A Bill seeking to establish a federal agency for the conduct of local government elections on Thursday, July 18, scaled first reading in the Senate.
The Bill titled, “Local Government Independent Electoral Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024” was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, (APC – Niger East).
Details shortly……
Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday, July 18, resolved to sacrifice 50 percent of their monthly salaries to address the current economic crisis in the country.
The speaker inferred that each lawmaker’s salary was about N600,000 monthly.
The Deputy Speaker had proposed an amendment to a motion appealing to young Nigerians planning a protest as a result of the hardship in the country, saying members should consider sacrificing 50 percent of their pay to address hunger in the land.
However, when the Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen put the motion to voice vote, the majority of members voted in favour of the motion.
In proposing the amendment, Kalu reminded members that the House took a similar decision during the COVID-19 era and that it worked very well for the country.
The Speaker commended members for their resolve to sacrifice part of their salaries to address hunger in the land just as some members asked the Executive to also make sacrifices in line with what the Lawmakers have done.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, a professor, has directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Nigerian tertiary institutions to admit only candidates who are 18 years and above into the tertiary institutions.
The minister gave the directive in his address at the ongoing 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Abuja on Thursday.
The policy meeting is a forum of critical stakeholders in the admission processes into tertiary institutions in the country including university vice-chancellors and registrars, rectors and registrars of polytechnics, provosts, and registrars of colleges of education, JAMB registrar and other officials of the examination body, among principal officers of monotechnics.
“JAMB is hereby instructed from admission this year to admit only eligible students. That is those who have attained 18 years by our laws,” the minister said as the hall erupted with grumbling.
Responding to the ominous grumbling in the hall, the minister insisted that his position was backed by Nigeria’s law guiding admissions into tertiary institutions. He said it shouldn’t require a statement from him for that to be taken into consideration by admission bodies.
“Our laws require students to be in school from six years —Yes, there are those who do that from five—, and remain in primary school for six years, basic education for three years, and secondary school for three years… It doesn’t require a statement of the minister… we are only restating what is in the law,” he added.
Chaos erupted at Unity Fountain in Abuja as members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) clashed with security personnel during a protest over unpaid salaries.
The protesters, led by SSANU President Mohammed Aruna Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Comrade Peters Adeyemi, demanded payment of their four-month arrears, which were excluded from the recent payment to Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members.
LEADING REPORTERS understands that despite a presidential directive to pay the arrears, SSANU and NASU members were left out.
Security personnel had attempted to prevent the protesters from leaving the convergence point, leading to a tense standoff.
Umara, a student at a university in New Delhi, reportedly smashed a bottle of alcoholic drink on the Chinese man who showed interest in the same lady as the governor’s son.
Umar Zulum Umara, son of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has been arrested for killing a Chinese national during a fight over a woman at a nightclub in India.
Umara, a student at a university in New Delhi, reportedly smashed a bottle of alcoholic drink on the Chinese man who showed interest in the same lady as the governor’s son.
LeadingReporters learnt that the incident happened two weeks ago, while Governor Zulum alongside the governors of Adamawa and Yobe states were in Pakistan, attending a post insurgency workshop.
A source close to the family revealed that it was history repeating itself, as according to him, the governor had while at the same age as his son hit a man to death during a fight.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity further disclosed that the reckless lifestyle of the members of the governor’s family is in public domain in Borno State.
“Make no mistake, Governor Zulum’s son is the Nigerian governor’s son you heard about who killed someone in India.
“What happened was that the boy engaged a Chinese national in a fight over a lady at a night club in India and Zulum’s son smashed a bottle on his head and it led to his death.
“He was arrested by the police. This happened at a time the governor alongside Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa and Governor Mai Buni of Yobe were in Pakistan some two weeks ago.
“Zulum was billed to travel to the United States after the Pakistani engagement, but he abruptly abandoned the trip and flew to India after receiving news of the tragic incident.
“There in India, he made frantic efforts to resolve the matter with the Chinese parents of the deceased person; they actually obliged him but the Indian authorities insisted that the murder was a crime against the Indian State and not the deceased or even his parents.
“He returned home to Nigeria to garner support and was able to enlist the current agriculture minister, Abubakar Kyari; together, they tried to convince the Indian embassy to wade into the matter but to no avail.
“Based on the information available to us, his son is currently in detention and would be prosecuted in due course.
……… threaten to unleash more havoc
The peace relatively enjoyed in the Federal Capital Territory is turning sour as bandits attacked Angwa rogo, a community located in FCT suburb.
The men numbering over 30 invaded the community with dangerous weapons and charms while inflicting injuries on residents without mercy.
A source who preferred anonymity told LEADING REPORTERS that one of the bandits said “We have been paid to destabilize the security of FCT and we will continue unabated”.
The source said some of the victims were rushed to the hospital and were told that they might not survive due to the degree of the injuries sustained.
Another community, dape was also invaded by men numbering over 40 on Sunday evening but took the intervention of residents and vigilantee group to repel the attack.
Resident however appeal to the commissioner of police and the FCT minister to come to their aide as safety in the territory is no longer guaranteed.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with effect from August 14, 2024.
Mrs. Walson-Jack was appointed as Federal Permanent Secretary in 2017 and has served in several Ministries.
The new appointee will take over from the incumbent Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR, who is due to retire on August 13, 2024.
President Tinubu, while thanking the outgoing Head of Service for her stewardship, tasks the incoming Head of Service to discharge her duties with innovative flair, integrity, and stringent adherence to the extant rules and regulations of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Terrorists believed to be kidnappers have launched an attack on El-Rufai Estate in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
The assailants who stormed the estate on Wednesday shot sporadically.
Nathaniel, a resident, was shot in the melee as the gunmen engaged in a fierce 30-minute gun battle with the FCT Police Command.
However, the police successfully foiled the kidnappers’ attempt to abduct multiple residents.
Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident saying, “Yes, it is true.”
A Federal High Court in Abuja has voided the impeachment of Phillip Shuaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment on Wednesday ordered his reinstatement to office on the grounds that the Edo State House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in purporting to impeach Shuaibu.
Shuaibu, who was in court, shed tears of joy upon hearing the judge’s pronouncements.
Justice Omotosho held that the allegation on which the House of Assembly based the impeachment proceedings was untenable in law and does not constitute a gross misconduct.
The judge ordered the IGP to provide him with needed security to enable him resume office and perform the functions of the office until the end of his tenure.
Justice Omotosho set aside the appointment of anoth Deputy Governor in the place of Shuaibu.
The Senate has stripped Senator Ali Ndume of his position as Chief Whip, replacing him with Senator Tahir Monguno.
The removal followed a directive from the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, conveyed in a letter signed by National Chairman Umar Ganduje and National Secretary Senator Bashir Ajibola.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, put the request to a voice vote, which was overwhelmingly affirmed by all APC senators.
Senator Ndume faced intense criticism from both the Presidency and the APC after publicly criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s leadership style, particularly in light of the country’s current challenges.
More to follow…
