| Source | Date | Title | Summary of Report | Subject/Category | Page No./Weblink | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GUARDIAN | 3 DEC 2024 | Stakeholders lament local govt elections as a "sham" at the HoR National Dialogue on Local Govt Reform and Constitution Review | Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has described local government elections in the country as a mockery of democratic principles. According to the speaker, the recently conducted local polls, where the ruling party wins all positions, not only undermine the very essence of democracy but also raise serious concerns about the integrity and functionality of local governance structures. Abbas raised these concerns on Monday in Abuja at the National Dialogue on Local Government and Constitution Amendment, organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. Abbas, represented by Kalu, observed that one of the most pressing issues that must be dealt with is the poor quality of elections in local government councils across the states. According to him, when elections are characterised by a lack of competitiveness, where the ruling party sweeps all positions, “it becomes evident that we are witnessing a mockery of democratic principles.” “This scenario is not merely an embarrassment; it poses a significant threat to our democracy. It fosters an environment where undesirable elements infiltrate these councils, often lacking the necessary capacity and vision to govern effectively,” the speaker stated. The speaker lamented that local governments have become mere appendages of state governments or pawns in the hands of godfathers who manipulate political outcomes for their own gain. Stressing that inadequate funding remains one of the most significant obstacles, he observed that local governments often operate on budgets that are insufficient to meet their responsibilities. | LOCAL GOVT AUTONOMY; HOUSE OF REPS; SUPREME COURT DECISION | GUARDIAN | ||||
| PREMIUM TIMES | 3 DEC 2024 | Arguments for and against Tinubu's Tax Reform Bills persist as Presidency defends its merits | The passage of the four tax reform bills before the National Assembly will not end the existence of government agencies like TETFUND and NITDA but will change how they are funded, a presidential aide said on Monday. Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson, also said the bills would not disproportionately favour any part of the country, contrary to claims of critics and skeptics. “Contrary to the lies being peddled, the bills do not suggest that NASENI, TETFUND and NITDA will cease to exist in 2029 after the passage of the bills.” “Government agencies, such as NASENI, TETFUND, and NITDA, are funded through budgetary provisions with company income tax and other taxes paid by the same businesses that are being overburdened with the special taxes.” Mr Onanuga explained that the tax reform bills seek to consolidate the taxes into one and share them as appropriate. | TAX REFORM BILL; PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON TAX; | PREMIUMTIMES | ||||
| VANGUARD | 3 DEC 2024 | #ONDO2024: Fed High Court dismisses Agboola Ajayi's suit challenging the qualification of Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his Deputy, says suit is out of time | Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke of the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has dismissed the suit challenging the qualifications of Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, both candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for the November 16 governorship election in the state. The Presiding judge, while delivering judgement in a suit filed by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Agboola Ajayi, challenging the qualification of the APC’s candidates, declared that it lacked locus standi to file the suit She, also said that the case filed by Ajayi and his party, the PDP, was statute barred and that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it, having filed through originating summons instead of a Writ of Summons. According to her, the suit was filed outside the 14 days required by the Electoral Act. Recall that Ajayi’s counsel, M Ndoka, SAN, had challenged the eligibility of Adelami to contest as the Deputy governorship candidate on the platform of APC. Ndoka, therefore, sought the disqualification of APC from the ballot. The PDP candidate, in his originating summons, said the first defendant, the deputy governorship candidate, Adelami, is known by multiple conflicting and irreconcilable names of Adelami Owolabi Jackson and Olaide Owolabi Adelami. According said that with the conflicting names, the court should disqualify him and the governorship candidate. Ajayi claimed the APC has no qualified candidates for the November 16 governorship election. He therefore sought a ” Declaration that the APC has no validly nominated Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidate for the 2024 election.” | #ONDO2024; PDP; APC; FEDERAL HIGH COURT; AIYEDATIWA; AGBOOLA AJAYI | VANGUARD | ||||
| CHANNELS TV | 3 DEC 2024 | New Sheriff in Edo State: Okpebholo swears In three Judges earlier rejected by Obaseki’s administration | Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has sworn in three Judges who were initially rejected by Godwin Obaseki’s administration. Five of the judges were sworn in May this year. The governor who supervised the swearing-in of the three Judges into the Bench of Edo State High Court at the Festival Hall in Government House, recalled that in his inaugural speech, he had promised to look into the case and today presents the privilege to right the wrong. Governor noted that eleven months after the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) only five of those recommended were sworn-in as judges by the immediate-past administration, leaving out three, even when they had all been cleared and recommended by the same NJC.Governor Okpebholo said no one should be discriminated against, marginalised or hated for personal reasons, or on account of not having a godfather. The Governor added that as judges of the state High Court, they are expected to uphold a high standard of conduct, ensure fair dispute resolution, uphold the rights of citizens, and bring culprits to justice. | #EDO2024; OBASEKI; OKPEBHOLOR; APC; PDP | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 4 DEC 2024 | Senate approves MTEF/FSP, probes NNPCL over N8.4tr subsidy funds | Preparatory to the 2025 budget presentation by President Bola Tinubu before the joint session of the National Assembly, the Senate, yesterday, approved the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), earlier submitted by the President. It confirmed the appointment of Lt-Gen Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The approval followed the adoption of the report of its joint committee on Finance and National Planning & Economic Affairs, chaired by Sen Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) during plenary. Also, the Red Chamber mandated its committees on Finance, Petroleum (Upstream), and Petroleum (Downstream) as well as Gas, to investigate reports from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission (RMAFC), alleging