The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tinubu

  • BREAKING: Tinubu presides over maiden FEC meeting

    BREAKING: Tinubu presides over maiden FEC meeting

    President Bola Tinubu is presiding over the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of his administration at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.

    The new cabinet members were inaugurated on last Monday after confirmation by the Senate in line with its constitutional obligation. 

    The cabinet is made of 45 ministers, who scaled through the screening while three other nominees were denied clearance. 

    Read Also: Tinubu: servicing debt with 90% revenue unsustainable

    Also attending are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the Head of the Civil Service of the federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan and the Chief of Staff to the President president, Femi Gbajabiamila. 

    President Tinubu at the swearing in of Ministers, emphasised that their highest obligation is to restore public faith in government so that people can once again believe that the right hands in government can perform. 

    He also urged the ministers to serve with integrity, dignity, and deliver, stressing that he will hold them to the high standards of the expectations of Nigerians. 

    Details Shortly…

  • Tinubu: servicing debt with 90% revenue unsustainable

    Tinubu: servicing debt with 90% revenue unsustainable

    • Good pay for judges will lift Judiciary, says President

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described as unsustainable servicing the nation’s debt with 90 per cent of its revenue. It  will be reversed, he said.

    The president promised to depart from what he described as a destructive path. Tinubu, who also noted that erratic power supply constituted a major hindrance to the growth of the economy, urged Nigerians to have positive attitude while his government intensifies efforts to reposition the country.

    He  spoke yesterday at the kick off of the 63rd Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) annual conference. It was at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, in Abuja. 

    The event was witnessed by governors, ministers, lawmakers, business leaders,  the diplomatic corps and traditional rulers. 

    The President was accompanied to the venue by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

     The President said any economic theory that makes a country spend nearly all its earnings on debt servicing like Nigeria is currently doing, is unsustainable.

    Read Also: Will President Tinubu break Mambilla Power jinx?

    He vowed that his administration would make all the changes required for the country to be respected globally.

    Energising the gathering of 16,190 lawyers in attendance with an extemporaneous speech, President Tinubu stated that the prosperity Nigerians required will only occur once poverty is banished with the help of private sector players.

    “Can we continue to service external debts with 90 per cent of our revenue? It is a path to destruction. It is not sustainable. We must make the very difficult changes that are necessary for our country to get up from slumber and be respected among the great nations of the world,” he said.

    Already, the President has set up the task reform committee with the mandate to double revenue, which was more that N10trillion, within three years.

    He has also directed that a committee should bring up a proposal that would put revenue to GDP at 18 per cent.

    On the theme of the conference, “Getting it Right: Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation-Building,” the President stated that hard decisions must be made to set the country on a growth trajectory, despite the initial pains.

    He said: “We cannot have the country we desire without the reforms we have initiated. It is painful at the beginning, in the short and medium term, but we must do what we have to do to take this nation to its great destiny.

    “ It is not about you and it is not about me. It is about our generations yet unborn, for whom we must bequeath a great and prosperous country.” 

    Against the backdrop of the renowned judicial reforms he undertook as Lagos State Governor, President Tinubu renewed his commitment to deal conclusively with the pressing issue of remuneration for judicial officers and legal practitioners.

    He noted that true justice reform must begin with world-class salaries and benefits for legal professionals in the country.

    “You are learned. I want to learn. Why are we so blessed and we are still lacking? We must have a change of attitude and a change of our mindset. We accuse our nation and its previous leaders.

    “We complain a lot of the past. Is that the solution? No! Let us look forward and be determined! God has given us what we need. We must work hard with determination to make our country great and it begins with you who are seated here with me,” the President said.

    The  President,  making reference to the keynote address by the Chairman of UBA Plc and Heirs Holdings,   Tony Elumelu, bemoaned the inability of the country to eradicate poverty and tackle poor electricity supply, despite its abundance of gas.

    Praising Elumelu for setting an agenda for economic growth and development, Tinubu restated that his administration would ensure that Nigeria generated and distributed the level of electricity it required to thrive.

