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JUST IN: Senate confirms appointment of Oluyede as COAS

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Senate on Tuesday at plenary confirmed the appointment of Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

The confirmation followed adoption of the Committee on Army’s report on the Oluyede screening.

The report was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua (APC-Katsina).

Yar’adua said the committee was impressed with the high level of understanding, achievements, and excellence stated in the credentials of the nominee.

He said the nomination of Oluyede is in line with Section 217, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

He also said that the nomination is in accordance with the provisions of Section 18, Subsection 1 of the Armed Forces Act.

He explained that “the nominee possesses the required competence, experience, and educational qualifications to be conferred with Chief of Army Staff.

Yar’adua said the nominee had been cleared by the DSS and went through the correct process of promotion to date, qualifying him to occupy the position of Chief of Army Staff.

He said the committee had diligently and meticulously conducted the screening of the nominee and was satisfied with his conduct, competence, experience, and educational qualifications and urged the Senate to confirm the nomination.

The Senate, thereafter, confirmed the appointment of Oluyede as substantive COAS.

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BREAKING: Tinubu writes Senate, seeks confirmation of Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Tinubu has sent a letter to the Senate seeking confirmation of Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede’s appointment as the substantive Chief of Army Staff.

Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s spokesman, revealed this in a statement on Friday, November 22.

He said President Tinubu is seeking Oluyede’s confirmation by the provision of Section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.

President Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff on October 30 following the illness of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja. General Lagbaja, however, died on 5 November.

“President Tinubu is confident about the leadership qualities, professional integrity, and experience of Lt. General Oluyede to lead and inspire the army to ensure national security and stability,” Onanuga stated.

Before he was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede, a member of the 39th Regular Course, like his predecessor, served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020. Since his commissioning as an officer, Oluyede has held many command positions.

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BREAKING: Senate sacks Danladi Umar as CCT chair over misconduct

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Senate on Wednesday invoked section 157 (1), officially removing Yakubu Umar as the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal.

According to the Senate, it became imperative to remove him from that sensitive position because his actions were unbecoming of a holder of such an office and his level of gross misconduct no longer acceptable.

The sack of Umar as Chairman of CCT was sequel to two third of Senators as 74 members signed, 10 senators present, totally 84 Senators.

The Senate had at 1.17pm gone into a closed door session on the matter that was listed as the first motion in the order paper and soon after the came out of the closed door session at 2,36pm, the Senate Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North moved that the action can be carried out in line with Section 157 (1) of the Constitution.

The motion to sack Umar as CCT Chairman was moved in the Order Paper by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central.

It was titled, “Invocation of the provision of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended for the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”

According to Bamidele, ‘The Senate: Notes that the Code of Conduct Tribunal is one of the key components of Federal Institutions in the country, saddled with the sacred statutory responsibilities of maintaining high standard of morality in the conduct of government business and to ensure that the actions and behaviours of public officers conform to the highest standards of public morality and accountability;

“Also notes that a statutory institution of such magnitude is expected to be an epitome of moral rectitude and should be seen to uphold the virtues of integrity, probity and accountability. However, the conduct of Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar, who is the Chairman of the Tribunal has fallen short of the requisite standard of a public officer to conduct the affairs of such Tribunal;

“Concerned that the Senate has been inundated with series of petitions and allegations of corruption/misconduct against the Chairman, a situation that necessitated the 9th Senate, through the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions to invite him to series of its investigative hearings in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding those allegations.

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BREAKING: Senate laments as Auditor-General’s Report Uncovers N105.6bn Fraud in MDAs

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Senate has raised serious concerns over the Auditor-General’s report, which exposed a staggering misappropriation of N105.6 billion across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The upper chamber has promised firm sanctions against erring agencies, emphasising the need for accountability and compliance with legislative directives.

At a legislative oversight workshop in Abuja, Senator Garba Maidoki, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, expressed dismay at the financial irregularities.

“We cannot condone such a humongous misappropriation, especially in these critical times. Sanctions will be imposed on MDAs that ignore this report,” Maidoki declared.

The Auditor-General’s report highlighted systemic violations, including N18.36 billion spent on contracts awarded without adherence to the Public Procurement Act. Maidoki criticised agency heads for frequently failing to appear before the Senate to explain their financial dealings, warning, “Firm action will be taken against any agency head who disregards Senate directives.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, reinforced the Senate’s resolve to uphold legislative compliance.

“Adherence to legislative resolutions is crucial for achieving Nigeria’s development goals and maintaining public trust,” Akpabio remarked.

