Former Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Musa Gwadabe, is dead.
Gwadabe, a pioneer member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), died on today morning, April 26, age 86, at Kano hospital after a protracted illness.
A daughter of the deceased, who is also a worker at Radio Nigeria Pyramid FM Kano, Aisha Musa Gwadabe confirmed the death. She said that the funeral prayer for the late minister would hold at 2.00 pm at his residence, off Maiduguri road, in Kano.
In a condolence message, President Muhammadu Buhari described late Musa Gwadabe as a smooth politician and reliable ally.
The President said that the death of Gwadabe, a top notcher of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) was colossal loss.
He said that the demise of Musa Gwadabe has deprived the nation of one of its most remarkable political leaders.
“The late Musa Gwadabe was a complete gentleman. He was a smooth political operator and a very reliable ally with an unmatched record of support, leading to the emergence of the current APC administration and the incoming one.
‘‘I will not forget his tireless efforts to keep the party afloat during difficult times. That he died a few weeks ahead of the inauguration of the Tinubu/Shettima administration that he laboured so hard to bring about is one of the ironies of life. May Allah repose his soul.”
“Except there is an Act of God who is Almighty, nothing will stop the inauguration of Asiwaju.
“The opposition should just concentrate on their Petitions in court or start preparing for 2027.”
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), made this point today, April 26, in a statement in Abuja.
Keyamo, who is the Chief Spokesperson of the defunct Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is not nursing any fear concerning the inauguration of Tinubu.
He said any opposition member who thinks Tinubu will not be sworn in as President on 29 May for legal reasons is living in fools’ paradise.
On the return of Tinubu to the country after four weeks vacation in France, Keyamo advised the opposition to focus on their petitions at the courts or start preparing for the 2027 general elections.
“Why should we exercise any fear? Any opposition member alive now who believes that for some legal reasons Asiwaju will not be inaugurated must be living in fools’ paradise.”
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Adamawa governorship election, Senator Aisha Dahiru-Ahmed, popularly called “Binani,” has beaten a retreat, withdrawing the suit filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The APC candidate had prayed the court for a judicial review of the decision by INEC to reverse her earlier announcement as winner of the poll by the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
But her counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, upon resumed hearing in the matter today, April 26, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja that a notice of discontinuance had been filed to that effect and urged the court to strike out the case.
Justice Ekwo reminded Sheriff that an order was given in the last adjourned date directing him to address the court on whether the court had the jurisdiction to entertain the case or not.
The lawyer, who informed the court that a lot of issues had came up between the last date of adjournment and today, begged for an order striking out the suit.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the construction of a new national library in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, at the cost of N32.4 Billion.
The library will be made up of a concrete structure consisting of 11 floors, two basement floors and eight upper floors for housing bookstore, locker rooms, bindery, printing press, restaurants, clinic, creches, changing rooms, exhibition hall, auditorium, cataloguing, general reference areas, legal deposits, office for the administration book stacks, reading areas, electronic data processing center.
Others are library research and training center, public convenience, underground car pack furnishing, perimeter fencing, gates and gatehouses, internal roads, electrical and mechanical services and other external works.
The Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Nanah Opiah, who spoke to newsmen today, April 26, shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential villa, Abuja, said that the approval followed by a memo presented by the ministry, for the revised estimated total cost of contract for the completion of the construction of National Library of Nigeria headquarters building complex in Abuja.
According to him, the revised estimated cost is N32.4 billion, saying that the contract was originally awarded in the 2006 to Reynolds Construction Company Limited (RCC) and has undergone further revisions.
He said that in 2017, the company presented request for variation amounting to N78 billion “which was considered quite unacceptable by the Federal Ministry of Education. And therefore, an adhoc committee of technical stakeholders was set up to review the variation.
“The ad hoc committee was comprised of Ministery of Education, The National Library of Nigeria, the Federal Capital Development Authority as the supervisory agency, the consultant to the project and the consultant itself. “And after exhaustive review, the cost was brought down to N49.6 billion, which was acceptable to the contractor. Before then, previous certificates amounting to about N11.9 billion had already been earned.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has confessed that the most difficult job for any security officer is to serve a President and that his own Chief Personal Security Officer deserves commendation for the excellent job of securing him and his family all these while. The President also acknowledged the loyalty of other Security Officers and Personnel for the excellent work put in towards ensuring his safety and that of his family. President Buhari, who spoke today, April 26, at the point of decorating his Chief Personnel Security Offer, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, with his new rank of Police Commissioner, said that he is very impressed by the officer’s “loyalty and for my personal security. Serving me is very difficult.” The President commended the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba for the “correctness” of his decision to elevate the erstwhile Deputy Commissioner of Police to the full rank of a Commissioner, saying: “I am very pleased with his record.” The President advised the newly promoted officer to always remember his training and to exhibit sensitivity while carrying out his duty in his new position.
