Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, has explained why his principal did not assign portfolios to the ministerial nominees sent to the national assembly.

TheCable reported that Tinubu on Thursday sent 28 ministerial nominees to the senate for screening and confirmation.

Speaking with reporters after the submission of the list, Gbajabiamila said while the screening exercise will be ongoing, the president and his team will have the opportunity to decide who fits best to a particular office.

“Yes, I mean for me that would have been one way to go about it, it would have been a welcome development. As good as that sounds, it straitjacket’s the president to pigeonhole one person to an office or the other,” Gbajabiamila said.

“What happens if you change your mind, do you then bring the person back for screening again, because the president is at liberty to change his mind?

“For instance, if I decide I want somebody as minister of labour, and then after sending the name, later on, I decide that you know what, I didn’t know this about this person, this person would actually be better with another portfolio.

“Meanwhile, the senate has screened that person for that initial portfolio, what happens then? Do you now re-screen the person?

“So a lot of these things have their merits and demerits, advantages and disadvantages. I like the idea of attaching portfolios, I actually do, because it makes it necessary for the senate to know exactly what you’re asking and what you’re looking for.

“But for now, it’s been thought wise that we stick to the tradition of sending the names and then whilst the screening processes going on, allow the Mr president and his team to look at the portfolios and the characters and see how they fit.

“The first step that he has done is that these are people that can work wherever you put them, except specialised fields like attorney general and what have you. But in the main time, he believes most of them can fit in anywhere.

“And what’s important also is that Mr president intends to separate portfolios or restructure the ministries in such a way that you might be hearing of new ministries that were not stand-alone ministries before. So the process continues.”

[TheCable]

The Senate is breaking its own rules to start the screening of President Bola Tinubu‘s 28 ministerial nominees on Monday, July 31.

Under normal circumstances, the Senate does not conduct business on Mondays.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu explained this unexpected move while speaking with journalists after a plenary session.

He emphasized that each nominee would undergo rigorous screening.

“In light of the significance of this national assignment, we’ve suspended all our rules to commence the exercise next Monday,” Adaramodu declared.

He also revealed that the Senate’s annual long recess, which should have started on Thursday, has been delayed to allow lawmakers to focus on the screening process for as long as necessary.

The traditional “bow and go” procedure will not be applied automatically for any nominee, except where needed, Adaramodu stated.

He further assured Nigerians that the 10th Senate would not let them down.

“We will scrutinise the character, personality, and ability of every nominee,” he said, and added that they would not manufacture questions or allegations.

If there are any petitions or concerns about the nominees, Adaramodu advised people to forward these to the appropriate Senate committees.

Regarding fraud allegations against some nominees, he clarified that all nominees have undergone security screenings from the executive branch. “However, if any red flag is raised, we will look into it,” he affirmed.

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, urged Nigerians to persevere with his administration some more, saying he understands the pains they must be experiencing since the discontinuance of the petrol subsidy on May 29.

The President gave the assurance that the hardships of the moment would eventually give way to a more prosperous, equitable and inclusive economy.

“You have endured; you just need to persevere a little bit more. It’s not going to be easy to make the necessary changes,” Tinubu told a delegation of youths leaders from across the 36 states, led by the All Progressives Congress Youth Leader, Mr Dayo Israel, to the State House, Abuja.

Tinubu told the delegation, “I plead your understanding that the economic reforms are very slow sometimes.

“I can assure you that I understand your pains and the pains of your uncles, brothers and your moms. I feel it.

“It is not easy to get out a monster of over 40 years that is called subsidy.”

The President said the economic reforms of the past over 50 days were necessary because the country could no longer afford subsidy, which, he said, benefits only a few elites at the expense of the majority of Nigerians.

“For a few elites fleecing Nigeria, it is unacceptable and will never be acceptable to us.

“Things that we cannot afford, we cannot engage in. We cannot afford the subsidy; it is clear.

“It is made for just a few elites. It is not beneficial to the generality and the greatest number of the people in this country.”

The President told the youths that his administration would include them in governance and decision-making processes, adding that “No decision would be too difficult for his administration to take for the prosperity and unity of the nation.”

He noted that his administration would do everything necessary to widen the net to accommodate more women and youths.

Echoing earlier remarks by Vice President Kashim Shettima on World MSMEs Day, Tinubu said his administration would provide access to single-digit loans for Nigerian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises within the shortest time feasible.