that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) withheld N8.48 trillion as claimed subsidies for petrol. The Senate noted that the investigation would address issues raised in the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report, stating that NNPCL failed to remit $2 billion (N3.6 trillion) in taxes to the Federal Government. It further directed its committees to verify the cumulative unremitted revenue (under-recovery) from the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the NNPCL between 2020 and 2023. | MTEF; BUDGET; NASS; APC; PDP | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| THISDAY LIVE | 4 DEC 2024 | Amid opposition, Tax Reform Bills pass 2nd reading at the Senate; Northern senators decry unfavourable VAT distribution | The Senate recently passed for second reading the four tax reform bills sent to it by President Bola Tinubu with the belief that the controversy associated with some provisions of the bills may be addressed during the public hearing. Sunday Aborisade reports. The Senate last Thursday passed the tax reform bills for second reading amid tension despite a one hour close-door session to calm frayed nerves so that the federal lawmakers csn have a smooth debate on the general principles of the fiscal legislations. The proposed landmark bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill; the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill. Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, read the lead debate when the close session ended. | SENATE; TAX REFORM BILLS; NASS; | THISDAY | ||||
| PREMIUM TIMES | 4 DEC 2024 | CBN Restructuring: House of Reps resolves to probe planned mass retrenchment of 1,000 CBN staff and N50 billion set apart as compensation | The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the planned mass retirement of over 1,000 staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The House also resolved to probe the planned N50 billion compensation payoff for staff willing to take the retirement option. Consequently, it has asked the bank to suspend the process. This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Kama Nkemkama (LP, Ebonyi) on Tuesday during plenary. Mr Nkemkama’s motion was based on a report in a national daily, which claimed that the CBN had offered its staff the option of voluntary retirement. While moving the motion, Mr Nkemkama narrated the contents of the report, stating that “1,000 staff across various levels [were] affected as part of its restructuring process under the CBN Governor’s leadership.” He noted that “such a significant decision has socio-economic implications for the affected individuals, their dependants, and the broader economy, potentially leading to increased unemployment and public dissatisfaction.” The lawmaker also raised concerns about the planned payment of N50 billion to the laid-off staff, stating that it lacked sufficient and oversight mechanisms. | CBN; NASS; HOUSE OF REPS; | PREMIUMTIMES | ||||
| VANGUARD | 4 DEC 2024 | Power surge sets INEC Office ablaze in Ika North East, Delta State; destroys 706 ballot boxes, other valuables | The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has confirmed a fire incident at its office in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State. In a post on its official X handle on Tuesday, the Commission stated that about 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, and other items were destroyed. According to the post, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Delta State, Mr. Etekamba Udo Umoren, confirmed the incident in a report. The report explained that the incident occurred on Monday afternoon due to a sudden power surge following the restoration of the public power supply. “The store’s section where petrol generators and other items were kept was completely razed. “Items destroyed in the inferno include 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, three electric power generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals and assorted items such as envelopes, posters, forms and booklets. “Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities. The incident has been reported to the security agencies and emergency services for a thorough investigation. “The Commission appreciates the cooperation of the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service for their response,” INEC stated. | INEC; FIRE OUTBREAK; DELTA STATE | VANGUARD | ||||
| PUNCH | 4 DEC 2024 | Gov. Okpebholo directs Edo State Council Chairmen to submit statements of account within 48 hours | Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, directed the 18 local government areas chairmen in the state to submit their statements of account within 48 hours. The directive was given during a meeting with the council chairmen at the Government House in Benin City, where the governor, represented by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in governance. The statement of accounts, according to the governor, should cover the period from September 4, 2023, to date and be submitted to the Assets Verification Committee through the office of the Secretary to the State Government. Speaking at the meeting, Idahosa relayed the governor’s resolve to foster collaboration with the council bosses for the state’s progress. He said, “I have listened to you keenly. The governor is a leader of all of us. Election has come and gone, and we are all one family. The governor has asked me to assure you that we are one family. “Mr. Governor is committed to transparency and accountability in this government. To aid the work of the Assets Verification Committee, the governor would want you to submit your statement of accounts from September 4, 2023, to date, within the next 48 hours. This will enable the committee to perform its duties effectively and efficiently. “The statement of accounts should be submitted through the office of the Secretary to the State Government to the Assets Verification Committee. The governor thanks you for your time.” Earlier, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, and Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Newman Ugiagbe, led the council bosses on a courtesy visit to the governor. Ugiagbe expressed the chairmen’s commitment to Okpebholo’s administration, pledging to support his policies and programmes to deliver dividends of democracy to the grassroots. He said, “We are here to congratulate the governor and the deputy on the mandate the Edo people gave them. We also pledge our loyalty to your administration. “Our doors are open to your instructions, policies, and programmes. We are ready to bring these policies to the grassroots to enable our people to benefit from the dividends of democracy, and we will work to ensure your administration succeeds.” | EDO; APC; PDP; LGA; CHAIRMEN | PUNCH | ||||
