Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-rufai, has said his administration left behind financial liabilities to the tune of $577.32 million foreign debt, N64.54 billion domestic debt and Other Contingent Liabilities of N16.06 billion for the new governor, Senator Uba Sani.
He disclosed this in his farewell speech at the swearing in ceremony of the new governor in Kaduna yesterday.
He said his administration spent N818.9 billion as capital expenditure between 2015 and 2022 in the prosecution of first and second State Development Plans which attracted nearly US$5 billion in foreign and domestic investments.
He said he was leaving a net cash balance of about N5 billion in the Treasury Single Account after deductions for the payment of salaries, pensions, and dues to the local government councils in the state.
“We governed under very difficult fiscal circumstances, surviving two recessions, collapses of crude oil prices, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.
“We, therefore, had to borrow extensively to spend our way out of the recession and pursue our ambition to make Kaduna great again.”
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN has constituted an Election Appeal committee to resolve issues arising from the Branch And Sections Elections Appeal Committees.
While the Branch Election Appeals Committees are to receive and resolve complaints and disputes, from their respective Zones, arising from the conduct by the various Branch Electoral Committees, of the Branch Executive Committees.
Below read the full notice
NOTICE OF CONSTITUTION OF BRANCH AND SECTIONS ELECTIONS APPEAL COMMITTEES
By the powers vested on me by Section 14(3)(i) of the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar
Association, 2015 (as amended in 2021), I am pleased to announce the constitution of Branch Elections Appeal Committees and the Sections Elections Appeal Committee pursuant to 14(1), subject to the ratification of the National Executive Council (NEC).
The Committees, by Section 14(2)(m) and (n) are empowered to entertain and resolve
complaints and petitions with regards to branches and sections elections respectively, and to give directions and interpretations to guide the conduct of the elections, and the qualification or disqualification of candidates to participate in the said elections.
The Committees are hereby constituted as follows:
NBA Branch Elections Appeal Committee (East)
S/NO. NAME BRANCH
1. Ndukwe Nnawuchi, SAN – Chairman –Owerri
2. Dennis Okwakpam – Alternate Chairman — Port Harcourt
3. Ogbonnaya Igwuenyi — Aba
4. Marc Enameh – –Ogoja
5. Ogbonna Okorie — Abakaliki
6. Ume Maduka – –Ohafia
7. Mrs. Nkoyo Amah — Calabar
8. Gerald Ezeh — Nsukka
9. Amaka Ezeno – Secretary — Awka
10. Henry Onyiuke — Onitsha
11. Dise Sheila Ogbise — Sagbama
NBA Branch Elections Appeal Committee (North)
S/NO. NAME BRANCH
1. Abdul Atadoga, SAN – Chairman —Abuja
2. Murtala Aliyu Kankia – Alternate Chairman – –Kastina
3. Haruna Yelma — Gombe
4. Adamu Lawal Dambatta – –Garki
5. Mustapha Kashim — Dutse
6. Member Adiguve — Makurdi
7. Dr Rabiat Abdullahi Musa — Jos
8. Mrs Oluronke Adeyemi – Secretary —Ilorin
9. Yakubu Moses Ede — Keffi
10. Sule Shuaibu — Kaduna
11. Mohammed Ummaru — Maiduguri
NBA Branch Elections Appeal Committee (West)
S/NO. NAME BRANCH
1. Ama Etuwewe, SAN – Chairman — Warri
2. Dele Oloke – Alternate Chairman —Ikeja
3. Isitor Raymond — Agbor
4. Mena Ajakpovi — Lagos
5. Akintokunbo Oluwole — Ondo
6. Rotimi Olorunfemi — Akure
7. Folake Abiodun — Ibadan
8. Dotun Adetunji — Ikorodu
9. Mrs. K. Ajose — Ota
10. Olajumoke Catherine Ogunjebi – Secretary — Akure
11. Oluwatoyin Omomehin — Abeokuta
NBA Sections Elections Appeal Committee
S/NO. NAME BRANCH
1. Ikeazor Ajovi Akaraiwe, SAN – Chairman — Enugu
2. Prof Augustine Agom – Alternate Chairman — Zaria
3. Prince Obinichi Nyekwere — Port Harcourt
4. Foluke Akinmoladun – Secretary — Lagos
5. John Eric Amokaha — Gwagwalada
6. Dindam Killy — Abuja
7. Mohammed Tsav — Bwari
8. Nkiruka Obiokoye — Enugu
9. Lilian Eronini — Lagos
10. Abdulsalam Saleh — Garki
11. Stella Ogbonna Ijebu — Ode
The Committees will be inaugurated on Tuesday, 30 May 2023 by 4:00pm prompt. Virtual meeting link will be sent to members of the Committees prior to the scheduled time.