Earlier in his remarks, the APC National Youth Leader, Israel, told the President that, as representatives of all the youth organs of the party, they had come to congratulate him on the party’s victory at the polls and seek inclusion in appointments into the dissolved boards and agencies of government.

A former Personal Assistant to the ex-First Lady, Aisha Buhari, on Domestic and Social Events, Funke Adesiyan, has faulted the nomination of a former Central Bank Deputy Governor, Adebayo Adelabu, as a ministerial nominee from Oyo State.

The Nollywood actress, who is an All Progressives Congress chieftain in Oyo, in a statement on Thursday, described the nomination as “insensitive and unmerited appointment”.

Adelabu was the governorship candidate of the Accord Party during the March 2023 governorship election in Oyo. He came third in the race with a total of 38,357 votes.

The PUNCH reports the Senate, on Thursday, unveiled President Bola Tinubu’s 28 ministerial nominees. The names of the nominees were read by the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, at the plenary shortly after it was delivered.

The Chief of Staff to the President and immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, personally delivered the letter containing the list of the ministerial nominees to the Senate. Adelabu was one of the ministerial nominees unveiled by Akpabio during plenary.

But in the statement titled, ‘Chief Bayo Adelabu as Oyo State ministerial nominee: Not in our best interest’, Adesiyan explained that Adelabu does not “represent a good demography of Oyo people”.

The APC chieftain said, “It is against this background that I join the entire members and party leaders of our great party, the APC in Oyo state and indeed the entire people of Oyo State to reject this insensitive and unmerited appointment. I make bold to say that we will not concede to delusion in the name of party loyalty and allow a man who was and is still the architect of the party’s perennial electoral misfortune in the state clinch the highest political position available to rally the already hapless and hopeless party members in the state as a succour of last resort.”

She added, “Whilst I wish to congratulate able Nigerians who made the ministerial list presented by Mr President today, however, we the people of Oyo state reject this particular ministerial nominee and we implore our listening President to kindly reconsider this appointment.

For equality and peaceful coexistence of all of us (Oyo, Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Oke Ogun 1 and Oke Ogun 2), both the governor and minister can not be from Ibadan as this will not just be unjust, unfair, but also a total desecration of the nation’s long-held ideals of federal character.

“As stated earlier, both the governor of our state, His Excellency, Engr. Abiodun Oluseyi Makinde and Oloye Bayo Adelabu are both Ibadan, in fact from the same Federal constituency. What happens to other constituencies? It is my firm belief that there is no need to further fan political discord in a state that is already heated politically.

“As a bonafide APC member, I wish to appeal to our dear father, Mr President, to kindly consider nominating a minister who is a part of our party. It’s a nomination, the Law allows for resubstitution prior to confirmation. We are already in the opposition in our state. Giving our ministerial slot to a member of another party is tantamount to totally ending the party in Oyo State.”

The factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Mr. Rasaq Salinsile, has declined the appointment given to him by the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, citing personal reasons.

Salinsile had led the faction of Osun APC loyal to the ex-governor, Rauf Aregbesola, and mounted fierce opposition to ex-governor Adegboyega Oyetola, running on the platform of the APC, from getting a second term in office on July 16, 2022 governorship poll, at the peak of the inter-party crisis that ravaged the then ruling party in the state.

The ex-state lawmaker had been listed as the chairman of the Teaching Service Commission by Adeleke last week Thursday.

Although Salinsile did not openly reject the appointment immediately after his name was announced, it was however learnt that he contacted the governor thereafter and declined the offer.

At the swearing-in of the chairmen of boards on Wednesday, Salinsile was noticeably missing and in another list released by the government, Tope Mustapha Adeyemi had replaced him as TESCOM Chairman.

When contacted on the phone on Thursday, Salinsile said he declined the appointment for personal reasons.

He simply said, “I declined it for personal reasons.”

Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala said on Thursday that the team still has a lot to offer in Women’s football after their superb performance against co-host Australia at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Super Falcons came from behind to beat Australia 3-2 at Brisbane Stadium.

Oshoala came in as a substitute, and her presence unsettled Australia in the 72nd minute as she scored Nigeria’s third and decisive goal from a tight angle.