| PREMIUM TIMES | 4 DEC 2024 | Sanwo-Olu moves to make Lagos State independent of national grid as he signs Electricity Bill into law | Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday signed into law the Electricity Bill 2024 aimed at improving power supply in the state. Among its other goals, the new law aims to establish an electricity market independent of the national grid. The new law builds on last year’s constitution amendment removing electricity from the exclusive legislative list and placing it on the concurrent list to decentralise electricity matters. The shift allows the state governments to participate in generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. The bill will replace the Lagos State Power Sector Reform Law 2018, in furtherance of the Electricity Act 2023 signed into law by president. | LAGOS; SANWO-OLU; ELECTRICITY; | PREMIUMTIMES | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 9 DEC 2024 | FG releases N44bn to pay retirees enrolled between March and September 2024 | The federal government, through the National Pension Commission (PenCom), has announced the release of N44 billion by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) for the payment of accrued pension rights. The funds cover retirees of treasury-funded ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and are part of the 2024 budget appropriation for January to June. A statement issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on behalf of the National Pension Commission in Abuja explained that the funds have been deposited into the Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund (RBBRF) Account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It said the payment applies to accrued pension rights for retirees verified and enrolled between March and September 2023, as well as some deceased employees. | FG; PENSION; PENCOM; OFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 9 DEC 2024 | Kaduna State warns appointees of irresponsible social media posts as Uba Sani rids cabinet of El-Rufai loyalists’ | The removal of Samuel Aruwan, the former Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, from Governor Uba Sani’s cabinet has intensified speculation about a strained relationship between the incumbent and his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai. Aruwan’s exit was not entirely unexpected, as tensions had reportedly been brewing between members of the current administration and individuals closely aligned with the former governor. Aruwan, a former journalist, served as El-Rufai’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity from 2015 to 2019. After the 2019 elections, he was appointed pioneer commissioner for the newly created Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, a position that significantly elevated his influence within the El-Rufai administration. Sources close to the administration revealed that Aruwan enjoyed considerable autonomy due to his close relationship with El-Rufai, and he played a key role in supporting Uba Sani’s governorship bid, even as El-Rufai initially had reservations about Sani’s candidacy. Despite his contributions, Aruwan was not reappointed as Commissioner for Internal Security after Sani assumed office. Instead, he served as the ministry’s overseer for over a year while other commissioners were confirmed. Additionally, he was appointed Administrator of the Kaduna Capital Authority, a position he held alongside his role in the internal security ministry. While the previous administration, including Aruwan, faced allegations of misappropriating N423 billion by the state assembly, he remained part of Sani’s cabinet. However, several of Sani’s allies reportedly viewed his continued presence as problematic, advocating for the removal of individuals perceived as loyal to El-Rufai. Eventually, Aruwan, along with Shizzer Bada, the former commissioner for Finance, and Tijjani Abdullahi, the executive chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, was removed. Their dismissal followed a memo from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which alleged false asset declarations. Meanwhile, the state government has cautioned political appointees against what it called irresponsible social media posts, warning that such actions could harm the administration’s reputation. | KADUNA; EL-RUFAI; UBA SANI; CABINET | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 9 DEC 2024 | INEC comments on Ghana elections, says its decentralised system was inspired by Nigeria's model for managing constituency elections. | Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said Ghana’s decision to decentralise its electoral system was inspired by Nigeria’s success in managing constituency election results. While commending the smooth conduct of Ghana’s 2024 presidential election, Yakubu observed that until the last election, all parliamentary and presidential results were sent to the headquarters of the Electoral Commission in Accra for announcement. Ghana’s former President John Mahama won the country’s presidential election held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, after his main opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat. The defeat in Saturday’s election ended two terms in power for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Nana Akufo-Addo. For the 2024 presidential election, Ghana adopted a decentralised system, allowing constituency-level officers to announce parliamentary results locally, while only presidential results were sent to Accra. Yakubu, who monitored the election in a short video posted on Sunday, believed that Ghana’s current approach to managing results at the constituency level was inspired by Nigeria, adding that the process has improved the efficiency of the electoral process. | INEC; GHANA; MAHMOOD YAKUBU; | GUARDIAN | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 9 DEC 2024 | Nig. Institute of Pub. Relations warns MDAs to stop appointing non-professionals as Spokespersons | The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has urged ministries, departments and agencies under the federal government to stop appointing uncertified professionals as spokesmen and heads of their information units and departments. The institute expressed concerns that many quacks have infiltrated the profession and exhibiting unethical conducts. It warned that there would henceforth be dire consequences for anyone practisingpublic relations without being certified. The National President of the institute, Dr. Ike Neliaku, gave the warning at the induction ceremony of 421 new members and officers of the Federal Ministry of Information in Abuja on Saturday night. According to him, any public relations expert caught practising without certification risks being prosecuted and imprisoned. He said, “People are beginning to appreciate the practice of public relations as a solution-providing institute. “Secondly, we have been advocating for those who are qualified to come forward and become chartered. “According to the law of the federation, you are a quack if you are not certified by the institute. | MDAS; NIPR; SPOKESPERSON; | THISDAY | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 9 DEC 2024 | Unwritten Presidential Rotation: George Akume warns against destroying Nigeria’s unity, asks Northern interest groups to wait their turn | Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, yesterday, said it was not yet the turn of the north to produce Nigeria’s president in 2027, warning that to do otherwise could undermine the nation’s unity and destroy her. He, therefore, advised the Northern interest groups to wait until 2031 before running for