I thank all members of the Committees for graciously making themselves available to
selflessly serve the Bar in this capacity. I enjoin members of the Bar, particularly the
aspirants to the various offices, to give the Committees maximum cooperation to ensure
smooth transitions in the various Branches and Sections.
A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has added a new vista to the rights of women in Nigeria as it declares that wives are joint owners of the properties with their husbands as men hold such properties in ‘constructive trust’ for the family.
The court ruled that “indirect contributions of a wife to the marital property should not be quantified in monetary terms in order to entitle her to a share of the property”.
“Constructive Trust,“ the court said, quoting the English Master of Rolls, Lord Denning, “is a trust imposed by law wherever justice and good conscience require a remedy by which the court can enable an aggrieved spouse or party to obtain restitution and the success of the party’s case does not depend on his or her direct physical or monetary contribution to the building or acquisition of the property.”
Justice Dorcas T. Olatokun made this pronouncement in a case between a couple, Mr. Pius Aina, and his wife, Caroline, over a property at Festac Town, Lagos, acquired by the husband while he worked with the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in the early 1980s.
The couple who had been married for 35 years live in the property with their three children for more than 30 years.
After his retirement, the husband in 2018 sold the property for N20 million and relocated back to his hometown in Ondo State.
His wife however challenged the sale, claiming that as his wife, and joint owner, the husband cannot sell the property without her consent.
She therefore sued her husband, asking the court to void the sale.
Joined as defendants in the suit are her husband, Mr. Pius Aina, Michael Oluwaseun Da-Silva, Albert Sanyaolu Da-Silva, Joe Vincent, and Femi Adeniyi.
The second and third defendants are the purported buyer of the property, and his father who manages it, respectively. The two other defendants are the agents that facilitated the sale.
The claimant’s lawyer, Ademola Adesina, argued that his client is legally married to the first defendant for 35 years under the Marriage Act and the marriage is blessed with three children. The first defendant was a staff of FHA and while in employment, he was allocated a two-bedroom bungalow described as House 6, N Close, 3rd, Avenue, Festac Town, where he resided with his family as their residential home.
In 1989, FHA wrongfully and compulsorily withdrew the services of the first defendant and 69 other employees and was asked to vacate the house.
However, the employees challenged FHA in court and they were reinstated on November 24, 1997.
According to the claimant, her husband was eventually retired compulsorily on July 4, 2001, five years after the reinstatement.
FHA gave him a right of first refusal to purchase the property at a price of N400,000. This offer was paid for with the husband’s N200,000 entitlement while the wife paid the balance of N200,000.
The wife further claimed that in 2006, her husband took a loan of N30,000 from Cooperative Bank without her knowledge.
She added that by the time she knew, the loan had accrued interest which took it to N150,000. The husband allegedly used the house as collateral and when they were going to lose the house, the wife claimed that she had to cough out the money to repay the loan.
She also cited another time that FHA sought to revoke the right of first refusal given to the husband due to the fact that he had got another allocation at the Ipaja, Lagos scheme of the authority, which he sold.
FHA position was that the husband is only entitled to one allocation. The wife claimed that her husband challenged FHA in court and won the case.
However, she claimed that she was the one who financed the litigation as she paid the lawyer, Chief M.O.B Omolemen of Messrs Gab-Anna Chambers the sum of N1.5 million as cost of litigation.
She stated further that on December 8, 2018, while on a trip abroad, she discovered that her husband had sold the family home to the second and third defendants without any form of consent from her.
She claimed that the sale was conducted with fake documents as she had the original documents of the house with her. She stated that every attempt to make her husband revoke the sale or render accounts of the sale proved abortive. She therefore urged the court to void the sale.
However, the husband in his defence, stated that the property, the subject matter of the suit is a product of a private contract between him and the FHA.
He argued that the wife is not a party to the contract and therefore, cannot challenge his right to transfer the property to the second and third defendants, particularly in the absence of evidence that she is an assignee to the contract and property.
He further claimed that the statutory marriage between him and his wife was contracted in 2001 during the subsistence of a valid customary marriage between him and his first wife contracted in December 22, 1980.
This fact, according to him, is known to his wife, and therefore, cannot rely on her marriage to him to shortchange him and his first wife.
He stated that he consulted both wives on his decision to sell the house and retire back to his hometown in Ondo State, to which they both consented.
As part of the resettlement plan, the husband stated that he purchased a three-bedroom flat residential apartment for the claimant at Block 147, Flat 2, Amuwo Odofin Low- Cost Housing Estate, Mile 2, Lagos for the claimant and his children.
He also bought a property for himself at Lotogbe Family Layout, Ago Itunu, Ondo-Akure Road for N6.5 million.
He said having derived benefit from the sale to the second defendant, and the claimant having also benefited from the sale, it will be inequitable to deprive the second defendant of his right to peaceable possession of the property being an innocent third party without any notice of disagreement between husband and wife at the time of sale.
He stated that the property was sold for N20 million and denied that the sale was made with fake documents as original documents were handed over to the second defendant at the time of sale.
He claimed that there’s no law that bounds him to take permission from the wife before selling his own house, but out of courtesy, he consulted the wife who did not object to it.
The husband said he subscribed to the housing scheme as part of his employment benefits from his employer, which led to the house being allocated to him. The allocation was formalised and was officially communicated to him via a letter dated October 23, 2017.
He said the allocation papers did not contain any inference to his wife or the three children as joint owners. He denied further that he did not pay N400,000:00 for the property as suggested by his wife but that he paid N3.750 million, which was deducted from his terminal benefit.
He also denied that his wife contributed to the payment of litigation fees from his lawyer, whom he claimed he paid fully. He claimed that he was the one who hired Gab-Anna Chambers and that he fulfilled his contractual obligations to the law firm, which was to the tune of N7.5 million.
In his judgment, Justice Olatokun held that there exists a valid marriage between the claimant and the first defendant, and that both had contributed to the marriage.
“This inference of trust, the one for the other is readily apparent when each has made a financial contribution to the purchase price or the mortgage installment.
The financial contribution may be direct as where it is actually stated to be a contribution towards the price or installments. It may be indirect as where both go out to work and one pays for the housekeeping and other the mortgage installments. It doesn’t matter who pays what so long as there is a substantial financial contribution towards the family expenses, it raises the inference of trust. We should not give money right over social justice”.
On the issue of ownership, Justice Olatokun ruled: “Where joint ownership of property exists, it means that each party has an equal proprietary right of ownership in the said land, notwithstanding the weight of contribution made by each party and can jointly exercise such right in respect of the property. The position of the law is settled that where a property is jointly owned, the consent of the other is required before disposing the property.”
In applying the principle of law to this issue, the court found that the defendant cannot dispose of the property without the consent of the claimant first sought and obtained.
The court held that the claimant is entitled to be protected by the court to ensure that the property in dispute is not alienated without her consent and therefore sale of the property by the first defendant to the second defendant is hereby set aside.
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has made good its threat to institute a Petition for the arrest and prosecution for crimes against humanity of the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, over his wilful refusal to arrest and prosecute killers of the young Christian female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, Miss Deborah Samuel.
In the Petition already mailed and dispatched by Courier to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, HURIWA through its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko affirmed that: “Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, hereby makes this petition to the International Criminal Court ICC, under Article 15 of the Rome Statute, already ratified by Nigeria”.
