DSS Detains Its Operative For Alleged Killing Of Citizen Ifeanyi Okereke

November 20, 2020

The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the detention of security aide of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for allegedly shooting and killing of one Ifeanyi Okereke.

“As part of its disciplinary procedures in the instance, he (the officer) has been taken into detention.

“In addition, the Service has opened a detailed investigation into the matter.”

In a statement today, November 20, the Public Relations Officer of the DSS,

Peter Afunanya, confirmed that the suspect is one of its personnel deployed to the Speaker’s Convoy as a security detail.

“And as already stated by the Speaker that he has been suspended from his Convoy, the Service has further withdrawn him from the assignment.”

He pledged that the DSS would be transparent and accountable in handling the matter, adding that it is liaising with appropriate authorities to achieve this objective.

Lingering Strike By University Lecturers: Federal Govt Shifts Ground On IPPIS

Editorial staff

November 20, 2020

The Federal Government has shifted ground over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which had led to a nation wide strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that had lingered for a long time now.

The minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige who made this known today, November 20 when he met with the representatives of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said that the Ministry as well as the Ministry of Education would use the previous payment platform of the government before it introduced IPPIS to pay the withheld salaries of the Universities lecturers under strict monitoring.

Ngige said that representatives of the government and ASUU met over the University Transparency Account System (UTAS) proposed by the union, but that it is work in progress.

He said that the Federal Government has offered a cumulative sum of N65 billion to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to address earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities.

The Minister said that the government has decided to shift grounds on the lingering issues that have kept students out of the classroom for several months.

Ngige said that in its bid to resolve the impasse with ASUU, the sum of N15 billion from the amount offered by the government would be for more funds to revitalise the universities.

He said that the fund was in addition to the N20 billion paid earlier, making it a total of N35 billion committed as revitalisation fund by the government.

The minister, who said the visitation panel to the universities would be inaugurated next week.

The ASUU president, who also addressed reporters, acknowledged that the government has made some new offers to the union and some progress have been made.

He, however, said that the union leaders would report to their organs and get back to the government on the position of their members

National Assembly Sets To Pass 2021 Budget In December 2020

Editorial staff

November 20, 2020

The National Assembly is working hard to pass the 2021 Appropriation Bill by the second week of December.

According to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan: “we are working to pass the 2021 budget by the second week of December by the Grace of God,”

Senator Ahmad Lawan, at a retreat today, November 20 for top management staff of the National Assembly and National Assembly Service Commission, said: “we are working very assiduously, we will ensure that there is every possible scrutiny of the budget estimates presented to us by the Executive arm of government.

“So far, we achieved that in 2020 budget. We believe we did the right thing. We promised Nigerians that we will do that and it is going to be part of our legacy in the Ninth National Assembly,” Lawan said.

The Senate President also hinted that the National Assembly would ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill by the second quarter of 2021.

“The PIB which is one of the most essential legislations that we have to have in this country, we intend to pass it by the Grace of God before the end of the second quarter of next year.

“We will take our time because this is a very delicate and sensitive piece of legislation. We will take our time to ensure that what comes out of the National Assembly in the PIB is a product of legislation that will ensure that Nigeria earns its revenues from this industry as it should and of course also support our business people, the oil companies that are investing and infact retain and encourage new ones to come to Nigeria to invest.

“So it has to be a win-win for all of us. We will not be selfish as a country, trying to take everything. No.

“Oil is like water now. Almost every country now has oil. So if you don’t provide a competitive environment in Nigeria, oil companies will have no difficulty relocating to other countries. So we will ensure that we have a competitive environment for business and for investment”

The Senate President gave an assurance that the National Assembly would have been done with the current process of the constitutional ammendment by 2021 and also the Electoral Act (Ammendment Bill).

“The constitutional ammendment, of course at the moment, is not very warm because of the activities of members of the National Assembly on the 2021 budget but the two committees in the Senate and the House are already working behind the scene to ensure that as soon as we pass the budget, the constitional ammendment activities will start in earnest.

“We believe that we should pass our ammendments within 2021. Similarly the ammendment to the Electoral Act is going to be within that year 2021 to ensure that we don’t encounter unnecessary distractions.”

PDP Wanted Me To Be Insulting Buhari, It’s Not In My Character – Ebonyi Gov, Umahi

Editorial staff

November 20, 2020

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he just dumped, wanted him to be insulting and castigating President Muhammadu Buhari

He said: “another one is that the PDP wants me to be castigating Mr. President. I have no other boss apart from Mr. President. And by my culture and upbringing, you do not insult the elders. It’s not in my character.”

In apparent response to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made him (Umahi) what he is today, Ebonyi Governor, who crossed over to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),

“And some of them [PDP Governors] speak rubbish in the day and in the night they’re caps in hands and they start going up and down. I don’t do like that. So Mr. President remains my boss, father and boss and I’ve no regret about that.”