    He said: “It is a shame not to have adequate electricity for the mass majority of homes in Nigeria and to power our industries.

    “How can we address poverty without electricity? We can take many people out of poverty with an uninterrupted electricity supply. Poverty is not acceptable, and we must banish it.” 

    The President urged  Nigerians to lay less emphasis on the past because the solution to the past is the determination to look forward.

    Saying that the greatness of any nation depends on the pride of its people, Tinubu noted that a change of mind/ attitude or approach to governance is necessary to build the nation.

    He called on the NBA to sustain democratic values, noting that he is not immune to mistakes. 

    “I can’t say I can’t make mistakes, I can make mistakes, that is why I surrounded myself with great minds so that I don’t commit costly mistakes,” Tinubu noted.

    He also challenged the NBA not to shy away from confronting him with the truth whenever he is veering off the course of good governance.

    “Whatever I’m doing right, tell me whatever I’m doing wrong tell me and I will change my course,”  he promised.

      NBA President Yakubu Maikyau(SAN)  expressed the confidence of the association in the President’s ability to deliver good governance to Nigerians.

    “President Tinubu got it right in Lagos, and it is our considered expectation that as President of Nigeria, you will not only replicate your achievements in Lagos but surpass them for our country,” Maikyau said.

    Elumelu urged the government to empower youth and women.

    He also said the government needs  to show courage in tackling insecurity, climate change, food security and power outages in the country.

    Read Also: ‘Tinubu’s economic reforms are in overall interest of Nigerians’

    He said that    Nigerian youths who are known to be entrepreneurial would if encouraged by the government,  challenge the global space and excel.

    Elumelu also said that the government needed to prioritise the availability of gas because its unavailability has been a major hindrance to power supply in the country.

    The business mogul  saluted “the political will and courage that have been  found  by the President to address the root causes of issues, to introduce policies for the long term, not for the short term.”

    “Let us build on this boldness. Congratulations President Bola Ahmed Tinubu!

    “Nation building is not a quick fix, it entails sacrifices. We cannot keep doing the same things and expect different outcomes,” Elumelu added.

    Justice Minister Fagbemi (SAN),    assured the people  that access to justice and adherence to the rule of law would be easy under the Tinubu administration

    He also promised  to prioritise productive relationships among agencies of government toward the delivery of good governance.

    The conference will end on  Friday.  

  • Will President Tinubu break Mambilla Power jinx?

    Will President Tinubu break Mambilla Power jinx?

    Sir: As events unfold in the Renewed Hope regime of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is quite clear that he is a dogged fighter who takes firm and decisive decisions without bothering about whose ox are gored. The Mambilla hydro project however has undergone such funny twists as to require the attention of the president if only to ensure that nation’s development aspirations remains its topmost priority.

    The core issue in the Mambilla project devolves around funding, expertise and execution. With very challenging economic times, external funding can be most useful especially for a very critical project of this magnitude and its economic benefits to this great nation.

    The Chinese are apparently prepared or ready to provide funding and expertise to the tune of $4.5billion but only on the condition that the federal government settles the local content partner of the project, Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL).

     Whilst a settlement was reached under the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, initiated by the late Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, both the minister of justice and minister of power were said to have gone into a legally binding settlement with Sunrise and its chairperson Leno Adesanya.

    Read Also: ‘Tinubu’s economic reforms are in overall interest of Nigerians’

    Unfortunately the federal government failed to fulfil the terms of the agreement as a result of paucity of funds as conveyed in a memo from the then president to his minister of justice.

    Till date, chairman Sunrise has reached a second resolution to either get settled directly by the federal government or have the statutory 15% contribution by the federal government made to the Chinese to enable them settle sunrise directly and move on with the project execution.

    Unfortunately, some elements in the department of justice have taken it upon themselves with a foreign legal firm to fight Sunrise with the sole aim of discrediting the company and indicting its chairman for perceived inducement of government officials. 

