President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr Baffa Dan Agundi as the new Director-General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC).
A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity noted that Mr Dan Agundi is a former majority leader of the Kano State House of Assembly.
He was also the Principal Registrar of the Kano State High Court of Justice.
The statement noted that the President anticipates the Director-General’s utmost dedication and patriotic zeal in driving the Centre’s mandate of developing a national culture of excellence in operational efficiency and institutionalizing a performance-driven orientation toward measurable productivity in the citizenry for the overall enhancement of service delivery and quality of life across the nation.
Baffa Dan Agundi emerges new DG, National Productivity Centre
Baffa Dan Agundi emerges new DG, National Productivity Centre
‘Judicial conspiracy’ – Afenifere faults Supreme Court ruling on local councils’ autonomy
The pan-Yoruba socio-political association, Afenifere, on Saturday, faulted the Supreme Court judgement which granted financial autonomy to local councils in the country.
The apex court on Thursday granted total autonomy to the 774 local councils in Nigeria.
The Supreme Court in its ruling in the suit filed by the Federal Government declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds budgeted for local government administrations in the country.
The court held that the federal government should pay any money standing to the credit of the local councils in the Federation Account directly to the local councils managed by democratically elected officials.
However, in a statement signed by its leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and the National Public Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye, the Afenifere described the judgement as a mere judicial conspiracy.
The group stressed that the Supreme Court had played to the gallery by delivering such a judgement which was against the principle of true federalism.
It alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had been practising a unitary system in some of its policies since it assumed office in May last year.
The statement read: “Afenifere views the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case filed by the Federal Government on the so-called local government autonomy as a sheer judicial conspiracy in cahoots with the Tinubu administration against the Nigerian state and its foundational principles of federalism.
“Rather than interpret the constitution to uphold its elementary but overriding federal principle which recognises only a two-tier federal structure of the central government and federating states, the Supreme Court played to the gallery and wittingly allowed itself a most retrogressive declaration that the power of the government is portioned into three arms of government, the federal, the state and the local government.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, Afenifere makes bold to say that in line with its negotiated basis of existence, Nigeria is a ‘Federation consisting of States and a Federal Capital Territory’. as affirmed by Section 2 (2) of the 1999 constitution.
“While Afenifere frowns at corruption and misuse of public funds at levels of government, it condemns in most unmistaken terms the subjugation of the states and their constitutional roles including the local government system to the whims and caprices of the federal government by any means including obvious manipulation of the federation account as in the present case.
“It is becoming stridently eloquent that with just over a year of its inauguration, the Tinubu government, more than even the military administrations, is uncannily determined to unitarise the Nigerian Federation.
“Part of the unitary package is the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development which is the audacious euphemism for the re-introduction of cattle colony, RUGA, and those other policies by which the Buhari administration sought to appropriate lands in the states contrary to the provisions of the Land Use Act and the Constitution which vest land in the state in the governor in trust for the people.”
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Tinubu appoints Agundi DG NPC
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Baffa Agundi as the new Director-General of the National Productivity Centre.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced this in a statement on Saturday.
The statement noted that Agundi is a former majority leader of the Kano State House of Assembly and a former Principal Registrar of the Kano State High Court of Justice.
The statement read in part, “President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Baffa Dan Agundi as the new Director-General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC).
“Mr. Dan Agundi is a former majority leader of the Kano State House of Assembly. He was also the Principal Registrar of the Kano State High Court of Justice.
“The President anticipates the Director-General’s utmost dedication and patriotic zeal in driving the Centre’s mandate of developing a national culture of excellence in operational efficiency and institutionalizing a performance-driven orientation toward measurable productivity in the citizenry for the overall enhancement of service delivery and quality of life across the nation.”
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Delta senator alleges fraud in local council election
The Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas has expressed displeasure over Saturday’s local government election in the state.
The lawmaker, who addressed journalists at Emede, Isoko South local government area of the state, alleged connivance between the Delta Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party in the election.
He added that DSIEC failed to release sensitive materials for the election, thus conspiring with PDP to carry out irregularities in the exercise.
According to the senator, sensitive materials including result sheets and ballot papers were not released for the electorates to exercise their franchise.
He stressed that the action constituted electoral fraud and compromised the integrity and credibility of the election.
Thomas argued that the PDP was aware of the strength of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its readiness to take over the local government affairs in the state.
He said: “The PDP conspired with the DSIEC to manipulate the electoral process and denied the citizens their fundamental rights to vote.
“Democracy worldwide is about the will of the people.
“The PDP-led government has once again undermined Delta’s democratic heritage. This is undemocratic and unacceptable.”
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70 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike targeting Hamas military chief
At least 71 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in an Israeli strike on a displacement camp in southern Gaza.
But Israel said it targeted Hamas’ military chief, who was an alleged mastermind of the October 7 attacks.
Footage from Al-Mawasi shows bodies in the street and destroyed tents. “I cannot describe to you the magnitude of the tragedy,” one resident told CNN.
An Israeli security official told CNN that Mohammed Deif – the leader of Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing – was the figure targeted.
According to the report, the Israeli military said it was in the process of verifying whether Deif was killed in the strike.
It claimed Deif was targeted alongside the head of the Khan Younis brigade, Rafe Salama.
The strike left scenes of devastation in the area, where the Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 71 people killed and nearly 300 people injured.
Locals and rescue teams were seen trying to unearth several people trapped.
70 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike targeting Hamas military chief
Six internet fraudsters jailed in Cross River for love scam, others
Six internet fraudsters have been convicted and sentenced to six months of imprisonment each by the Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State.
A statement posted on X.com by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Saturday revealed that Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu found the defendants guilty of charges including criminal impersonation, love scams, and identity theft.