Her goal came after Uchenna Kanu had levelled scores for Nigeria late in the first half, while Osinachi Ohale headed in Nigeria’s second goal in the 63rd minute.

Oshoala told newsmen after the match that the victory for the Super Falcons, who are currently ranked 40th in the world, against 10th-ranked Australia was a result of hard work and team spirit.

“I give kudos to my teammates. Everyone was out there to play their hearts out.

“Indeed, no one knows what this team is made of. We only have to come to the field and show ourselves and show the kind of heart we have.

“Like I said earlier, this team has a lot to offer and everyone and the world has seen that today,” she said.

Oshoala, in spite of having to start from the bench as a substitute, said it was all about the coach’s decision, adding that it was for the overall good of the team.

“Sometimes the coach makes important team decisions and to be honest with you, I wasn’t feeling too well.

“But I am not a selfish person and this is why we have 23 players in the squad for the World Cup.

“If someone is not 100 percent fit to play, then others can step up. As you can see, they all stepped up on the pitch today.

“So, it doesn’t matter for me where I am starting from; the most important thing is the team’s result,” she said.

NAN reports that Oshoala became the first Nigerian and African player to score in three Women’s World Cups.

On her latest feat, the FC Barcelona striker said she was not too concerned about her achievements, but was rather interested in the team’s success.

“Like I have always said, each tournament I go to, I always want to make sure I give everything for my teammates and fight for this badge.

“Nigeria is the best country in the world. Naija for life! Let’s go!” she said.

NAN also reports that table-toppers Nigeria are now on four points having played a goalless draw in their first game against Canada and a 3-2 win against Australia in their second group game.

They are closely followed by the current Olympic champions, Canada, who are also on four points, having also drawn one and won one game against the Republic of Ireland (2-1).

Australia are third on the table with three points, having won their first game 1-0 against the Republic of Ireland and suffered a 2-3 loss in their second game against Nigeria.

The Republic of Ireland currently occupy the bottom of the table with no points after losing two matches against Australia and Canada, respectively.

The Super Falcons will play their final group match against the Republic of Ireland on Monday and will need at least a draw to go through to the next round.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, kicked off on July 20 and is expected to end on August 20.

(NAN)

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday finally submitted the list of his ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

Naija News reports that the list his made up of former governors, technocrats and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Nation takes a look at the profile of some of the eminent individuals on the list:

1. Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar

Amb. Tuggar, born 12 March 1967 was appointed the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He was a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 representing Gamawa; and he ran twice for Governor of Bauchi State.

Tuggar represented Gamawa from Bauchi State in the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011.

2. Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa

Before taking over as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Dangiwa, an architect, had been managing partner of AM Design Consults, an architectural and real estate development consultancy firm, since 1996.

Dangiwa had his first and second degrees in architecture from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he also earned an MBA. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Wharton University Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and has attended numerous training courses.

3. Barr. Hannatu Musawa

Hannatu Musawa is a lawyer, politician and author. She was the deputy spokesperson and Deputy Director Public Affairs of the All progressives congress (APC).

She was also the secretary screening committee of the APC for the presidential aspirants.

Musawa hails from Katsina State while her father is a veteran politician Alhaji Musa Musawa.

She graduated with a degree in Law from the University of Buckingham, UK. She has a postgraduate Master’s degree in the Legal aspects of Marine Affairs from the University of Cardiff wales. She also has a Master’s degree in Oil & gas from the University of Aberdeen.

4. Chief Uche Nnaji

Chief Uche Nnaji was the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Enugu State.

Nnaji hails from Akpugo in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.

The guber candidate came to the limelight in 1999 when he won the senatorial ticket of the then Alliance for Democracy, AD. He was later to step down for Chief Jim Nwobodo, who was eventually elected senator for the senatorial district.

Uche Nnaji is a brother to Hon Nnoli Nnaji of Nkanu East and West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

5. Dr. Betta Edu

Dr. Edu, born on 27th of October 1986, hails from Ibalebo village in Abi local government Area, Cross River State.

Betta completed her secondary education at Federal Government Girls College, Calabar, she is a graduate of medicine and surgery from the University of Calabar.

She is a Harvard certified, Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, United Kingdom, and untill recently, the Cross River State Commissioner for Health and National Chairman of Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum.

In 2022, she emerged as the youngest female to become the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress.

