Tag: Bola Tinubu

  • No president has supported Nigerian football like Tinubu – Minister

    No president has supported Nigerian football like Tinubu – Minister

    By Christian Njoku

    Minister of Sports Development, Sen John Owan-Enoh on Sunday disclosed that no Nigerian president has supported the nation’s football as much as President Bola Tinubu.

    Owan-Enoh made the remark at the Holy Family Catholic Church Ikom during a thanksgiving mass in his honour that was well attended by his friends and associates.

    The minister who said he was committed to returning joy to Nigerian homes through sports, said they were working very hard to win the Africa Cup of Nations, (AFCON) holding in Cote D’Ivoire to ensure that joy spreads to every Nigerian home.

    According to him “the coaches of the senior national team has not been paid for 15 months, the salary is over 1.3 million dollars.

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    “The senior national team and other national teams, had backlog of unpaid allowance, unpaid promises and all of that piling up close to about N12 billion and the president has approved all of that payment.

    There’s no better way to show support and leadership than what he has done  as I go to Lagos to challenge the senior national team, I need them to know that the whole country will be waiting in anticipation of the outcome of AFCON 2023,” he said.

    Speaking further, he noted that people say he has got the toughest job as the minister of sports development adding that it was only in sports that the nation was competing with other regions in the globe.

    He maintained that following antecedents, the sports sector in the nation was difficult because every step you took as a leader was seen as controversial but to the glory of God, he was able to navigate that.

    Owan-Enoh asserted that come 2027, he was going to support Tinubu and Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross because they have shown leadership and capacity to turn things around.

    “Asiwaju has the intellect and capacity to turn things around let’s support him, if you support me, support the president and pray for him.

    “I took a chance with him, when he told me to discontinue my litigation in Cross River, it was at a time nobody knew he will win but I stopped the litigation and he said John, you honoured me, God will honour you.

    The reception of the thanksgiving which was held at the popular Ikom Township Stadium had in attendance, Mr. Peter Odey, Deputy Gov of Cross River, Mr Elvert Ayambem, Speaker Cross River House of Assembly among other dignitaries both from federal and state levels.

  • Over 15,000 Betta Edu’s Kinsmen Agog At Her First Homecoming, Sing Praises Of President Tinubu

    Over 15,000 Betta Edu’s Kinsmen Agog At Her First Homecoming, Sing Praises Of President Tinubu

    ...Abi Communities in Cross River Welcomes Their Own, Betta Edu
    Says Tinubu’s Choice Best as 2,200 Gets Empowered

    An unprecedented crowd converged in Adadama village of Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, the country home of the dynamic Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu at the weekend as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name resonated in songs and praises from over 15,000 residents thanking him for appointing their daughter as a federal minister of the Federal Republic.

    The visit was the Minister’s first since her appointment as over 2,200 benefitted from the Renewed Hope empowerment and vocational skills acquisition.

    The seemingly messianic visit was not unexpected as a result of the hard work of the minister that has earned her the star girl and revelation of President Tinubu’s administration, and the zest at which she has been delivering on her mandate in bringing relief to the Nigerian people.

    The entire Local Government and Cross River State by extension subsequently pledged full support to the administration, saying only a “President Tinubu” can take the bold step to bring young people in their thirties into the Federal Executive Council not to talk of considering someone from their village.

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    The Minister however assured Nigerians that in 2024 they will witness an unprecedented victory over poverty as has never been in the history of this country under President Bola Tinubu, as millions would have clear proof of recovery from poverty.

    “We will deploy all approaches humanly possible until we get results. Cross Riverians will also benefit from the social Protection intervention of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.”

    The Obol Lepon of Ugep and the Eval Adadama who are Traditional rulers in the region thanked President Tinubu for this great privilege stating that they have confidence in their daughter Betta Edu who is a hard worker and goal-getter, assuring the President that she will not fail him.

    They recounted how she built Health Centers for the community and has religiously paid fees for every child in the ward for about a Decade now. She has always had a humanitarian heart and she’s the best fit for the job.

    Those who passed through the vocational training for two days on different skills got their starter packs at the event. While some were put into cooperatives and empowered to set up micro-businesses with strict monitoring. These persons were carefully selected through a rigorous process that ensured only the very poor, vulnerable, and sick were considered.

    It was indeed an endless celebration by a people who have faith in their daughter’s ability to deliver on the Renewed Hope Mandate in Nigeria, They prayed for Dr. Betta Edu to exploit while praying for wisdom and divine protection upon her as she carries out her duties.