The convicts were identified as Chibo Udoka (aka Zxoya Andric, Kelly Rose, Chimata Harry), John Inimfon Okpokpo (aka Grace Boar), Emediong Ekerete Bassey (aka Thiwe Ploka), Otu Ginikachi Samuel (aka Chris Hemsworth), Goodluck John Bassey (aka Tom Jones), and Asogwa Ifebuche Lukas (aka Daniela Crystal).
The statement partly read, “One of the counts reads: ‘That you, Otu Ginikachi Samuel (aka Chris Hemsworth) sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court fraudulently presented yourself as Chris Hemsworth (a United States of American Citizen) to Tymoshenko Anatoly Grihorovych (Ukrainian Citizen) on Facebook with fraudulent intent, gained advantage of the sum of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) for yourself from the said Tymoshenko Anatoly Grihorovych and thereby committed the offence of identity theft contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (0) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2024 and punishable under 22 (b) (iv) of the same Act.
“Another reads: ‘That you Chibo Udoka Mgborogwu (aka Zoya Andric, Kelly Rose Chimata Harry), sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as ZOYA ANDRIC, KELLY ROSE CHIMATA HARRY on Social Media platform (Whatsapp, Instagram) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b)0) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Amendment Act 2024 and punishable under Section 22(b) (iv) of the same Act.”
All six defendants were said to have pleaded guilty to the charges as the prosecution counsel, Khamis Mahmud, argued for appropriate sentencing, while the defence counsels, Udeme Tom, Innocent Ekeize, and Henry Effiong, pleaded for leniency on the ground that they were first-time offenders.
Justice Ojukwu was said to have sentenced Emediong Bassey, Otu Samuel, Asogwa Lucas, and John Okpokpo to six months imprisonment on each of the two counts, with the sentences running concurrently, while Goodluck Bassey and Chibo Mgborogwu received six-month sentences each on one count.
In addition to the jail term, the EFCC added that each convict was given the option of paying a N500,000 fine. They also forfeited any devices used in their crimes to the Federal Government.
Four of the convicts were also said to have been ordered to restitute the following sums, “Emediong Bassey, One Thousand Five Hundred Rands (R1500); Otu Samuel, One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00); John Okpokpo, One Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars ($150 US); and Asogwa Lucas, One Hundred United States Dollars ($100 US).”
According Online reported in May that a Federal High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, convicted and sentenced 41 individuals to one year imprisonment each for internet fraud-related offences.
Tinubu appoints Saleh Abubakar as DG National Agency for Great Green Wall
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Saleh Abubakar as the new Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW).
Abubakar’s appointment was contained in a statement made available to the press by Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s aide on Media and Publicity.
It described Abubakar as a highly experienced public administrator with decades of experience across several sectors.
“The President expects diligence and dedication in driving the agency’s mandate of empowering communities to combat land degradation, enhance food security, and build resilience to climate change through sustainable interventions and education,” Ajuri noted in the statement.
Tinubu appoints Saleh Abubakar as DG National Agency for Great Green Wall
Tinubu appoints Adeyanju as executive secretary of National Lottery Trust Fund
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr. Tosin Adeyanju as the new Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF).
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
The President described Adeyanju as an accomplished administrator and good governance advocate.
The statement read: “The President expects the new Chief Executive Officer to ensure transparency and efficiency in the operations of the agency to actualise the objective of the NLTF as a driver of good causes in Nigeria.”
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NGF expresses solidarity with Plateau over tragic school incident
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has expressed deep sorrow and extended heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the tragic school building collapse in Plateau State.
The unfortunate collapse of a building at Saint Academy in Jos, Plateau State, has led to a considerable number of deaths and injuries. Initially, 17 fatalities were reported, but the death toll has now increased to 22, with 154 people injured.
The state authorities, led by the Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, have been actively updating the public on the situation.
On Saturday, Ashoms announced that 74 of the injured victims had been discharged from medical care.
In response to this tragedy, the Plateau State Governor has ordered the immediate closure of the school. This decision aims to ensure the safety of other students and to allow a thorough investigation into the incident.
NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, emphasized that school safety in Nigeria is crucial, and state governments must promptly address any deficiencies.
In a statement by the Acting Head of Media, Ahmed Halimah, on Saturday, the forum praised the prompt response of the rescue teams and the state government’s efforts in handling the crisis.
The statement read in part, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), today, expressed deep sorrow and extend their heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the tragic collapse of a school building in Plateau State.
“The incident, which occurred on July 12, resulted in the loss of multiple lives and left many injured.
“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum stands in solidarity with the people of Plateau and the affected families during this difficult time. We commend the swift response of the rescue teams and the efforts of the state government in
managing this crisis.
“As the State Government continues to provide support and comfort to the affected families, the NGF is ready to support efforts to help mitigate the impact of this tragedy and prevent future occurrences.
“Safety in our schools is paramount, and we must take immediate steps to address any lapses. We are committed to supporting Plateau State in providing necessary assistance to the affected families.
“May the Almighty grant the families the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with Governor Mutfwang, the Busa Buji community, and the entire Plateau State during this difficult time.”
Tinubu announces new DG for Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency
Again President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Umar Ibrahim Mohammed as the new Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA.
A statement by the presidency on Saturday described Mr Mohammed as an architect, a construction technology and environment professional.
The presidency said it expects improved outcomes in the agency’s objective of operating and maintaining hydrological stations nationwide, as well as carrying out groundwater exploration and monitoring using various scientific techniques to provide hydrological and hydrogeological data needed for planning, design, execution and management of water resources and allied projects.
Tinubu announces new DG for Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency