President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told the new leadership of National Assembly that it is time to get on and move swiftly with the business of governance in the service of Nigeria.

The president stated this on Tuesday in a message on the election of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Rt. Honourable Tajudeen Abbas as the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly.

Tinubu, who described their election as a good development, congratulated them and rejoice with the new Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for their well-deserved victories.

He said being elected by their peers as presiding officers and assuming the leadership of the National Assembly remained a great honour that came with huge responsibility, adding that “I trust that you will justify the confidence reposed in you by your members and many Nigerians.”

He also wished Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Honourable member Idris Wase and Honourable Aminu Jaji who he said enriched the process with their participation in the leadership election the best and a successful tenure in the 10th National Assembly.

The president urged them to sustain the same level of enthusiasm they brought to the leadership contest in the discharge of their duties to their constituents and Nigeria.

“My congratulations to all members of the National Assembly, across party lines, who, today, enlisted into the service of the blessed people of our great country.

“We have all been called upon and accepted the responsibility to diligently and faithfully serve our fatherland with the oath we took. It is time to get on and move swiftly with the business of governance in the service of Nigeria,” he added.

Tinubu expressed his preparedness to “transparently” work with the National Assembly, saying “Nigerians expect distinguished Senators and Honourable members to make laws and carry out oversight duties that will enhance the performance of government to achieve successful outcomes including improving their quality of life.”

The president said promises made during campaigns could only be fulfilled when both the executive and legislative arms of government worked “together in harmony but with respect for our respective prerogatives and in the best interest of our country. “I will remain a partner in progress for peace, stability and prosperity of Nigeria. I count on the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and all members to work and walk with me on this governmental journey.

“Once again, I send my best wishes.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told the new leadership of National Assembly that it is time to get on and move swiftly with the business…

Petrol Import: Crises Looms As Marketers Move to Challenge NNPCL.

Key players in the country’s downstream sub-sector of the oil and gas industry are seeking access to foreign exchange at a rate that will be friendly to their bottom-line. They also expressed concerns over what they described as haphazard implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), especially, with regard to the withdrawal of petrol subsidy.

The marketers have accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of tactically retaining monopoly of products importation to swing the market to its benefit.

To avert what may lead to another round of scarcity across the country, The stakeholders in the industry are gathering in Abuja today to engage the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA to seek proper interpretation of licence issuance with regard to product import.

An impeccable industry source, who confided in our Correspondent, said the situation may lead to marketers rejecting NNPCL products if government refuses to fully liberate the market.

“If the PIA seeks to fully deregulate the market, then it would be ready to allow competition and create a level playing field. What we are asking is that government should not allow NNPCL to access foreign exchange at official exchange rate and expect independent or major marketers to source forex from the parallel market.

Again, the issuance of import licence should not be the responsibility of the NNPCL, but the NMDPRA, whose responsibility it is to create all the needed opportunities for the market to thrive,” our source said. Our source said the emergency gathering in Abuja will determine where the market will swing in the next few days.

The source said if marketers are denied forex and they discover that NNPCL products are higher than what it is signifying, then they will have no option but to reject the products.
The implication would be scarcity which will defeat the aim of the Act.

Recently, President Bola Tinubu met with marketers in Abuja to discuss modalities for addressing challenges posed by the subsidy removal.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Mrs. Winifred Akpani, chairman of Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), said the courtesy visit was to express the major oil marketers’ utmost support to the federal government.

 

Akpabio Reveals Senate’s Plan On Fuel Subsidy After Emerging Senate President.

The newly elected Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday stated that under his leadership, the national assembly will back President Bola Tinubu’s plan to remove petrol subsidies.

Akpabio, representing Akwa Ibom north-west, was voted in as Senate President on Tuesday with 63 votes, defeating his competitor, Abdulaziz Yari, who received 46 votes. In his acceptance speech, Akpabio emphasized that the 10th assembly would be proactive, supporting the president’s policies and initiatives.

Despite President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsing Akpabio for the role of Senate President, Akpabio maintained that the Senate will not serve as a rubber stamp to the executive, preserving its independence.
Highlighting the independence of the legislature, Akpabio declared that the 10th assembly is dedicated to “Nigeria and Nigerians”.

‘Let’s Get On With Business’ – Tinubu Reacts To 10th NASS Leadership Election.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the new Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on their election as presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly.