6. Dr. Dorris Aniche Uzoka

Dr. (Mrs) Doris Uzoka-Anite was a former Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy, Imo State.

She was also a former General Manager of Zenith Bank Plc. She hails from Oguta LGA of Imo State.

7. David Umahi

Umahi was a two-term Governor of Ebonyi State between 2015 and 2023.

The former Governor participated in the APC presidential primaries where he polled 38 votes to come a distant sixth in the election won by President Bola Tinubu.

After a prolonged battle in various courts, INEC recognised Umahi as the candidate for the district, from where he was subsequently elected as a first-timer at the 10th Senate.

8. Nyesom Wike

Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, was born December 13, 1967.

The Ikwerre-born lawyer turned politician was a two-time Executive Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area from 1999 to 2007.

He obtained his Bachelor of Law from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology before proceeding to Law School in 1997.

9. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar

Mohammed Badaru Abubakar MON, born 19 September 1962, served as governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023.

He is the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fertilizer and also the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Non oil Revenue, and he is also the owner of Talamiz group of industries.

Abubakar is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained a B.Sc Accounting degree.

Badaru is also an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru

10. Nasir El-Rufai

Nasir El-Rufai, is the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State and a founding member of the ruling APC.

He served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 and played a significant role in restructuring the capital city.

Before being appointed Minister of the FCT, he was the director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, a role he played successfully.

El-Rufai is a first-class graduate of Quantity Surveying from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

11. Rt. Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo

Hon. Ekpo is a renowned grassroot politician, and a former Council Chairman who was in the House of Representatives between 2007-2011.

Ekpo who is the Director general of Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF), is also a prominent chieftain of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in his home state.

12. Hon Nkiru Onyejeocha

Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejocha, born on 23rd of November 1969, is a ranking lawmaker in Federal House of Representatives, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State

Onyejocha was previously Executive Transition Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State in 2002. In 2003 she served in the executive cabinet of Abia State as commissioner for Resource Management and Manpower Development

During the 7th assembly she was awarded the most vibrant female legislator in Nigeria by Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASSAN).

13. Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, born 1st of May 1982, is is a lawmaker from the Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State.

In 1999, he gained admission into Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife to study Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

In 2002, while in his third year at the Obafemi Awolowo University, he proceeded to the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University) where he studied Electronics and Communication Engineering and graduated in 2005.

He obtained a master’s degree in Digital Communication and Networking from the same institution in 2006.

He holds certifications in eighteen professional qualifications in ICT including the prestigious title of being one of the first set of certified ethical hackers from Royal Britannia IT Training Academy in the United Kingdom before he turned 24 years.

14. Stella Oketete

Hon. Stella Okotete holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Diplomacy from Benson Idahosa University. She also has a Diploma in Law from the Rivers State College of Arts and Sciences. She also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.

In addition to her academic qualifications, she has completed prestigious certificate programs, including the Harvard Kennedy School Certificate Program for Emerging Leaders and the Entrepreneurial Management program at the Lagos Business School.

She is an influential figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC). She was the National Women Leader of the APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

Okotete was also appointed as the Executive Director, Business Development, Nigeria Export-Impor (NEXIM) Bank in 2017. Between 2011 and 2015, she served as the Special Assistant and Adviser to the Executive Governor of Delta State on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

15. Bello Muhammad Goronyo

Bello Muhammad-Goronyo was a former Commissioner for Information in Sokoto State during the tenure of Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Muhammad-Goronyo was however sacked after decamping from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Commissioner, was also the Chairman, Publicity and Media Committee of PDP Governorship Campaign Council in Sokoto State, until he decamped.

16. Hon. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye

Married with four children, Kennedy-Ohanenye is a businesswoman with stakes in real estate and education. Her foray into the last All Progressives Congress (APC)’s male-dominated presidential primary was, for her, a necessity.

Not intimidated by the array of male aspirants, Kennedy-Ohanenye waded in the murky waters of her party’s electoral process until she ‘smartly’ announced her withdrawal from the race at the party’s special convention, and also mobilised support for the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

17. Dele Alake

Henry Dele Alake is the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy.

The Ekiti State-born politician was commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State under the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu between 1999 and 2007.

The University of Lagos Political Science graduate worked at MKO Concord Press as Editor of the National Concord from 1995 to June 1999.

