Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday afternoon read out the 28 ministerial nominees sent in by President Bola Tinubu for screening at the National Assembly.

Former Governors of Ebonyi and Rivers states, Dave Umahi and Nyesom Wike, made Tinubu’s ministerial list read on the floor of the Senate. Former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai also made the list.

Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, arrived at the Red Chambers to deliver the ministerial nominees’ list to the Senate for commencement of screening.

Gbajabiamila entered and delivered the list around 1.20pm – the list has 28 nominees.
Akpabio thereafter read the ministerial list with 28 nominees.

See full list:

Abubakar Momoh

Yususf Maitama Tukur

Ahmad Dangiwa

Hannatu Musawa

Uche Nnaji

Betta Edu

Dr. Diris Anite Uzoka

David Umahi

Ezenwo Nyesom Wike

Muhammed Badaru Abubakar

Nasir El Rufai

Ekerikpe Ekpo

Nkiru Onyejiocha

Olubunmi

Stella Okotete

Uju Kenedy Ohaneye

Bello Muhammad Goronyo

Dele Alake

Lateef Fagbemi

Mohammad Idris

Olawale Edun

Waheed Adebanwo

Emman Suleman Ibrahim

Prof Ali Pate

Prof Joseph Usev

Abubakar Kyari

John Enoh

Sani Abubakar Danladi

Adebayo Adelabu

Strike, FG engages NLC, TUC in emergency meeting.

Representatives of the Federal Government are currently meeting with the organised labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress at the Presidential Villa.

A reliable source privy to the meeting made this known in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday evening. According to the source, the negotiation committee set up by the government called for an emergency meeting following the strike notice issued by the NLC earlier in the day.

The NLC team was headed by its national president, Joe Ajaero, while the TUC team was headed by its president, Festus Osifo. NLC on Wednesday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government over the recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit and other “unfriendly policies”.

The congress noted that Nigerians lost their peace of mind following the “subsidy is gone” comment made by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023. Source: Punch

No Plan To Reduce Working Days- FG Tells Civil Servants.

Following the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy, the Federal Government has said that there is no plan to reduce working days for employees of the Federal Civil Service.

Speaking on the issue with journalists in Abuja on the sidelines of a media parley to commemorate the 2023 Civil Service Week, the Head of the Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, said there was no need for that because the Tinubu-led administration is assiduously working on palliatives that would sustain civil servants, hence no cause for alarm.

According to Yemi-Esan, part of the measures by the Federal Government is to purchase mass transit buses that would run on gas and not diesel, which already the buses being converted from diesel to gas-powered vehicles.

She further stated that salary of workers are being reviewed and there will be an increase in it to also cushion the impact of subsidy removal.

She said: “We don’t have any plans to reduce working days for civil servants in view of the hike in PMS and cost of transportation. However, a committee has been set up to look into this.

“The committee is currently working on getting gas-powered buses to convey civil servants to and fro. We are also working on the conversion of some vehicles from PMS into gas “Also, the minimum wage is also being reviewed.”

 

Delta governorship tribunal dismisses Omo-Agege, APC’s case against Oborevwori.

There is wild jubilation in the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governorship election tribunal in Delta State today dismissed the case of former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, against Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

Some PDP supporters were seen at the premises of the governorship election petition tribunal celebrating their victory.
In a brief response, the Delta State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Valentine Onojeghuo, said in a WhatsApp message that the party will appeal the judgement of the tribunal.
Source: Dailypost

 

Niger Republic coup: Soldiers announce takeover of power.

 

A coup has been confirmed in the West African country of Niger, as soldiers have at last announced takeover of power on national television.

Since Wednesday, the Presidential Guard had held President Mohamed Bazoum hostage. Seizing the national television, they announced the suspension of the nation’s constitution.

Bazoum is a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militancy in West Africa, according to the BBC.

According to Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, who made the announcement with nine others, the defence and security forces had decided to put an end to the regime of Bazoum. He said  this followed the continuing deterioration of the security’s situation, and poor economic and social governance.

Abdramane added that all of the country’s institutions had been suspended and that the heads of the ministries would take care of day-to-day business.

He warned all external partners not to interfere, announcing that land and air borders were closed until the situation had stabilised. He added a night curfew would take effect from 22:00 until 05:00 local time until further notice.

Two neighbouring countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced coups triggered by jihadist uprisings in recent years. In both countries the new military leaders have fallen out with France, the former colonial power, which also formerly ruled Niger.

The coup has been condemned by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, the United States and the United Nations.

 

President Tinubu Meets APC’s Adamu, Omisore.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday met with immediate past National Chairman and Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting comes one week after Adamu and Omisore reportedly resigned their positions just days to the scheduled National Caucus and National Executive Council meetings earlier slated for Monday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 19, 2023, respectively.

At the time, Tinubu was away in Kenya for the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union and have not met both former officials until today.

Adamu reportedly declined to make any comments on the development until the President’s return.

Though the details of the meeting could not be ascertained as of this report, it is believed to be connected to the issues surrounding the party leadership.

Though the details of the meeting could not be ascertained as of this report, it is believed to be connected to the issues surrounding the party leadership. Neither of the two men has openly announced their resignation since July 17.

“The NWC wishes to inform you of the resignation of the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and that of the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore and with this development, and according to the constitution of the All Progressives Congress, it is now incumbent on my humble self, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as a Deputy National Chairman, North, to assume the office of the acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

“And subsequently, also, the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuantar, will now assume the office of the acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress.

“And with this recent development in the change of leadership, I will like to inform everybody here that the proposed National Caucus meeting slated for Tuesday, the 18th of July 2023, and the National Executive Committee meetings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) slated for Wednesday, 19th of July 2023 are hereby been postponed.

And this postponement will not be indefinite but a new date will be communicated in the near future”, Kyari said.

 

Emefiele Granted N20 Million Bail After Six Weeks In DSS Custody.

The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has been granted bail in the sum of N20 million and a surety in like sum.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, granted the bail in a ruling on Tuesday.

The judge rejected the Federal Government’s bail application and the claim that Emefiele was a flight risk, saying that the plaintiff failed to provide any facts to support its claim.

After listening to the submissions of Emefiele’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), the presiding judge said the charges against Emefiele are bailable.

FG Assures No Delay In Paying July Salaries.

The Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, reassured on Tuesday that July 2023 salaries for civil servants will not be delayed.

The promise comes in the wake of previous delays in the payment of May and June 2023 salaries.
Madein clarified the situation during a conversation with journalists in Abuja.
She explained that the previous delays were due to unforeseen difficulties outside the control of the Office of the Accountant General.

 

Labour Party To Challenge Court Decision Over Lawmaker’s Sack.

The Labour Party (LP) has expressed its intent to contest the court’s decision to remove Hon. Ngozi Okolie, the representative of the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The party found the Tribunal ruling unexpected and alarming, as it firmly believes that Okolie’s nomination was carried out in accordance with its established rules and guidelines.

The Labour Party communicated its surprise and plans to appeal in a statement released on Tuesday, penned by National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in Abuja