The workshop, organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), also featured insights from key stakeholders.

Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, NILDS Director-General, outlined systemic challenges such as weak enforcement, bureaucratic inertia, and insufficient political support. “These issues erode public trust and undermine governance efforts,” Sulaiman cautioned.

The Senate’s Committee on Public Accounts has already initiated an investigation into the reported financial mismanagement.

Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, stressed the importance of compliance in building public confidence, stating, “For laws to have meaning, there must be consistent and effective compliance with legislative directives.”

As the Senate intensifies its oversight functions, Maidoki reassured the public of its commitment to holding MDAs accountable.

This effort underscores the legislature’s determination to curb corruption, restore trust, and efficiently use public funds for Nigeria’s sustainable development.

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Senate reveals date for Tinubu’s 2025 budget presentation to National Assembly

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Nigeria’s 2025 budget presentation to the National Assembly could be postponed until December 2024, with no clear timeline set by the executive.

As of early November, essential documents such as the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) have yet to be submitted, a significant delay compared to previous years when these documents were typically ready by October.

The budget estimates were presented in previous administrations by the first week of October, following the National Assembly’s review of the MTEF and FSP.

However, this year’s delay in submitting these key fiscal documents has raised concerns, with the process already running behind schedule.

Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, clarified that President Bola Tinubu’s administration determines the timing of the 2025 budget presentation.

“The decision lies with the executive, not the National Assembly,” Musa said.

He explained that the National Assembly had recently engaged with figures like the Minister of Finance and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) CEO to discuss the performance of the 2024 budget.

“They are working on the 2025 budget, and once completed, it will be forwarded to us,” he added.

While the delay in submitting the MTEF, which outlines critical fiscal parameters such as oil price benchmarks, exchange rates, and inflation projections, has raised concerns, Finance Minister Wale Edun remains optimistic.

“The economy is taking good shape, and we see positive indicators,” he remarked following a recent interactive session.

Senator Musa also noted a reduction in Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio as a sign of ongoing economic reforms. He assured the public that significant improvements would materialise within 16 to 18 months.

The delay in presenting the 2024 budget resulted in its late passage, and President Tinubu signed it into law on January 1, 2024. As the executive branch finalises the 2025 budget, the National Assembly will be ready to scrutinise the document once it is submitted.

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BREAKING: Senate confirms all seven of Tinubu’s new ministerial nominees

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the seven ministerial nominees recently submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

The decision followed an expedited screening process by the upper chamber, which was concluded today, October 30.

The confirmed appointees include Nentawe Yilwatda for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Muhammadu Dingyadi for Labour and Employment, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Jumoke Oduwole for Industry, Trade, and Investment.

Other appointments are Idi Mukhtar Maiha for Livestock Development, Yusuf Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State for Education.
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The Senate’s rapid confirmation process was directed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who referred the request to the committee of the whole for consideration shortly after receiving the nominees’ profiles.

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BREAKING: Tinubu asks senate to confirm seven ministerial nominees

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday asked the Senate to confirm seven new ministerial nominees.

This was contained in a letter from the executive and read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber.

Leading reporters recalls that President Tinubu on Wednesday sacked at least five ministers and scrapped two ministries.

The president also assigned new portfolios to some Ministers in the Wednesday cabinet shake-ups.

Details shortly….

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Nigerian Senate confirms Justice Kekere-Ekun as CJN

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Senate has confirmed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.

Her confirmation comes after hours of screening by Nigerian senators on Wednesday.

With the confirmation, Kekere-Ekun becomes the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Leading reporters reports that during her screening, Kekere-Ekun had vowed to sanitize Nigeria’s judiciary.

In August 2024, President Bola Tinubu swore in Kekere-Ekun as the second female CJN in an acting capacity.

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BREAKING: Senate Passes N70,000 National Minimum Wage Bill

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Senate has passed the ₦70,000 National Minimum Wage Bill, as requested by President Bola Tinubu.

The bill was transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday and received expedited consideration, passing first, second, and third readings in one day.

In addition to approving the new minimum wage, the Senate also reduced the national minimum wage review period from five to three years.

More to follow…

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JUST IN: Senate Moves to Create New State, Tiga, from Kano

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A new state may be created soon, as a bill for the creation of Tiga State from Kano has been presented at the Nigerian Senate.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Kawu Suleiman Abdurrahman from Kano South had its first reading on July 10, 2024.

The bill, titled “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Creation of Tiga State Bill, 2024 (SB.523)”, aims to split Kano State into two separate states, with Tiga being the new addition to the country’s political map.

More to follow…

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