The new Police Commissioner was decorated by the President and was assisted by the IGP, Usman Baba Alkali as well as his spouse, Hajiya Maryam Ibrahim. The event was witnessed by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, the family of the officer and some personal staff of the President. In a short remark, the newly promoted officer thanked the President and the IGP for the promotion and assured the President of his total loyalty and full commitment to duty.
Enthronement of transparency, prudent management of financial resources, and deployment of a new master plan are some of the strategies that would attract the private sector to support the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and return the agency to the path of sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. This was the position canvassed by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, in the keynote address he delivered at the NDDC Public-Private Partnership Summit 2023 held in Lagos. He stressed that once the finances of the Commission are transparently and prudently managed, it will entice genuine local and international partnerships. He also recommended that the NDDC should project itself positively through its choice of signature projects and interventions and open its accounts and project sites for public scrutiny. According to him, “capital is very shy and avoids controversies like a plague. In a situation where there are real or perceived infractions, corruption, lack of accountability, and other vices, capital attraction becomes a big challenge.” He pointed out that NDDC has diverse sources of funding, some of which include the Federation Account, Oil Producing Companies, State Governments, and local or international grants, thus the Commission would be expected to demonstrate financial ingenuity before it could leverage for more capital. The Executive Secretary based his recommendations against the backdrop of experiences at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which is currently rated as the best agency in the country by several independent arms of the Federal Government and the private sector. While blaming the failure of the Niger Delta Regional Master Plan launched in 2007 on insufficient funding, frequent changes in leadership, delays in budget approvals, and other issues, he canvassed for a modified or an entirely new Niger Delta Master Plan, to be developed with the support of key stakeholders of the region. He advised the Commission to stick to its core mandate and avoid being pressured by interest groups to derail or dabble into projects outside its responsibility, emphasizing that the assessment of proposals should be strictly based on their sustainability, “otherwise, it would be money down the drain.” The NCDMB boss further suggested that development and infrastructure projects should no longer be considered as gifts but as commercial ventures that need to be managed for profitability. He lauded the management of the NDDC for embarking on the Summit themed “Rewind to Rebirth, describing it as “the start of a new dawn in making the Commission to retrace its steps back to the original objectives of its formation as an intervention agency for the development of the Niger Delta. Wabote admitted that it was imperative for NDDC to explore innovative funding via PPPs as a credible option to meet the expanding developmental demands of the Niger Delta region, hinting that “PPP’s also bring with it corporate governance, technical expertise, and commercial acumen to enhance project delivery and successful operations.” The highpoint of the summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth over $15 billion between the NDDC and Atlanta Global Resources Inc, an international infrastructure project financing firm, for the construction of a mega rail line that would connect the nine states that make up NDDC and ease the infrastructure deficit in the region. NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, described the deal as the first harvest of the PPP approach. He noted that NDDC could no longer shoulder the enormous responsibility of developing the Niger Delta region alone, hence the recourse to PPP model to provide alternative funding sources for critical developmental projects and programmes to effectively drive sustainable development in the region. Other dignitaries who spoke at the event observed that most of the funds that had accrued to the NDDC in previous years had not been properly applied, thereby contributing to the continued underdevelopment of the region. They charged the Ogbuku-led management of NDDC to chart a new course and partner with the various state government and other stakeholders to deliver impactful projects for the region.
President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to unveil 81 national and regimental colours for the newly established and operationalised units and retired unit colours of the Nigerian Army tomorrow, April 27.
The Army’s Director of Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who made this known at a news briefing yesterday in Abuja, said that the last trooping and presentation of Colours Parade for the army units was conducted in 2007.
He said that the new units have been established and operationalised since then in line with the increasing operational commitments of the army as well as provisions of its extant Order of Battle (ORBAT).
He said that the colours were usually retired after 10 years of service.
According to him, most of the colours in the Nigerian Army have been used in multiple operations in various geopolitical zones of the country as well as foreign countries, hence deserving retirement and the presentation of new ones.
“It is against this backdrop and in line with the traditions, customs and ethics of the Nigerian Army, trooping and presentation of colours parade 2023 will be conducted to retire torn or worn out colours.
“A total of 81 units will, therefore, be participating in the parade; 53 colours will be due for retirement, while 28 will be presented to new units.
“The event is a unique ceremony not only to the units eligible for colours presentation, as many are looking up to this ceremony to witness the height of military discipline and regimentation.
“No doubt the parade will win more admirers for the Nigerian Army as it will provide another opportunity to showcase its reputation for excellent and colourful parades,” he said.
According to him, the special guest of honour and reviewing officer is the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The event will also have in attendance members of the National and Executive Council, members of the Diplomatic Corps and Governors of the States benefitting Units.
“Others are Service Chiefs, past Chief of Army Staff, senior military officers both serving and retired, captains of industries as well as other important dignitaries,” he said.