the presidency, with a caveat that, it was not their time to throw their hat in the ring. Akume, who spoke as a guest on a television political progamme against the backdrop of deft political scheming and coalition by different groups with the aim to take over power from the ruling APC and succeed President Bola Tinubu in 2027, declared the current president would serve two terms of eight years. “It is not yet time for the North. This is my appeal to them. Don’t let us destroy our country because of personal ambition. It is my advice and this has been consistent. Do not let us rock the boat. “Let us allow this power to reside in the south for eight years and then it will come to the North. To do otherwise, honestly is to destroy this country. “This democracy and people are entitled to their views. Again, in democracy, you always have groups springing up and forming alliance, creating movement and intending to transform them into political parties. “The political ball, quite frankly, has started to roll and there is one group that is headed by the former governor of Kano State and the Secretary is from Benue State, Emmanuel Jume. He was a member of House of Representative before. “People have the right to form alliances but my candid advice to my people in the North is that if you should form your alliances, make sure your candidates are from the South. Why? Because that is one thing that will guarantee our territorial integrity and unity,” he said. The former governor of Benue State also advised former Vice President AtikuAbubakar of the main opposition party, PDP, to perish the thought of taking over presidential power in 2027. “If it’s the will of God at 90, you can still become the president of this country, but if it is not his will, you will never be,” he declared. He said Tinubu as a southerner, should be allowed to have a second term while those eyeing the presidency from the North in 2027 should look beyond that year by waiting till 2031. | NIGRIA; GEORGE AKUME; PRESIDENCY; ROTATIONAL PRESODENCY | THISDAY | ||||
| PUNCH | 9 DEC 2024 | Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal begins today | The All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party say they are ready for legal battle as the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal commences hearing of the petitions challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024 poll. Independent National Electoral Commission declared the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, winner of the poll, while the PDP candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, was declared the first runner-up. The PDP and Ighodalo, however, rejected the result of the poll, which they alleged was manipulated and therefore filed a petition before the tribunal. Ahead of the tribunal’s pre-hearing today (Monday), the Edo PDP Caretaker Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, called for a fair examination of the evidence before the tribunal. | EDO; PETITION TRIBUNAL; | PUNCH | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 10 DEC 2024 | Court grants human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi N50m bail, adjourns matter to 29 January 2025 | Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti. He was granted bail in the sum of N50 million, with a surety in like sum. The court said the surety must own landed property while the matter was adjourned to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings. “Dele Farotimi was granted bail of N50 million naira surety in the like sum with someone with landed property. The case was adjourned to 29 January 2025,” Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, wrote on his X handle on Monday. Farotimi was remanded last week Monday by the court in Ado Ekiti for allegedly defaming a legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, in his recently published book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’. There has been an outrage over his arrest and subsequent prosecution with legal opinions divided over the actions instigated by Babalola. Some activists led by Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the Take it Back Movement had declared Tuesday a day of protest to demand freedom for Farotimi. Also Afe Babalola had justified the action against Farotimi, saying his reputation was maligned in his book. | DELE FAROTIMI; FED HIGH COURT; BAIL; AFE BABALOLA | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| THIS DAY LIVE | 10 DEC 2024 | "Opposition's victory in Ghana signals end of APC's oppressive rule in 2027," PDP foretells as Atiku tackles Akume for asking North to wait till 2027 for power shift | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said the return of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Ghana and President John Mahama to power, was a sign that the oppressive rule of Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC) would end by 2027. PDP, however, congratulated the people of Ghana for their resilience in defending democracy and ensuring that their Will prevailed in the Saturday, December 7, 2024 Presidential election. This was as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has tackled the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, over his permutation that the North should wait till 2031 before aspiring to the presidency. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, PDP said, ”The victory of democracy on the platform of the opposition NDC is a clear demonstration of the triumph of the power of the people over misrule and oppressive policies of government as now being witnessed in Nigeria under the corrupt, rudderless and insensitive All Progressives Congress (APC). | GHANA; PDP; APC; ATIKU; AKUME; POWER SHIFT; 2027 | THISDAY | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 10 DEC 2024 | Edo Election Tribunal receives seven petitions against Okpebholo’s victory, adjourns matter to December 18, 2024 | The Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which has begun sitting in Benin, is to hear seven petitions challenging the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo in the September 21 poll. The petitions were submitted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and six other political parties. The other parties, according to the cause list, are the Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). In his inaugural address, the Chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, canvassed for the cooperation of all parties in the case, particularly the legal representations. Kpochi lauded the calmness in the courtroom but raised concerns about the influx of parties’ supporters into the premises. “We would like to request your cooperation. I can see this place is calm and hope it will continue like this. However, I saw many people outside and wondered what it was all about. “On my part, we will say we will cooperate with you. You are senior lawyers. Do not shout at us and we will not shout at you either. If you notice any issue, draw our attention and we will listen.”" | #EDO2024; APC; PDP; OKPEBHOLO; | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 10 DEC 2024 | #Ondo2024: PDP's Agboola Ajayi challenges Aiyedatiwa’s victory, accuses INEC of bias | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has filed a petition at the Election Petition Tribunal to contest Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory in the November 16 governorship election. Ajayi, who finished second in the poll, announced this during a press briefing in Akure on Monday. He argued that the election, which saw Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) declared the winner with 366,781 votes against his 117,845, did not reflect the will of the people. The PDP candidate revealed that his party conducted a comprehensive review of the election and concluded that filing a petition was necessary to seek justice. “Since the election, we have refrained from public commentary to thoroughly analyse the events of that day,” Ajayi stated. “Our findings confirm that the outcome does not represent the people’s will. By filing a petition, we are taking lawful steps to ensure justice is served.” He expressed gratitude to the electorate for their support and maturity during the election but lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to ensure a free and fair process. “We are optimistic that the tribunal will fairly adjudicate our case. The judiciary remains a crucial pillar in preserving democracy, and we trust it will rise to this challenge,” he added. | #ONDO2024; PDP; APC; | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 11 DEC 2024 | Court remands Yahaya Bello in Kuje pending bail application, trial to commence on Jan 29, 2025 | Federal Capital Territory High Court, yesterday, remanded the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending his bail application. Justice Maryann Anenih also adjourned the hearing in the N110 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to January 29 and 30 and February 25 and 27 for hearing. This followed the earlier refusal to grant a bail application filed by the former governor, saying it was filed prematurely.Justice Anenih, while delivering the ruling, said that having been filed when the first defendant was neither in custody nor before the court, the application was incompetent. | #EDO2024; KUJE; YAHAYA BELLO; KOGI STATE; BAIL; CORRUPTION; FRAUD | GUARDIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 11 DEC 2024 | Again, court remands Dele Farotimi, adjourns case till Dec. 20 | The Ekiti State Chief Magistrate’s Court trying the criminal defamation case against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has adjourned the case till December 20, 2024, to hear the bail application for the defendant, just as the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered his remand. This was just as the police prosecuting counsel in the case, Samson Osobu, opposed the appearance of Adeyinka Olumide-Fasuka (SAN) for an ongoing trial at the magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti. Osobu, yesterday, informed the court that the SAN, under the law, could not take over the suit for the defendant at the magistrate’s court. He cited the recent judgment of a Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, delivered on July 16, 2024, where the court ruled that a SAN could not appear before the magistrate’s court. But in his submission, Olumide-Fasuka said that the Ekiti State Magistrate’s Court law enacted by the House of Assembly allowed lawyers, irrespective of status and title, to appear in the court, especially in criminal matters as it relates to the suit against the defendant. He urged the court to reject the argument of the prosecution lawyer, noting that the judgment he cited might not have considered all magistrate’s court laws across the country. Responding to the matter, the Chief Magistrate said that he would step down his ruling on the matter for him to read the judgment cited by the prosecutor. He, therefore, ordered Olumide-Fasuka to step down and allow the most senior lawyer in the defendant’s team to continue the case, pending his ruling on the matter. A lawyer, Taiwo Adedeji, is continuing the case on behalf of the defendant. However, the court adjourned the case till December 20, 2024, to hear the bail application for the defendant and ordered the remand of Farotimi. | DELE FAROTIMI; FED HIGH COURT; BAIL; AFE BABALOLA | GUARDIAN | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 11 DEC 2024 | NOA moves to translate Controversial Tax Reform Bills Into 36 Local Languages | "The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it is translating the tax reform bills into over 36 local languages to clear misconceptions around the reform. Director-General of the agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, stated this at press conference to create awareness on tax reform bills, security, get-rich-quick syndrome, human rights and HIV/AIDS, on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State. Represented by Inuwa Yusuf Kobi, Director, Research and Statistics of NOA, Onilu said understanding the bill would allow people to pass informed judgement." “There have been a lot of misconceptions about the tax reform bills in the public domain and, very painful, a lot of those making negative comments about the new tax reform bills were not even conversant with the details and the inherent benefits,” he said. | NOA; TAX REFORM BILLS; NASS | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| THE CABLE | 16 DEC 2024 | Bolaji Abdullahi, the Former Sports Minister under Goodluck Jonathan has resigned from PDP | Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister of sports and youth development, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He disclosed his intention to resign in a letter dated December 16 and addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Ubadawaki, Kwara state. Abdullahi confirmed the development to TheCable on Monday. The ex-minister also said he is yet to decide which political platform to pitch tent with. “The decision of what to do and where to go will be taken in the future that’s left to God,” he said. In the resignation letter, Abdullahi said he reached the “difficult” decision after days of reflection and introspection. “I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” the letter reads. “I have had ample time to reflect, and I have come to the difficult conclusion that this is the only tenable option for me at this time. “Mr. Chairman, please permit me to express, through you, my gratitude to the leadership of the party for the opportunities that I have had to serve the state and the country on its platform, and for the great moments we have shared.” Abdullahi was the PDP candidate for the Kwara central senatorial district election in 2023. He lost the race to Salihu Mustapha of the All Progressives Congress (APC). | PDP; MINISTER; GOODLUCK JONATHAN; | CABLE | ||||