    Would the Chinese who are coming to fund the project overlook Sunrise Power Company whom they have given condition for settlement? The answer is obviously in the negative! This is why it is incumbent on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure the nation’s development interest by issuing necessary directives on the relevant agencies to settle the matter out of court.

    Proceeding with this viable project will guarantee 50,000 jobs, economic spill over and long term renewable energy for the Northeast and the country at large.

    • Ibrahim Mustapha,Pambegua, Kaduna State.
  • No delay      

    No delay      

    • State govts should expedite distribution of palliatives

    Following the announcement of fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, the pump price of fuel quadrupled, leading to astronomical rise in the cost of living. True, there had been a consensus among most Nigerians that the humongous corruption associated with the fuel subsidy could not be allowed to continue and that the over N7 trillion committed to subsidy annually was no longer sustainable or desirable in the light of government’s inability to fulfill its basic responsibilities, as well as the country’s ever growing indebtedness.

    Even then, hardly anyone foresaw the level of hardship which the removal of the subsidy would inflict on Nigerians. It is thus commendable that the federal and many state governments have made  provision of palliatives to ameliorate the degenerating level of poverty in the country priority. This is the only way to avert an undesirable social implosion in the near future.

    Read Also: Fuel subsidy removal: Activist seeks inclusion of students in palliatives

    To cushion the hardships occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, the Federal Government two weeks ago announced the release of N5 billion cash to each of the 36 state governments for the procurement of 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize as well as fertilisers and other agricultural inputs to farmers. While 52 per cent of the N5 billion is given as grants to the states, the remaining 48 per cent will be paid back in installments over a period of 20 months by the states and local governments. The Federal Government had earlier made truckloads of rice available to the state governments from the strategic grains reserves for distribution to the people.

    It is understandable that these palliatives are only temporary measures to ease the burden of current hardships before long term policies to strengthen the economy  begin to make an impact. These include the recently announced substantial financial support for micro, small and medium enterprises, distribution of critical inputs to farmers to boost agricultural productivity, the envisaged tax reforms to improve the ease of doing business and enhance both domestic and foreign investment in the economy, the procurement of 3,000 buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas to ease the cost of public transportation, the imminent take-off of the students loan scheme and the ongoing negotiations with Labour towards a new national minimum wage that reflects current inflationary realities.

    Even as most Nigerians appreciate the palliatives being made available to offer succour for the most vulnerable Nigerians, the decision to route these through the state governments has been heavily criticised in many quarters. This is indicative of a huge trust deficit between the people and the state governments, as most people believe that the palliative items will not get to the targeted groups. Indeed, some state governments are already being accused of warehousing the items rather than immediately distributing them. As a matter of fact, some warehouses were recently looted in Adamawa State by angry residents who carted away palliative items.

    It is however too early to allege that the latest round of palliatives would not get to the beneficiaries as the state governments have just received the funds to procure the items. They need to put in place the necessary logistics for their distribution.

    However, it is important that the state governments too realise the need for a sense of urgency in procuring and getting the items to the people. They should remember the last #EndSARS demonstrations, during which angry citizens across the country attacked and looted warehouses where palliatives to ameliorate the pains of the COVID-19 pandemic were kept, rather than being distributed. Governors must be mindful of the need to avoid a recurrence of such a scenario. The governments should rebuild the confidence of their people in the integrity of government by ensuring utmost transparency and accountability in the distribution of the palliatives.

     In this regard, the social registers being compiled by the states to provide the database for palliatives distribution must be accurate and credible. Furthermore, governors must resist the temptation to limit the distribution of the palliatives to party members as the items are meant for all poor Nigerians and their distribution must not be tainted by political partisanship.