The Petition requests that Mr Aminu Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto State at the time of the murder of Miss Deborah Samuel, a female Christian student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, by Muslim fanatics in May 2022, for blasphemy against Holy prophet Mohammed (PBUH), be arrested and prosecuted.
This Petition is hinged on the following facts:
1) The right to life of every citizen of Nigeria is guaranteed under Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, except as provided therein.
2) The prohibition of blasphemy in Section 204 of the Criminal Code cannot pass the test of constitutional validity, in view of the guarantees of Freedom of Religion and Free Speech, under Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution, respectively.
3) Although the responsibility of criminal prosecution is that of the Nigeria Police headed by a Commissioner of Police in each State of the Federation of Nigeria, each State Governor as Chief Security Officer of his State has operational control of the Police in his or her State, through the aforementioned State Police Commissioners.
4) Each State in Nigeria including Sokoto State, has a Ministry of Justice, headed by an Attorney-General, with full prosecutorial powers, in respect of crimes committed in his State, including murder.
5) Therefore, the ultimate responsibility of arresting and prosecuting the fanatics that murdered Miss Deborah Samuel, is that of the Governor of Sokoto at the time, Mr Aminu Tambuwal.
6) The danger of Mr Tambuwal’s lackadaisical handling of this very serious moral and criminal dilemma posed by the killing of Miss Deborah Samuel, is that it will encourage other miscreants to embark on this sort of crime, with impunity.
In view of the foregoing, HURIWA urged the ICC to arrest and prosecute Mr Tambuwal, expeditiously.
The newly sworn in governor of Katsina State, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, has vowed to establish a Treasury Single Account (TSA) in order to checkmate financial loopholes in the state.
He said the introduction of the TSA would enable his government consolidate the state finances, strengthen accountability and close all financial linkages in the state.
Radda, who spoke shortly after he was sworn in as the fifth governor of Katsina State, yesterday, said linkages in payroll, overheads and capital projects would be eradicated to ensure efficient management of the state resources.
Elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Radda was sworn in alongside his deputy, Faruk Lawal-Jobe by the state Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danlandi Abubakar, at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.
The former SMEDAN director-general promised to also conduct a staff audit to eliminate ghost workers at state and local government levels in order to ensure that public servants serve the government judiciously.
The governor explained that promotion and placement of staff would be entirely on merits and not through favours, adding that his government would apply the sticks and carrots approach towards performance of his cabinet members.
He, however, said security issues would be given ultimate priority by his government, vowing to deploy all available resources to tame the spate of banditry and other criminalities in the state.
Radda warned bandits terrorising some farming communities in the state to abandon their nefarious activities and reintegrate into society or face the wrath of the law.
He said: “To the bandits, I say abandon your course and reintegrate into society or face the full wrath of the law. And I urged our youths to shun drug abuse, time wasting and criminality. We will work with relevant law enforcement agencies to provide social order and overall security of the state.”
He reiterated that his government would build the lives of those affected by banditry by providing special support to women and girls whom he said have endured the unimaginable pains.
The newly inaugurated Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia has ordered that all government bank accounts in the state be frozen.
The Governor made this declaration on Monday, May 29, 2023, in his inaugural speech after taking the oath of office as the Governor of Benue State.
Speaking at the IBB Square, Alia said a ‘Post No Debit’ instruction shall remain in force until all signatories are changed.
He, however, warned all banks to adhere to the directive without delay.
He said: “May I announce that effective immediately and until further notice, all government accounts in all banks are hereby frozen.
“A ‘Post No Debit’ instruction shall remain in force until all signatories are changed. Any bank that violates this instruction does so at its own risk.”
During his speech, Governor Alia expressed his commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the state’s finances.
New Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has said the debt profile of the middlebelt state is unhealthy.
This is as he disclosed that he inherited a state with a debt burden of N200 billion, from his predecessor, Solomon Lalong.
He made the disclosure during his inaugural speech after his swearing-in at a ceremony in Jos, the state capital.
He, however, said the humongous debt would not deter him from serving the state dutifully and diligently.