| THE CABLE | 16 DEC 2024 | Performance Evaluation: Tajudeen Abbas says House of Reps passed 89 bills in the last 17 months across priority areas | Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, says the 10th house passed 89 bills across priority areas in one year. Speaking during a workshop organised for the house of representatives press corps in Kaduna on Saturday, Abbas highlighted the performance of the lawmakers in the past 17 months. “I am pleased to highlight our significant strides in the past seventeen months. Our One-Year performance assessment scorecard reveals remarkable achievements, including passing 89 bills across our priority areas,” he said. “These include the Electric Power Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Federal Audit Service Bill, 2023; the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, 2023; the Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the National Assembly Library Trust Fund Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024; the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the National Anthem Bill, 2024; and the Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023. “These laws address critical aspects of governance, security, and economic reform.” The speaker said besides lawmaking, the house of representatives undertook various initiatives to deepen public engagement and enhance the legislative process. | HOUSE OF REPS; TAJUDEEN ABBAS; NASS; BILLS | CABLE | ||||
| VANGUARD | 16 DEC 2024 | FG overshoots 2024 borrowing target by N4trn -- a 67% increase above budgeted amount | As President Bola Tinubu prepares to present to the National Assembly tomorrow, the 2025 national budget largely saddled with funding by borrowings, the Federal Government (FG) is set to overshoot its domestic borrowing target for 2024 by N4 trillion, about 67 per cent above the budgeted amount. These are coming despite the widespread concerns over the continued rise in the nation’s debt stock. Details of the domestic borrowing activities of the government in the 11 months to November 2024 is already showing borrowing in excess of N2.93 trillion or 49 per cent above the target as of November. Financial Vanguard findings showed that FG had borrowed N8.93 trillion from domestic investors in the eleven months from January to November, 11M’24, as against the N6 trillion planned for the whole year. With this trend and other borrowing activities currently being executed, the FG may end up borrowing N10 trillion in 2024, 67 per cent above the target for the year. Meanwhile, these are coming against the backdrop of FG’s plan to finance the 2025 budget deficit with domestic and external borrowings amounting to N9.22 trillion, 18 % higher than the N7.808 trillion for 2024. The 2025 deficit budget according to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning report would be financed “by new foreign and domestic borrowings of N9.22 trillion, N312.33 billion from Privatization Proceeds, and N3.55 trillion draw-downs on existing multilateral/bilateral project-tied loans. The deficit will largely be financed by domestic borrowings, considering the narrow window for external financing.” | BUDGET; BORROWING; NASS; BILL | VANGUARD | ||||
| CHANNELS TV | 16 DEC 2024 | Tinubu to present 2025 budget proposal to NASS tomorrow | President Bola Tinubu will present the budget proposal for 2025 to the National Assembly on Tuesday. Advertisement The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, disclosed this during plenary on Thursday. The proposed 2025 budget will be President Tinubu’s second full budget to be presented to the NASS since his assumption of office in May 2023. While speaking, Akpabio said the budget presentation will begin at 11:00 a.m. and be held in the House of Representatives chamber.“His Excellency, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has indicated his intention to bring the 2025 budget proposals and estimates to a joint sitting of the National Assembly on 17th day of December, 2024. “That will be at 11:00 a.m., prompt. That will be at the House of Representatives as usual. I am talking about Tuesday next week,” Akpabio said. On December 3, the Senate approved the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) with a total spending of ₦47.9 trillion.The expenditure framework was approved with a new borrowing plan of ₦9.22 trillion, constituting domestic and foreign borrowings. The MTEF is a projection of the federal government’s three-year spending plan. The nation’s budget is predicated on this framework. The framework was approved with an exchange rate of ₦1,400 to a dollar and adopted the oil prices of $75, $76.2, and $75.3 per barrel for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively. | NASS; BUDGET; BILL; | CHANNELSTV | ||||
| PUNCH | 16 DEC 2024 | ALGON, NULGE kick as July - December LG allocation worth N2trn gets allocated to states | The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee disbursed a total of N2.08tn in allocations to Local Government Councils between July and December 2024, findings by The PUNCH have shown. However, despite the July 2024 Supreme Court ruling granting full financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, The PUNCH learnt that the allocations were still paid to state government accounts. This, it was learnt, has irked officials and members of the Association of the Local Governments of Nigeria and National Union of Local Government Employees. The landmark Supreme Court ruling directed that funds meant for LGs should be paid directly into their accounts, bypassing state governments, in an effort to promote autonomy and ensure that the funds allocated to local governments were properly utilised. Nearly six months after the judgment, the Federal Government had not effected direct payment of allocations to the local governments, as directed by the apex court. The PUNCH reported that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the Federal Government was yet to commence direct payment to the respective LGs due to some “practical impediments.” He added that a committee had been set up by the Federal Government to look at the practicability of the judgment. The Federal Government, it was learnt, faced challenges implementing the ruling on local government financial autonomy, with concerns over its impact on salary payments and operational viability. | ALGON; NULGE; | PUNCH | ||||
| THE CABLE | 17 DEC 2024 | The Federal Executive Council approves the renaming of UniAbuja to "Yakubu Gowon University" | The federal executive council has approved the renaming of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) to Yakubu Gowon University. Mohammed Idris, the minister of information, spoke at the 14th council meeting of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He addressed state house correspondents after the meeting, which is the last for 2024. Idris said the renaming of UniAbuja is to honour General Yakubu Gowon (retd) who recently celebrated his 90th birthday. The minister emphasised that the proposal to rename the university will be forwarded to the national assembly for formal approval, ensuring that the change is officially recognised. Yakubu Gowon is a retired Nigerian military officer who served as the head of state from 1966 to 1975. He became Nigeria’s youngest leader at the age of 31 following a counter-coup during a period of severe political instability. Gowon is best known for leading Nigeria during the civil war (1967–1970), a conflict sparked by the secession of the southeastern region. Under his leadership, Nigeria adopted the slogan “to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done”, preserving the country’s territorial integrity. Post-war, Gowon initiated the “no victor, no