  • ‘Tinubu’s economic reforms are in overall interest of Nigerians’

    ‘Tinubu’s economic reforms are in overall interest of Nigerians’

    In this interview, the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Mr. Zaccheus Adedeji, explained that the focus of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is economic reconstruction of Nigeria. To achieve sustainable prosperity Nigerians desire, he said the government has been working at growing the economy, ultimately trying to raise the nation’s revenue, eradicating culture of borrowing to finance public spending, repositioning the economy to make life better for Nigerians and laying the foundation for a prosperous future for all. BOLAJI OGUNDELE brings excerpts:

    Strategies for attracting foreign direct investment/ensuring conducive environment for businesses  

    Mr. President‘s philosophy is that we should not tax investment, but returns on investment. We should not tax production but consumption. We should not tax poverty but facilitate prosperity and share it by way of fair and progressive taxation. This is the reasoning behind Mr. President’s recent remark that this government will tax fruits not seeds. The market-friendly disposition of this administration is already creating excitements in the capital market with over 20 per cent growth this year to date and best performance in 15 years. We are also working on reforms to create more jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in the digital economy, especially for our teeming youth.

     We recognise that Nigeria cannot continue to rely on the oil and gas sector as the mainstay of the economy, especially with the uncertainties around global oil prices, which usually create shocks in the economy whenever the price crashes like we experienced from 2014 till 2018 when the price started rising again above $50. President Tinubu promised to build a more vibrant and more prosperous economy and this he is set to achieve by ensuring other sectors of the economy like agriculture, solid minerals, maritime, retail, hospitality, tourism and professional services, and others perform optimally.

    Read Also:Rep backs Tinubu’s policies for oil, gas sector

    The first 100 days in office and managing the pains of fuel subsidy removal?

    I know it is symbolic to assess the performance of a new administration within the first 100 days, sometimes even for a shorter period. However, for this government, it is not simply about the present moment or what the President has done within the short term of being in office; it is more about the medium to long term vision of how he wants to reposition the economy and make life better for Nigerians. We are laying the foundation for a prosperous future. You will agree with me that even though the foundation is the most important structure of a building, it is not always the prettiest. Once the house begins to take shape, the beauty will not only be apparent for all to behold, but also it will provide the much-needed shelter to shield the occupants from bad weather and other unfavourable external conditions.

     We have done a lot that I am proud of within the short period. These include addressing some critical concerns of the private sector regarding pressing tax issues, removal of wasteful subsidy on PMS to create fiscal headroom and limit excessive borrowing, forex reforms to address market distortions, just to mention a few. So, overall I can say that we are on track and moving in the right direction.

     You will recall that Mr. President signed some Executive Orders on the 6th of July, which reversed the tax increases on manufacturers, and suspended the excise tax imposed on Single Use Plastics, which would have affected mostly SMEs and potentially trigger higher prices and further inflation. The Orders also deferred the commencement date of various changes introduced via the Fiscal Measures and Finance Act 2023 in order to give individuals and businesses reasonable time to adapt to the changes without major disruptions to their operations and livelihoods. The removal of wasteful subsidies on PMS and forex have stopped the haemorrhage on our treasury and will ensure that government is on the path to sustainable financing with less dependence on CBN overdraft for public finance. While some of these measures have unfortunately created short term pains for many people, we are confident that Nigerians will start to reap the benefits sooner rather than later. In addition to the various interventions by the federal and sub-national governments, more initiatives are being worked on in consultation with key stakeholders, which are expected to have positive and more fundamental impacts on the people.

    Steps to diversify Nigeria’s revenue sources and reduce dependence on oil

      We believe that Nigeria is blessed if only we can improve our policy environment and enhance the efficiency of both the private and public sectors. This is one of the reasons why Mr. President recently approved the setting up of a Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee with eminent Nigerians from all spheres of the society to, not only advise government on the necessary reforms, but also support with the implementation. Ultimately the outcome of the committee’s work, along with other policy actions of the government will result in productive diversification of the economy, government revenue sources and foreign exchange earnings.

