The Presidency on Thursday said President Bola Tinubu has not approved any pay raise for public office holders.
“We state without any equivocation that President Bola Tinubu has not approved any salary increase, and no such proposal has been brought before him for consideration,” a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, read on Thursday.

The statement is titled ‘No presidential approval for salary increase for political office holders and judicial officers.’
Thursday’s release follows reports that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission had approved a 114 percent increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders and judicial officers.

While we recognise that it is within the constitutional remit of the RMAFC to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and Judicial Officers, such cannot come to effect until it has equally been considered and approved by the President,” Alake noted.

The Presidency which said RMAFC had debunked the story making the rounds alleged that the narrative was “contrived to create ill-will for the new administration, slow down the upward momentum and massive goodwill the Tinubu-led administration is currently enjoying among Nigerians as a result of its fast-paced, dynamic and progressive policies.”

Therefore, Alake advised that updates on government activities and policy issues that do not emanate from approved official communication channels should be ignored.

 

President Tinubu to speak on Information, Data at Paris Summit.

President Bola Tinubu will on Thursday evening join other high-profile panelists to speak at the New Global Financing Pact summit, Palais Brongniart in Paris.

The financial summit hosted by France seeks to establish a system that will be more responsive, just and inclusive.
According to the progamme of schedule, the one-hour panelist session is slated for 18:00 – 19:00.

The panel session titled: “Ensuring more reliable, comparable information and data” will be moderated by Sylvie Goulard and Mark Carney (GFANZ).

Other panelists include: David Craig, Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD); Mark Carney, Co-Chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) ; Mary Schapiro, Vice-Chair of Global Public Policy at Bloomberg; Sabine Mauderer, Vice-Chair of the Network for Greening the Financial System ; and United Nations Special Envoy, Catherine Mckenna

According to reports Tinubu arrived at the venue in the company of his Aide-de-Camp, Nurudeen Yusuf and was received by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and Europe, Catherine Colonna.

The President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina will also join another set of panelists to speak on “Debt and SDR-channelling: where do we stand and how to go further?”

Also, WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will discuss the question of “what consequences for the trade agenda?” at the summit.

 

Tinubu fails to join Paris summit economic panel on stage; asks another official to represent Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu failed to take part in a live economic session at the ongoing summit of world leaders in Paris.

An Associates of Mr Tinubu, who assumed office on May 29, had touted the trip as his first opportunity to display his mettle before world leaders.

The Nigerian leader asked the country’s ambassador to represent him instead. It was not immediately clear why Mr Tinubu could not go on stage by himself, especially as his office previously announced he was in France to attend the summit and participate in a debate about Africa’s economic prospects.

The new global financing pact summit is a two-day event at Palais Brongniart in Paris, and organisers said it was aimed at finding efficient solutions to reduce poverty and the adverse effects of climate change on the world’s financial system.

President Tinubu was scheduled to join other participants on stage at 6:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. in Nigeria) on Thursday, with his aides saying he was fully prepared for the event as his first since becoming president on May 29.

Tinubu was represented by the Nigerian ambassador Adamu Ahmed, who was on stage with David Craig, co-chair of the task force on nature-related financial disclosures (TNFD); Mark Carney of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), Mary Schapiro of global public policy at Bloomberg, Sabine Mauderer of the Network for Greening the Financial System; and United Nations special envoy Catherine Mckenna.

In a prepared speech, which seemed to have been hurriedly put together, Mr Ahmed said: “We believe we’ve more pressing social issues in Africa. The argument has been that world leaders should elevate social issues just like environmental issues. I must commend President Macronwho has brought the issue of poverty to the table. This summit is about climate, people and diversity.

“The severe financial and economic crisis that African countries found themselves in after COVID-19 is all over. There are economic difficulties, and we’ve all realized that public resources would no longer solve the problem, we need to track private capital and for us to track the capital, and we need to compete with other countries around the world.

“It is no longer business as usual for African countries, we now need to join the discourse. We need to compete with the rest of the world. We welcome the idea of President Macronto develop Net-Zero Data Public Utility (NZDPU) because we feel it is an open free repository that will greatly help African countries.

“The message from the African continent is that we are on board, we want to join the international community. We are now seeing movement from mere commitment to concrete transition plans.

“For example, in Nigeria, we enacted the Climate Change Act in 2021 which enables us to establish the Climate Change Council in which the president (Tinubu) is the head. It enables us to establish a climate change fund and National Action Plan on climate change which clearly reels our road map to the net zero target. We put our target to 2060 because we are aware of the enormous challenges we are confronting.

