Former Kogi West lawmaker Senator Smart Adeyemi has stated that President Bola Tinubu will dismiss any Minister who fails to perform within six months.
Adeyemi said this in an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday.
He said: “What Nigerians should know about President Bola Tinubu today, including those who are Ministers, is that from his track record, once you don’t perform in six months, he shows you the way out.
“That’s what he’s going to do. The man (Tinubu) is in a hurry to make a difference. Asiwaju wants to make a name. He wants to reposition Nigeria. He wants to recover lost grounds to the nation.
“He’s telling us that he understands we’re going through some pains. He’s coming with a track record of performance. Those who are being nominated or given appointments, I celebrate you but if you don’t perform this man will show them (the way) out. It’s not a question of leaving them for eight years or four years. Asiwaju doesn’t have that kind of track record.”
Adeyemi also claimed that President Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima, will benefit from their legislative expertise.
Adeyemi, who was also an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant in the Kogi governorship election, noted once somebody has been in the Senate, that person cannot afford to fail.
We are writing to express our deep concerns about the reports of brutality and violence inflicted upon some citizens of Kogi State, allegedly by the government.
The reports coming out of Kogi State, especially during this electoral campaign period, are alarming and deeply troubling.
There have been numerous reports of extrajudicial killings, physical assault, and other forms of human rights violations by The State’s security forces.
As responsible citizens, we strongly believe that such actions are not only illegal but also unethical and immoral. The people of Kogi State deserve to live in peace, with full respect for their rights and dignity.
The government has a responsibility to protect its citizens and uphold the law.
Efforts have been made in the past to bring these to the attention of the state government, but to no avail.
We therefore, call upon the Federal Government of Nigeria to take immediate and decisive action to investigate the situation in Kogi State ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections and hold all those responsible for these atrocities accountable. It is important that justice is served and that the citizens of the State are provided with the necessary protection and support they need to feel safe and secure.
In conclusion, we pray the President Federal Republic of Nigeria to prevail on the Kogi State Government to put an end to these brutalities. The government must uphold the human rights of all citizens and ensure they live in a safe and secure environment.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
For
Kogi State Organization North America. Oluseyi Ilupeju. President.
President Bola Tinubu has pledged increased funding to the solid mineral development sector.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, conveyed the message of the President, yesterday in Abuja during the closing ceremony of the Nigerian Mining Week.
He said the fund would be used to embark on very significant steps that the country needs.
He said the Federal Government would invest heavily in big data generation that would enable investors both local and foreign make informed decisions and judgments on areas where they want to operate.
Alake said the government is rejigging the security architecture on ground and it’s going to be an inter-security agency structure, with a large dose of technology to ensure that those that are genuinely licenced would have a very peaceful environment to operate.
He said: “Throughout the deliberations and the cross fertilisation of ideas, I have witnessed robust engagement and have learnt a lot and I’m sure we have all learned lots of ideas gained insight into new ways of doing things. The new methods of implementing and executing even policies that we conceptualise on the part of government.
“And this is a symbiotic relationship between the government and your good selves and all the other stakeholders in the industry. On our part, I can assure you that the President has given his pledge to increase funding into this sector through the Federal Ministry of Solid.”
“With such funding, we can then embark on those very significant steps that we need to take going forward, such as generating the big data without which we cannot begin to talk about any serious implementation or execution of policies or attracting the much needed foreign investment. So moving forward, we are going to invest heavily in big data generation, efficient data that would enable investors both local and foreign to make informed decisions and judgments on areas where they want to operate to let them know what is where and how.
“Another thing we are going to do, which we have actually started and I said a little bit about this. At the CEO session earlier this afternoon. That is the most critical factor of operation and as security. I mentioned it again yesterday in my opening remarks, we are rejigging the security architecture that we have on ground and it’s going to be inter security agency structure, with a large dose of technology to ensure that those that are genuinely licenced would have a very peaceful environment to operate.
