceased was a guest of the Public Account Committee of the House of Representatives where he appeared for questioning in the ongoing probe of revenue-generating agencies and parastatals of government. He was said to be fielding questions from members of the committee when he collapsed. He was subsequently rushed to the National Assembly clinic where he gave up the ghost. A statement signed by the spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi read in part, “It is with deep sadness and…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu says Nigeria remains committed to a balanced approach to energy transition and still requires substantial investments in the oil and gas sector to meet the energy demands and economic needs of its population. Speaking at a meeting on Monday in Abuja with the Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank, Mr. Bill Winters, the President called for a just energy transition that supports vulnerable communities across the nation. Highlighting the importance of balancing the mutually beneficial shift to green industrial growth and energy with the immediate energy needs of Nigerians, the President said: ”We value your cooperation,…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Olatunji Bello as the new Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement disclosed that the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate. Bello is a lawyer, administrator, and renowned journalist. He is the former secretary to the Lagos State Government and holds a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos. He also studied Law at the same university and was called to the Nigerian Bar…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed that all civil servants who are drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money. The President also directed that the supervisors and department heads of the culprits must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch. Tinubu’ gave the directive on Saturday at the award night organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), to commemorate the 2024 Civil Service Week. The event was also to honour some outstanding civil servants in core ministries. Represented by Sen.…

THE Federal Government, under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, disbursed a total sum of N14.77bn for the repair and maintenance of the presidential air fleet in 11 months, this newspaper can confirm. The payments, made in 11 tranches between 16th July 2023 and 25th May 2024, were processed through the State House headquarters transit account labelled, ‘Presidential Air Fleet Transit Funds’. This new development comes amidst plans by the National Assembly to approve the purchase of two new aircraft, after it was discovered that the President’s 19-year-old Boeing 737 and some of the other aircraft in the fleet, were…

THE Federal Government has begun the proposed audit of the N2.7tn fuel subsidy claim by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, this newspaper gathered An audit firm, KPMG had conducted an initial audit reducing the claims from N6tn to N2.7tn. However, in the new audit, the government said it had approved the engagement of the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation to verify the claims made by the corporation regarding the amount the government owes the oil firm. This process was confirmed by the Director, Home Finance, Ali Mohammed, during the April 2024 Federal Account Allocation Committee meeting.…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa have held a bilateral talk following the latter’s swearing-in ceremony. Tinubu held a private meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday. Tinubu has been in South Africa since Tuesday to attend the inauguration of Ramaphosa who was recently elected for a second term in office. Presidential Spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed that before the closed door meeting, which was held at Radisson Blu Hotel in Johannesburg, President Ramaphosa thanked President Tinubu for honouring the invitation to attend his inauguration. “Thank you so much for coming for the…

DR Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HOCSF, said the recent physical verification exercise by her.office, exposed workers living abroad but still earning salaries from the service. Mr Yemi-Esan revealed this during a chat with media executives on Wednesday in Abuja, being part of activities to mark 2024 Civil Service Week. The theme for 2024 celebration is ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa’. The HoCSF said many of the civil servants, who were caught up in their games,…

THE sum of $6,230,000 allegedly stolen from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on February 8, 2023, was shared and invested into real estate, according to court documents. The $6.2 million, according to the special presidential investigative team, led by Jim Obaze, that probed the tenure of the immediate past CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was removed from the apex bank’s vault under the guise of paying election observers. Emefiele is standing trial on an alleged 20-count amended charge, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was alleged to have engaged in criminal breach of trust,…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu says it is imperative for Nigerians to have a change of value system if the nation is to make progress. The President spoke in Lagos when he received a delegation from the National Assembly who came to felicitate with him on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir on Monday evening. The delegation, led by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, included the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Benjamin Kalu, among others. “Good economics at a harsh time is the challenge that we must face. As I said in…

THE Federal Government through the Nigerian Customs Service has begun a fresh move to clamp down on operators of improperly imported private jets into the country, findings by this newspaper revealed. Consequently, no fewer than 80 operators of private jets are expected to appear at the headquarters of the NCS in Abuja with their aircraft import documents. The special aircraft import verification exercise, which begins on Wednesday (tomorrow), is expected to last for 30 days, according to a public notice issued by Customs. The notice, sighted by one of our correspondents, read in part, “The Nigeria Customs Service announces a…

THE Presidency, on Sunday, insisted that the N250,000 minimum wage clamour by Organised Labour is unsustainable, warning that the Federal Government cannot channeled all its resources to meet such a demand. The warning comes two days after the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria raised concerns over the N62,000 being proposed by the FG. The ALGON said if approved, the wage may put a strain on the councils’ financial burden. On Tuesday, May 28, talks between the Federal Government and Organised Labour broke down after the government and the Organised Private Sector raised their offers to N62,000. But the labour…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr. Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). This was disclosed in a statement released by the President’s media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, on Saturday. He said the President expects the new Director-General to bring his vast experience and competence to bear in this role to strengthen the agency as the national resource centre for capacity building and sustenance of reforms through the promotion of a competitive private sector-driven economy. He is also expected to ensure social accountability and efficient deployment of public resources, as well as advancing effective corporate…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu felicitates with the Muslims on celebrating the 2024 Eid-el-Kabir, saying it denotes sacrifice, faith and obedience to the will of the Almighty. Tinubu urged the Muslim faithful to reflect on the essence of the occasion while he prayed that Allah accept their supplications and acts of obedience. This was contained in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. He also said the sacrifices and great expectations of citizens will not come to nought. The statement reads, “President Bola Tinubu celebrates with the Muslim Ummah on the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, an…

THE controversies and series of serious allegations hanging on the neck of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ibrahim Lamuwa, have taken a different dimension. Recall that the Perm Sec had been in the eye of the storm for days over allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by one Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi who is said to be an aide to the minister. The lady wrote a petition to the minister which forced the latter to equally write to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, to probe the allegation. Consequently, the Head of…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja, the nation’s capital, for Lagos State, on Friday, ahead of Eid-Al-Kabir. Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement, said the President will mark the occasion with prayers and reflection. According to Ngelale, the President will observe Eid-el-Kabir in Lagos, where he will also spend the Sallah holidays. “The President will mark the occasion in prayers and reflection on advancing the transformation of Nigeria in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda.”

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Tanimu Yakubu as the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Thursday. According to the statement, “the President expects the new Director-General of this pivotal agency to further enhance the provision of efficient and qualitative budget functions, with a view to promoting fiscal sustainability, transparency, and accountability in public finance management for national development.” See full statement below: PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE BUDGET OFFICE OF THE FEDERATION President…