He said, “The state is presently under a huge debt burden of over N200 billion, the healthcare sector is in need of urgent attention, our school system requires a comprehensive overhaul, our infrastructure is decayed and inadequate, and practically, every sector requires urgent redress.
“But in spite of the huge debt the state is currently plagued with, that will not deter us from serving you effectively.
“We are committed to breaking the state’s over-dependence on one source of revenue which is based in Abuja and managed sometimes with uncertainty. We commit to working on multiple and sustainable income sources so that we can serve you better.
“I must mention that there are no quick-fix solutions to these challenges, but one thing is certain, we are prepared to take the challenges head-on and we will hit the ground running immediately.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved his first appointments hours after he was sworn in to power.
Recalls that former President, Muhammadu Buhari had earlier yesterday handed over to Tinubu at the Eagles Square, Abuja.
Following his inauguration, Tinubu approved the appointment of Victor Adekunle Adeleke as his State Chief of Protocol.
He also appointed former Lagos State Commissioner of Information, Dele Alake as Presidential Spokesman and Olusegun Dada Special Adviser, Digital Media
The newly appointed SCOP, Adeleke, who’s from Oyo State officially began his assignment today.
He’s an accomplished diplomat and lawyer.
He joined the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1993 and rose through the ranks, serving in various missions abroad and at the Headquarters, including the State House.
Adeleke appointment is adjudged as well-deserved by his colleagues as he takes over from Ambassador Lawal Kazuare.
The new SCOP comes to the job with a huge pedigree as a career Foreign Service Officer and it’s expected that he will change the face of diplomatic protocol in the Villa.
His last appointed was as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) and Ambassador to Ethiopia, where he served with distinction and represented the country creditably and honourably.
Born in 1967 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Ambassador Adeleke graduated from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-Ife with a Bachelor of Laws degree (with Honours) in June 1990. He then proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos for his professional training to become a Barrister and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1991, having satisfied all conditions prescribed by law.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has rejected the announcement on Monday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on fuel subsidy removal.
Naija News reported that during his inaugural speech at the Eagles Square in Abuja, Tinubu declared that his administration would not continue to pay subsidy on petroleum products.
He explained that the 2023 budget projected by his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari made no provision for fuel subsidy, so further payment was no longer justifiable.
In a swift reaction on Monday, IPMAN National Public Relations Officer, Chinedu Ukadike said the association is not in support of the removal of fuel subsidy at this time.
He said the refineries in the country should be fixed before taking such decision that will cause galloping inflation and inflict more hardship on the masses.
According to Ukadike, the new government should sit and discuss with marketers and other stakeholders on how to manage the fuel subsidy regime
He said IPMAN was ready to work with the new government and would proffer measures to address the fuel subsidy regime, instead of effecting an outright halt in subsidy.
He said: “We are not in support of the removal of fuel subsidy at this time. We have said it repeatedly that our refineries should be fixed before taking such decision that will cause galloping inflation and inflict more hardship on the masses.
“The government of President Tinubu should not adopt what is in the transition document handed over to it by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Someone (Buhari) who for eight years did not remove subsidy is advising a new government to remove it.
“That is not fair and should not be adopted. Rather the new government should sit and discuss with marketers and other stakeholders on how to manage the fuel subsidy regime. We now have the Dangote Refinery, but all our refineries are still not working, so we don’t think removing subsidy is the right thing to do now.”
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has called on president Bola Tinubu to prioritise solving the challenges of security and economic struggles and work tirelessly to find lasting solutions that will improve the livelihoods of Nigerians.
The president of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a congratulatory message on behalf of the association to president Tinubu for the success of his inauguration as the 16th president of Nigeria, described the inauguration as a momentous occasion for Nigeria and wished him well as he takes on the responsibilities of leading Nigeria.
According to the association, Nigeria is facing many challenges that require strong and decisive leadership from the new administration.
“From security concerns to economic struggles, it is clear that there is much work to be done in order to ensure that Nigeria can reach its full potential.
“We urge president Tinubu to prioritise these issues and to work tirelessly to find lasting solutions that will improve the livelihoods of the people of Nigeria.