“Reduce frictions between operators in the field and their host communities, reduce whatever acrimony between operators and other levels of government, state, local, whatever. And at the end of the day, achieve our common objective of maximally exploiting these our God given resource for the benefit of humankind.
“We are going to ensure that going forward all our operating environment are made safe for the players in the industry. So that government too can try rest on it ours and expect the windfall that we have seen in the horizon coming into the kitty of government.
“We are going to ensure that we put in place administrative structures. I have enumerated some of these in my earlier submissions, both our private sessions and the opening remarks and even publicly before now. We are putting in place a lot of mechanisms to ensure that this sector attains its pride of place in Nigeria’s socio economic structure. We want to ensure that within the next couple of months in the short term and few years in the longer term, this sector contributes meaningfully, significantly to the gross domestic product of Nigeria and it becomes the next critical resource of Nigeria’s economic survival.
“We want to ensure that the solid mineral sector takes over from oil as the major revenue earner and source to the government and people of Nigeria but all of these grandiose ideas cannot come into fruition without your active collaboration and support. So what this edition the eighth edition of the mining week has achieved in tangible terms, is the direction of attention to this sector, whether we like it or not, outside without prejudice to the various deals and networking that have taken place. You have all succeeded in shifting our attention and complementing the efforts of our ministry in ensuring that everybody now becomes aware of the critical nature of the solid mineral sector, an industry in Nigeria.
“In fact, to eloquently demonstrate this. In the last several weeks, I’ve been bombarded by investors both local and foreign. And in the last two, three days, my phone has been buzzing ceaselessly from people making enquiries about how to get involved in the Solid Minerals industry in Nigeria. And I give you the credit for all of these we need to sustain this effort. We must sustain this effort because to achieve success, is not terribly difficult.
“The most difficult aspect is sustaining success. We have achieved initial success of diverting attention. In fact, critical levels of government in Nigeria and stakeholders have their attention reverted on the solid mineral sector. Today. However, we must not only translate this attention into concrete and meaningful reality, but we must sustain the achievement that we have garnered from this edition.”
Early next month, the nation will, legally speaking, finally know where it stands on the February 25 presidential poll. By the time the Supreme Court decides the pending appeals before it on the election, the issue will be buried for all time. But will the two major appellants allow the nation breath?
There is nothing the apex court says that will sit well with the duo of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), except it favours them. Any ruling contrary to the notion that they won the election will, to them, be nothing but miscarriage of justice.
Interestingly, the duo have never sat down to think deeply over the matter. How can there be two winners in an election? And an election already won fair and square by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), for that matter. They have done and are still doing everything possible to pull the President down.
Atiku and Obi are bitter and their bitterness has turned them to sore losers. Atiku in particular cannot stand the Tinubu Presidency. To him, anybody but Tinubu can occupy the high executive office. Why this much hatred for a colleague, friend, associate and confidant with whom he fought many political battles in the past? Should politics become war because of electoral loss?
The kind of bitterness being exhibited by Atiku and Obi has never been seen in the history of elections in the country. For all they care, the country can go up in flames. They do not care if lives and properties are lost. All they care about is their own selfish interest and that is to be declared winner of the election. I ask again, how can two persons win an election?
Elections have always been won by one person and in case two contestants emerge with equal votes, the outcome is called a tie, meaning there is no winner or loser. This was not the case in the February 25 poll. A clear winner emerged and he was so declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The losers, in line with electoral requirements, went to the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) to challenge the President’s victory.
It was within their right to do so and it is still within their right to appeal to the Supreme Court, but it is not within their right to adopt extra-judicial means to achieve their aim. These sore losers and their supporters have left the ball to go for the legs of not only Tinubu, their nemesis, but also of the Justices who are only performing their duties. The PEPC Justices went through hell in their hands. Their Lordships of the Supreme Court may experience the same thing.