     PMS and forex subsidies were not only wasteful, they promoted inefficiencies in our resource management and created economic distortions making it difficult to attract both domestic and foreign investments. By removing the subsidies, government at all levels will have less need to keep borrowing to fund public spending while the savings will be channelled towards infrastructure and social services to reduce multidimensional poverty and build a competitive economy. For any economy to be productive, you need critical infrastructure that supports business growth and improves quality of life, especially roads, power, rail, broadband, pipelines etc. These are heavy and capital projects that only government can mostly provide. Investors will go to a place where they don’t have to worry about all of these. For ease of doing business and to make our economy more competitive, government will need to spend more on these areas. The government will re-invest the money saved from fuel subsidy to grow the infrastructure stock of the country and fund social services in education and healthcare. We want to make sure our public schools and public hospitals are up to standard and can meet the need of Nigerians and affordable too as against the more expensive services they get from patronising private schools and hospitals.

     The crux of the agenda of this government is economic prosperity, which is inclusive and sustainable. Nigerians trust Mr. President based on his pedigree, which was the main reason they voted for him as President. You will also agree with me that Mr. President has made his appointments based on competence with a good number of technocrats appointed to manage various aspects of the economy. Even the politicians that have been appointed by Mr. President are those with proven records of performance. So I can say that we are moving in the right direction and making progress. I am confident that Nigerians will begin to see the benefits of this administration’s policies sooner rather than later. The future is very bright. President Tinubu is guiding us through a challenging time and in the last 100 days in office, he has demonstrated that the confidence Nigerians reposed in him has not been misplaced.

  • Appoint Raji Minister, APC groups beg Tinubu

    Appoint Raji Minister, APC groups beg Tinubu

    More blocs in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have thrown their weights behind the appointment of Kazeem Kolawole Raji as the additional ministerial nominee representing Oyo State in the Federal Cabinet.

    In a statement in Ibadan, Oyo State at the weekend, jointly signed by the Coordinator and Secretary, Alhaji Olaide Busari and Comrade Olayemi Success, the South West APC Vanguard contends that Oyo State is too politically strategic to be represented by only one Minister.

    “The South West APC Vanguard wishes to strongly appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider Engineer Kazeem Kolawole Raji as the additional Ministerial nominee for Oyo State in the Federal Executive Council.

    ” It is our discerning opinion that Oyo State is too strategic in the Nation’s Political equation to be represented by only one nominee who incidentally is a member of the opposition Accord Party at the highest policy making body in the country. Beyond the indisputable that the state is the political, economic and spiritual headquarters of the old western region, it is also on record that Oyo State recorded the highest number of votes in the South West for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last Presidential Election, ” the group stated.

    Read Also: Reps deputy speaker urges Abia people to embrace Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

    The group went on: “It is also to the credit of Engineer Kazeem Kolawole RAJI that he coordinated the ever volatile and energetic South West Youths in his capacity as Director, National Youth Mobilization South West of APC Presidential Campaign Council without any form of rancour and hitches but instead a coherent and coordinated unit that were prepared for the daunting task of ensuring the emergence of PBAT and APC at the election.

    “Engr. Kazeem Kolawole RAJI was a former Student Leader at the University of Ibadan and also former Hall Chairman of the most vociferous and largest Students Hall of Residence on any African University Campus, the great Zik Hall of UNIBADAN. He was also a NANS National Mobilization Officer for the NANS Zone D Comprising of all South West Tertiary institutions.

    “As a youth activist, Kazeem RAJI was at one time Oyo State Coordinator of the Campaign for Democracy, the Group that Championed the rebirth of the Nation’s Democracy.

    “From the foregoing, it is safe to conclude that the appointment of Kazeem Kolawole RAJI as Honourable Minister of Youth Development will be a great value addition to the Present Government as he has a profound capacity to establish synergies between students and youths interests. This, of course is a natural sequence of his adequate and rich orientation in the two fields.

    “With the appointment of Kazeem RAJI, one can take it as a token that credible youths and students activists with enviable and large followership among reputable youths and students groups will naturally fall in line with the Tinubu Administration.