Recall that Akpabio defeated former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator-elect Abdulaziz Yari, by 63 votes to 46 to emerge Senate President.
While in the House of Representatives, Abbas, who was the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress, polled 353 votes, beating his rivals, former Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, and Aminu Jaji, who both secured three votes each.

In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday title ‘Now, Let’s Get On With Business Of The People,’ Tinubu congratulated the four lawmakers over their election, saying it is well deserved.
Tinubu said, “Being elected by peers as presiding officers and assuming the leadership of the National Assembly is a great honour that comes with huge responsibility.

“I trust that you will justify the confidence reposed in you by your members and many Nigerians.
“As your president, I am prepared to transparently work with the National Assembly. Nigerians expect distinguished senators and honourable members to make laws and carry out oversight duties that will enhance the performance of government to achieve successful outcomes, including improving their quality of life.”

Akeredolu Transmits Power To Deputy, Goes On Medical Leave Abroad.

The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has officially written to the State House of Assembly seeking a 21-day leave for medical treatment abroad.

The letter that during Akeredolu’s absence, his Deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa will be the Acting Governor.

The leave period commenced on the 7th of June and is expected to terminate on the 6th of July, 2023 (public holidays on June 12 (Democracy Day) and Eid el Kabir (28th and 29th, June, 2023 factored in). The Governor assured of his resumption on the 6th of July, 2023.

The approval of Governor Akeredolu’s letter was made known by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Oladimeji Oladiji.
The Speaker had earlier described the Governor as a lover of peace and an apostle of rule of law.He later wished him a speedy recovery.

Peter Obi Tenders Evidence During Presidential Tribunal Sitting.

Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, provided key documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during a session of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Obi’s legal team presented EC40G forms from ten Local Government Areas in Niger State.

The EC40G form is used by INEC to record the total number of polling units that were cancelled or where voting was not possible.
The Tribunal session opened with the case of Peter Obi against INEC, Bola Tinubu/Kashim Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In addition to the EC40G forms, Obi also submitted five certified true copies of INEC reports from Niger State.
During a previous tribunal sitting, Obi submitted additional INEC documents as evidence and called on a subpoenaed witness who provided video evidence that was publicly viewed in court.

Goodluck Jonathan’s Meets With Tinubu.

Former president, Goodluck Jonathan has shared details of his meeting with President Bola Tinubu. Recall that Jonathan on Tuesday met with Tinubu at the presidential villa, Abuja.

After the meeting with Jonathan ended, the president received some government officials, including the newly inaugurated Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma was also at the presidential villa to meet with Tinubu.

He was accompanied by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, Also the group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari also met with the president.

The president’s meetings took place after elections were held for the presiding offices of the 10th national assembly.
Speaking to newsmen, Jonathan disclosed that he visited the president to discuss some continental and sub continental issues.

He explained that being the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mediator for Mali and the Chair of West African Elders Forum there were certain issues bordering on the continent and the sub region that he spoke to Tinubu about.

Lagos rides on new Electricity law, targets 20hrs daily power supply.

The Lagos State government has disclosed its plan to improve power supply up to 20 hours daily in many communities by exploring opportunities in the new Electricity Act 2023.

The government said the plan would further stimulate investments and boost the standard of living, among others.
President Bola Tinubu had recently signed the Electricity bill into law, marking a significant update to Nigeria’s 2005 Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act.

The National Assembly passed the bill in July 2022 during former president Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The new legislation aims to stimulate private sector investments in the country’s power sector and break the monopoly in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution at the national level.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos state Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Sholabomi Shasore, who disclosed the government’s electricity plan on June 10 at an organised stakeholders’ engagement in Alimosho Local Government Area, explained it was part of continued efforts to ensure adequate power supply to Lagos residents through various interventions.

Shasore said the meeting was organised in line with the inclusive policy of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whom he said believed that the contribution of every resident in the state would be essential to achieve the ‘Greater Lagos’ vision.

According to her, the Light Up Lagos Community Electrification Programme is an initiative of the present administration aimed at unlocking electricity distribution, transmission and metering infrastructure to deliver reliable power supply to high-impact, high-population, low-income communities in Lagos.

Shasore disclosed that the pilot implementation of the Power Infrastructure upgrade at target communities was nearing completion at Alimosho, Orelope, Okunola, Agege, Oko-Oba and Abattoir, as well as in Ajah, Eleko, Magbon and Ibeju Lekki.