But these are people who have developed thick skin in the course of their jobs while handling cases of this nature. So, they know what to do. Come rain, come shine, whether they are called names or not, they have sworn to do justice to all manner of man without fear or favour, affection or illwill. No amount of blackmail will make them to do otherwise. So, it is all in the line of duty for them. They will not be moved by fake video and audio clips meant to destroy their image and integrity.
May their final decision which is likely to come up in the next 17 days help to finally end the unnecessary acrimony over the presidential poll. Atiku and Obi should bear in mind that Nigeria is greater than any of us. Nigerians are equal stakeholders in the Nigerian Project, irrespective of Atiku’s and Obi’s status as presidential candidates.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the President extoled General Gowon for institutionalising the peace process in Nigeria with lasting legacies, such as laying the foundation for Nigeria’s federation through the creation of states; fostering cohesion, encouraging inter-ethnic warmth and understanding by establishing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and sustaining the pillars of harmony between Nigerians with the National Prayer Movement, which continues to inspire neighbourliness and a high degree of patriotism.
“His love and passion for Nigeria, as well as his determination to see into manifestation the unique gifts and combined strengths of all Nigerians, irrespective of faith, tribe or any other difference, remains a pace-setting attribute of leadership that all present and future Nigerian leaders must emulate,” the statement said.
President Tinubu affirms that the courage, passion, and wisdom that General Gowon has consistently exuded from his youth, being Nigeria’s youngest leader at 32, has kept him steadfast and relevant at 89, as he continues to provide counsel to leaders, within and outside of the country, all while enjoying every measure of God’s amazing grace in enduring strength and health.
In a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, the former President said: “I convey my warm greetings to respected former Head of State, General Gowon, on his birthday and pray for his long and healthy life.
“He served Nigeria with diligence and determination. History will kindly remember him for setting the country on the path of reconciliation, rehabilitation, and reconstruction after the civil war.
“Gowon’s National Development Plans, including the Hydroelectric Power at Kainji, are some of the major achievements of his visionary leadership.”
“I remain eternally grateful for his insightful wisdom and support throughout my years in office.”
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Education to stagger the take-off of some of the federal tertiary institutions established by the previous administration.
Minister of Education, Dr Mamman Tahir, who disclosed this to journalists at the State House, Abuja after meeting with President Tinubu on Wednesday, explained that the decision was based on some considerations, including funding.
Tahir told journalists at the briefing that he visited the President to update him on developments in his ministry, including issues surrounding a stakeholders’ conference scheduled for today (Thursday), appointments of heads of agencies and boards of tertiary institutions.
Speaking on the plan for take-off of the federal institutions established towards the end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Tahir said about six specialised institutions, which focus on areas like education, agriculture and medicine.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had approved the establishment of five new universities specialized in technology and health, which his administration argued would close the huge gap in the doctor-patient ratio as well as in medical research and production of pharmaceutical products.
The administration had also approved a take-off grant of N4 billion each for the universities of technology and N5 billion each for the universities of health sciences from the funding resources of TETFund for early take-off.
The former President had also approved the establishment of and take-off of seven new federal polytechnics in some States of the federation where none existed.
They include those slated to be established at Monguno, Borno State; N’yak, Shendam Plateau State; Wannune, Benue State; Ugep, Cross River State; Ayede, Oyo State; Ohodo, Enugu State; and Orogun, Delta State.
He also approved six new federal colleges of education in each of the six geo-political zones to be sited in Bauchi, Benue, Ebonyi, Osun, Sokoto and Edo States.
However, speaking on the new plan, Tahir said: “There are quite a number of universities and other institutions which were approved in the last days of the last administration, which because of issues of funding and even staff, it may not be prudent to get these institutions to take off altogether at once.
“So Mr. President has directed we stagger their commencement (their takeoff) whether the government can properly support them”, he said.