“As we face our common challenges, Nigerians must come together as a people with a spirit of unity and a great sense of accommodation to form a potent force,” he stated.
CAN said that to this end, they believe that as president Tinubu engages the active participation of all Nigerians regardless of their political, ethnic, and religious leanings, Nigeria can overcome all obstacles to emerge stronger than ever.
“Once again, we congratulate president Tinubu and wish him all the best as he begins the onerous task of leading Nigeria at this time of our national history,” he said.
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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has applauded the decision by the Federal Government to remove subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also called Petrol.
In the first policy directive of his administration, President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, had announced the removal of fuel subsidy.
He disclosed this in his inaugural speech as the new President of Nigeria.
According to him, subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.
After an emergency meeting in Abuja, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, noted that the removal of the subsidy, which had been a burden on NNPCL cash flow, will free up funds to enable optimal operations in the company.
Reacting to fuel scarcity already being experienced almost after the presidential pronouncement, Kyari assured Nigerians of sufficient supply of the product.
He added that the NNPCL was also monitoring all its distribution networks to ensure compliance.
New Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah after his inauguration yesterday, swung into action by signing three executive orders for effective governance of the state.
They are Order 001 of 2023, which is an executive order for the Development of Citizens’ Charter; Executive Order 002 of 2003, for the Removal of Unauthorised Street Barriers Across the state Wlwithin 100 Days and Executive Order 003 of 2023, for the Promotion of Economic Growth through Transparency and Efficiency in Government.
The governor said by Order 001 for Citizens Charter, the government undertook to provide the citizens with a “peaceful and tranquil living environment devoid of insecurity and all threats to life”.
Other objectives of the government in this regard include: “A justice system that efficiently adjudicates on all civil or criminal matters.
“Critical social amenities including but not limited to good and motorable roads, qualitative world class education, portable water in every household, affordable and qualitative medical services; refuse disposal, provision of open spaces for recreation and sports and other social services will assure a good living environment for citizens.
“Creation of jobs to achieve the eradication of poverty in Enugu State by 2030.
“Ensuring the maintenance of a physical and policy environment in Enugu State that will make the State conducive for establishment of new businesses and growth of existing businesses.
“Detailed development planning defined by timely quality budget preparation and approval for implementation.
“Transparent and inclusive governance on web and to the press defined by a regular rendering of accounts and information on government budgets and expenditure plans, including a statement about how your money is being spent, as well as quarterly summaries of government revenue, borrowings and expenditure; timely production and publishing of audited annual accounts; and consultative town hall meetings to present government’s plans and receive citizens’ feedback”.
Others are establishment of a price intelligence unit to ensure that government contract prices reflect costs that will ensure good value for money.
The new action is also designed to ensure formation of a public budget revenue and expenditure monitoring committee with broad based membership from the State, citizens and prominent Development agencies and multilateral agencies and civil society groups.
“Quality and timely government services by all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“Timely and complete payments of service providers and contractors as well as emoluments to government employees and pensioners.
“This Charter will be internally and independently assessed on an annual basis to check to what extent the government is in compliance. The results of the assessments will be graded and published.
“This is a progressive performance improvement plan. Performance against the standards stated here are expected to be moderate in the first instance but will progressively improve as time goes on,” the new government stated.
Also, the governor said that by Order 002, which is pursuant to the authority vested in his office by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and the Laws of Enugu State, seeks to eliminate every barrier to free movement of persons and goods in the state, noting however that the Order was limited to state and local government roads only.
While acknowledging the reason for security adduced for the erection of the barriers, Dr. Mbah assured the people of the state that the government would step up its efforts to ensure the security of lives and property.
Giving details on Order 003, the governor said that in order to facilitate government services, “every MDA of the Enugu State Government shall publish a complete list of all requirements or conditions for obtaining products and services within the MDA’s scope of responsibility, including permits, licenses, waivers, tax related processes, filings, and approvals”.