    “Hon Kazeem Kolawole Raji KK, is a seasoned ICT expert who was a senatorial aspirant for Oyo Central during the last 2023 elections. He had coordinated the support of the youths in the Southwest towards the actualization of President Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
    “Since he joined the telecommunications industry over two decades ago, Mr. Raji has worked at various levels as a Senior Business Executive with extensive hands–on experience in Business Management, Executive Leadership, working with Board of Directors, Government, Banks, and Attorneys. Specifically, he is an expert in Mobile Telecommunications, Space Research, Satellite Communications Networks, Radio Frequency Planning and Optimization, Radio Communications and Spectrum Management, Strategic Leadership, System Development, and Project Management.
    “In September 2017, Mr. Raji received a well-deserved appointment as the Executive Director, Technical Services, Nigerian Communications Satellite LTD (NIGCOMSAT) by President Muhammadu Buhari. In this position, he manages and operates the First Ever Communications Satellite in Sub-Saharan Africa having held several key positions in Multi-national Telecommunications Companies both in Nigeria and Abroad.”
    Raji, the group said, also worked at MTN Nigeria Communications Limited for 12 years, where he rose to the position of the Head of MTN Radio Planning/RF Planning Manager for the Northern Region with its Headquarters in Abuja, after working in Lagos and Ibadan Regions of MTN. He was also a Director of ICT/Telecommunications with Dermo Impex on Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN), a project of the Federal government of Nigeria domiciled in the Presidency. As part of his public sector experience, Mr. Raji worked with Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) in the ICT department before joining the private sector.
    “He had also worked with O2 Mobile/WFI LTD in Salford in Mancester, Croydon, Hatfield and Newcastle, United Kingdom as a Radio Frequency planning and Optimization Engineer and the Chief Technical Officer of Merit Telecoms. He is a Radio Frequency Planning and Optimization Consultant with over 25 years cognate experience in Multi-National Telecommunications Companies with very strong skills in Strategic Planning, GSM Radio Networks, WiMAX, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G, Satellite Networks and worked on several Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, Nortel, Newtec, Gilat, and iDirect. He is an MBA-qualified engineer with an established record of success in growing enterprise value and optimizing business operations.
    “His role as Executive Director (Technical Services), Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd had afforded him the opportunity to engage with World leaders in Satellite manufacturing and Satellite Operators such as MDA/SSL of Canada and USA now Maxar Technologies, Lockheed Martin USA, China Great Wall, Airbus USA, ViaSat USA, Turksat, SES, Avanti, Intelsat, Thales Alenia Space of France, Arabsat, ABS Satellite and AMOS SpaceCom of Israel’.
    “With this wealth of experience in youths activism and Information Communication Technology, one can safely conclude that the appointment of Raji will not only be appropriate but adequate to address Youths, Students and ICT related matter in the Country. Raji being in the Federal Cabinet will be a round peg in a round hole,” the statement added.

  • Reps deputy speaker urges Abia people to embrace Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

    Reps deputy speaker urges Abia people to embrace Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

    The deputy speaker of House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu has called for the revival of all moribund industries in Abia state and the rebuilding of Ariaria international market in Aba. 

    Kalu also asked the people of the state to key into the renewed hope agenda of the Tinubu government for the greater benefit of the state. 

    In a statement by his chief press secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, on Sunday to mark the 32nd anniversary of the creation of the state, Kalu said that all hope of a better tomorrow is not lost. 

    He urged all Abians not to despair in the midst of all the sociopolitical, economic challenges facing them but remain optimistic in the possibility of a better future.

    Abia was created on August 27, 1991 by the government of former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida out of old Imo State. 

    The deputy speaker also urged them to be supportive of the government and performance their civic duties, even as he charged them to hold the government accountable in all their actions and inactions to engender good governance.

    Read Also: Abia government expresses commitment to OGP initiative

    He said Abia has the capacity of feeding Nigeria if all its agro and economic potentials were developed.

    While appreciating the steps taken so far on infrastructure and other new policies of government which should include making the “gold mine” of Abia  State, the Ariaria international market to operate effectively, the deputy also called for the reactivation of moribund industries in the State especially in Aba.

    He said: “We can reactivate the industries in Aba for which Abia was known for. Industrialisation is also key. We can leverage on the gas-to-energy federal policy and the state’s proximity to gas to achieve this.”

    The deputy speaker therefore asked all hands to be on deck for the overall development of the state.