Explaining the reason for the new direction, Tahir said “honestly there are very many, probably about a dozen of them, if not more than a dozen or 14, that’s the number and you know tertiary institutions are highly capital intensive, they need a lot of money, especially at that takeoff stage, for infrastructure, staff recruitment and all other needs.
“So by the time you want to start off about 12, 14 institutions at once is a very heavy burden on the finances of government, so that’s why.
“Ordinarily we would have said we’ll review whether we should actually go ahead with that, but most of them are specialized institutions; colleges of education, agriculture, medicine and they are institutions that will support some of the mandates, the priority areas of this government.
“We will have need for trained teachers, which colleges of education will provide and the same thing with agric. So that’s why government has not stepped down that approval, instead the President in his wisdom said we stager their implementation on the grounds of funds, essentially.
“We’re starting with about six, two of each; two agric, two colleges of education and then two medicine.”
Asked if the current administration would be scaling down on the number of universities’ approvals, the Minister said most of the institutions approved towards the end of the last administration’s life time were private and would not be tampered with by Tinubu but said the era of proliferation of institutions without capacity to make them productive had ended.
“I believe most of those universities you mentioned, the 37 you mentioned, are private. Private institutions are investments of the proprietors who set them up, so government cannot stop them from doing that. He’s not going to scale down on anything, the only thing government has control over is its own institutions.
“This time around, we’re going to be conservative about the pace of development of tertiary institutions. The priority of this government is going to be on institutions that provide skills that enable its graduates to stand on their own. So that’s the direction we’re moving at the moment”, he said.
On financial autonomy for universities, he said it is an ongoing conversation but noted that the funds are not there for government to deploy, adding that in other parts, funding education is a collaborative effort among government, parents, students and other stakeholders.
“This is still an ongoing conversation because the funds are simply not there and in any case, the whole world, funding of institutions is a combination of parents, students, government and other stakeholders. It’s never government alone. So we’ll continue with the conversation. That’s where we’re at the moment,” he said.
The Planter, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Adamimogo Grace of Mercy, Prayer Mountain, Worldwide, Prophet Olu Alo has advised Nigerians to be patient with the new government of President Bola Tinubu, who he said is determined to turn things around.
He spoke after the burial and thanksgiving service of Pa. Joseph Omowaye Alo, which took place in his house and Christ Apostolic Church, Okesegun, Ido District Coordinating Council Headquarters, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Alo donated a block of classrooms to Temidire High School and St Benedict Catholic Primary school, Ekiti State, laid the foundation of the maternity hospital at CAC, Okesegun, Ekiti within the week as part of events to mark the burial.
He was very optimistic that things would soon be normal in Nigeria with patience and optimism.
He said: “Nobody can do a miracle within three months. Let us give President Tunubu and his team time and we believe that they will move the nation forward.”
He commended the Southwest Governors’ Agenda to implement a railway system in the region, which according to him is not just a good development but also a move that will create employment opportunities for the youth.
“Nigerians should be patient with President Tinubu as things will get better. If the train is built across the South West, it will enable effective commerce within the region,” he said
He advised the government instead of monetary palliatives to make food available, determine the prices and create selling points.
Pastor Isaac Eyebiokin extolled the virtues of humility and selfless service to God and mankind exemplified by the late Pa Joseph Alo, stressing that Nigerians should endeavour to live a life worthy of emulation.
President Bola Tinubu has pledged increased funding to the solid mineral development sector.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake who conveyed the message of the President, said the fund will be used to embark on very significant steps that the country needs.
He said going forward, the Federal Government would invest heavily in big data generation that would enable investors both local and foreign make informed decisions and judgments on areas where they want to operate.
The Minister said this yesterday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the Nigerian mining week.
Alake said the government is rejigging the security architecture on ground and it’s going to be inter security agency structure, with a large dose of technology to ensure that those that are genuinely licenced would have a very peaceful environment to operate.
