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.
PHOTO CREDIT: Google
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.”
Wike, Umahi, Alake, El-Rufai, Others – Full Profile Of All President Tinubu’s 28 Ministerial Nominees
AdminPresident 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.”
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, submitted his long-awaited ministerial list to the Senate, ahead of the constitutional deadline of 60 days set in March earlier this year.
TRIBUNE ONLINE learned there were speculations about the list’s contents, with some political analysts expecting individuals who played vital roles in Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election to be added to the list.
However, it was a surprise to many as some bigwigs did not make the list.
For instance, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate and ally of Mr President, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; director-general of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Simon Lalong, and secretary of the Council, Hon. James Faleke, were conspicuously missing on the list of 28 ministerial nominees put forward by Tinubu.
Other APC bigwigs missing from the list include: Former governor of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola, Kano immediate-past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, ousted Osun governor, Gboyega Oyetola, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Minister of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo.
The ministerial list was brought into the chamber by the Chief of Staff to Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila and was presented to the Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate President later read the 28 nominees on the list and announced that other names of the nominees will be sent for screening and confirmation later.
AS part of efforts to promote a cleaner environment and healthy lifestyle, the Federal Ministry of Transportation has encouraged Nigerians to consider bicycles as alternative means of commuting.
The Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Musa Ibrahim, who stated this at the one-day stakeholders sensitisation meeting held in Abuja, said the idea is to enhance and heighten the importance of cycling in Nigeria as it will obviously lead to a drop in road crash incidences.
Ibrahim noted that the stakeholders sensitisation meeting is in consonance with the World Bicycle Day that is marked annually on June 3 through a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution.
According to the Director, the World Bicycle Day recognises “The uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle as a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transport, fostering environmental stewardship and health” hence the United Nations 2023 World Bicycle Day theme: ‘Riding Together for a Sustainable Future’.
Speaking further, the Director noted that proponents have equally encouraged the use of bicycles as a means of eradicating poverty, furthering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people; promoting health, preventing disease, and facilitating social inclusion.
Furthermore, on the importance of cycling in Nigeria, a proponent for Non-Motorised Transportation, NMT, the Chief Executive Officer, Ochenuell Mobility, Emmanuel John, in his presentation titled ‘Power of Cycling’, argued that cycling initiative extends beyond efforts to address climate change through cut down of carbon footprints.
In addition, John brought to fore that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, countries in a study, among others, outlined that most Africans countries throw away 3% of their Gross Domestic Product, GDP, to traffic congestion annually.
He proposed that developing an NMT travel culture in the country through the adoption of Green Corridors is a panacea to some of the identified drawbacks.
He pointed out that most of the challenges encountered with increased usage of motorised transportation will be reduced to a large extent if the Federal Government supports and adopts National Stakeholders Forum on Bicycle Transportation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded the name of Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate to the Senate to be confirmed as a Ministers.
Pate, whose appointment was announced today as the Minister of Health.
Pate, a former Minister of State for Health under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, is a renowned public health expert and politician.
See profile of Pate below:
In February, 2023, Pate was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, which works to provide vaccines in low-income countries.
GAVI was set up as a Global Health Partnership in 2000 with the goal of creating equal access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries.
He was to take up the top global position on August 3, 2023.
However, on Monday, June 26, 2023, GAVI announced Pate’s decision to decline his appointment as its next CEO.
Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, who was selected following a yearlong recruitment process personally overseen by the Chair of the Gavi Board, Professor José Manuel Barroso, is a medical doctor trained in both internal medicine and infectious diseases, with an MBA from Duke University in the United States, Dr Pate served as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health between 2011 and 2013. In this role, he led a flagship initiative to revive routine vaccinations and primary health care, chaired a presidential taskforce to eradicate polio and introduced new vaccines into the country.
While serving as Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population of the World Bank and Director of the Global Financing Facility at the World Bank between 2019 and 2021, he led the Bank’s US$ 18 billion COVID-19 global health response and represented the Bank on various boards, including those of Gavi, the Global Fund, CEPI and UNAIDS. He was the Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership at Harvard Chan School of Public Health and has served on several health-focused boards and expert panels in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors during his career.
Muhammad Ali Pate is a physician and former politician, and Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Prior to this he was the the Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank Group and Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents. After graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) medical school in Kaduna State, Nigeria. he moved to Gambia, where he worked in rural hospitals for a time. Thereafter, he completed his residency at the University of Rochester in the USA. Dr Pate is certified by the American Board as a MD in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases and also has an MBA in Health Sector Concentration from Duke University in the USA. Previously, he also studied at University College London and has a Masters Degree in Health System Management from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In 2008 he was appointed Head of the National Primary Health Care Agency (NPHCDA), a post he held until 2011. At that time there was a polio epidemic in Nigeria and, during his time in office, he instigated a policy whereby respected leaders in relevant areas helped encourage immunisation; cases of wild poliomyelitis decreased from 803 at the end of 2008, to just 11 in 2010.
