In order to fulfill his constitutional obligations and serve the general welfare, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorised the immediate dissolution of the governing boards of all federal government parastatals, agencies, institutions, and government-owned businesses.
Boards, Commissions, and Councils mentioned in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153(i), of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, are unaffected by the dissolution.
The Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies are directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their Boards to the President through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective organizations until new boards are formed in light of this development.
In view of this development and until such a time new boards are constituted, the Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies are directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their Boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective supervisory Ministries and Offices.
Permanent Secretaries are directed, also, to route such correspondences to Mr President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Consequently, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to ensure compliance to the provision of this directive which took effect from Friday 16th June, 2023.
Permanent Secretaries are particularly directed to inform the Chief Executive Officers of the affected Agencies under the supervision of their respective Ministries/Offices for immediate compliance.
…Names Ribadu, NSA; Gen. C.G Musa CDS; Gen. Lagbaja, COAS; Katose Egbetokun, IGP , IGP
President Bola Tinubu has fired the Chief of Defence Staff, all service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali.
Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, made the announcement Monday in Abuja.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate retirement from service of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, and Comptroller-General of Customs, as well as their replacements,” the SGF declared.
Tinubu consequently appointed Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser; Maj. Gen. C.G Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. T. A Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admirral E. A Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff; AVM H.B Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff, DIG Kayode Egbetokun, Acting Inspector-General of Police and Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
President Tinubu also approved the following appointments: Col. Adebisi Onasanya, Commander, Brigade of Guards; Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf, 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja; Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa 177, Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State; Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim, 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger state; and, Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote, 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Similarly, the President has approved the appointments of other Military Officers in the Presidential Villa as follows: Maj. Isa Farouk Audu (N/14695), Commanding Officer, State House Artillery; Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu (N/16183), Second-in-Command, State House Artillery; Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat (N/14656), Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence; Maj. TS Adeola (N/12860) Commanding Officer, State House Armament; and, Lt. A. Aminu (N/18578), Second-in- Command, State House Armament.
Akume added that the president also approved the appointments of two additional Special Advisers, and two Senior Assistants.
The appointees are Hadiza Bala Usman, as Special Adviser, Policy Coordination; Hannatu Musa Musawa, Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy; Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel, Senior Special Assistant , National Assembly Matters (Senate); and, Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim, Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
“Finally, the President has approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs.
“It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, the SGF added.
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has asked contractors in the FCT as well as Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Government (MDAs) to make sure that Withholding Tax (WHT) owed to the Service is remitted in a timely manner.
According to the circular issued on Sunday by the Service, withholding taxes intended for the Service were inadvertently sent to tax authorities other than the FCT-IRS, necessitating the need to inform the general public, particularly concerned organizations and contractors in the FCT.
A statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja by the Head, Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS, Mustapha Sumaila.
The statement reads:”It is necessary for a taxpayer to understand the tax jurisdiction rule; WHT for limited liability companies is remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) while WHT for Enterprises and Individual contractors goes to the State IRS such as the FCT-IRS, if the transaction is done in the FCT.
“Regrettably, we have observed instances where the wrong tax jurisdiction is entered on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform by the MDA desk officers. This error can lead to contractors suffering the loss of WHT credit and the relevant tax authority experiencing revenue loss. The beneficiary of the WHT may also be denied the WHT credit.
“To prevent such losses, we urge all MDA desk officers to ensure accurate data entry at the point of initiation. We also wish to draw the attention of enterprises and individual contractors in the FCT to this issue and caution them of the potential consequences.
“Henceforth, the FCT-IRS will not grant Tax Clearance Certificate on WHT credit that was wrongly sent to another tax jurisdiction by the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform.
“We advise all taxpayers to liaise closely with their respective MDA desk officers to ensure the correct tax jurisdiction is selected during WHT remittance.
“Our aim is to ensure a seamless tax administration system that supports compliance, promotes ease of doing business, and upholds the principles of transparency and accountability”, the statement further stated
It would be recalled that the FCT-IRS took over the administration, collection, and accounting of taxes in the FCT in 2018. Prior to this, FIRS was responsible for these functions. With the advent of GIFMIS, payment for contracts and the deduction and remittance of the WHT for both companies, enterprises, and individuals is done using the GIFMIS platform.
