photo: APC shifts caucus, NEC meetings because of Tinubu

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved the meetings of its National Caucus and National Executive Committee, NEC, which was initially scheduled for Monday and Tuesday by one week. This was confirmed in a statement issued by the National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore.

Omisore noted that both meetings will now hold on July 18 and 19 respectively.

“Members of the National Caucus and National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress are hereby informed that our meetings of 10th and 11th of July, 2023, have been postponed to the 18th and 19th of July, 2023, respectively,”the notice said. Continuing, Omisore announced that the date change was to honour President Bola Tinubu following his emergence as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States on Sunday afternoon in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau.

The ECOWAS chairmanship is a position held by one of the heads of state or government of the member countries, chosen on a rotating basis for one year.

“The postponement is necessitated by the regional and sub-regional schedules and engagements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States. Inconveniences regretted,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee will on Monday meet with all Chairmen of APC State chapters at the national secretariat in Abuja by 1.00 pm.

Alleged N1bn fraud: Kano anti-corruption commission arrests Ganduje’s commissioner, others

In what looks like closing in on the former Kano State Governor, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has apprehended his former commissioner and four others over allegations of N1billion fraud.

The reinstated anti graft czar in the State, Barr Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado had promised that all those accused of bribery and corruption would pay for their sins.

This has now resulted in the arrest and detention of the former commissioner for works and infrastructure, Engr Idris Wada Saleh and five others over allegations of N1billion fraud.

The commissioner, who was also the Managing Director, Kano Road Maintenance Agency, the Permanent Secretary, Public Procurement Bureau, Mustapha Madaki Huguma, the Director of Finance, the Director of Research and Planning, among others, were arrested on Monday evening over allegation of withdrawing over N1billion for the rehabilitation of 30 roads and drainage in the metropolis, projects that were allegedly not carried out.

A source at the commission told DAILY POST that the money which was withdrawn in three tranches was paid into account of three companies in April 2023.

“Surprisingly the Public Procurement Bureau even issued a certificate of no objection for the contract after the payment was made ten days earlier which is against the Procurement Act 2021.

The Due Process office said the certificate of no objection was issued because Kano Road Maintenance Agency said the rehabilitation of the roads would be carried out through direct labour but the papers submitted read otherwise,’’ the source said.

Spokesman of the commission, Abba Kabir confirmed that those arrested are undergoing interrogation and would be arraigned before the court immediately investigation is completed.

Eid el-Kabir: FG declares June 28, 29 public holidays

The Federal Government on Monday declared Wednesday, June 28th, and Thursday, June 29th, as Eid el-Kabir holidays.

Oluwatoyin Akinlade, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, made the announcement in a signed statement.

“In the spirit of this special occasion, during which we commemorate the great virtues of obedience, sacrifice and faith as exemplified by Prophet Ibraheem (Peace of Allah be upon him), Muslims, and indeed all Nigerians, are enjoined to make sacrifices for the growth and development of our communities and our great country, Nigeria,” the statement reads.

Akinlade expressed hope that the prayers and sacrifices that come with this great celebration will bring about peace, unity and progress in the country.

The sharks are around’ – Gov Fubara hints on Wike’s defection to APC

The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara has pleaded with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike not to stay away from him even if he crosses over to the other side of the political divide.

Fubara said this during a thanksgiving reception for Wike on Sunday at his private residence on Ada-George Road.

“While we are seeing signs that it’s like you want to go over to the other side with everybody wishing that, please don’t be too far from me because I know that the sharks, the tigers are really around looking for what to hurt.

“So, being around would continue to guide and put my head straight for the purpose of this state,” Fubara said.

His appeal comes amid rumours that Wike could dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Wike chose to support APC’s Bola Tinubu, who was eventually announced winner of the 2023 presidential election instead of his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Fuel subsidy: Anxiety as FG, labour meet today

Representatives of the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, will on Monday, today, resume talks on petrol subsidy removal palliatives.

