Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for securing financial autonomy for Local Governments, marking it as the president’s most significant achievement since his inauguration in May 2023.

The affirmation came in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling, initiated by Tinubu’s administration, which mandated the direct payment of Local Government allocations, thereby stripping state governors of their long-held control over these funds.

In a statement released to the press on Friday, Ndume praised the Supreme Court’s decision as a pivotal moment for grassroots governance in Nigeria.

“This judgment is not just a win for the administration but for the entirety of the grassroots level of governance across our nation,” Ndume stated.

For years, the autonomy of Local Governments had been undermined by state governors who managed their allocations, a practice Ndume criticized for stalling development at the local level.

He urged President Tinubu to ensure the immediate implementation of this landmark ruling to catalyze development and enhance governance at the local level.

Ndume said, “This court action instituted at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the biggest of his achievements. I’m very happy about the development, and I’m hoping that this will be the beginning of the liberation of local governments in Nigeria.

“I urge the President to immediately commence the implementation of the Court judgment. Local Government Councils need to start getting their monthly allocations immediately without any further delays. The people at the grassroots levels will begin to feel the impacts of good governance now.

“The National Assembly made several attempts to amend the 1999 Constitution and address this grey area. But governors didn’t allow the State Assemblies to give the constitutional concurrence. That was how the attempts failed.

“President Muhammadu Buhari also tried to intervene. Governors didn’t allow him. With this Supreme Court judgment, the issue has finally been resolved. No more unnecessary deductions from funds earmarked for local governments.

“The people can now hold the Council chairmen accountable for how they spend their monthly allocations. They’ll begin to demand true accountability and judicious use of the funds they’ll be getting. I salute the courage of President Tinubu.”

Actress and producer, Chief Ejiro Okurame has formally declared interest to vie for the seat of the chairman as the election for the chairmanship of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter draws nearer.

Okurame made her intentions known at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos in the presence of her supporters.

Speaking on what informed her decision to run, Okurame said: “It is the desire and the fact that for a long time AGN Lagos Chapter has been held backward and nothing positive has been seen in the eye of the public even in the diaspora. AGN started in Lagos and it is so funny that it has been forgotten, nothing to write home about. A lot of us have gone out of state, out of the country and we have forgotten to give back. I am here to contribute my own quota positively to the development and growth of the guild and also to empower the younger ones because at the end of the day, we look back and say we were once like these people,” she said.

Continuing, she said, “If you are coming out for them to vote you into power, there have to be a lot of sacrifices and this is one of such. Before I came on board, I consulted with my family, spoke to my pastors, spoke with some elders in the industry, I had a lot of consultations and I was given the go-ahead. And I have taken it upon myself to do this to the end. I want a situation  when we mention AGN, Lagos Chapter, it would be a thing of pride. We are also going to look into how we are going to be united. There is so much hate in the industry. Let us bring back the good old days.”

Other candidates on her team include Prince Eletu (vice-chairman); Jude Orhora (Secretary); Mark Chukwu (PRO;, Cyndi Marcus (Financial secretary); Chidimma Dikeocha (Treasurer);  Emmanuel Onyeka (DGS); Vivian Okoro (Assistant Secretary); and MC Richard (Chief Whip).

A former spokesman for the Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa presidential campaign in the 2023 presidential election, Daniel Bwala, says he is no longer a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Naija News reports that Bwala made this known on Friday, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The lawyer cum political analyst declared, “I am not a member of the PDP. Yes, I have left the PDP.”

When asked if he is now a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bwala said, “I am very close.”

Recall that Bwala was a member of the APC prior to the 2023 election when he defected to the PDP.

Obidients Are IPOB Members And Apologists
Meanwhile, Daniel Bwala has claimed that most Obidients are members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and also their apologists.

Bwala stated that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has no history or record of democratic credentials throughout his life.

He shared his thoughts while speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday morning.

According to him, he constantly attacks Obi and Obidients on social media platforms as a form of self-defence against alleged bullying by Obidients.

Bwala berated Obidients for always attacking and abusing those who don’t agree with them on issues concerning Peter Obi and the Nigerian Presidency.

The Federal Government has launched a pioneering initiative to enhance the oversight of medical rehabilitation professionals in the country.

According to it, the move became necessary because, with only 170 staff members and limited funding, the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board (MRTB) struggles to monitor the entire country effectively.

To address this challenge and enhance health security for Nigerians, the Federal Government unveiled 200 volunteers from across the country to serve as Surveillance Officers.