“People say PDP made me what I am. That is absolutely rubbish. We made PDP what PDP is,” he said.

“It is the people that make the party and I’ve contributed so much in the making of PDP not the other way around. I’ve been a peacemaker.

“I’ve been a negotiator and even the Governor of Edo State coming on board was my prophecy which my fellow Governor directed the working committee to come and probe me but that was a big minus for them because you don’t probe a sitting Governor.

Governor Umahi, who answered questions on Arise TV programme today, November 20, 2020, said that some Governors of the opposition party who speak against the Buhari government during the day, used to “go up and down at night begging” the same Buhari.

Governor Wike had in one of his recent interviews said: “Umahi has the right to move to the APC, it’s his constitutional right, but we cannot in all cases allow Umahi blackmail PDP that made him chairman of the party, deputy governor, and governor and then you now realize there is an injustice against southeast.”

Ekiti Gov, Fayemi, Doles Out N96 Million Scholarship Award To 469 State’s Students

Editorial staff

November 19, 2020

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has approved the disbursement of a sum of N96, 140,000.00 as scholarship award to 469 students of the state studying in tertiary institutions across the country.

The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Olabimpe Aderiye who made this known in Ado Ekiti, said that the State Government had commenced electronic payment to bank accounts of beneficiaries of the awards.

Dr. Aderiye said that the beneficiaries of the scholarship awards include 31 physically challenged, 288 undergraduates as well as 150 postgraduates students consisting of 71 Masters and 79 Ph.D students.

The Commissioner said that undergraduates and physically challenged students were given N60,000 each while Masters students got N250,000 and their Ph.D counterpart, N750,000.

She added that the State Government signed an agreement with each awardee to provide them immediate employment for two years after graduation.

Reiterating the commitment of the Fayemi led administration to the welfare of all students from the state, Aderiye, however, urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the government gesture by concentrating on their studies and shunning vices that may be inimical to their success.

9 More PDP Governors Will Soon Defect To APC, Kogi Gov Claims

Editorial staff

November 19, 2020

The Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has claimed that nine more opposition Governors in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will soon defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Yahaya Bello, who spoke today, November 19 while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said that he had predicted that 10 governors will join the ruling party and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi was the first of them.

“I did say there are 10 governors from the opposition parties that would join APC. We have seen one. One that is equal to ten; He has joined us. Nine to go.”

This was even as Governors elected on the platform of the PDP pledged their commitment and loyalty to the party.

The Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, said: “all 15 of us are here present.

“We are individually committed to good governance in our various states to in order to make our party strong.”

Retired Kaduna Poly Lecturer Shots Wife, Kills Self Over Domestic Quarrel

Editorial staff

November 19, 2020

A retired Kaduna Polytechnic lecturer, Austin Umera has shot his wife, Dr. Maurin Umerah and killed himself over a domestic quarrel.

Austin, who lectured at the Department of Languages, Kaduna Polytechnic, before his retirement ws to have argued with his wife and threatened to shoot her if she talked further.

His son, who witnessed the drama said: “it was like a joke. When my father said he would shoot my mom, she couldn’t believe him.

“All of a sudden, I heard a gunshot. I ran to my mom to take her to a nearby hospital, when I heard the second shot. This time, it was my father that shot himself on the head. He died instantly.”

A neighbour said that he heard gunshots from the house and quickly called the emergency number, and that the policemen arrived at the residence at Kigo road immediately.

According to the source, the police took the injured wife to the hospital because she was shot in the eyes. While the dead body of her husband was lying on the ground. Meanwhile, the corpse of the man has been deposited at Barau Dikko mortuary.

As at the time of filing this report, the injured wife Dr. Maurin Umerah who is a part-time lecturer at the Department of Languages, Kaduna State University is still receiving treatment at the 44 Army Reference Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer ASP Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the incident. He said an investigation has since commenced.

Court Orders Arrest Of Atiku Abubakar’s Son

Editorial staff

November 19, 2020

The Upper Area Court, Kubwa, Abuja has ordered the immediate arrest of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, son of Nigeria’s former Vice-President, for disobeying an October 27, 2020 judgment directing him to hand over his three sons to their mother, Maryam Sherif, for custody.

Sherif had commenced the children-custody suit after the divorce between her and her former husband, Abubakar, who bears the same first name and surname with his father, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

The judge, Bashir Danmaisule, had delivered judgment in favour of Sherif on October 27, 2020.

But her lawyer, Nasir Saidu, returned to the court complaining that Abubakar had failed to comply with the judgment.

Saidu had urged the court to issue a judgment-debtor summons for the defendant to appear in court to explain why he did not obey the court’s order and why he should not be jailed for disobeying the court judgment.

Both Abubakar and his lawyer, Abdullahi Hassan, were absent in court today, November 19, although the court bailiff said the defendant was served with the summons through the Nigeria Customs Service, where he works, on November 3, 2020.

