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The Senate has granted the request of President Bola Tinubu to appoint 20 special advisers.
The President had earlier sent a letter to the Senate asking for approval for the appointment of the Special Advisers.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read the letter on the floor of the upper legislative chamber during plenary today June 6.
The lawmakers approved the request. However, President Tinubu did not list the names of the 20 special advisers.
Mudashiru Obasa (Agege I) has been re-elected speaker of 10th Lagos assembly. The election followed the proclamation of the 10th Assembly by Governor Sanwo-Olu.
Monisola Lasbat (Apapa I), Chief Whip of the Ninth Assembly, was elected Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly after her nomination and general acceptance by the House.
This is Obasa’s third term as speaker of Lagos state assembly.
The House of Representatives has postponed its valedictory session scheduled for today, June 6, to tomorrow, June 6.
This was announced in a statement released by the Clerk to the House, Yahaya Danzaria.
It read;
“This is to inform all Honourable Members that the Valedictory session for the 9th House of Representatives will hold on Wednesday, 7th June, 2023 by 10:00am at the HOR chambers.
“The event will have in attendance former Presiding Officers, Leadership and Clerks. It will equally be subject to live coverage by NTA and Channels TV stations”.
A lawsuit filed by five residents of the federal capital territory (FCT), seeking to stop the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as President has been struck out by a federal high court.
The plaintiffs; Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Ucheh, Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, had asked the court to determine “whether or not the person who is to be elected president of the federal republic of Nigeria, and consequently administrator of the FCT through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, on the first ballot is required by section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution to obtain at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT”.
They also sought for a declaration extending former President Buhari’s tenure, while also asking the court to set aside the certificate of return issued to Tinubu and restrain the CJN and any other judicial officer from swearing him in.
Ruling on the case today, June 6, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the plaintiffs have no locus standi to file the suit.
He stated that the lawsuit can only be filed at the presidential election petition tribunal and not the federal high court.
The plaintiffs were also asked to pay the sum of N10 million each to the attorney-general of the federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
The wife of President Bola Tinibu, Mrs Oluremi, on Monday in Abuja, assumed office as Nigeria’s First Lady.
Mrs Tinubu who arrived at the First Lady’s wing was accompanied by her security aides.
The First Lady on arrival, was received by the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr Tijjani Umar, and other Heads of Units in the First Lady’s Office.
Mrs Tinubu was therefore guided on a tour of offices within the First Lady’s wing, comprising the Administrative, ICT, Catering, Media and Protocol Units.
Mrs Tinubu was born on September 21, 1960, to an Itsekiri mother and a Yoruba father.
She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Ife and has undertaken several courses in some higher institutions.
She was once the first lady of Lagos State Governor between 1999 and 2007 and thereafter elected senator representing Lagos Central in the Senate.
President Bola Tinubu had a closed-door meeting with former governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The former governors arrived the villa at about 2:33 pm and were delayed by security who wanted to get clearance from their superior before allowing them to proceed to the President’s office, as they were not briefed on the visit Wike and Umahi were at the state house last Friday, though they came separately to meet the President.
Wike came in the company of the former governor James Ibori of Delta State and the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, while Umahi came with the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume.
Unconfirmed reports claim Wike may be considered for a ministerial position due to his immense contributions towards the emergence of Tinubu as President-elect.
At least 80 citizens were killed in different violent attacks across the country in the first week of President Bola Tinubu’s newly inaugurated government.
Mr Tinubu was sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th president on May 29 at the Eagles Sqaure Abuja, taking over from former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his inaugural speech, the president listed security as top priority of his government, assuring Nigerians of a more secured country under his watch.
“Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.
To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security DOCTRINE and its ARCHITECTURE,” Mr Tinubu said.
However, in his first week in office as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, at least 80 citizens were killed.
On June 3, about 25 citizens were brutaly killed and scores injured in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state.