Recall that following the removal of the fuel subsidy on May 29, the NLC had threatened to shut down the country’s economy by embarking on industrial action.

However, on June 5, NLC announced the suspension of its planned strike after a series of meetings with the federal government.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, however, made some demands which would cushion the effect of the hike in fuel price and other esfsential commodities caused by the subsidy removal.

It is expected that the both parties would harmonize some of the demands in the meeting scheduled for 4pm today.

According to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachallom Daju, the parties will reconvene at the presidential Villa, Abuja.

Newly elected Kaduna assembly member dies four days after swearing-in

A member of the 10th Kaduna State House of Assembly, Honorable Garba Madami has died. He died today June 17, four days after he was sworn-in to represent Chikun constituency in the state House of Assembly. He died of an undisclosed illness at a Kaduna hospital.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Shehu, the Governor commiserated with his immediate family and the people of Chikun Constituency, noting that the lawmaker was known for promoting peaceful coexistence and was greatly respected.

Governor Sani prayed to God to grant the soul of Madami eternal rest and comfort his family, associates, friends, and constituents he left behind.

The late lawmaker was a one-time chairman of Chikun Local Government Area and former Commissioner of Planning and Budget. He also served as Political Adviser to the late Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State.

May his soul rest in peace, Amen.

Man pours hot water on nursing wife’s breasts in Enugu

One Emmanuel Opoku, who allegedly poured hot water on his wife’s two breasts, has been remanded by a magistrate’s court sitting in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The accused was charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm on his wife, who is nursing a child at the time of the incident.

According to the charge sheet, No: MES/ 226 c/ 20, Mr. Opoku unlawfully poured hot water on Mrs. Opoku’s two breasts, which caused her grievous bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 290 of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.

It was gathered that the legal team of Women Aid Collective, WACOL, and other pro bono lawyers, led by WACOL’s Head of Legal Unit, Mrs Ijeoma Ezeude, Onyeonagu and Dr. Nick Agbo, worked in conjunction with the police prosecutor, Inspector Innocent Otibe, to vehemently oppose the bail application.

The magistrate, who refused the bail application on the ground of public interest remanded the man who poured water on his wife’s breasts person in Enugu police custody.

Vanguard

ASUU donates 1.000 seater lecture hall to UNIJOS

AWAY from its seeming confrontational posture, the University of Jos, UniJos Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has added value to education as the union donated a 1,000 capacity twin lecture theatre to the university as part of its efforts at addressing infrastructural problems in the institution.

The lecture theatre built and furnished at the cost of over N60 million was done through contributions by members of the Union who said they needed to contribute their quota to alleviate the plight of students.

Presenting the keys of the lecture theatre to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Sebastian Maimako, ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, said the commissioning and handing over of the building was an historic event as it was the first of its kind and a demonstration that the unfounded accusation that ASUU always makes selfish demands from government was untrue.

According to him “To the best of our recollection, this is the first time in the history of university education since 1948 that a campus-based union would conceive, implement and deliver a project of this magnitude for the use of staff and students of a university in Nigeria. Even the most virulent critics of ASUU cannot deny that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, an offshoot of the Education Tax Fund, ETF which is a product of the FGN-ASUU Agreement of September, 1992, is what currently support infrastructural development of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.”

Earlier, the UniJos Chapter Chairman of the Union, Dr. Lazarus Maigoro noted that, “The overriding motivation for the sacrifice and intervention made by our members to resolve to contribute N63.2million from their hard earned and meagre salaries to construct the building donated to the University and by extension, the federal government of Nigeria rests on the fact that the Nigerian University Education system is bedeviled by gross infrastructural deficit which the government seems to show very little concern.”

He added that the Union decided to embark on the project because “Government has not lived up to its responsibility of funding education. The situation is so bad that it is lecturers in the University who are erroneously perceived as strike mongers and very recalcitrant people that are using their salaries to build classrooms to assist the government and students.”

Receiving the keys, the VC represented by Professor Tanko Ishaya expressed gratitude saying the “remarkable” edifice shows that indeed ASUU struggles have been justified.