Relying on the claim of the bailiff, Saidu urged the court to issue an arrest warrant against the defendant.

Source: The Punch.

Members Of Ebonyi State Executive, Assembly Speaker, Lawmakers Defect To APC

Editorial staff

November 19, 2020

All members of the Ebonyi State Executive Council, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru and some other lawmakers have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The State Governor and chairman of South East Governors Forum, David Umahi, had himself decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC yesterday, November 18, saying today, November 19, when he was presented with the APC flag, said that he was defecting to the APC with over three million citizens of the state.

According to Governor Umahi: “I have sacrificed myself, for the interest of south east and Ebonyi State in particular, I sacrifice myself. We have dwelt so much in one political party and it’s time to move to the centre.

“We are so grateful to God who directs our affairs, we thank Mr. President so highly for helping us to develop this state, we are grateful to him. The help of Mr. President has transformed our state.

“This is the will of God; you cannot truncate the will of God. Today, I can boldly say that our state is 99.9% APC. The .001% is the room I have left for my National Assembly members.

“Do not castigate them, they are looking for something and when they get it, they will come back. Don’t castigate them, they are my children and I love them so much.

“We have three members of the elders’ council, do not castigate them. They are my children, I am the father of the state, they will come back, and we are together. They don’t do opposition in Ebonyi State, they will come back.

“This new house that is built on trust, that is built on justice, that is built on equity and fairness, this new house that is built on love is going to accommodate all of us. Together we are stronger, the bigger the better.

“Let us together approach the throne of God with boldness, we will not remember yesterday. There is no victor, there is no vanquish in this marriage. It is a marriage that is consummated by God and, therefore, no bitterness. We as PDP people, we forgive everyone in APC and we have drawn assurance that everyone in APC has forgiven PDP.

“I have dissolved the elder’s council to accommodate our brothers and sisters that are coming from APC and this is very important to note”

Responding, the national caretaker committee chairman of APC, Mal-Mala Buni, said the entrance of Umahi is a welcome development for the state and south east in general, but tasked the governor to carry along all the stakeholders of APC.

Federal Govt Disburses N66.5 Billion To States For Coronavirus Responsive 2020 Budget

Editorial staff

November 18, 2020

The federal government has disbursed a total of N66.5 billion to eligible states under the Amended COVID-19 Responsive 2020 Budget results.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, who disclosed this today, November 17 in a statement by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Hassan Dodo, explained that the disbursement followed compliance to the Amended COVID-19 Responsive 2020 Budget by 35 eligible states in the country.

The programme is wholly-financed with a loan of $750 million from the International Development Association (IDA), a member of the World Bank Group, under the performance-based grant component of the World Bank-Assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results.

According to the minister, each benefiting state received a total sum of N1.9 billion (an equivalent of $5 million).

Rivers State is the only state that missed out on the grant due to its inability to meet the eligibility criteria which required each state to have passed and published in their respective websites by July 31, 2020 credible, fiscally-responsible COVID-19 responsive amended 2020 budgets duly approved by the state houses of assembly and assented to by the state governors.

According to Ahmed, the amended 2020 state budget must also include standardised budget documentation to enhance clarity, transparency and accessibility.

She added: “It must also significantly lower the gross statutory revenue projections – consistent with the revised Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and federal government’s budget; reduced non-essential overhead and capital expenditures.

“The budget must be tagged and found to have allocated at least 10 per cent of the total expenditure of the amended budget for COVID-19 relief, restructuring and recovery programs; and identified credible sources to fully finance the budget deficit to avoid accumulation of arrears”.

Ahmed stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic and fiscal shocks had put significant pressure on states’ fiscal resources and undermined the reality and credibility of the states’ original 2020 annual budgets.

The minister noted that a transparent, accountable and sustainable state-level fiscal/budget framework is a pre-requisite for a robust COVID-19 response, enabling necessary health, social protection and livelihood interventions during the COVID-19 relief, restructuring and recovery phases.

She expressed optimism that the achievement of results by the 35 out of 36 States would further strengthen the national fiscal response to COVID-19 and align efforts at both the federal and state levels.

The World Bank-assisted SFTAS Programme, she stressed, is principally meant to strengthen fiscal management at the state level, so as to ensure effective mobilisation and utilisation of financial resources to the benefit of the citizens in a transparent, accountable and sustainable manner, thereby reducing fiscal risks and encouraging a common set of fiscal behaviours.

Ahmed observed that the SFTAS programme could not have come at a better time, given the dwindling government revenue occasioned by oil price volatility coupled with the current impact of COVID-19 which has further intensified the need for improved practices in fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability as enunciated in the SFTAS ideals.

The federal government had earlier in April, 2020 disbursed a total sum of N43,416 billion or $120.6 million to 24 qualified sates, based on their performance.

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