A Federal High Court sitting in Minna, has stopped the Niger state government from demolishing Ashrab Energy International Limited, located in the state.
Recalled that the Niger state government had on May 30th, 2023 marked Ashrab located at Keteren-Gwari in Minna, with occupancy Nos. NGS/913 and NGS/8821 for demolition.
This came as the Governor of Niger state was sworn-in on May 29th, 2023.
In a court order dated 14th June, 2023 marked NSHC/MN/147/2023, the defendants Governor of Niger state, the Attorney general of the state, Niger state ministry of land and housing, and Niger state urban development board have been asked to steer clear of any action regarding the parcel of Ashrab Iand.
It stressed that the permit issued to the company on 28th October, 2021 by the Niger state urban development board should not be withdrawn.
The court under Justice Mariyam Ismaila, ordered interim injunction restraining Governor Mohammed Bago (1st defendant) or any of his agents from interfering with or stopping Ashrab energy International limited from carrying out it legitimate business.
According to the court, Governor of Niger state and his agents has no constitutional rights to demolish or revoke the C or O of Ashrab without establishing the proves for the action.
The order stopped the governor with his agents from carrying out any action that will be against the constitutional rights of the plaintiff.
According to the suit, ” An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant or any of his agents, assigns and or privies from interfering with the plaintiff’s constitutional rights to own the parcel of Iand and all the improvements there on, situate at Keteren -Gwari, Minna, Niger state.
“The certificate of occupancy covered by certificate of occupancy Nos. NGS/913 and NGS/8821 pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim restraining the 4th defendant from withdrawing the development permit issue to the plaintiff (Ashrab energy International limited) on 28th October, 2021 pending the determination of the motion”
Damilola Adeparusi, also known as Chef Dammy, has at last opened up about her just finished 120-hour cook-a-thon.
Dammy, a University of Oye-Ekiti student, told BBC News Yoruba that she decided not to take part in the cook-a-thon because she wants to break the record for the most hours spent cooking by a single person in the Guinness Book of World Records or compete with Hilda Baci, who cooked continuously for 100 hours.
She continued by saying that she took part in the cook-a-thon because she loves to cook and wants other people to see a little girl cooking.
Regarding the Guinness Book of Records or competing against Hilda Baci, she stated in the interview, “I just participated in the cook-a-thon for people that will wants to watch a little girl cooking.”
Chef Dammy began her 120-hour cooking marathon in Oye Local Government Area in Ekiti State on Friday, June 9, and completed the 120-hour on Wednesday morning.
Professor Dibu Ojerinde, the former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has been charged once more by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with official corruption, abuse of office, and forgery.
Along with his children, Mary Funmilola Ojerinde, Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde, Adebayo Ojerinde, and Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde, and six businesses connected to him, including Cheng Marbles Limited, Sapati International Schools Limited, Trillium Learning Centre Limited, Standout Institutes Limited, and Esli Perfect Security Printers Limited, Professor Ojerinde was docked.
Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, ICPC Spokesperson in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja stated that the Commission in a Charge No: FHC//ABJ/CR/119/2023, brought before Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court 7, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, informed the Court of the multiple layers of fraudulent identities and conspiracies designed by the defendants to conceal crimes.
In one count out of a 17-count charge, the Commission through its counsel, Mr. Ebenezer Shogunle, told the Court of how the former JAMB boss conspired with three of his children (Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde, Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde and Adebayo Ojerinde) to sell off property worth One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000:00) situated at House No. 4 Ahomko Drive, Achimota Phase 2, Accra, Ghana even after the property had been forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ojerinde was also accused of incorporating the aforementioned companies and taking up simultaneous appointments as Chairman and Director, while being a public officer on full time appointment as Registrar/Chief Executive of National Examinations Council (NECO), Minna and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Bwari, knowing very well that the Code of Conduct for Public Officers forbids public officers from engaging in private business other than farming or participating in shareholding of joint stock companies.