The order, among others, stipulates that failure of the appropriate officer to act on any application within the timeline stipulated, without lawful excuse, shall amount to misconduct and be subject to appropriate disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the law and regulations applicable to the civil or public service.
Meanwhile, Mbah, who was earlier sworn in, alongside his deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, by the Chief Judge of Enugu, Raymond Ozoemena, had in his inaugural speech pledged that his administration would not be business as usual, saying Enugu will rubbish ‘Japa syndrome’, not by legislation, but by creatively addressing the challenges to the future of our youths.
“Take notice that this administration will be business unusual. Tough decisions will be made. Those decisions will however be taken in the best interest of Ndi Enugu and Enugu State in general. You (citizens) will constitute the driving force of every action we take as your representatives.
“We will serve you with every fiber of our being and devote all our energy and your resources to working for you and your interests. Our driving force and governance philosophy will always be based on transcendental values.
“The youths of Enugu State will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the tomorrow that is now here today. We want to expose our youths to the skills required to grasp the emerging future and create opportunities for the genius in them to flourish,” he said.
United States (U.S.) President Joe Biden yesterday promised to work with President Bola Tinubu to deliver a more peaceful and prosperous future for the global community.
Biden, in a statement, extended warm wishes to the government and people of Nigeria.
His administration, he said, has worked to strengthen ties between the United States and Nigeria.
The U.S. President said: “I look forward to continuing this work with President Tinubu to support economic growth, advance security, and promote respect for human rights. The people-to-people connections between our two countries run particularly deep, nurtured by a vibrant Nigerian Diaspora in the United States.”
Biden added: “As we further deepen our partnership with Nigeria, I look forward to drawing even more on the ideas and energy of this dynamic connection between our countries. As Africa’s largest democracy and economy, Nigeria’s success is the world’s success. Elected leaders owe it to their people to show that democracy can deliver for their needs. And the United States will continue to work closely with Nigeria, as a friend and partner, to deliver a more peaceful and prosperous future for our world.”
Nigeria’s unofficial foreign exchange market reacted positively on the inauguration day of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s 16th President.
The black market opened on Monday at N763 against the US dollar but dropped by N9 at the close of trade.
Prices at Zone 4, a popular Bureau de Change hub in Abuja closed between N755 and N754 against the dollar.
The naira has been trading low against the dollar over low foreign exchange earnings.
But Tinubu said in his first inaugural speech that he will unify the exchange rate.
The secondary market intervention sales retail window, the small and medium-size enterprises (SME) window, and the window for invisibles.
The black market for the BDC dealers is another unofficial window with a huge margin.
He said, “Monetary policy needs thorough house cleaning. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate.
“This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy.
“We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard earned dividends and profits home.”
Adesina Lauded For Setting Agenda For Tinubu In Inauguration Speech
A former minister for agriculture and current president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has received kudos for giving a lucid, thought-provoking speech at the inaugural lecture of the new president of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The commendation came from a public analyst and optometrist Dr. Jeremiah Agoh
In a reaction yesterday to Adesina’s recent speech at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Asokoro, Abuja, Dr Agoh described the address as “apt, thought-provoking, truth to power, and straight to the point.”
Agoh in a statement he issued in Abuja, said the views and perspectives expressed by the AfDB boss should not have been delivered at a better period in the nation’s history as it is done now that a new government has been ushered in Nigeria after eight years of Muhammadu Buhari in the saddle.
The expert, who said he had followed the activities of the Buhari administration over the years, thanked Adesina for his “forthrightness and foresight in shaping the African Development Bank to the envy of other international financial institutions.”
Agoh said he was elated over the giant strides Adesina had made at ADB, which today is ranked as the most transparent financial institution in the world.
He described the AfDB president as one of the leading lights the country has produced, stressing that he would always tell the truth to power.
Adesina had told the new president that the “election of a new president in every climate elicits hope.
“Therefore, Nigerians would be looking up to him (president Tinubu) to assure security, peace, and stability.
He added that Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora would expect the new president to heal and unite a fractious nation, and also rise above party lines and forge a compelling force to move the nation forward with inclusiveness, fairness, equity and justice.