  • President Tinubu Approves Immediate Humanitarian Support for Victims of Plateau Massacre

    President Tinubu Approves Immediate Humanitarian Support for Victims of Plateau Massacre

    …As Betta Edu Mourns

    President Bola Ahmed Tinibu has approved the activation of immediate humanitarian response and support to the victims of Christmas eve Plateau Massacre.

    Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu  announced the Presidential directive Wednesday, saying her ministry will immediately collaborate with the Plateau State government in bringing humanitarian succour to the survivors of the unfortunate attack as well as the affected communities.

    The Minister, who described the incident as senseless, horrendous and inhuman, had earlier pledged her Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the state government to render humanitarian assistance to the affected communities and survivors of the attacks.

    She said: “It was with utter shock and sadness that I received the news of the barbaric, horrendous and senseless attacks in plateau communities which have left over 100 people dead and injured many while many more are displaced.

    Read Also: Plateau Christmas Eve Massacre: Betta Edu Condoles With Survivors, State Govt

    “I condole with the government and people of plateau state, especially families of the victims of this unnecessary assault on humanity and pray for a permanent peace in the plateau.”

    Continuing, Dr Edu said “One can only imagine the difficulties and indignities as well as catastrophic humanitarian challenges facing the survivors and affected members of the communities.

    “As a Ministry directly in charge of responding to humanitarian challenges of citizens in Nigeria, the federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been directed by President Bola Tinubu to collaborate with the Plateau state government to bring humanitarian succour to the survivors of the unfortunate attacks as well as the affected communities.

    “We are unrelenting in our efforts to ensure that every Nigerian and all parts of Nigeria experiencing humanitarian crises are catered for in line with the Renewed Hope  Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” she added.

  • Jubilation As President Tinubu Pays NPOWER Beneficiaries Arrears, Assures Of Youth Involvement In Governance

    Jubilation As President Tinubu Pays NPOWER Beneficiaries Arrears, Assures Of Youth Involvement In Governance

    It was jubilation among the NPOWER  beneficiaries across the country as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday night commenced the payment of the backlog of the N-POWER program.

    The payment commencement followed a painstaking verification exercise initiated and concluded by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    Announcing the release of funds Wednesday night, Nigeria’s Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty, Dr. Betta Edu, said it was indeed a renewed hope for the Nigerian youths during the Christmas and New Year celebration.

    Edu said President Tinubu’s interest in Nigerian youths is evidenced by the numerous policies and programs of his administration largely tailored toward providing opportunities for them.

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    She wishes the beneficiaries who went through the painstaking process of the verification exercise, a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year with their loved ones.

    “I stayed awake with the NPOWER team till 3 am at the office to ensure NPOWER Beneficiaries get paid before Christmas in line with the directive of the President.

    “Now, I can confirm to you the payment of NPower Beneficiaries has commenced and the evidence is in their account Merry Christmas”, the Minister said.

    Aminu Muhammed from Kano said in a message to the minister “Thank you Mr President and the honourable minister for fulfilling your promise, I just received my alert.”

    The same confirmation of alert receipt came from Sanni Baba in Bauchi, Uche Nnaji Obi from Enugu, Kayode Babatunde in Ibadan, and Kolo Nda from Niger amongst about 400,000 beneficiaries who successfully went through the verification process and got paid.

  • 2024 Budget: Presidency to spend N201.4 million to feed animals

    2024 Budget: Presidency to spend N201.4 million to feed animals

    By Kelvin Obambon

    The presidency has earmarked the sum of N201.4million for the feeding of the animals at the Aso Rock’s zoo, tagged “wildlife conservation” in the 2024 fiscal document sighted by our correspondent.

    Details of the document also shows that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will spend N10.13 billion on meals and travels.

    The N27.5trillion 2024 budget proposal is before the National Assembly for in-depth examination and subsequent approval.

    The budget has a total aggregate revenue projection of N18.32 trillion and a deficit of N9.18 trillion (3.88 per cent of GDP). The fiscal document proposes capital expenditure of N8.7trillion and recurrent, N18.51trillion.

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    According to the budget proposal, Tinubu will spend N638.5m on local trips and N6.9 billion on foreign trips, totaling N7.6 billion.

    Shettima’s travels will take up N1.8 billion out of which N618.4 million is for local journeys and N1.2 billion for international trips.

    Feeding, titled ‘refreshment & meal and foodstuff for the offices of Tinubu and Shettima’ was allocated N660.5m. Of this amount, N287.8 million is for the president’s office and N372.6 million for the VP’s office.