“This initiative was borne out of the desire of the state government to improve the standard of living of Lagos residents, contribute to their economic activities, increase in productivity and job creation, and ultimately boost the businesses of small and medium scale enterprises, including artisans who rely primarily on electricity for the survival of their businesses, as well improve the overall well-being of all residents in the state,” she added.

Shasore stated that a total number of 8,613 service addresses connected to the feeders being installed would benefit from the improved supply covering almost 10,000 households.

According to her, “While the State Government had intervened in the functionality of electricity supply to various communities within Alimosho as a whole, the Sanwo-Olu administration is now taking it a step further by engaging with residents who are the critical stakeholders in this power intervention.

“Your participation is required to ensure that you reap the benefits of this Power Infrastructure upgrade.
“With this engagement, the state government seeks to ensure that you know your role in realising the goal of this intervention and look out and protect the infrastructure as your own. I implore the leadership of relevant CDAs, who are direct beneficiaries of this power project, to take ownership of this electrification infrastructure and protect it against vandals.”

Shashore stressed the importance of prompt payment of electricity bills, protection against energy theft, discouragement of meter bypassing, and other illegal acts that might jeopardise the overall intention of the state government to improve power supply to Alimosho and its environs.

She explained that the developments in the power sector with the recent amendment of the Power provision in the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 were an indication of greater things to come with regard to power, and with Lagos State at the forefront.

Shasore assured that the electricity infrastructure that had been put in place in the communities would guarantee reliable power supply as incidents of power failure, faulty transformers and cables, high and low electric current, and inadequate electricity poles, among others, had been fully addressed.

“It is worthy to note that Alimosho Local Government and its environs have always been identified as an integral part of the Greater Lagos Rising project under the administration of Governor Sanwo-Olu and, as such, it is set to enjoy more dividends of democracy and good governance, going forward,” she said.

The commissioner for Lagos Energy (Electricity), Lagos State, said the Lagos State Electricity policy is targeted at exploring advantages of the new Electricity Act 2023 to provide universal and reliable electricity access to citizens. Records showed the state is powered by less than 1,000 megawatts of electricity supply from the national grid by the Eko and Ikeja DisCos.

The State Electricity Market Policy seeks to ensure that the market is owned and operated substantially by the private sector under a commercial framework, and guided by the state tarrif methodology.

The policy also notes that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) will be encouraged to incorporate its transmission network in the state under a separate corporate entity that would seek and obtain licence from the state regulator.

 

Senator Akpabio Emerges New Senate President.

The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio has emerged as the 10th National Assembly Senate President.

Akpabio, who is the anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress, defeated Abdulaziz Yari to succeed Ahmed Lawan.
Senators-elect on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted for Akpabio on the floor of the Senate. Akpabio polled 63 votes to defeat his only rival for the position, Yari, who garnered 46 votes.

Tajudeen Abbas Defeats Wase, Jaji, Emerges Speaker House Of Reps.

Honourable Tajudeen Abbas from Kaduna State has emerged as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly.

Abbas defeated former Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase and Sani Jaji.
Abbas was declared winner after passing the 181 votes threshold.

Abass was elected by his colleagues during an individual voice voting exercise conducted by the Clerk on the floor of the house.

The Kaduna lawmaker, who was the choice of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was elected on Tuesday after the Senate concluded it’s election picking Akwa Ibom State former governor, Godswill Akpabio.

INEC Chairman, Yakubu To Testify In Atiku’s Petition Against Tinubu.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmood, is set to appear before the Presidential Election Petition Court on Thursday, June 15.

He will testify in a petition filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar challenging the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President. Mahmood has already been subpoenaed by Atiku’s legal team, led by Chris Uche.

At a recent court proceeding, Uche announced that Mahmood, during his court appearance, will testify about the disputed Presidential election’s conduct and also present some important documents supporting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate. However, Uche did not specify what these documents would be.

Acting CBN Governor Visits Tinubu In Aso Rock.

The acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Folashodun Shonubi, met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Shonubi met with President Tinubu four days after he took over the reins of the apex bank following the suspension of Godwin Emefiele.

Until his appointment, Shonubu was the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate) of the country’s apex bank. Recall that Emefiele’s suspension was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Willie Bassey.

Following the directive suspending Emefiele from office, he was directed to hand over the affairs of the CBN to Shonubu who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.

