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Thursday, 21 December 2017 04:40

Buhari writes Senate for confirmation of 9 RECs, swears in 7 perm-secs

President Muhammadu Buhari, has written to the Senate, requesting for the screening and confirmation of nine Resident Electoral Commissioners appointed for Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The letter was read to Senators yesterday by Senate President Bukola Saraki during plenary. The nominees are Mr Monday Udo Tom- Akwa Ibom; Mr Eric Olawale -Osun; Mr Segun Agbaje- Ekiti, and Siro Omorogbe- Edo. Others are Yahaya Bello- Nassarawa; Emmanuel Alex- Rivers; Mohammed Mogaji Ibrahim-Gombe; Baba Abba Yusuf- Borno, and Lukman Abdulrahman Ajibade- Kwara. The Senate had on November 23 rejected Ahmed Bello Mahmud as nominee for the position of Resident Electoral Commissioner…

Thursday, 21 December 2017 04:30

Dino Melaye under fire for rap video with Kachikwu’s son, Kach

Mr Dino Melaye, a senator, has been criticised for his appearance in a music video depicting his lavish lifestyle. The song Dino, named after Dino Melaye, features lyrics like "100 cars in the parking lot like I'm Dino". The video shows rapper Kach pretending to eat dollar bills, displaying expensive cars, a mansion, jewellery and shoes. Melaye represents Kogi West constituency in Kogi state, where many local civil servants are owed months of back-pay. And many people took to social media to criticise him:In the video, Mr Melaye, 43, is seen stepping out of a car, wearing a T-shirt labelled…

Thursday, 21 December 2017 04:27

Traffic offenders to pay N100,000 fine - FRSC

Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, says plans are underway to compel traffic offenders to pay N100,000 as penalty for a traffic offence. Oyeyemi said this on the sideline of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Nigeria Road Safety Strategy on Wednesday in Abuja. “You cannot arrest somebody for using a phone while driving and he pays N4,000 as penalty. And almost immediately he goes back to commit same offence. “Fines are supposed to serve as deterrent, which is why I said that I am in support of what the National Assembly is doing presently…

Thursday, 21 December 2017 04:26

FG declares Dec 25, 26, Jan 1 public holidays

The federal government has declared December 25 and 26 as well as January 1 as public holidays. The holidays are to celebrate Christmas and New Year. The announcement of the holidays was made in a statement by Permanent Secretary in the Interior Ministry, Mr Abubakar Magaji. PT

Wednesday, 20 December 2017 04:51

Ikoyi cash: Culprits to be tried in secret – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said those found guilty in the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ikoyi cash scandal will be prosecuted secretly, even as his administration plans to overhaul national security architecture. In April, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered $43 million, £27, 800 and N23 million at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos. Buhari spoke at Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving a report of the panel established to review the operational, technical and administrative structure of NIA. Presidential spokesperson Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement, quoted Buhari as saying that the Osborne Tower incident and its aftermath had…

Wednesday, 20 December 2017 04:50

$1bn ECA fund not for B’Haram war alone – Osinbajo

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, said the much-criticised $1 billion that state governors allegedly asked the Federal Government to withdraw from Excess Crude Account was not meant for the fight against insurgency alone. He said the sum was meant for all security challenges being experienced in all the states of the federation. Osinbajo gave the clarification at the opening of Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Secretaries to State Governments’ retreat at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Mr Abdulaziz Yari, had, at a meeting of the National Economic Council last Wednesday, announced that the governors…

Wednesday, 20 December 2017 04:48

Fayose, Yari in hot exchanges over $1bn to fight Boko Haram

Governors of Ekiti and Zamfara states, Ayodele Fayose and Abdulaziz Yari, on Tuesday openly disagreed over the reported approval by Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, of $1 billion to be used in the fight against insecurity. The disagreement occurred at the old banquet hall of the Presidential Villa after a meeting of governors and speakers of States Houses of Assembly. Mr. Fayose said governors never discussed the approval of the money, which was announced after a meeting of National Economic Council, last week. Mr. Yari, however, insisted the matter was discussed and agreed upon collectively. Fayose told reporters before he left…