When the NPHCDA merged with the National Programme on Immunisation (NPI), Muhammad Ali Pate was instrumental in setting out the transformation agenda to manage outstanding issues. He also implemented pioneering policies, such as training middle management for primary health care and the collaboration between public and private sectors through partnership. Further, he also developed the Midwives’ Service Scheme (MSS), to address the national high maternal and child morbidity and mortality rate in Nigeria, in order that those in rural and outlying areas receive the help they need.
In 2011 he was appointed as Minister of Health in Nigeria, following his success as Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Abuja. In July 2013 he resigned from his ministerial post to become Professor at Duke University Global Health Institute in the USA.
In 2012 he was awarded Harvard Health Leader by the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program.
In 2015 he began a term of three years as Chief Executive Officer of Big Win Philanthropy, an independent foundation investing in children and young people in developing countries, helping them improve their lives and maximise opportunities of long term, economic growth in their particular regions.
In 2016 he also gave a course, ‘Leadership Development in Global Health: Building Community Trust Networks’ in his additional role as a Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
In 2019, he was appointed Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
He has served on various national and international panels, including the First WHO Health Systems Research Forum, 2009, in Montreux, Switzerland; Mckinsey’s Geneva Health Forum 2009, in Switzerland; Ernst Strungman Forum, 2010, in Frankfurt, Germany; China-Africa Roundtable for Health, 2010; Pacific Summit, 2011, in Seattle, WA, USA. Since 2017 he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the American International Health Alliance, Additionally he is member of the following: Board for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Steering Committee on Assessment of Impact of Polio Eradication on Routine Immunisation, for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Advisory Board of Merck for Mothers; the Steering Committee for Primary Health Care Performance Initiative (PHCPI); Board of the Private Health Sector Alliance of Nigeria.
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The ousted President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, as well as the country’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Hassoumi Massoudou, has called for “safeguard” of democracy and defeat of soldiers who overthrew his government.
A coup d’Etat in Niger Republic began on Wednesday morning at the presidential palace, leading to Bazoum’s detention by a unit of soldiers known as the Presidential Guard (PG).
The PG claimed to be disgruntled with the political leadership of the country.
The ECOWAS Commission, which is West Africa’s Regional Bloc, had urged the coup plotters to free the president without any condition.
The call by the ECOWAS Commission and other international partners apparently fell on deaf ears as top soldiers converged at the country’s national television station on Wednesday to announce the overthrow of the democratic government of Mohamed Bazoum.
Having seized power, the soldiers whose statement was read by Colonel Amadou Abdramane, closed the country’s borders and announced a nationwide curfew while warning against foreign intervention in favour of the ousted leader.
He said they took the step to “put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”
Afterwards, the ousted government’s foreign minister, Massoudou, in a tweet, appealed “to all democrats, to all patriots, to defeat this adventure which carries all the dangers for our country. Long live democracy, long live Niger.”
The ousted President also put out a tweet calling for the safeguard of democracy.
“The hard won achievements will be safeguarded. All Nigerians who love democracy and freedom will see to it,” he stated.
President Tinubu Embraced Serpents And Rewarded Vultures In Ministerial List – Shehu Sani Reacts
AdminFormer lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has reacted to the ministerial list of President Bola Tinubu, submitted to the senate today, Thursday 27, July 2022.
Naija News earlier reported that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, ended speculations on Thursday afternoon as he presented the president’s ministerial nominee list before the Senate.
Gbajabiamila, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, presented the list to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio at exactly 01:19 pm.
Akpabio thereafter read the ministerial list with 28 nominees.
Below is the full list of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees:
Abubakar Momoh
Yusuf Maitama Tukur
Ahmad Dangiwa
Hannatu Musawa
Uche Nnaji
Betta Edu
Dr. Diris Anite Uzoka
David Umahi
Ezenwo Nyesom Wike
Muhammed Badaru Abubakar
Nasir El Rufai
Ekerikpe Ekpo
Nkiru Onyejiocha
Olubunmi Tunji Ojo
Stella Okotete
Uju Kenedy Ohaneye
Bello Muhammad Goronyo
Dele Alake
Lateef Fagbemi
Mohammad Idris
Olawale Edun
Waheed Adebayo Adelabu
Emman Suleman Ibrahim
Prof Ali Pate
Prof Joseph Usev
Abubakar Kyari
John Enoh
Sani Abubakar Danladi
Reacting to the development, Shehu Sani, in a post via Twitter, averred that Tinubu embraced some serpents with a known history of treachery and vultures for playing the betrayal game.