 

Five Things To Know About Students Loan Bill Signed By Tinubu.

President Bola Tinubu signed the Students Loan Bill into law on Monday.  The Act will enable indigent students to access federal government loans to fund.

President Bola Tinubu signed the Students Loan Bill into law on Monday.
The Act will enable indigent students to access federal government loans to fund their educational pursuit or career.

Here are five things to know about this law which is meant to make education accessible to all:

1. The Act provides an interest-free loan for indigent students in which beneficiaries will only pay back the exact amount they collect.
2. The Act offers loans for poor students seeking higher education in public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.

3. The Act enables all indigent students to have equal rights to access the loan without any form of discrimination arising from gender, religion, tribe, position or disability of any kind.

4. The loan shall be accessible to only indigent students studying within Nigeria and it’s for the payment of tuition fees alone.
5. The Act states that there shall be the creation of a Nigerian Education Bank with the aim to offer education for all Nigerians in matters pertaining to loans.

 

Tinubu Pledges to Increase Budgetary Allocation to Education Sector.

NANS meets president, calls for removal of lecturers, lawyers from students’ loan committee

President Bola Tinubu has pledged his administration’s readiness to commit more resources to the education sector to ensure that every Nigerian child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education.

Speaking Tuesday in his office at the State House, Abuja when he played host to the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the president declared that poverty should not be a barrier to education, emphasizing the transformative power of education in combating poverty.

According to him, “If we all believe that education is the greatest weapon against poverty then we have to invest in it.
”Poverty should not prevent anybody, any child, including the daughter or son of a wood seller, ‘Boli’ (plantain) seller or yam seller from attaining their highest standard of education, to eliminate poverty.

”If you eliminate poverty from one family, you can carry the rest of the weight.”

President Tinubu, who promised to consider the requests of the NANS leaders, urged the students’ body to ensure unity among its members across the country to achieve more.

”You have to promote unity and stability among each other. You have to employ democratic means in your programmes and elections. I have to say anyone who is unable to accept and celebrate a free and fair election, does not deserve the joy of victory,” he admonished the students.

The president expressed his appreciation for the students’ support of the removal of subsidy on petrol, explaining the reasons behind the decision and the need to curb smuggling.

His words: ”I’m glad you understand the reason for the subsidy removal. We were at a point where Nigeria tried to draw water from a dry well and that is no longer acceptable and we equally must not continue to service the smugglers because they used to take our tankers and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across the borders.  We will put our money where our mouth is.”

Earlier, President of NANS, Umar Barambu, said the NANS leaders had come to thank the president over the signing into law the Student Loan Bill, which will provide loans for indigent students such that no Nigerian student in tertiary institution will drop out of school over inability to pay school fees.
The bill, sponsored by former House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was signed into law by President Tinubu on Monday, June 12, which is Democracy Day.

“We are here to congratulate you and to thank you for what you have been doing to the country since you assumed responsibility as the president.  We want to equally thank you for the Students Loan Bill,” Barambu said.

Declaring the students’ support for the removal of fuel subsidy, the NANS president said: ”It takes a great person to take that bold step of removing the subsidy on petrol.  Some people contacted us to protest against that decision, but we said no!

”The well is dry and ‘Baba’ cannot give what we don’t have now. We have to accept reality and face that challenge squarely so that together we can rescue the country. Today we are saying ‘yes’ to fuel subsidy removal and we will stand with that decision.”

Later in an interview with newsmen after the meeting with President Tinubu, Barambu said they want inclusion of past national leaders of the association and exclusion of lecturers and lawyers.

According to him, the new Act will alleviate the plight of Nigerian students and afford them the opportunity to study with fewer difficulties. Speaking on the clause of the Act they are not comfortable with, the NANS President said: “We have outlined the clauses that we are not too comfortable with. And part of them is the issue of that board that we mentioned to the president, which we said at least students representatives should be captured and there are some organisations that they put there, which to us, they don’t need to be there.

“We gave him an example, most especially the Nigerian Bar Association, ASUU. ASUU has their own microfinance bank running their own affairs without students on their board. So I don’t think it’s wise for us to allow them to be inside our own board because it is purely students.

“We are the major stakeholders of that bank. So I don’t think allowing them to be there is good. Not only them, we mentioned a lot of people that they should remove and put more of student-oriented organisation.”