Wednesday, 20 December 2017 04:46

$1bn ECA fund: Ekiti LG Chairmen sue FG, 36 State govs, others

Sixteen Local Government Chairmen in Ekiti state have sued Attorney General of the Federation and Governors of the 36 states over the approval of the sum of $1 billion from Excess Crude Account of the Federation for the fight against insurgency. They want an order of injunction restraining the Federal government and the 36 states governors, their agents, servants, privies, representatives in interest, howsoever called and by whatsoever name designated, from giving effect to the appropriation and/or approval of appropriation of the sum of $1 billion or any other sum whatsoever, from Excess Crude Account of the Federation, as contained…

Wednesday, 20 December 2017 04:44

‎$1 billion controversy: Bayelsa gov speaks

Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has requested the federal government to exclude the 13 per cent derivation funds accruable to oil producing states from the $1 billion to be deducted from the Excess Crude Account for national security. The governor demanded that the 13 per cent derivation component of the $1 billion be deducted and sent to the various oil producing states to prevent subjecting them from making double contributions to the security funds. In a statement signed by Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, on Wednesday, Mr. Dickson posited that the implication of the withdrawal inclusive…

Wednesday, 20 December 2017 04:35

Oyo/Osun Customs generates N16bn

Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Tuesday, said it has generated about N16.2 billion into the coffers of the Federal Government within a period of 11 months. This was against N13.5 billion generated within the same period in 2016, representing an increase of 19.48 percent in revenue collection. Area Controller of the command, Mr. Elisha David Chikan,who made the disclosures while addressing journalists in Ibadan, said the revenue was generated from excise duties and duty paid on imported vehicles. He vowed to eliminate smuggling of banned foreign goods because of its dire consequences on…

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Tuesday, 19 December 2017 04:34

Buhari cancels trip to Niger Republic

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, cancelled his scheduled trip to Niger Republic. His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, had announced on Sunday that Mr Buhari would join some world leaders for the 59th Proclamation of Republic of Niger ceremony in Tahoua, Niger. Shehu had said Buhari, alongside Presidents of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Niger, would participate at the event held on December 18 of every year to commemorate the founding of the Republic of Niger and the creation of the Presidency. “After the ceremony, the Nigerian leader will hold bilateral meetings with some…

Tuesday, 19 December 2017 04:33

Buhari extends tenure of military chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the tenure of Nigeria’s military chiefs. The extension was confirmed in a statement by Mr Tukur Gusau, a colonel and spokesperson to Minister of Defence, Mr Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali. Military chiefs whose tenure were extended are General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, Chief of Naval staff; and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, Chief of Air staff. The extension was largely based on efforts of the military chiefs in tackling Boko Haram in North-east and addressing other security issues, Gusau said. Here’s…

Tuesday, 19 December 2017 04:30

Senate discovers budget padding in Fashola’s Ministry

Senators yesterday said they discovered N16billion ‘frivolous’ items in the power wing of the ministry of Power, Works and Housing under the supervision of Mr Babatunde Fashola. This was revealed when Minister of State for Power, Mr Mustapha Shehuri appeared before the Senate Committee on Power. Mr Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi) drew the attention of his colleagues to the items saying, two budget items amounting to N16bn appeared in both the power ministry and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). An analysis of the main budget of the power ministry showed that N4bn was allocated for Kashimbilla transmission on page 47…

Tuesday, 19 December 2017 04:26

Nigerian leaders should be tested for drug abuse – Sanusi

Emir of Kano, Mr Muhammadu Sanusi, has called for a law to compel Nigerian political and religious leaders, including lawmakers, governors and traditional rulers, to undertake drug test. The emir made the call as he accused the leaders of condoning the use of illegal substances by their body guards and thugs. “Anybody who elements of drugs abuse is found in him should quickly resign his position because he is not fit to hold (public) position,” Sanusi said on Monday in Kano. He was speaking at the Senate Roundtable on Drugs Abuse Epidemic in Nigeria, organised by the Senate. He said…

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