The volunteers have undergone rigorous screening, training, and preparation to uphold professional standards and report any misconduct to the Board, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, said yesterday.

While also unveiling the operation manuals of the Surveillance Officers, Alausa said the milestone marks a significant step forward in the fight against healthcare quackery and the enhancement of healthcare governance.

He emphasised the officers’ role in reducing quackery and improving healthcare delivery, saying, “Your job will not be easy, but remember that you are helping to ensure every Nigerian receives meaningful and comprehensive healthcare, as mandated by President Bola Tinubu.”

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has announced that the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has scheduled an emergency meeting to review the Supreme Court’s recent decision granting autonomy to Local Government Councils.

Recall the apex court on Thursday, ruled that it is unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds designated for local government administrations.

The landmark judgement, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, emphasized that this practice contravenes the financial autonomy rights of local governments and has persisted for over two decades.

Following a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Thursday, Soludo praised the court’s ruling as a democratic milestone. He emphasized the importance of respecting the judiciary’s authority and the rule of law.

Soludo stressed the necessity of ensuring resources reach the grassroots level and highlighted the importance of accountability and transparency in public resource utilization. He emphasized that public funds should benefit citizens at all levels—federal, state, and local.

Reacting to the ruling, he said, “That’s great. I mean, the Supreme Court is Supreme because it is the final authority and I am a Democrat. I believe in the rule of law. Once the Supreme Court has spoken it has spoken. I understand, I mean, tonight, I think the Governors Forum is meeting to review this.

“We’re yet to even… I mean, I haven’t seen the document myself. I’ve been extremely, very busy all through the day but I’ve seen snippets of it.

“But at a fundamental level, yes, we need resources to get down to the real grassroot and we need the people’s money to work for them at all levels, whether at the federal or the state and the local government.

“We need to promote accountability. We need to promote transparency in the utilization of public resources at all levels, to be able to lift the burden of the common man.“

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, appealed to organized labour to accept the ₦62,000 figure as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

The Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a post via X while sharing details of the meeting between the federal government and organized labour.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Joe Ajaero; his counterpart at the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, and other members of their delegation represented labour.

According to Onanuga, President Tinubu also questioned why wages have to be adjusted every five years and not two or three years.

The President, who led the government officials to the meeting, urged labour to accept the negotiated ₦62,000 as the first baby step in resolving the minimum wage issue. He suggested that further reviews can be done if the minimum wage law is reviewed.

‘Why must we adjust wages every five years? Why not two, why not three years? What is a problem today, can be eased up tomorrow“, he said.

Onanuga also confirmed that delegates for the meeting also received briefings on the state of the economy from the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun and the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari during the meeting.

The presidential media aide confirmed that labour is still insisting on a minimum monthly wage of N250,000.

The talks between the Federal Government and the central labour unions over the minimum wage were adjourned till next Thursday.

Ahmed Aliyu, governor of Sokoto, has signed the bill stripping the Sultan of the power to appoint district and village heads in the state.

Speaking on Thursday after signing the bill and five others, Aliyu said the amendment was to ensure all inconsistencies with the country’s constitution were removed.

In recent weeks, the amended Sokoto local government and chieftaincy laws have generated controversies across the nation.

The governor said the state has amended the laws under previous administrations to ensure “peace and development”.

“It is well known that in every society, laws are enacted and amended to suit the needs of the time and the interests of the governed, in line with current circumstances,” NAN quoted Aliyu as saying.

“In Nigeria, we have witnessed a series of constitutional amendments to give the country laws that ensure peace, tranquility, and socio-political development.

“Some reactions were politically motivated, while others were made ignorantly without proper inquiry into the details and intentions of the amendments.

“I appreciate our Ulama for their concern, but remind them that they represent Allah’s Messenger. They should not allow lazy politicians to use them for political gains.”

He said the signing of the amended law shows that his administration is committed to following the rule of law and listening to the problems of the citizens.

“Whenever we encounter any law that does not serve the interests of our people, we will replace it with one that protects their interests,” the governor added.

He expressed appreciation to members of the state house of assembly for their patriotism in dealing with the issue.

The governor added that his administration is willing to collaborate with the traditional rulers and the Sultanate council for the good of the state.

The other amended bills are the Arabic and Islamic Board, Rural Roads and Land Tenancy, the Zakkat and Endowment Agency, the Prohibition of Discrimination against Persons with Disability, and the Local Government Consolidated Law 2009.

