Headlines

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye as the new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

Mr. Faleye is a legal and corporate finance specialist.

President Tinubu has also approved the appointment of Mrs. Mojisolaoluwa Kehinde Alli-Macaulay as the Executive Director (Operations) of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

Mrs. Alli-Macaulay is a former lawmaker and former Chairperson of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation, and Job Creation.

The President anticipates a comprehensive re-positioning of the NSITF for enhanced social protection and qualitative service delivery to the Nigerian people.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 13, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Baffa Dan Agundi as the new Director-General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC).

Mr. Dan Agundi is a former majority leader of the Kano State House of Assembly. He was also Principal Registrar of the Kano State High Court of Justice.

The President anticipates the Director-General’s utmost dedication and patriotic zeal in driving the Centre’s mandate of developing a national culture of excellence in operational efficiency and institutionalizing a performance-driven orientation toward measurable productivity in the citizenry for the overall enhancement of service delivery and quality of life across the nation.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 13, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed as the new Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

Mr. Mohammed is an architect, and also, a construction technology and environment professional.

The President expects improved outcomes in the agency’s objective of operating and maintaining hydrological stations nationwide, as well as carrying out groundwater exploration and monitoring using various scientific techniques in order to provide hydrological and hydrogeological data needed for planning, design, execution and management of water resources and allied projects.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 13, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Tosin Adeyanju as the new Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF).

Mr. Adeyanju is an accomplished administrator, and good governance advocate.

The President expects the new Chief Executive Officer to ensure transparency and efficiency in the operations of the agency to actualize the objective of the NLTF as a driver of good causes in Nigeria.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 13, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Silas Agara as the new Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

Mr. Agara is an entrepreneur and sports administrator who previously served as the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State.

The President anticipates an overhaul of the NDE for optimal performance in designing and implementing programmes to combat mass unemployment.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 13, 2024

The Plateau State Government has expressed sadness over a school building which collapsed in Jos, the state capital, on Friday.

17 persons have been confirmed dead and over 120 persons trapped at the Saint Academy building located in the Busa Buji community.

Leading reporters earlier reported that the school building collapsed around 8.30 am on Friday when the students and teachers were in their classes.

The state Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, disclosed in a statement on Friday that 120 persons were trapped under the rubbles while giving an update on the incident.

The statement read, “The Plateau State Government has expressed deep sadness over the tragic incident at Saint Academy Jos, where a building collapsed resulting in casualties and injured students and teachers still being evacuated to different hospitals within Jos.

“The government describes the incident as an avoidable tragedy, citing the school’s weak structure and unsafe location near a riverbank.

“However, we commend the efforts of NEMA, SEMA, Red Cross and security agencies in rescuing trapped children and transporting them to hospitals.”

Ashoms disclosed that the government has instructed hospitals to prioritise treatment without documentation or payment.

“Approximately 120 people were trapped, with many evacuated.

“The government emphasises the importance of adhering to safety standards, making Executive Order 003 sacrosanct. Schools with similar issues are urged to close down, enabling the Jos Metropolitan Development Board to prevent future incidents.”

Ashoms stated that the incident highlights the importance of prioritising safety standards to prevent tragedies.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Sunday Àbdu, confirmed that 17 persons have died as a result of the collapse

The SEMA boss, who described the incident as sad, said, “We have finished the rescue mission at least for today. We are just closing from the site.

“The fact remains that the casualty figures keep changing. In Bingham University Teaching Hospital Jos, there are 13 dead bodies and 43 persons receiving medical attention.

“In OLA Specialist Hospital, we have over 40 receiving attention. In Plateau Specialists Hospital, we have four dead bodies with 40 people receiving treatment.

“We also have some casualties who were evacuated to the Jos University Teaching Hospital but I don’t have the figure at the moment.”

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Also, the president appointed Senator Adedayo Adeyeye as the Chairman of the Board of the NPA.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), announced the appointments today.

Part of the statement read: ”Dr. Dantsoho holds a Doctorate degree in Maritime Technology from Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, and a Master’s degree in International Transport from Cardiff University of Wales, United Kingdom.

”Before his appointment, he had served in various roles in the Nigerian Ports Authority as Assistant General Manager; Technical Assistant to the Managing Director; Port Manager, Onne Port; and Principal Manager, Tariff & Billing.

”Senator Adeyeye, the Board Chairman, is a seasoned lawyer, journalist, and politician. He is a former Minister of State for Works and former Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District.

”The President expects the new leadership of this pivotal agency to deploy excellence in the discharge of their duties to enable efficient port services and improved industry outcomes.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman bail, to the tune of 10billion Naira and two sureties in like sum.

Justice James Omotosho while ruling on a bail application by the defendant and noting that the offence is one that is bailable, held that the sureties must own properties in Abuja with minimum value rate of 750 million Naira.

The court held that sureties must submit certified land documents to the court with a three year tax levy.

The trial judge however held that in the alternative the defendant can produce bank guarantee of the said amount.

The court held that sureties must submit certified land documents to the court with a three year tax levy.

The trial judge however held that in the alternative the defendant can produce bank guarantee of the said amount.

The court held that sureties must submit certified land documents to the court with a three year tax levy.

The trial judge however held that in the alternative the defendant can produce bank guarantee of the said amount.

During proceedings on Friday, the EFCC lawyer did not oppose the bail application earlier made by the defendant.

While ruling on the bail application, the court also held that the defendants shall submit his bank statements and International passport to the court registrar.

Justice Omotosho therefore adjourned arraignment to September 25, 2024 for trial to commence.

The EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mamman. He was alleged to have committed the money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.

On May 10, 2021, he was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja, and have since been on administrative bail till his arraignment.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on September 1, 2021, sacked Mamman and the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, in what was called a cabinet restructuring.

The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi has stated that the federal government can no longer fund all on going projects in the country at the same time.

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Umahi said he had been directed by President Bola Ahmed to review all projects in the country to decide those that would be given priority.

The minister, while stating the government was not considering dumping projects it inherited, clarified that projects that will be considered for funding would have reached 80 per cent completion.

“The Federal Executive Council has directed we should review the projects to availability of funds and make proposals to FEC. If such a project has attained about 80 per cent of completion, then we will make proposal to it for subsequent appropriation. When this money is made available, such project will be made a priority so that it will be completed. That is what we are going to do. The president has not stepped down any project.

“On the issue of new projects, if we have appropriation that has not completed, at least, one kilometer, we are not going to carry out such appropriation. That is what FEC is concerned about. We can’t have N500m on budget but procurement is supposed to be N50bn or N100bn and you go ahead to award such a project. We have been directed not to do so.”

He added that contractors that are not ready to accept the new terms should terminate the contract.

He also decried the politicisation of road projects where lawmakers were only concerned with citing projects in their communities even when the government did not have the funds to construct them.

“There is a political angle award of contract where we have politicians putting the ministry under pressure just to tell their constituency or community that project has been awarded.

“If we continue like this, we are just helping the contractor as the money we have is not enough and when you give it to them, they will pocket it and do nothing.”