vanquished” policy and a reconstruction project aimed at healing national divisions. Gowon’s tenure was also marked by significant economic growth fueled by an oil boom, which he leveraged to embark on large-scale infrastructure projects and the expansion of education. | FEC; UNIABUJA; GOWON; CIVIL WAR | CABLE | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 17 DEC 2024 | Knowledge Transfer? Criticisms mount as Benin Republic leads team to INEC on study tour, seeks collaboration for Benin election success | The President (Chairman) of the Commission Electorale Nationale Autonomie (CENA) of the Republic of Benin, Dr. Sacca Lafia, has called for collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the success of the 2026 general elections in the neighbouring francophone country. He made the call on Monday when he led a 12-man delegation on a study visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja. The aim of the visit was for CENA to learn from Nigeria’s electoral processes, procedures, and best practices as the Francophone country prepared for its upcoming 2026 elections. Daily Trust reports that both countries are members of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) and had a standing memorandum of understanding (MoU) to assist each other in areas of collaboration for successful elections and to deepen democracy. Receiving the delegation, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said that early last month (November), INEC received a letter from CENA indicating its interest to undertake a study visit to INEC Nigeria as they prepare for what they described as their most complex election in 2026. Yakubu said that for the first time in its history, CENA would be conducting three elections within a period of three months. Legislative and Local Elections will be held in January 2026, to be followed by the presidential election in April 2026. | BENIN REPUBLIC; INEC; CENA; STUDY TOUR | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 17 DEC 2024 | Tinubu appoints eight permanent secretaries to fill vacancies across 8 states | President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed eight permanent secretaries in the federal civil service to fill existing and impending vacancies in some states and geopolitical zones. It was the second set of eight permanent secretaries appointed by the president, following those appointed last June from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Jigawa, Ondo, Zamfara, South East and South-South. Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation recommended that the new permanent secretaries be appointed after diligent selection. The appointees are Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu (Abia State), Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip (Bayelsa State), Anuma Ogbonnaya Nlia (Ebonyi State), Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam (Enugu State), Kalba Danjuma Usman (Gombe State), Usman Salihu Aminu (Kebbi State), Oyekunle Patience Nwakuso (Rivers State) and Nadungu Gagare (Kaduna State). | TINUBU; CIVIL SERVICE; PERMANENT SECRETARIES | GUARDIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 17 DEC 2024 | 2025 Budget: Uproar as FG announces plans to borrow to fund its N13trn deficit | Mr Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, on Monday said the N13 trillion deficit in the N48 trillion 2025 budget would be financed through borrowing. The minister said this while briefing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the total projected revenue for 2025 stands at N34,820,000,000,000 out of which the expenditure is projected at 47,960,000,000,000, which is an increase of 36.8 per cent from the 2024 estimate. The deficit for 2025 is projected at 13,140,000,000,000, representing 3.89 per cent of GDP. Edun said the budget was designed within the context of how far and how much progress had been made under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu over the last 18 months. | 2025 BUDGET; BORROWING; FG; DEFICIT; | GUARDIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 17 DEC 2024 | President Tinubu has approved new service terms for military personnel; Ministry of Defense to release details harmonised terms | President Bola Tinubu on Monday presided over the National Defense Council meeting, where he approved the new Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) for officers and enlisted personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces. The approval, disclosed by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, signifies a major step towards improving the welfare of soldiers, ratings, and airmen across the nation. The revised HTACOS is expected to address long-standing concerns within the military regarding service conditions, and streamlining policies for both officers and enlisted personnel. Specifically, on his verified X handle, Olusegun wrote, “President Tinubu presides over the National Defense Council meeting, [and] approved the new harmonised terms and conditions of service (HTACOS) [for] officers, soldiers/ratings/airmen.” By adopting the harmonised framework, the Tinubu administration aims to bolster morale and enhance the operational readiness of Nigeria’s defense forces. President Tinubu, who chaired the high-level defense council meeting, reiterated his commitment to supporting the armed forces in their crucial role of safeguarding national security. The development reflects his administration’s broader strategy of prioritizing welfare reforms and strengthening institutional structures. Details of the harmonised terms are expected to be released by the Ministry of Defense in the coming days. | TINUBU; MINISTRY OF DEFENCE; MILITARY | GUARDIAN | ||||
| VANGUARD | 18 DEC 2024 | Okpebholo suspends LG Chairmen, Vice Chairmen; PDP rejects action | The Edo State House of Assembly has suspended the chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 local government areas in the state for two months, citing alleged gross misconduct and insubordination. The assembly directed the council leaders to hand over administration to the legislative leaders of their respective local governments. This decision followed a letter from Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo accusing the council leaders of insubordination after they failed to submit financial reports from September 23, 2022, to date as directed. The governor’s directive, however, was reportedly resisted by the council leaders, who cited their financial autonomy as upheld by the Supreme Court. During Tuesday’s plenary presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, the assembly adopted a motion for the suspension of the council officials. The motion was moved by Hon. Isibor Adeh (Esan North East I) and seconded by Hon. Donald Okogbe (Akoko-Edo II). The governor’s petition, dated December 16 and titled “Insubordination and Gross Misconduct by the 18 Local Government Chairmen Over Their Refusal to Submit Financial Records for Scrutiny,” prompted the assembly to act under Section 20(b) of the Local Government Act, which empowers the house to suspend local government officials for two months pending investigation. The motion sparked a heated debate in the assembly, leading to a rowdy session. Out