He said: “Throughout the deliberations and the cross fertilisation of ideas, I have personally witnessed robust engagement and have learnt a lot and I’m sure we have all learned lots of ideas gained insight into new ways of doing things. The new methods of implementing and executing even policies that we conceptualise on the part of government. And this is a symbiotic relationship between the government and your good selves and all the other stakeholders in the industry, on our part, I can assure you that the President has given his pledge to increase funding into this sector through the Federal Ministry of solid.
“With such funding, we can then embark on those very significant steps that we need to take going forward, such as generating the big data without which we cannot begin to talk about any serious implementation or execution of policies or attracting the much needed foreign investment. So moving forward, we are going to invest heavily in big data generation, efficient data that would enable investors both local and foreign to make informed decisions and judgments on areas where they want to operate to let them know what is where and how.
“Another thing we are going to do, which we have actually started and I said a little bit about this. At the CEO session earlier this afternoon. That is the most critical factor of operation and as security. I mentioned it again yesterday in my opening remarks, we are rejigging the security architecture that we have on ground and it’s going to be inter security agency structure, with a large dose of technology to ensure that those that are genuinely licenced would have a very peaceful environment to operate.
“Reduce frictions between operators in the field and their host communities, reduce whatever acrimony between operators and other levels of government, state, local, whatever. And at the end of the day, achieve our common objective of maximally exploiting these our God given resource for the benefit of humankind.
“We are going to ensure that going forward all our operating environment are made safe for the players in the industry. So that government too can try rest on it ours and expect the windfall that we have seen in the horizon coming into the kitty of government.
“We are going to ensure that we put in place administrative structures. I have enumerated some of these in my earlier submissions, both our private sessions and the opening remarks and even publicly before now. We are putting in place a lot of mechanisms to ensure that this sector attains its pride of place in Nigeria’s socio economic structure. We want to ensure that within the next couple of months in the short term and few years in the longer term, this sector contributes meaningfully, significantly to the gross domestic product of Nigeria and it becomes the next critical resource of Nigeria’s economic survival.
“We want to ensure that the solid mineral sector takes over from oil as the major revenue earner and source to the government and people of Nigeria but all of these grandiose ideas cannot come into fruition without your active collaboration and support. So what this edition the eighth edition of the mining week has achieved in tangible terms, is the direction of attention to this sector, whether we like it or not, outside without prejudice to the various deals and networking that have taken place. You have all succeeded in shifting our attention and complementing the efforts of our ministry in ensuring that everybody now becomes aware of the critical nature of the solid mineral sector, an industry in Nigeria.
“In fact, to eloquently demonstrate this. In the last several weeks, I’ve been bombarded by investors both local and foreign. And in the last two, three days, my phone has been buzzing ceaselessly from people making enquiries about how to get involved in the Solid Minerals industry in Nigeria. And I give you the credit for all of these we need to sustain this effort. We must sustain this effort because to achieve success, is not terribly difficult.
“The most difficult aspect is sustaining success. We have achieved initial success of diverting attention. In fact, critical levels of government in Nigeria and stakeholders have their attention reverted on the solid mineral sector. Today. However, we must not only translate this attention into concrete and meaningful reality, but we must sustain the achievement that we have garnered from this edition.”
• We will give Nigerians decent work, sustained social protection
• N25,000 cash transfer begins
The 84 million Nigerians living in poverty is unacceptable to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, said yesterday.
The situation makes ending poverty a priority for the Administration, he added.
The minister hopes the N25,000 conditional cash transfer to 15 million households, which began yesterday, will help address the problem for the most vulnerable in the short term.
President Tinubu launched the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer initiative at the Presidential Villa.
For three months, 15 million poor households nationwide will receive N25,000 cash support, for which N1.125 trillion has been provided.
It targets over 61 million vulnerable Nigerians and is designed to cushion the petrol subsidy removal pain.
The take-off of the programme coincided with this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Among the initial beneficiaries, who were presented with cheques at the ceremony, were Larai Suleiman, Shuaibu Hassana, Sariki Bala Gamu, Okor Jonah and Hameed Isiaka.