On the same day in Zamfara, 25 people were killed as bandits raided three villages for their refusal to pay “ransom or protection fees” before they’re allowed to farm.
In Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, 30 citizens were killed by armed gang, the police said on Sunday.
The continued killing spree under Mr Tinubu’s watch have been condemned by citizens.
Mr Tinubu is yet to officially appoint his spokesperson. So far no comment from Mr Tinubu on the latest killings under his watch.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has begged members of the Nigerian Labour Congress not to embark on a strike over removal of fuel subsidy as announced by President Bola Tinubu during his inaugural speech.
Recall that the NLC on Friday, June 2, issued a five-day ultimatum to the federal government to revert to the old price of petrol or face a nationwide protest.
Sanwo-Olu who addressed reporters on Sunday, June 4, after a post-inauguration church thanksgiving service, appealed to the labour leaders to join hands with the present administration in its commitment to turn the economy of the country around.
He said;
“We are thankful that Mr President is a product of Lagos. We will pray for him and everything that he stands for. We believe he will replicate all the good things he has done in Lagos in our country, Nigeria.
“I want to wish and plead with our citizens even as NLC has said to us that they want to go on strike. It is not the time for a strike. During the campaign trail, everyone of our presidential candidates did say that the first thing they are going to do is to remove the subsidy.
“So, what has changed? What has the current president said or what has he done that is different from what any of the other aspirants said they would do?
“We need to be very patient. He (President Tinubu) has not even done a week. So let us talk to ourselves and say that we shouldn’t turn it political. Let us wait and support this man. He has not done a week on the job. Let him go and reflect and at the sub-national level, we are willing to support him.
“The point is no industrial strike will solve anything at this point, it will certainly not bring an end to the issue. The point will be how are we going to ensure that there is a turnaround in our economy.
“He has mentioned something about a better wage. We have started that in Lagos. We started it in January; so other parts of the country can also do the same. We don’t need to wait for the national government. We just need to reflect on what the challenges are in our country and let us solve the problem.
“I want to plead with the Nigeria Labour Congress. It shouldn’t turn into a political thing because we have begun to see that. The leadership should know that they are leading a pack of people and they need to restrain themselves. Let us be patient. Let us work around it. NNPC has said that there is more than enough petrol.”
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba has declared a state of emergency on basic and post-basic education in the state.
He made the declaration at an interactive media session on Saturday in Jalingo, saying his administration would ensure compulsory and free quality education for all.
The governor said the deplorable state of education had given him concern, adding that the administration would boost training and retraining of teachers in the state.
Mr Kefas promised to introduce motivations to enhance the welfare of the teachers.
He assured the people of the protection of lives and property, adding that security would be his top most priority.
The governor also promised to adopt Peer Review Mechanism in allocation of projects to local government areas, stressing that people would be allowed to choose their areas of priority in developmental projects.
“We shall consult the people of various local government areas to decide on projects that are good for them.
“They are the ones who voted us and as such, we should engage them in project locations. This would make us serve them better,’ he said.
President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, met with the members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
In attendance are Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule; Jigawa Governor, Umar Namadi; Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya; among others
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has fixed August 23 for the country’s next elections, setting a campaign season among political parties and aspiring candidates in motion.
Local media reported on Wednesday that Mr Mnangagwa set June 21 as the date on which nomination courts would sit countrywide to accept applications by political parties and their candidates to participate in the polls.
The president was billed to announce the date on Monday but postponed doing so, with his spokesperson, George Charamba, saying he will do so in due course.
More than 5.8 million people have registered to vote in the presidential, legislative and local authority elections, according to the report.
The ruling ZANU PF party has already held primary elections to choose candidates for the polls, while the two major opposition parties, MDC-T and Citizens’ Coalition for Change, are yet to present theirs to the electorate.
Mr Sly Ezeokenwa has emerged the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Ezeokenwa was elected the party’s national chairman at a National Convention held in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Wednesday, May 31.