We have tried to form regional partnerships as African countries.”
The trip was Mr Tinubu’s first abroad since becoming Nigeria’s president on May 29. It was not immediately clear why he could not participate in the crucial aspect of the summit for which he left the country despite growing complaints about the biting effect of his decision to remove subsidies on petroleum products used by previous administrations to cushion economic hardships.

Mr Tinubu has for years used doctors in Paris as he continues to secretly manage serious health conditions. His aides denied that he would be seeing his doctor during this trip. South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa was among several African leaders who participated on stage at the summit on Thursday evening.

President Tinubu’s failure to participate in today’s panel, while unusual for such an event, mirrored his strategy during Nigeria’s presidential campaign. As the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Mr Tinubu did not attend several televised debates held in Lagos and Abuja before the elections on February 25, 2023.

During a trip to London in December 2022, where he was invited to speak by famed think-tank Chatham House, Mr Tinubu failed to adequately respond to complex questions.

He repeatedly yielded the microphone to his coterie of surrogates, a controversial conduct that Chatham House decried as unusual and unapproved because there was no prior discussion thereof.

Mr Tinubu said he rejected debating other candidates in Nigeria because media outlets organised the events he saw as unfair to his campaign. He, however, failed to explain why he asked allies to take critical questions on his behalf during his Chatham House appearance.

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Acting IGP Egbetokun Decorates DIG Mba, Others.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Egbetokun Olukayode Adeolu, PhD, NPM, on Thursday 22nd June, 2023 at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, decorated newly promoted Senior Police Officers with their new ranks amidst cheers from their families, friends, and professional colleagues.

  Imo Gov. Hope Uzodinma, Ag. IG, Egbetokun decorated DIG Frank Mba

A total of 38 Senior Police Officers were decorated comprising Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) Bala Ciroma, and Frank Emeka Mba, mni; fourteen (14) Assistant Inspectors-General of Police including AIGs Abubakar Lawal, fdc; Alhassan Aminu (Rtd.); Abdul Umar, psc, fdc; Williams Adebowale, psc(+), fdc; Shettima Zannah; Ebong Eyibio Ebong, psc, mni; Adepoju Ayinde Ilori; Okon Okon Effiong, fdc; Echeng Eworo Echeng; Susan Ukpanukiema Horsefall; Bankole Lanre Sikiru; Oladimeji Yomi Olanrewaju; Odama Paul Ojeka, and Shehu Sani Gwarzo, as well as 22 Commissioners of Police.

In attendance were the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma; the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Dr. Akon Etim; the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin and other Distinguished Members of the National Assembly; IGP Usman Alkali Baba (Rtd.); Defence Attaches to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China; the Force Management Team; serving and retired Senior Police Officers, families of promotes and other dignitaries.

FG Approves Re-opening Of Seme Border For Vehicle Importation.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the re-opening of the Seme land border for the importation of vehicles.

The Director of Road Transport in the Ministry of Transportation, Ibrahim Musa, disclosed this on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
Musa, who spoke at the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, a meeting organised between officials of Nigeria and the Benin Republic, revealed that the development followed complaints by freight forwarders operating at the Seme border.

“I was here with the former Minister of State for Transportation when the freight forwarders pleaded that the border should be reactivated for the free movement of goods and services.

The former minister made us prepare a memo to that effect. It was considered and sent to the government,” he said.

 

ECOWAS Commission visited the Management team of the Seme-Krake joint border post security to monitor  activities .

Representatives from the ECOWAS Commission have visited the management team of the Seme-Krake joint border post security to monitor the activities at the common control zone shared by Nigeria and Benin Republic.

During the visit, the head of the ECOWAS delegation emphasized the importance of reducing checkpoints along the border route, particularly for trade which is jointly facilitated by the Customs organizations of both countries.

In response, the Chairman of the joint border post security team, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, called on businessmen to take advantage of the government’s recently implemented trade export policies.

He also commended the Nigerian government for repairing the roads along the border route and noted the improved relationship between the two countries, as well as the development of facilities at the Seme-Krake border post.

In another development, Comptroller Nnadi mni met with community leaders from Badagry at the Customs Command which served as a platform for discussing community development, addressing challenges, and finding solutions to issues that had arisen.

Regarding the importation of cars, Comptroller Nnadi mni assured the community members that the matter was being addressed. He also encouraged them to make use of the Customs clinic, which offers subsidized rates.

Youth leaders from the community appealed for the reopening of the land borders to promote vehicle import businesses.