Nwachukwu explained that the national and regimental colours carried by army units during parades and ceremonial activities were important source of identity and pride not only for the units involved but for the army and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He added that the sight of the colours created a feeling of pride in soldiers and ex-soldiers.
He said from ancient history, colours had served as inspiration for heroic acts of self-sacrifice and became the symbol of the fighting spirit of regiments.
He explained that colours also symbolised the campaigns, battle honours and badges granted to the regiment in commemoration of the gallant deeds performed by its members from the time it was raised.
“The association of the colours with heroic deeds of the units emblazoned on them has led to the custom of regarding the colours with veneration.”
The President of the Premium Bread Makers Association of Nigeria (PBAN), Emmanuel Onuorah, has said that more than 26,000 bread factories have shut down across Nigeria over the past four years as a result of the rising cost of baking materials.
Speaking on Arise TV yesterday, Onuorah said that the PBAN membership has dropped from 36,000 in 2017 to less than 10,000.
“In my factory, I used to have about 180 workers and we were doing two shifts, today, we have about 50 workers. That is how it is in the industry.
“I have laid off about a hundred and you can see the job losses. Just imagine that you don’t want to do that but you are forced to do that. At the end of the day, you must pay. A labourer deserves his wages. That is for me.
“So many have shut down. Four years ago, we had about 36,000 members when we started this association. Today, it is less than 10,000 across Nigeria and what are you having? It is a series of job losses across the line.”
He blamed government taxes which include the 30 per cent wheat levy, 15 per cent for wheat development levy, while 15 per cent is on duty.
According to him, the industry players have written several times to the Federal Government to remove the 15 per cent development levy which has outlived its usefulness, but nothing had been done by the Nigerian government to stabilize the price of wheat.
“Those millers that bring in the wheat from Ukrain, the US, and other places, they pay 30 per cent on wheat import. There is a 15 per cent wheat development levy. It was supposed to be a stopgap.
“It started in June 2012 and it hasn’t gone away. For the Federal Government, it is a revenue stream that is not a good one. You can’t generate revenue from everything. It is supposed to be for two years or thereabout after which the money generated will be used.
“We have been begging the FG, we have written for them to remove the 15 per cent development levy which has outlived its usefulness so that we can have some cushion for those people bringing in wheat.
“With that, you can stabilise to a reasonable extent the price of wheat coming into Nigeria. But it is just like flogging a dead horse. Nobody listens.”
The Amalgamated Arewa Youth Groups (AAYG) has called on parties to a court suit to respect the court judgment that restored Senator Ifeanyi Araraume to his position as non-executive chairman of the Board of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The group, at a press conference in Kaduna, said that obeying the court orders and judgment would strengthen the rule of law in Nigeria.
The group spoke against the backdrop of suggestions by another civil society organisation that the judgement that reinstated Araraume amounted to court’s usurpation of executive functions.
Spokesperson of AAYG, Comrade Aminu Abbas said at the press conference: “the court’s decision should be respected and seen as a step towards strengthening the rule of law in Nigeria.
“We urge all stakeholders to abide by the decision of the court and work towards the progress and development of the nation.
“Considering the role the NNPCL plays in our national economy, the all-important company can’t continue to exist without a properly-constituted board.”
Read the text of the press confab reproduced hereunder in extenso:
“The attention of the Amalgamated Arewa Youth Groups has been drawn to a press statement credited to the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Groups wherein they faulted the Federal High Court judgment that restored Senator Ifeanyi Araraume as the non-Executive Chairman of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
“While expressing its displeasure over the ruling, the group said it viewed the Federal High Court’s pronouncement as a usurpation of the duties of the Office of the President and an affront to the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“In its jejune position, it claimed that the decision of the court was a clear violation of the principle of separation of powers and a disregard for the authority of the President to make appointments and dismissals in the interest of the nation.
“Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, held that Araraume’s removal by Buhari contravened provisions of the extant laws governing the operations of the NNPC Ltd, including the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 as well as the Company’s and Allied Matters Act 2020. The judge consequently made an order reinstating Araraume as the Non-Executive Chairman of the NNPC Ltd Board with immediate effect.
“The judge also held that the removal of Araraume without a fair hearing by the president was, ‘wrong and cannot be tolerated by a court of law’, adding that the ‘plaintiff has proved his case that he was not legally and properly removed’.
“The judge made an unambiguous order nullifying all actions and decisions taken by the NNPCL Board since January 17, 2022, when Senator Araraume was wrongfully removed as non-executive chairman.
“It is important to note that the judiciary is an independent arm of government that operates on the principles of fairness, justice, and the rule of law. The judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo was based on the facts presented before the court and the relevant laws that govern the matter.