  • Knocks for Atiku over controversial tweet on Tinubu’s academic records

    Knocks for Atiku over controversial tweet on Tinubu’s academic records

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has come under fire for tackling President Bola Tinubu over the latter’s academic records at Chicago State University (CSU), United States. 

    The former vice president had recently approached a U.S. court for an order compelling Chicago State University (CSU) to release the academic records of Tinubu.

    The Nation reports CSU had replied, confirming that President Tinubu graduated from the institution in 1979.

    Tinubu’s credentials show that he graduated from CSU in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting and management. 

    Atiku via his verified twitter account on Sunday, wondered how President Tinubu attended Chicago State University without primary and secondary education.

    His tweet, however, elicited flurry of reactions.

    Many of the president’s supporters rose stoutly in defense of Tinubu. They knocked Atiku for making such comments.

    Atiku said: “I woke up this morning wondering how we got to this cul de sac. 

    “In 1999, @officialABAT claimed he attended St. John’s Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos, before proceeding to Children Home School in Ibadan. 

    “According to him, his next port of call in his educational journey was Government College Ibadan and, Richard Daley College and Chicago State University in the United States. Curiously, in 2023, Tinubu settled with attending only @ChicagoState. I am scratching my head. 

    “How is that possible? Methinks that all well-meaning Nigerians should be as confused as I am with Tinubu’s declaration that he had no primary and secondary education, yet he has a university degree. You may wish to #AskTinubu how he attained this feat so that we can learn from his ingenuity”. 

    Reacting, a commenter Musa Ahmad (@real_aahmad) said: “You’re not talking about winning the election now but Tinubu’s educational background. I don’t know how you suddenly retire from active politics to Twitter influencer”

    Another social media user, @Balogun_Jamih, said: “Just as El-Rufai retired Shehu Sani to the club of wailer and Twitter influencers. President Tinubu has successfully retired Atiku Abubakar to the club of wailer and Twitter influencers.”

    @Asakemijimi lampooned Atiku saying: “President Tinubu is really giving Atiku sleepless nights. Since when did Atiku start doing shalaye on Twitter? Sir, please try again in 2031.”

    Read Also: President graduated in 1979, Chicago varsity replies Atiku

    Another user, @chibuzo_mikel tweeted: “I said it that Atiku needs help. Losing four presidential elections can affect the mental state of the strongest man negatively.”

    @jeffphilips1 said: “Look at that tweet again and it’ll dawn on you that Tinubu, in his first go at the presidency, not just only defeated Atiku, but he actually retired him after 32yrs in the race.”

    @Egi_nupe_ tweeted: “If Atiku didn’t engage in petty and dirty politics since 2007 that he’s been contesting, I strongly doubt 2023 will make him do that. 

    “Atiku is the most classy and mature political figure we have ever seen. He doesn’t roll in the mud, and would never stoop so low, no matter what. So I don’t believe that he authorized that Tweet. Never!”

  • Tinubu deserves kudos for shunning BRICS, says VON boss

    Tinubu deserves kudos for shunning BRICS, says VON boss

    The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, (VON) Osita Okechukwu on Sunday gave kudos to President Bola Tinubu for rejecting the country from joining the BRICS economic group.

    The founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) said the president deserves the commendation of all Nigerians for not applying to join the emergent grouping. 

    At the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa, the bloc admitted Argentina, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE among other intending developing countries into its folds, thus fuelling speculations that Nigeria’s application was rejected for not meeting some crucial membership criteria.

    But, in a statement made available to newsmen on, Sunday in Abuja, Okechukwu, declared that Nigeria is better off maintaining her decades-old diplomatic standpoint as a non-aligned.

    Read Also: Niger crisis: National interest will guide our ECOWAS operation says Tinubu

    He noted that he was thrilled when the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, recently cleared the air and said,  “So far, we have not applied for the membership of BRICS. And it is majorly informed by the fact that my principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a true democrat that believes in consensus building.”

    The APC Chieftain argued that Nigeria is better maintaining her age-long diplomatic policy and standpoint.