Alake is a former vice President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. He belongs to several national, regional, and international professional bodies, such as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the West African Union of Journalists.

18. Lateef Fagbemi SAN

Lateef Fagbemi was born on June 22, 1956 in Ijagbo, Kwara State, Nigeria.

He is a Senior Advocate of Nigerian (SAN) and a Jurist who has made a significant contribution to the development of Law and Justice in Nigeria. He was called to the bar in 1984.

19. Olawale Edun

Olawale Edun is a seasoned financial expert with extensive experience in the banking sector.

He possesses a strong background in economics, public finance, international finance, merchant banking, and corporate finance at national and international levels.

Edun served as the Honourable Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State for two unprecedented terms (1999-2007) during Tinubu’s tenure.

He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics at the University of London and earned a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Sussex, England. Although specific details about his early life and education are not publicly available, his expertise and accomplishments speak for themselves.

Throughout his career, Wale Edun achieved remarkable success in the financial sector nationally and internationally.

Edun is an International Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation and the Chairman of the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame, a registered non-profit youth development group that runs amateur boxing in Lagos.

He is also the Chairman of the Livewell Initiative, a health sector Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), and a Trustee of Sisters Unite for Children, an NGO that helps children in need.

20. Adebayo Adelabu

Adebayo Adelabu, born on 28th of September 1970, is a former Deputy Governor, Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria and 2019 Oyo State gubernatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress.

Adelabu received a first class degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and an Associate Member of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Adelabu has also taken up professional courses in various business schools, including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, Kelloggs, Euromoney, and the University of London.

Adebayo was appointed by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in February 2014 as Deputy Governor, Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

21. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim was formerly the director-general of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) from 1 December 2020 till 27 May 2021, when former President, Muhammadu Buhari announced a swap and she was redeployed as the Honourable Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons.

At 19, she graduated from University of Abuja with a degree in sociology. At 21, she received two master’s degrees from Webster University, an MBA and MA.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim was born in Jos, Plateau, but she hails from Keffi, Nasarawa State.

22. Prof. Ali Pate

Muhammad Ali Pate CON, was born on 6th September 1968. He is a physician and a Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership in the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard University.

He formerly served as the Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population and Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF) at the World Bank Group. Pate was also the former Minister of State for Health in Nigeria.

Pate was born in the Misau local government area of Bauchi State in Nigeria. Pate graduated from high school to enter the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) medical school in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

He graduated from ABU and moved to Gambia where he worked in rural hospitals for a few years.

23. Prof. Joseph Userve

Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev is a civil engineer and former Rector of federal polytechnic, Wanune, Tarka LGA of Benue state.

He was an associate Professor at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

Utsev, from Buruku LGA, was a commissioner in the Samuel Ortom government. He is Tiv, the dominant ethnic group in Benue state.

24. Senator Abubakar Kyari

Abubakar Kyari CON, born 15 January 1963, was the senator representing Borno North Senatorial District of Borno State at the 9th National Assembly from 2015 until his resignation in April 2022.

He is a member and the acting national chairman of the ruling Party of the All Progressives Congress.

Kyari was born in Borno State. His father was Late Brigadier Abba Kyari – Former military administrator to North Central from 1967 to 1975.

He was educated in Nigeria and United States of America. He attended Kaduna Capital School in 1974. He then proceeded to Barewa College Zaria where he obtained his WASSCE In 1979.

He attended the University of Tennessee Martin in USA where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1986. Thereafter in 1989, he attended Webster University St.Louis Missouri USA for his Masters in Business Administration (MBA)

25. Senator John Enoh

Sen. Enoh was born and raised in Agbokim Waterfall community of Cross River State.

Enoh was a Senator in 2015 representing Central Senatorial District of Cross River State in the 8th Assembly of the Senate.

He was a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) up until May 2017 when he decamped to the ruling All progressive Congress (APC) and contested for governorship and lost to incumbent governor Ben Ayade.

26. Sani Abubakar Danladi

Sani Abubakar Danladi was former Acting Governor and Deputy Governor of Taraba State. He also served as the Senator representing Taraba North Senatorial Zone on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party before he was impeached.

He was born on May 20, 1967, in Bachama, Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Danladi defected to the All Progressives Congress. It was on this platform that he contested for the governorship seat of Taraba State in 2019. He lost to Darius Ishaku of PDP.