To foster healthy inter-community games, particularly football, and improve communal relationships while curbing youth restiveness, the youths were presented with sports attire.

The ECOWAS Commission delegation included Ashoke Maliki, the head of road transport, representatives from the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Controller of Customs Seme Border, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, the Comptroller of Customs Federal Republic of Benin Krake, Ayivi Eliane, and others.

Also in attendance were the Chairman of the Badagry West LCDA, Joseph Gbenu, the Oba of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Sejiro James, and youth leaders from the community.

 

Medical Leave: Ondo Deputy Governor moves against Gov. Akeredolu.

 In a report by Vanguard Newspapers, the tense relationship between Ondo state Governork, Rotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has taken a turn for the worst after it was revealed that there are alleged plans to supplant the sick Governor who is currently embarking on medical treatment.

According to the report, Akeredolu transmitted power to the deputy governor and embarked on medical treatment but he is not expected back in the country until July 6, 2023.
But fresh facts emerged that since the announcement of the power transfer, Mr Aiyedatiwa has reportedly been ” undermining the authority of the governor’ s office through his actions and decisions. “

A reliable source, who pleaded anonymity due to his closeness to the government, revealed that the deputy governor has been refusing the schedule of activities as being prepared by the governor’ s office.

The source said: ” The deputy governor has gone haywire. It is like he has made up his mind to fight his boss openly. There is no other way to fight your boss than refusing the schedules from his office. The deputy governor is more concerned about working outside the state so as to get access to allowances and other emoluments. ”

” On Wednesday, the Deputy Governor was supposed to represent the governor at the 2023 FIDA Nigeria held at the International Centre for Culture and Event (DOME). But he declined, he chose to attend the 2023 NAF Conference World Hydrography Day in Abuja, ” the source who pleaded anonymity continued.

” This is just one of the many instances where he declined schedules. The events that were initially accepted by the governor in which the governor had already promised his presence or that of the deputy governor are now being declined by the deputy, ” the source concluded.

Since the news of Akeredolu’s bad health condition deepened and broke out, there have been allegations against the deputy governor, claiming that he is eying the Ondo governorship position looking at the situation of the governor. These recent actions by the acting governor have been deemed suspicious by Akeredolu’s supporters\loyalists.

 

Fed Govt issues another traffic advisory on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway repairs.

The Federal Government has appealed for understanding and obedience to traffic rules as the exit point of the new garage section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will be closed for rehabilitation on Saturday.

The exit from the expressway at New Garage bus stop for traffic on the Lagos bound carriageway enroute River Valley Estate, Isheri and Ogunnusi Road, will be closed to traffic on Saturday, 24.06.2023.

“All traffic from Kara Bridge on the Lagos bound carriageway heading to River Valley Estate, Isheri and Ogunnusi Road will now use the exit just immediately after Kara Bridge through Limson Road to connect their respective destinations.

“All traffic from River Valley Estate, Isheri and Ogunnusi Road intending to connect the Lagos bound carriageway of the expressway can now use Limson Road through the entry point to the expressway, immediately after Kara Bridge or alternatively use the U-turn at VIS and FRSC office, Ojodu to connect the expressway at Lagos State Public Works office / BRT bus stop,’’ Kesha said.

She said that motorists were required to obey traffic signs and the directives of relevant traffic management authorities to ensure continuous flow of traffic.
Motorists have been facing grueling traffic in the axis daily following the ongoing repairs on the expressway.

The government has set July for completion of the rehabilitation works on the expressway.

 

Dokpesi buried in home town, Edo State.

The late media mogul Chief Raymond Dokpesi has been buried in his home town Agenebode, Edo State.

Late Chief Dokepsi was buried on Thursday in the presence of his family, friends, political associates and well-wishers.

A requiem mass was held before the interment at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Agenebode. Among those who witnessed the interment were Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and media entrepreneur Dele Momodu.

Late Chief Dokpesi’s body arrived Edo State for burial on Wednesday. His body was driven around his Abuja residence for the last time on Tuesday night after a requiem mass at The Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja.

A service of songs was held at the deceased’s residence in Edo State on Wednesday. The funeral commenced with a “day of tributes” on Monday at The Ballroom International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Among the dignitaries who attended the burial ceremony were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Kogi State, Dino Melaye; Momodu; and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The late Dokpesi was a member of the defunct Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign council for the 2023 poll.
Guests were being hosted after the interment at St Peter’s Grammar School compound in Agenebode.

Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications which owns Africa Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM, died on May 29 at the age of 71, weeks after reportedly suffering a stroke.

 

Sanwo-Olu rewards LASU’s ever best graduating student with N10m.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (second right) congratulating the Overall Best Graduating student, Lagos State University (LASU)

2021/2022, Aminat Yusuf Imoitsemeh (second left),while the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello (left) and the Chancellor, Professor Gbolahan Elias, SAN (right)  during the 26th Convocation ceremony of LASU at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Ojo, on Thursday, 22 June 2023.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday personally gave the best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU), Miss Aminat Imoitesemeh Yusuf a cash prize of N5 million for her brilliance.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also announced an additional prize of N5 million from the Lagos State Government to reward the 23-year-old fresh Law graduate’s unprecedented feat.

Miss Yusuf graduated from the Lagos State University (LASU) as the institution’s best student of all time, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 on a scale of 5.0, becoming the school’s valedictorian at its 26th convocation held at Ojo campus on Thursday.

The graduation ceremony also marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of LASU during which ex-Lagos Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola; Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and First Lady of Lagos, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees alongside seven eminent Nigerians.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu hailed Lagos State University for being steadfast in its commitment to providing high quality graduates and skilled manpower to meet socio-economic needs of the State and the country, noting that LASU had recorded a catalogue of achievements and recognition both locally and globally.

The governor commended the school leadership team led by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, whom he described as “a competent, administration-savvy academic”, for maintaining uninterrupted academic sessions, and also for promoting research and teaching in line with global best standards.

He said: “Attaining 40 years of excellence is no mean feat for a university that has uninterruptedly pursued rigorous academic research and teaching in line with global best standards. I congratulate the university for remaining steadfast in its commitment to the provision of a high standard of education which has produced highly skilled men and women over the years. This becomes more significant as the convocation coincides with the 40th anniversary of this great institution, which has continued to live up to the expectations of its founding fathers.

“I congratulate all the graduating students who chose LASU as their institution of choice and have gone through a robust academic training. Today’s occasion is a milestone achievement in your career and a sacrifice, which demonstrates your eagerness to positively impact and contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of this great nation. I urge you all to be worthy ambassadors of this great citadel of learning, while also enjoining you to establish your resilience in the face of the challenges you will experience. I have absolute conviction that you will make us all proud.”

Sanwo-Olu said his administration was not unaware of the need to continually improve on quality benchmarks set by the school, assuring more support for the university towards sustaining the standards and improving its academic profile in order to compete on a global stage.

The Governor pledged his commitment to the aspirations of the school’s founding fathers, promising more financial commitment to surpass the past gains and set a new narrative for the institution.

Gov. Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that legacy projects his administration initiated on the campus were at different stages of completion. They include university main library, Faculty of Education annex, Faculty of Management Sciences building, Lagos State University Technology Hub and modern hostel facilities.

“It is important to note that, beyond churning out graduates from the university regularly, the essence of education is to meet societal needs.

“I charge the management to ensure that the school keeps its curriculum at par with best international standards and challenges students with fresh ideas. If all institutions adopt this, we can reverse the negative effect that the scourge of education tourism is having on our young ones and our development,” Sanwo-Olu said.

For Prof. Olatunji-Bello, it was the second convocation to be held during her tenure as the Vice-Chancellor.

The VC described the occasion as “symbolic”, which, she said, gave the graduands a sense of fulfillment and pride after being found worthy in character and learning.

Prof. Olatunji-Bello said: “It is another privilege for me to address this ceremonial occasion today marking the 26th convocation and 40th anniversary of the university. Today’s ceremony does not just wrap up the convocation, it is also a symbolic occasion of fulfilment and pride for the students who have been found worthy in character and learning to be conferred with the highest academic degree of this great university.”

The VC said the tertiary institution had fulfilled the founding principles of its establishment 40 years after, stressing that the university had made its mark on education and had reason to be proud of its accomplishments over the last four decades.

“Regardless of the challenges of the past, LASU has fulfilled the vision of its founding fathers to provide Lagos State with required human capital, helping in the strategic transformation of the industrial capacity of the State in particular and the country in general,” she said.

The school graduated a total of 10,966 students in disciplines across its 12 faculties, with 282 students bagging a First Class, 3,375 graduated with Second Class (Upper Division), 5,311 got Second Class (Lower Division) and 1,105 finished with a Pass.

One hundred and thirty-three candidates were awarded doctorate degrees, while a total of 1,801 got Master’s degrees and post-graduate Diploma certificates.