The Court was also inform himed of how the 1st defendant (Ojerinde) in order to avoid various anti-corruption and anti-money laundering policies of government, notably Know Your Customer (KYC) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) policies, took measures to conceal his ownership and active participation in the management of some of these companies by using forged documents, stolen identities and synthetic names.
As a result of some of these acts, the former JAMB Registrar is also standing trial at the Niger State High Court as well as Federal High Court, Abuja for alleged corruption and other ancillary offences.
These actions are contrary to, and punishable under sections 17, 19, 22 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and contrary to, and punishable under Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2006 as well as contrary to, and punishable under Section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 of the Revised Laws of the Federation, 2007.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.
Bail was granted to the Ex-JAMB boss on terms earlier granted to him by the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he is standing trial while the four children were admitted bail in the sum of Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000) each and a surety in like sums who must have landed properties not below the value of the bail sum and within the jurisdiction of the Court.
The trial judge in handing down the bail conditions also ordered the other defendants to surrender their international passports to the Court and must not travel outside the country without recourse to the Court, and that the Nigeria Immigration Service be notified.
The matter was then adjourned to the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th of November 2023 for hearing
The idea of local manufacturing enterprises mass producing vehicles using compressed natural gas as its energy source was discussed during the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday, which was presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In order to lessen the effects of the government’s subsidy removal policy, the 36 state governors who make up the NEC meeting put the matter on the table for discussion.
Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, who informed State House Correspondents of this development, stated that officials of the National Automotive Design and Development Council gave open presentations on how the vehicle manufacturing businesses can make it a reality.
Otti said, “As part of the inaugural National Economic Council meeting today, major focus was on the removal of petroleum subsidy and its implied removal of subsidy on foreign exchange, which has led to some convergence of some sort.
“The impact of these two actions definitely is increased prices. And that’s a way to solve the problem and reduce the shock, a presentation was made by the National Automotive Design and Development Council on the great things that are happening in the automotive industry. It was that about six states in the country, including Lagos, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna and Kano have benefited from domestic production of vehicles or assembling of vehicles by Nigerian companies operating in Nigeria.
“These companies include INNOSON, Maikano, Dangote Peugeot, Peugeot automobile of Nigeria, Stallion Hundai, Honda, Elizade/Toyota, Coscharis and Ford, Kojo Motors, Jet Systems motors. At the moment, about 50,000 jobs have been created by this simple action of either assembling vehicles in Nigeria or producing them in Nigeria. A great feat is that some of these companies have gone into the manufacturing or assembly of electric vehicles and vehicles powered by CNG – compressed natural gas. The impact of this is that the pressure on the price of petroleum products particularly PMS will be reduced. The more we use electric vehicles and CNG powered vehicles.
“Some of the decisions that were taken include that legislative support will need to be given to these companies that are doing great things in Nigeria, it is important to underscore the point that former President had made a commitment that by 2060 that Nigeria would join countries that will eliminate fossil fuel powered vehicles and move to electric vehicles in pursuit of the net zero emission that some of the countries in Europe, America and Asia have signed on to.
” So if that must happen, then we need to ramp up the production of electric vehicles and CNG vehicles.
“It is estimated that if we give legislative support to these companies, that about a million jobs from the 50,000 jobs that exist in that industry would be created. It was also suggested that the funding that is required by most of these vehicle manufacturers and assemblers shall be made available to them. So that we begin to reduce the dependence on PMS and other fossil fuel powered vehicles”.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had urged governors to develop plans to revive the economy and lessen the effects of subsidy removal.
On Thursday, members of the National Economic Council NEC held a lengthy discussion and formed a committee in response.
According to Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State, some of their discussions focused on the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress’ suggestion or recommendation that the federal government consider a N702 billion bail-out fund that will take the form of salary adjustments for fuel allowances.
The meeting noted that workers and the most vulnerable citizens in the society to be the beneficiaries as a way of helping them cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.
At the meeting Chaired by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, governors came to the resolution that a Committee be established to look at modalities for its implementation.
Bala gave the members of the committee to include Kebbi State Governor to serve as Chairman, Anambra Governor to represent the South East geopolitical zone. Benue Governor to represent North Central, Kaduna represent Northwest, Bauchi Governor would represent the Northeast.