27. Engineer Abubakar Momoh.

Engr. Momoh hails from Etsako East LGA of Edo state. He is a Civil engineer by professional training.

Momoh was a two-time member of the House of Reps.

He dumped APC for PDP in 2019 and flew the party’s ticket in the Edo North senatorial election and lost. Thereafter, he returned to the APC.

28. Muhammed Idris.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for Health Professionals in the Federal Public Service.

The new salary structure takes effect from the 1st of June, 2023.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, conveyed this in a circular dated 26th July 2023, which was sighted by Nigerian Tribune on Thursday in Abuja.

Head of Information, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Mr Emmanuel Njoku, confirmed to Nigerian Tribune that the circular emanated from the Commission.

Nta noted that the approval by the President was consequent upon the review of the Health Sector Salary Structures by the Commission.

He also announced that President Tinubu has approved a 25 per cent adjustment of the peculiar allowance for Medical and Dental Doctors in hospitals, medical centres, and clinics in the Federal Public Service.

In a separate circular, Nta said: “The Federal Government has approved the payment of an Accoutrement Allowance of twenty-five thousand Naira (N25,000:00) per quarter to Medical and Dental Doctors in hospitals, medical centres, and clinics in the Federal Public Service”.

While disclosing that the approval takes effect from 1st June 2023, he explained that the allowance is to be paid from the overhead budget.

With the upward review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for Health Professionals in the Federal Public Service, a health worker on Grade Level would earn N45,000 per annum while a Grade Level 15 health worker would earn N6,315,091.

The circular read: “The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved the review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for Health Professionals in the Federal Public Service with effect from 1st June 2023.

“The new salary table is attached as Annex I

 call for transparency, accountability

Nigerians at a national discussion on the impact of fuel subsidy removal in Abuja on Thursday said that hardship and suffering have increased across the country, they added that many are dying owing to exacerbating effect of the policy.

On that note, the Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Centre For Transparency Advocacy (CTA), called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal government to urgently setup mechanisms to engage stakeholders in view to finding workable solutions that would mitigate the hardships trailing the removal of subsidy.

Executive Director CTA, Faith Nwadishi, made the call and went on to say that the hasty nature of the removal of fuel subsidy is already impacting negatively on Nigerians because of the inability of many people to meet up with the high increase in transportation, goods, services and other basic needs needed for survival.

She said in the spirit of transparency, accountability and citizen participation, it is now imperative for government and the political class to engage the people whom they have vowed to serve, to find out their specific problems, needs and how best they could be addressed, as the voices of those directly affected by the subsidy removal must be heard and considered.

She said: “The decision to remove fuel subsidy has had significant implications on the lives of our fellow citizens. It has resulted in increased costs of living, affecting transportation, essential goods, and services. As we gather here today, it is imperative that we recognize the urgency of coming up with sustainable recommendations to mitigate the hardships faced by vulnerable groups in our society.

“This time is the time the political class should go back to the people and find out what exactly the people need so they can also input into their programmes. The removal of subsidy has actually disrupted a lot of development that we have so political persons who already have plans within their constituency and development plans should go back to the drawing table and ensure that they engage even members of their political parties and the other constituencies they represent because at the end of the day if you come up with a solution that is not people-centric, that people have not made input into it we will just be going round and round and doing things as usual.

“This time we need evidence-based solutions, we need people’s input, we need inclusivity. For instance, a lot of people think this thing affects only people in the community but those in the urban areas are affected.”

Nwadishi noted that a lot of families were unable to afford the transportation cost of taking their children to school as well as fueling their cars and other transportation means used for business.

“These are real-life situations and that is why politicians and political parties must engage the people, we must do it differently, we shouldn’t wait until there is an election before we start giving false promises and false hopes. This is the time to get the people’s advice so that when you are going in for an election you will know what you are going in for.

“We have always called for the removal of subsidy. Before the elections, we engaged the presidential candidates and all of them at one point or the other made a commitment to removing the fuel subsidy but the how was never addressed.

“Now we have a government that came in and just announced the removal of subsidy so now that it has happened like that we are not waiting till the next elections. It is something that is urgent and we must tackle it urgently. People are dying, there is suffering in the land, we need to look at the people, bring them in, gift engage the people let them give you solutions on how to go about this and put it.”