The Federal Government and crude oil producers in Nigeria have committed to working towards a sustainable supply of crude oil to local refineries under a market-determined pricing system.

Both parties said the aim of the commitment was to ensure that while the operators (crude oil producers) do business optimally, the refineries are not starved of feedstock.

Accordingly, the industry regulator, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has directed oil refiners in the country to provide monthly price quote on crude supply.

This came as the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery is reportedly ramping up the importation of crude from the United States, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Nigeria’s upstream regulator stated that oil producers under the umbrella of the Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at a meeting called by NUPRC, agreed to concede to a framework that would be mutually beneficial with the aim of ensuring that local refineries are not strangulated due to off-the-curve prices.

“The focus of the meeting held at the instance of the Commission Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, was on the status review of the Framework for Seamless Operationalisation of Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation Template.

“It was part of efforts to effectively implement key sections of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, especially the issue of pricing and crude supply to the domestic refineries,” the commission stated.

In the statement, Komolafe said President Bola Tinubu is fully committed to providing a level playing ground for producers and refiners to do business in the industry.

He expressed the need for a rule of engagement to ensure that the pricing model from the oil producers does not hinder the domestic refineries.

He directed producers and refiners to provide the NUPRC with cargo price quotes on crude supply and delivery for effective monitoring and regulation of transactions among parties. “We need to have the price quotes monthly,” he directed.

The NUPRC boss pointed out a convergence between the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation and the nation’s energy security, indicating that his team is re-engineering its regulatory processes to address the challenges.

“We allow all our processes to be transparent. While the Federal Government targets the implementation of the regulation, all parties must submit to the rules of engagement as a guide for operation,” Komolafe stated.

He said NUPRC is committed to driving the willing buyer/willing seller provision.

“We have to discuss pricing, especially as parties have committed to respecting their domestic crude oil obligation. As the regulator, we don’t want the upstream sector to be operated sub-optimally through cost under-recovery.

“So, the regulator is very alive to that. In crude pricing we will never allow price strangulation to disincentivise our domestic refining capacity optimisation. The regulator does not support cost under-recovery in the upstream sector, and we will continue to work to ensure that crude supply profiteering as a negative factor that can strangulate our domestic refining capacity optimisation is disallowed,” Komolafe declared.

Dangote raises alarm

Last month, the Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, had accused International Oil Companies in Nigeria of plans to frustrate the survival of the new Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Edwin had said the IOCs were deliberately and willfully frustrating the refinery’s efforts to buy local crude by hiking the cost above the market price, thereby forcing the refinery to import crude from countries as far as the United States, with its attendant high costs.

“Recall that the NUPRC recently met with crude oil producers as well as refineries’ owners in Nigeria, in a bid to ensure full adherence to Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligations as enunciated under section 109(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act. It seems that the IOCs’ objective is to ensure that our petroleum refinery fails. It is either they are deliberately asking for a ridiculous/humongous premium or they simply state that crude is not available.

“At some point, we paid $6 over and above the market price. This has forced us to reduce our output as well as import crude from countries as far as the US, increasing our cost of production. It appears that the objective of the IOCs is to ensure that Nigeria remains a country which exports crude oil and imports refined petroleum products.

“They (IOCs) are keen on exporting the raw materials to their home countries, creating employment and wealth for their countries, adding to their Gross Domestic Product, and dumping the expensive refined products into Nigeria – thus making us to be dependent on imported products. It is the same strategy the multinationals have been adopting in every commodity, making Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa to be facing unemployment and poverty, while they create wealth for themselves at our expense,” Edwin had stated.

But on Thursday NUPRC emphasised the imperative for appropriate pricing to drive willing buyer willing seller referencing guided Fiscal Oil Price published by the commission in line with the provisions of the PIA.

“NUPRC is committed to attracting the needed investments to boost upstream development and optimisation of our hydrocarbon resources just as we want sustainability of domestic energy supply in the midstream and downstream sector.”

Crude importation

Also on Thursday Bloomberg reported that Nigeria’s Dangote mega-refinery was ramping up the importation of crude oil from the United States, stating that the Lagos-based refinery had created a new flow of long-haul crude from the US, as inflows of American feedstock could be about to rise further.

The report stated that the Dangote mega-refinery was lapping up ever more US crude, bringing the barrels thousands of miles across the Atlantic ocean.

It stated that Dangote bought more than 16 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate crude oil so far this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

In August and September, the proportion it will take from the US — as opposed to Nigerian barrels — may be set to rise, based on tenders for new supply seen by Bloomberg.