Ezeokenwa who will be taking over from Victor Oye, was sworn in alongside the newly elected National Officers of APGA in the presence of Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.
Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has described the Buhari administration as a ‘’disaster of unimaginable proportions.”
In a Tweet posted on his handle, Osita opined that the former President “destroyed every fibre of Nigeria’s consensus as well as the destroyed Nigeria’s pride in the comity of nations.”
He went on to say that compared to Nigeria, the gruesome Nigeria-Biafra Civil war period was a safer and more united period.
‘’President Buhari destroyed every fibre of our national consensus, destroyed our pride of place in the comity of nations, damaged our collective desire to live in peace within our diversity, and reversed the economic progress of the democratic era. President Buhari was simply a disaster of unimaginable proportions.”
Governor Peter Mbah has directed that all bank accounts belonging to the Enugu government be frozen with immediate effect until further notice.
The directive was effective May 30, according to a statement signed by the secretary to the state government, Chidiebere Onyia, on Tuesday in Enugu.
“Following the directive given by the Enugu state governor to freeze all government accounts in all the banks in Enugu state, I hereby, direct that all Enugu state government accounts be frozen with immediate effect, till further notice,” the statement said.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres on Tuesday congratulated Bola Tinubu on his inauguration as the 16th Nigerian president.
Mr Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said this while fielding questions at UN headquarters in New York.
“Nigeria is an important partner of the United Nations, has an important role to play in the promotion of sustainable development, in the promotion of peace and security in the region and beyond,” Mr Dujarric explained.
“And we look forward to deepening the ties between Nigeria and the United Nations.”
In a related development, the UN secretary general also congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on his reelection as president of Türkiye.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that members of his cabinet feared being jailed after immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, won the 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan who revealed during an interview with Arise TV on Monday, May 29, said he remained in the country even though some of those that served in his cabinet felt he would run away.
He added that the “tense atmosphere” his team faced during the transition period in 2015 was not faced by Buhari’s government.
Jonathan said;
“In my own time especially in the 2015 elections, my ministers, my senior officers, people who worked with me; there was this fear that having lost the election, what would be our fate? Would the new government just throw all of us into jail without giving a fair hearing? Because government is next to the court and can decide to do anything.“By this time, I already conceded defeat. And I knew why I conceded defeat, because I was more interested in the country than myself.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his inaugural speech today, May 29, promised to review the Naira redesign policy of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu who noted that the new and old currency notes would be treated as legal tender, added that the Central Bank of Nigeria must work towards a unified exchange rate.
He said;
“Monetary policy needs thorough house cleansing. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate. This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.
Whatever merits it had in concept, the currency swap was too harshly applied by the CBN given the number of unbanked Nigerians.
“The policy shall be reviewed. In the meantime, my administration will treat both currencies as legal tender.”
Media personality, Shade Ladipo, has commended President Buhari for bestowing a National honor on comedian AY Makun.
On Sunday, May 28, AY was enlisted to receive the national honor, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
In a post shared on her Instastories, Shade stated that honoring AY and not ‘’Uncle 30k” is something President Buhari did for her.
Recall that AY had recently granted an interview where he stated that the reason he and his colleague, Basketmouth are not on speaking terms is because Basketmouth failed to pay him his N30, 000 after a performance.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja for Daura following the end of his second tenure as Nigeria’s leader.
Buhari was spotted leaving the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport aboard a presidential jet shortly after participating in the inauguration ceremony of President Bola Tinubu.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat have both been sworn in for their second terms in Lagos State.
The oath of office and oath of allegiance was carried out on Monday, May 29th by the Chief Jude of the state, Kazeem Alogba, at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).
Sanwo-Olu was re-elected on March 18, having secured a total of 762,134 votes against his main challengers — Olajide ‘Jandor’ Adediran of the PDP who polled 62,449 and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the LP who got 312,329 votes.