Edun said: “It (the number of poor Nigerians) is totally unacceptable to the President as it is to the rest of us.
“That is why it is perhaps his number one priority to tackle poverty and he has a programme to stabilise and grow the economy in general.”
Nigeria’s population is estimated at over 225 million, according to Worldometer, which provides real-time world statistics.
President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, restated his Administration’s commitment to poverty alleviation.
He said the theme of this year’s poverty eradication day: “Decent work and social protection: Putting dignity in practice for all,” aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The President said: “Today is a significant day for us in Nigeria and for my administration for it brings with it an opportunity for me to restate my administration’s commitment to poverty alleviation as expressed in my eight-point agenda.
“My government will lead from the front in seeking to ensure that all Nigerians have opportunities decent for dignified work and sustained social protection.
“It is only via a sustained collaborative approach that we can win this war against poverty in Nigeria and the world at large. Hope is here.
“I ask the Nigerian people to please ensure that they key into all the available programmes because they are here to help.
“Our objective is to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
“Yet, this will only be possible with the cooperation of the people we seek to help. Let us continue to work together to achieve our collective goal of eradicating poverty in Nigeria.”
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, believes it would amount to sitting on a keg of gunpowder to ignore poverty.
According to her, the N75,000, which each household will receive for three months, can form the capital for some small-scale businesses.
She said: “Beyond this, the government will be providing low-cost shelter for the poor and internally displaced persons as a form of providing that cover for them.
“Other interventions, including the rural vocational skills intervention, will be carried out at a mass scale.
“All of these are targeted at the various dimensions of poverty in the country.
“Poverty is that scourge, a hydra-headed cobra in the room that if not tackled, would consume everyone.
“Sitting and ignoring poverty at any level will only seem or equate to sitting on a keg of gunpowder and that’s why today, the president is tackling it headlong.
“We want to encourage Nigerians, the private sector, and development partners that it’s time to step up to the occasion.
“We have a clear-cut roadmap, an action plan for the eradication of poverty. Everyone must key in and be part of it.”
Edu believes Tinubu will eradicate poverty by 2030.
World Bank country representative, Shubham Chaudhuri, stressed that cash transfers are universally accepted.
According to him, the method has proven to be one of the most effective ways to support those impacted by economic shocks or rising living costs.
Chaudhuri said: “This aid is crucial in helping them overcome the initial period during which they might otherwise be compelled to make decisions with long-term consequences.
“For instance, these decisions might include reducing daily meals to just one or withdrawing their children from school.
“The type of cash transfer referred to as ‘shock-responsive cash transfer’ that is currently being implemented is utilised by countries worldwide to offer temporary relief in such situations.”
The President in July ordered the release of grains to 50 million farmers and households.
He also ordered a review of the N8,000 conditional cash transfer programme, which was initially announced by the Administration following the removal of petrol subsidy.
The sum was initially proposed for payment to 12 million poor households for six months.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed new helmsmen for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).
They are: Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (ICPC), Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi (NAHCON), and Ahmed Galadima Aminu (PTDF).
The appointments will be in acting capacities pending Senate’s approvals.
Separate statements yesterday in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu was appointed the Secretary of the ICPC.
The President had approved the request by ICPC’s outgoing Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, for pre-end of tenure leave beginning on November 4.
Arabi is a one-time Permanent Secretary of the State House. His appointment followed President Tinubu’s directive to the outgoing chairman of the commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, to proceed on a three-month pre-retirement leave ahead of his retirement on January 17, 2024, when the new helmsman will assume substantive official duties.
Ngelale said President Tinubu also approved the dissolution of the Hassan-led NAHCON board.
Aminu’s appointment is for an initial term of four years.
Ngelale said Aminu’s appointment followed the application for retirement by outgoing Executive Secretary Bello Aliyu Gusau, who proceeded on pre-retirement leave on September 26.