    Further breakdown of the budget proposal shows that refreshments and meals for the president will gulp N33.6 million and another N254.2 million for foodstuff/catering materials supplies.

    The vice president will spend N35 million on refreshments/meals and N337.5 million on foodstuff/catering materials supplies.

    The renovation of the president and vice president’s quarters at the State House will gulp N800 million: N500 million for Tinubu and N300 million for Shettima.

    In the 2023 supplementary budget approved last month, the Presidency voted N13.5 billion to renovate President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s official residences in Lagos and Abuja.

    The approved expenditure was part of the N28 billion voted for State House in the N2.176trn supplementary budget.

    The breakdown showed that N4 billion will be spent for the renovation of residential quarters for Mr President; renovation of Aguda House to gulp N2.5 billion; renovation of Dodan Barracks, the official residence of Mr President in Lagos, N4 billion and renovation of official quarters of vice president in Lagos N3bn, totally N13.5 billion.

    In the 2024 budget proposal, honorarium and sitting allowance for the president and his vice were pegged at N152.3 million and N67.3 million respectively.

    Powering of generators in the State House will cost N37.9 million while N260.8 million is earmarked for electricity charges.

    Data sourced from: Daily Trust

  • After Strong Criticism Tinubu Cancels Deduction Of 40% IGR Of Federal Universities

    After Strong Criticism Tinubu Cancels Deduction Of 40% IGR Of Federal Universities

    President Bola Tinubu has announced the cancellation of the automatic deduction of 40 per cent from the internally generated revenues of federal universities.

    He says the policy implementation is ill-timed.

    Mr Tinubu spoke on Friday at an ongoing 75th Founder’s Day ceremony of the University of Ibadan (UI). He was represented by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman.

    In his speech as the Visitor to the university, Mr Tinubu pledged his commitment to the reform of the nation’s education sector as the bedrock for national development.

    Mr Tinubu said: “The 40 per cent IGR automatic deduction policy stands cancelled. This is not the best time for such policy since our universities are struggling.”

    READ ALSO: Tinubu shouldn’t revisit Nigeria Air project, it is a moribund idea – Allen Onyema

    This development was confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES by multiple sources at the ongoing event, including the Lagos Zonal Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adelaja Odukoya. Mr Odukoya is a Professor of Political Science and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lagos.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Chancellor of the university and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’adu Abubakar, had condemned the policy, citing the multidimensional challenges confronting the universities.

    Mr Abubakar was said to have pleaded with the authorities to rescind the decision, saying the policy had the potential of grounding the university system.

    A leaked memo addressed to the heads of the universities recently by the Nigerian government noted that commencing from November, universities will have 40 per cent of revenues generated internally and deposited in their accounts will be deducted automatically by the government via the Treasury Single Accounts (TSA).

    A copy of the memo addressed to the office of the vice-chancellor of the University of Abuja by the Revenue and Investment Department of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in the Federal Ministry of Finance, notified the institution of automatic deduction of 40 per cent of its IGR by the government.

    Dated 17 October with reference R&I/2045/T/252, and signed by the Director of Revenue and Investment Department, Felix Ogundairo, the letter noted that the decision which affects all partially funded government agencies and parastatals including universities is in line with the provisions of Section 62 of Finance Act 2020.

    The memo reads in part: “It is important to emphasise that this policy of 40 per cent auto deduction of gross IGR is in line with the Finance Circular Reference Number FMFBNP/OTHERS/IGR/CRF/12/2021/ dated 20th December, 2021, limiting the budgetary agencies or parastatals to not more than 50 per cent of their gross IGR and the remittance of 100 per cent of the remaining 50 per cent to the sub-recurrent account.

    “While all statutory revenue lines like Tender fees, contractors’ registration fees, disposal of fixed assets, rent on quarters, etc, shall be remitted 100 per cent to sub-recurrent accounts.”

    The memo instructed the universities and other affected agencies of the government to align their budgets to the new realities.

  • President Tinubu Appoints Orok Duke As Member Of NDDC Governing Board

    President Tinubu Appoints Orok Duke As Member Of NDDC Governing Board

     

    President Bola Tinubu has appointed Rt. Hon. Orok Duke as member of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Duke’s appointment was contained in a letter with Reference Number: SGF.55/S.2/C.7/431, signed by Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on October 27, 2023.

    The letter which was addressed to Rt. Hon. Duke stated that the appointment is for a period of four years.