“Therefore, it is not appropriate for the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Groups or any other group or groups, person or persons to accuse the court of usurping the duties of the Office of the President or to suggest that the judgment was an affront to the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari. Such statements are not only unfounded but also inappropriate.
“The court’s decision should be respected and seen as a step towards strengthening the rule of law in Nigeria. We urge all stakeholders to abide by the decision of the court and work towards the progress and development of the nation.
“Considering the role the NNPCL plays in our national economy, the all-important company can’t continue to exist without a properly-constituted board.
“Senator Araraume has a track record of serving Nigeria without any negative incidents. He was elected twice to represent his constituents in the Senate and was appointed by President Buhari to the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission. He underwent security checks by the Department of State Security Service and the Nigerian Police Force, which cleared him for the appointment.
“People who have served our country deserve all the support they need. Our youth should shield themselves from being used as pawns in the power tussle that lacks legitimacy.
“We, therefore, wish to call on President Buhari to clear all hurdles so that Senator Araraume can resume office, and summon board meetings to possibly ratify resolutions that were taken while he was in court, seeking redress.
“We wish to equally call on those in the NNPCL Board sponsoring different groups to discount the orders and judgment of the court to desist from doing so, as we won’t fold our arms and watch the Judiciary being intimidated from doing its work.
“We wish to also call on those who are aggrieved by the ruling of the Federal High Court to take advantage of the Appeal and Supreme Courts to ventilate their disagreement with the judgment and stop this unnecessary coordinated campaign in the media to disparage the judgment of the court. This resort to court bashing is embarrassing our country in the comity of nations. The act should be discontinued forthwith.”
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The new Police Commissioner was decorated by the President and was assisted by the IGP, Usman Baba Alkali as well as his spouse, Hajiya Maryam Ibrahim. The event was witnessed by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, the family of the officer and some personal staff of the President.
Transparency, New Master Plan Vital For Niger Delta Development- Wabote
Enthronement of transparency, prudent management of financial resources, and deployment of a new master plan are some of the strategies that would attract the private sector to support the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and return the agency to the path of sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
This was the position canvassed by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, in the keynote address he delivered at the NDDC Public-Private Partnership Summit 2023 held in Lagos.
He stressed that once the finances of the Commission are transparently and prudently managed, it will entice genuine local and international partnerships.
He also recommended that the NDDC should project itself positively through its choice of signature projects and interventions and open its accounts and project sites for public scrutiny.
According to him, “capital is very shy and avoids controversies like a plague. In a situation where there are real or perceived infractions, corruption, lack of accountability, and other vices, capital attraction becomes a big challenge.”
He pointed out that NDDC has diverse sources of funding, some of which include the Federation Account, Oil Producing Companies, State Governments, and local or international grants, thus the Commission would be expected to demonstrate financial ingenuity before it could leverage for more capital.
The Executive Secretary based his recommendations against the backdrop of experiences at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which is currently rated as the best agency in the country by several independent arms of the Federal Government and the private sector.
While blaming the failure of the Niger Delta Regional Master Plan launched in 2007 on insufficient funding, frequent changes in leadership, delays in budget approvals, and other issues, he canvassed for a modified or an entirely new Niger Delta Master Plan, to be developed with the support of key stakeholders of the region.
He advised the Commission to stick to its core mandate and avoid being pressured by interest groups to derail or dabble into projects outside its responsibility, emphasizing that the assessment of proposals should be strictly based on their sustainability, “otherwise, it would be money down the drain.”
The NCDMB boss further suggested that development and infrastructure projects should no longer be considered as gifts but as commercial ventures that need to be managed for profitability.
He lauded the management of the NDDC for embarking on the Summit themed “Rewind to Rebirth, describing it as “the start of a new dawn in making the Commission to retrace its steps back to the original objectives of its formation as an intervention agency for the development of the Niger Delta.
Wabote admitted that it was imperative for NDDC to explore innovative funding via PPPs as a credible option to meet the expanding developmental demands of the Niger Delta region, hinting that “PPP’s also bring with it corporate governance, technical expertise, and commercial acumen to enhance project delivery and successful operations.”
The highpoint of the summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth over $15 billion between the NDDC and Atlanta Global Resources Inc, an international infrastructure project financing firm, for the construction of a mega rail line that would connect the nine states that make up NDDC and ease the infrastructure deficit in the region. NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, described the deal as the first harvest of the PPP approach. He noted that NDDC could no longer shoulder the enormous responsibility of developing the Niger Delta region alone, hence the recourse to PPP model to provide alternative funding sources for critical developmental projects and programmes to effectively drive sustainable development in the region.
Other dignitaries who spoke at the event observed that most of the funds that had accrued to the NDDC in previous years had not been properly applied, thereby contributing to the continued underdevelopment of the region.
They charged the Ogbuku-led management of NDDC to chart a new course and partner with the various state government and other stakeholders to deliver impactful projects for the region.