He tweeted: “The Ministerial list;The President embraced some Serpents with a known history of treachery and rewarded some vultures for playing the Judas. Appeasing a snake in a palace doesn’t spare the King.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has unveiled the 28-man ministerial list submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
See below the ministerial nominees and their state of origin:
ABUBAKAR MOMOH – EDO STATE
YUSUF MAITAMA – BAUCHI STATE
Architect Umar Dangiwa – KATSINA STATE
Hannatu MUSAWA – KATSINA STATE
UCHE NNAJI – ENUGU STATE
BETA EDU – CROSS RIVER STATE
DORIS ANIETE UZOAKA – IMO STATE
DAVID UMAHI – EBONYI STATE
NYESOM EZENWO WIKE – RIVERS STATE
MOHAMMED BADARU ABUBAKAR – JIGAWA STATE
NASIL EL RUFAI – KADUNA STATE
EKPERIKPE EKPO – AKWA IBOM STATE
NKIRU ONYEJEOCHA – ABIA STATE
OLUBUNMI TUNJI OJO – ONDO STATE
STELLA OKOTETE – DELTA STATE
UJU KENNEDY OHANEYE – ANAMBRA STATE
BELLO MOHAMMED GORONYO – SOKOTO STATE
DELE ALAKE – EKITI STATE
LATEEF FAGBEMI – KWARA STATE
MOHAMMED IDRIS – NIGER STATE
OLAWALE EDUN – OGUN STATE
WAHEED ADEBAYO ADELABU – OYO STATE
IMAAN SULEIMAN IBRAHIM – PLATEAU STATE
PROF ALI PATE – BAUCHI STATE
JOSEPH OTSEN
SEN. ABUBAKAR KYARI – BORNO STATE
SEN JOHN ENO – CROSS RIVER
SEN SANI ABUBAKAR – NIGER STATE
‘Don’t Interfere’ – Niger Coup Plotters Warn Tinubu, UN, Others After Declaring Nationwide Curfew
AdminHours after the ECOWAS chairperson, President Bola Tinubu, warned that the West African bloc will not tolerate illegal removal of the democratically elected government of Niger Republic, the country’s recent coup plotters have warned against any foreign intervention.
A group of soldiers who appeared on the West African nation’s national television late on Wednesday, hours after the President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum was held in the presidential palace says his government has been ousted from power.
Reading from a statement, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, seated and flanked by nine other officers, said defence and security forces had decided: “Put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”
Abdramane said Niger’s borders are closed, a nationwide curfew declared, and all institutions of the republic are suspended.
The soldiers warned against any foreign intervention, adding that they will respect Bazoum’s well-being.
The military takeover, which marks the seventh coup in the West and Central Africa region since 2020, could further complicate Western efforts to help countries in the Sahel region fight a jihadist insurgency that has spread from Mali over the past decade.
Land-locked Niger, a former French colony, has become a pivotal ally for Western powers seeking to help fight the insurgencies, but they are facing growing acrimony from the new juntas in charge in Mali and Burkina Faso.
Niger is also a key ally of the European Union in the fight against irregular migration from sub-Saharan Africa.
France moved troops to Niger from Mali last year after its relations with interim authorities there soured.
It has also withdrawn special forces from Burkina Faso amid similar tensions.
Bazoum’s election was the first democratic transition of power in a state that has witnessed four military coups since independence from France in 1960.
The United States says it has spent around $500 million since 2012 to help Niger boost its security.
Germany announced in April that it would take part in a three-year European military mission aimed at improving the country’s military..
“France, the U.S. and the EU have spent much of their resources in the region to bolster Niger and its security forces,” said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel programme for Germany’s Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung think-tank.
He said a coup would create an opportunity for Russia and other actors to spread their influence in Niger.
Early on Wednesday presidential guards, headed by General Omar Tchiani, took over the presidency, prompting regional leaders to organise a swift mediation mission to try to prevent a coup.
Frustrations over state failures to prevent violent attacks on towns and villages have partly spurred two coups in Mali and two in Burkina Faso since 2020.
A junta also snatched power in Guinea in 2021, contributing to instability in a region that had begun to shed its reputation as a “coup belt”.
There was a thwarted coup attempt in Niger in March 2021, when a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace days before the recently elected Bazoum was due to be sworn in.
The African Union and West African regional bloc ECOWAS earlier on Wednesday condemned what they called an attempted coup d’etat.
The president of neighbouring Benin, Patrice Talon, flew into Niger on Wednesday afternoon to assess the situation after meeting with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu who is also the ECOWAS Chairman.
“All means will be used, if necessary, to restore constitutional order in Niger, but the ideal would be for everything to be done in peace and harmony,” Talon told reporters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The United States called for Bazoum’s release, while the European Union, United Nations, France, and others condemned the uprising and said they were following the events with concern.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who spoke with Bazoum on Wednesday when he was being held in the presidential palace, said the U.S. economic and security partnership with Niger depended on the continuation of democratic governance.
NAN