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    “I am pleased to inform you that His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCER, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved your appointment as a Member of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, following your confirmation by the Senate at its meeting of Wednesday 4th October, 2023 in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 (2)(a) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment) Act, 2000.

    “Your appointment is on part-time basis, in line with the provisions of Section 2(3) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment) Act, 2000 with effect from Thursday 25th October, 2023 for an initial term of four (4) years.

    “The allowance attached to your appointment are as provided under the Special Category of Federal Government Agencies and Statutory Corporations as specified in Circular Ref. No. SWC/S/04/S.310/T/65 of 8th April, 2016.

    “Please accept my congratulations and best wishes on your appointment,” the letter read.

  • Lawyers, Activists tell President Tinubu to call Kogi SDP Guber Candidate to order for blackmailing security agencies

    …Blast Muritala Ajaka for allegedly trying to compromise security agencies for sinister motives

    …Urge security agencies to checkmate anyone posing a threat to guber poll

    Scores of Lawyers and Activists, on Wednesday, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and relevant authorities to caution desperate politicians blackmailing Nigeria’s security agencies for selfish, sinister motives, saying that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate in Kogi State should be particularly called to order.

    The Activists, under the aegis of Lawyers and Activists for Good Governance, who have been in the struggle against bad governance for over 16 years, called on security chiefs in the country to caution and deal appropriately with politicians who have continued to drag security agencies into the dirty arena of politics through unwarranted and incessant blackmail with which they hope to compromise them.

    The good governance Activists, numbering about 500 across Nigeria, and represented by stakeholders from the 6 geopolitical zones at a press conference in Abuja, said this must be done as a matter of priority to ensure violence and crisis-free elections, especially in Kogi State.

    They specifically accused the Social Democratic Party and its guber candidate, Murtala Yakubu of deliberately blackmailing the Police and the Department of State Services, DSS, to prevent them from carrying out their constitutional assignments of ensuring the security of lives and property and preventing criminal activities from festering.

    According to them, they had raised the same alarm in July, this year, when the trend first reared its ugly head.

    Co-Convener, Lawyers and Activists for Good Governance, Comrade Mohammed Sanni, who addressed the press, referred to a recent press release by the SDP, in which the party passed a vote of no confidence in the security agencies in the state while alleging that they were planning to arrest some of their members.

    According to him, the SDP Candidate is the only candidate that has had a running battle with every Police Commissioner posted to the Kogi State and should be thoroughly investigated.

    He said, “We consider as unfortunate and irresponsible the Press Release authored by the Social Democratic Party a few days ago, which amounted to blackmailing the Police and the Department of State Services, DSS, for carrying out their constitutional assignments of providing security for politicians and the electorate alike.

    “In the said Press Release, the SDP claimed to have passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Police and DSS in the state and called for their removal. The Party alleged that the security agencies were planning to arrest some of their people. If those people have committed crimes worth investigating, why would they not be invited or arrested as the case warrants?”

    The Activists added, “You will recall that the state’s Police Commissioner recently issued a statement saying that all invitations extended to Mr Muritala Ajaka, the governorship candidate of the SDP, either for peace meetings with other candidates or to respond to several allegations of violent conduct against him and his supporters were not honoured by the candidate.

    “It is given that, except you have constitutional immunity,  ignoring the Police invitation is criminal. Nobody is above the law and,  certainly, Mr Ajaka has no constitutional immunity and cannot be treating our security agencies with disdain while still trying to blackmail them from performing their lawful duties.

    “We have nothing against him and his Party. But the idea of acting as if above the law is not only unacceptable but totally condemnable. 18 political Parties are participating in the Kogi election and no one candidate should be allowed to hold the state to ransom for his own selfish political ambition.

    “Out of these 18 candidates, it appears to us that it is only Mr Ajaka who has been having troubles with security agents across board. You have refused to honour Police invitations but now turn around to accuse the Police and DSS of partiality. If they were to be partial, once you have ignored their invitations, they would have just declared you wanted and get you arrested.

    “For whatever reasons, they haven’t done that but you have decided to embark on a campaign of blackmail against them. This is dangerous because it can incite the citizens against security agencies and lead to avoidable anarchy that will ultimately jeopardize the election in its entirety which seems to be the dark goal of these desperate politicians.

    “We reiterate our support for the Police and DSS for the good works of securing Kogi State and we urge them to remain unperturbed and focused on ensuring that we have a peaceful election on November 11 by checkmating whoever poses a threat to the upcoming election.”

    “We urge them never to succumb to cheap blackmail but to continue doing their jobs professionally and patriotically,” they concluded.