Others are Governor of Cross River to represent South South and Oyo State Southwest.
Other intergovernmental agencies listed in the committee includes Budget office, representative of the CBN, representative of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, representative of NNPCL, representative of TUC and NLC and of course, Rukayat El-Rufai.
He revealed that NEC mandated the Committee to sit within two weeks and work out recommendations for a wholistic decision that will be taken immediately to alleviate the problem that may be encountered by the removal of the subsidy.
Bala’s words, “NEC has taken very far reaching decisions and deliberations on the issue of the removal of petroleum PMS subsidy and its general impact on the economy.
“Specifically on the issue of National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, NEC had received recommendations on the various ways and means that the country can use whatever increases that we have in the revenue to mitigate the impact that is going to make on the lives of our workers and all those people involved.
“So they recommended and they gave us a scenario recommending that there should be a consequential adjustment, estimated at N702,919.8 billion as part of the allowances that should be given as petroleum allowance to all workers and as well as a 23 or 25 billion monthly offer to cushion the effect on workers and others suggestion that will go a long way in making sure that there is review of our salaries and wages.
“In addition to the palliative that Governor Katsina talked about, government looked at all the issues, the challenges and problems holistically and set up a small committee of council to review and come up with a term of reference to organize areas specifically where this palliative can come and how it will be dispensed to alleviate the problem of workers and other vulnerable groups”.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has established special Adhoc Committees as temporary solutions in an effort to keep proceedings of the House operating smoothly in the absence of standing committees.
The Speaker announced the existence of four committees on Thursday before adjourning the plenary till July 4.
They are the Adhoc Committee on Media & Public Affairs, which is composed of six members, including the Chairman, Hon. Khadijah Bukar Abba Ibrahim (APC, Yobe), and the Vice Chairman, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo).
In addition, there are Representatives Akin Alabi (APC, Oyo), Ojema Ojotu (PDP, Benue), Irhiatake Ibori-Suenu (PDP, Delta), and Al-Mustapha Ibrahim Rabah (APC, Sokoto), member.
Adhoc Committee on Legislative Agenda, has Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) as chairman; Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari (APC, Kano) as Deputy Chairman; Hon. Akin Rotimi (APC, Ekiti), as member; Hon. Aliyu Boya (APC, Adamawa) as member; Hon. Musa Agah Avia(PDP, Plateau) as member; and Hon. Chimaobi Atu Sam (PDP, Enugu), as member.
Adhoc Committee On Rules And Business, has Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo (PDP, Ebonyi) as chairman; Hon. Yusuf Shittu Galambi (NNPP, Jigsaw), as Deputy Chairman; Hon. Festus Adefiranye Ayodele (APC, Ondo), as member; Hon. Esin Martins Etim (PDP, Akwa Ibom), as member; Hon. Kabiru Yusuf Alhaji(APC, Bauchi) as member; and Hon. Jeremiah Umaru (APC, Nasarawa), as member.
Adhoc Committee On Ethics And Privileges, has Hon. Tunji Olawuyi (APC, Kwara), as Chairman; Hon. Umeruzuike Manuchim (LP, Rivers) as Deputy Chairman; Hon. Obiageli Orogbu (LP, Anambra) as member; Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga (APC, Ogun), as member; Hon. Sagir Koki(NNPP, Kano), as member; and Hon. Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno), as member respectively.
The special committees are to hold forth until standing committees are announced and inaugurated later in the year.
On Wednesday, Lata Tondon, the previous holder of the Guinness World mark for the longest single cooking session, congratulated chef Hilda Baci of Nigeria for breaking the previous mark.
On her Instagram story, Tondon posted the congratulations.
“Namastey Nigeria,” she wrote. I’m extremely thrilled for you all & my best wishes to Hilda!”
Tondon had earlier removed her encouraging comment for Baci.
Tondon also deleted her Instagram bio’s reference to the Guinness World Record.
Baci now holds the world record for the longest cooking marathon with 93 hours, 11 minutes, while Tondon finished the same feat in Rewa, India, in 2019 in 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 seconds.
Expert: 65% of Nigerian men over the age of 40 are at risk for erectile dysfunction