of 24 members, 14 supported the suspension, six opposed it, and three remained undecided. Majority Leader Hon. Charity Aigueobarhugia cautioned against the suspension, urging the assembly to grant the chairmen a fair hearing by inviting them to defend the allegations before the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. | EDO; LG; PDP; APC; | VANGUARD | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 18 DEC 2024 | INEC restores Ezeokenwa as APGA chairman in compliance with Supreme Court judgment | In compliance with the November judgment of the Supreme Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored Sylvester Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement yesterday. The apex court had, last month, affirmed Ezeokenwa as the National Chairman of APGA, putting to an end the party’s leadership dispute. In two unanimous judgments, a five-member panel of the apex court held that Edozie Njoku wrongly laid claims to APGA chairmanship. In the judgment read by Justice Stephen Adah, the panel held that in its 2021 judgment, only declaratory reliefs were granted and the reliefs were not executory. He added that there was no order or orders in the 2021 judgment to be executed. The apex court noted that in its earlier judgment, it held that the issue of party leadership or who becomes the chairman of a political party was an internal affair of the party. Justice Adah held that it was wrong for Njoku to have gone before the lower court to seek enforcement in a judgment that had nothing to be enforced, as no executory reliefs were granted. Olumekun said the commission had been duly served with the court judgment. He said: “The commission met on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Among other issues, the meeting discussed the leadership issue in APGA, which has been the subject of litigation. “The commission has been served with the judgment of the Supreme Court with appeal No. SC/CV/824/2024 APGA & ANOR vs OYE & ORS, delivered on November 27, 2024, recognising Sylvester (Sly) Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of the party. “In compliance with the judgment of the apex court, the commission has restored Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of APGA and restored his name on our website accordingly.” | INEC; SUPREME COURT; APGA; | GUARDIAN | ||||
| GUARDIAN | 18 DEC 2024 | APC chides Adeleke over 2018 guber poll claims, warns against rubbishing judiciary | The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, cautioned the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, against disparaging the judiciary with his claim of winning the 2018 governorship election in the state. According to the opposition party in Osun State, “this statement of Senator Adeleke is unnecessary as it amounts to telling the whole world that he doesn’t have confidence in the judiciary, which through the Supreme Court of the land, saw sufficient proof that he lost the 2018 governorship election to the former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.” Director of Media and Information of the APC, Kola Olabisi, in a statement, said: “Senator Adeleke should be reminded that a governorship election in Nigeria is a process which begins at the primary level to the election proper, to the tribunal, Court of Appeal and terminates at the Supreme Court. “It is instructive to drum it into Adeleke’s ears that any allusion made by him or any other person that he (Adeleke) won the 2018 governorship election is not only contemptuous but amounts to rebuking the judiciary that it doesn’t know what it is doing. “It also beats the imagination of any right-thinking member of the society that a beneficiary of the same judiciary during the 2022 election could be bold enough to be deriding the same judiciary that pronounced him the winner of the governorship election against Oyetola, the APC’s candidate. “We, as a party, have since moved on as a committed democrat that has an absolute confidence in the nation’s judiciary and all the tenets of the rules of law. “We want to make it abundantly clear to Adeleke and his co-travellers that his continuous disparaging of the judiciary over his loss of the 2018 election would not confer any special advantage on him in the 2026 election, which he should be prepared to lose because of his unenviable scorecard.” | APC; JUDICIARY; GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION; | GUARDIAN | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 18 DEC 2024 | Sen. Ned Nwoko proposes Bill to ban use of foreign currency in Nigeria | It is titled, “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, No. 7, to Prohibit the Use of Foreign Currencies for Remuneration and for Other Related Matters.” It is sponsored by the Chairman Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation, Senator Ned Munir Nwoko. The proposed legislation aimed at ensuring that all payments, including salaries, are conducted in Naira within the country. The bill also seeks to strengthen confidence in the local currency (Naira) as part of efforts to end discriminatory practices against it. Senator Nwoko explained that the Naira has been undermined due to widespread use of foreign currencies in the country’s financial system, and described the use of the Dollar, Pound, Euro and other foreign currencies for domestic transactions as a “colonial relic” that continues to hinder Nigeria’s economic independence. Daily Trust reports that the bill also requires crude oil and other exports to be sold exclusively in Naira, compelling international buyers to purchase the currency and driving its demand and value. It also seeks to abolish informal currency markets that undermine the formal economy and encourage unethical practices such as round-tripping by banks. | SENATE; FOREIGN CURRENCY; NIGERIA; | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| DAILY TRUST | 18 DEC 2024 | Jigawa uncovers 6,348 ghost workers Receiving N3.7bn | The Jigawa State Government says it has uncovered 6,348 ghost workers in its staff verification exercise in the state. Mr Sagir Musa, Commissioner for Infomation, Youths, Sports and Culture, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Dutse. He said the report of the Statewide Staff Audit Biometric Data Capture and Validation Exercise, showed that 6,348 ghost workers had been detected, allowing the government to save over N314 million monthly.Musa said the State Executive Council had studied the report and approved the establishment of the Continuous Capture Centre (CCC) at the Office of the Head of Civil Service. This, he said, would fast-track completion of the data capture and validation exercise, as part of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Management System (IPPMS). “The exercise resulted in the detection of 6,348 ghost workers and significantly saved cost with an average of N314,657,342.06 per month and N3,775,888,809.72 per annum,” he said. | JIGAWA; GHOST WORKERS | DAILYTRUST | ||||
| BREAKING NEWS | 18 DEC 2024 | JUST IN: Tinubu presents the 2025 budget at the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Reps | JUST IN: Tinubu presents the 2025 budget at the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Reps | 2025 BUDGET; NASS; HOR; SENATE | |||||