    He added: “Whereas one has nothing against Brazil, Russia, India, China nor our brothers South Africa that make up the BRICS; however Nigeria stands to benefit hugely if we maintain our age-old standpoint of multilateral diplomacy.”

    He pointed out the worldview origin of BRICS, saying, “records have it that to spur economic development outside the Breton wood system, the BRICS, a bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and later South Africa, was formed. Ironically, the acronym was coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs and 2006, the bank opened an equity fund for investors in the BRICS. The group had since established New Development Bank (NDB).”

    On the proposal that Nigeria’s membership of BRICS has economic growth as the main goal, Okechukwu argued that whilst economic growth is important, it should not be at the expense of Nigeria’s cherished freedom and rule of law, which the leadership of the bloc abhors.

    “Whilst one agrees that BRICS may engender economic growth; however neither the West nor Russia or China is Father Xmas, therefore our destiny is in our hands. And most importantly we cannot gloss over our cherished freedom and rule of law which maybe in jeopardy in the BRICS alliance. 

    Otherwise, at the last count, the New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral lending institution set up in 2014, based in Shanghai, had $25bn in recorded assets in 2022, less than a tenth of the World Bank’s total,and not much economic growth was stimulated, Okechukwu explained.

    Accordingly, he appealed to President Tinubu to maintain Nigeria’s multilateral diplomatic strategy; which allows Nigeria today and in the future to operate and relate freely with all blocs and ultimately guide jealousy our national interest.

  • CSOs urge Tinubu to appoint new auditor-general

    CSOs urge Tinubu to appoint new auditor-general

    • Say absence of one unconstitutional

    CIVIL Society Coalition on Audit in Nigeria (CSCAN) has asked President Bola Tinubu to appoint a substantive Auditor-General for the Federation (AGF).

    The Coalition, which includes BudgIT Foundation, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), Accountability Lab Nigeria among others, decried the absence of an Auditor-General for almost a year.

    Executive Director, PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, who spoke on behalf of the coalition at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, stated that the absence of an Auditor – General was unconstitutional.

    The coalition therefore urged Tinubu to instruct the Federal Civil Service Commission to immediately conclude the recruitment process for the Auditor-General for the Federation.

    The immediate past Auditor-General, Adolphus Aghughu retired in September 2022.

    Read Also: Fresh storm over Tompolo’s N48b oil pipeline contract

    The coalition urged the president to forward the name of the nominee to the Senate for confirmation.

    Elomo said: “What is currently happening at the office of the Auditor-General for the Federation is a clear breach of constitutional provisions.

    “Section 86(3) of the constitution is explicit on how the senate should authorize an individual to act in the office of the auditor-general, for not more than six months.

    “Unfortunately, the public official leading the office at the moment is not doing so in an acting capacity but as director overseeing — a designation not recognized by the Nigerian constitution.”

    Also speaking, Country Director, BudgIT Foundation, Gabriel Okeowo, expressed dismay at the failure of the National Assembly to transmit the Federal Audit Service Bill to the president for assent.

    Okeowo blamed politics for why the bill was not transmitted to the president.

    He said: “Political interests overrode the nation’s quest for a more potent and effective supreme audit institution.

    “The office of the Auditor-General for the Federation is not one to be politicised and the more time it takes us to get an adequate legal framework for the audit office, the longer our hope for a renewed Nigeria is deferred.”

    Country Director, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Friday Odeh, said it was disappointing that, as of August 2023, the report of the Auditor-General for the Federation for 2020, 2021, and 2022 was yet to be submitted to the national assembly.

    He said: “The audited accounts of the Central Bank of Nigeria for the last seven years (20216 – 2022) published by the apex Bank on August 10, 2023, contains information showing a poorly managed institution. The oversight wheel of accountability at the federal level seems badly driven.

    “We have no idea how public resources, processes, and policies have been utilised and implemented in 2020, 2021, or 2022. This situation certainly doesn’t reflect the renewed hope of Nigerians for a thriving country.”