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Abbas Tajudeen explains why Tinubu wants him to be House Speaker

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May 9, 2023

Abbas Tajudeen explains why Tinubu wants him to be House Speaker

Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, one of the leading candidates for the position of Speaker of the incoming 10th House of Representatives, has provided an explanation as to why the President-Elect favored him over the other candidates running for the position.

The lawmaker who was born in Zaria was under the impression that the President-elect chose him because of his pedigree and his dedication to his responsibilities in the lower legislative chamber.

According to him, “I want to believe, first and foremost, that he is impressed with the legislative contributions that I have made.” I told him that I’ve been a member of the National Assembly since 2011 and that I’ve now been a member there for almost 12 years in a row. I’ve also contributed to the sponsorship of a significant number of bills.

“During the 8th Assembly, I was ranked number one in terms of those who sponsored bills because I was the primary sponsor of 43 pieces of legislation. And during the 9th Assembly, I had the distinct honor of serving as a sponsor for 74 different pieces of legislation, of which 21 were approved by the President and are now in effect across the nation.

Read Also: Banks supporting unlicensed foreign companies will face CBN sanctions

“Other than that, I went to tell him where I come from, my academic background, as well as the fact that I was a teacher in elementary school. Between the years of 1989 and 1993, I served as the head of the accounting department at a polytechnic. Between the years of 2003 and 2005, I also held the position of head of the banking and finance department at another polytechnic. I was the first person to hold the position of accounting department head at Kaduna State University.

“I explained to him that I had previous experience working in the private sector and that I had held the position of marketing manager at the Nigerian Tobacco Company, which is now known as British American Tobacco. I told him about my journey there up until the time when I became the general manager of a subsidiary company before I resigned and went back to teaching in 2001. I told him about my journey up until the time when I became the general manager of a subsidiary company.

“He is impressed with my credentials, the places that I have worked, particularly in the public and private sectors, and also with the modest contributions that I have made while serving in the National Assembly. I am confident that the reasons he cites for his satisfaction with me are due, in large part, to the experiences I’ve had and the qualifications I’ve earned.

He noted that he believed “the president-elect and the party will come up with an acceptable zoning that will be in the mutual interest of each and every Nigerian.” He stated that he believed that the president-elect also prayed for the other aspirants that visited him. He said that he believed that the president-elect also prayed for the other aspirants that visited him.

Following the conclusion of the zoning arrangement for the party, he stated that “every zone will have something to take home.” That much is certain on my end. I am confident that the party will not give up on any one region or any one zone for any reason.

Rep. Abbas responded that there was no basis for anyone to accuse the National Assembly of being a rubber stamp because working harmoniously with the Executive arm should not be misunderstood as being weak. When asked if the House would be a rubber stamp if he emerges as speaker, Rep. Abbas said that there was no basis for anyone to accuse the National Assembly of being a rubber stamp.

Read Also: Senior APC lawmakers challenge Tinubu, APC’s consensus for House Speaker

“What gives them the impression that I am vulnerable? The fact that you don’t publicly insult anyone else’s intelligence? The fact that you are a good member of a team, that you get along well with everyone, and that you live in harmony with everyone else in the house? You have no enemies; the only people in your life are your friends. The fact that you give more money than any other member of the 9th Assembly does this mean that? That you are qualified based on your experience gained in both the public and private sectors? Does that make me weak?

“Look, what the people need to understand is that they need to go and look at the pedigree and antecedents of each and every member of the organization. The problem of being a rubber stamp has nothing to do with either this or that.

If you recall in 2019, was it not the president-elect then, Muhammadu Buhari, that pushed for Femi and the Senate President, Lawan, to become the candidates of the party? Do we still maintain, after nearly four years, that those individuals are merely the Executive’s vehicles for stamping out decisions? No.”

10th NASS: Gbajabiamila tasks Senators-elect, Members-elect to impeachable debate

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May 9, 2023

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10th NASS: Gbajabiamila tasks Senators-elect, Members-elect to impeachable debate

Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has urged Senators-elect and Members-elect of the 10th National Assembly to participate in discourse that must be beyond reproach.

He made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja, declaring the induction of the first batch of new representatives into their positions.

Gbajabiamila, while congratulating the members on their election victories, called on them to justify the offices they held by the quality of their efforts while serving in that office.

“What this means for those of us who serve in the legislature is that the standard of our legislation and advocacy, the caliber of the services we provide to our constituents, the rigor with which we carry out our oversight responsibilities, and the substance of the debates we have within the chamber must be beyond reproach.

“It is with great pleasure that I greet you at this extraordinary juncture in the annals of our nation’s history when the skills, perspectives, and commitment of all of our political leaders are required to guide us through the challenges we face today and hopefully towards the success we deserve.

“As you prepare to enter the 10th Assembly, I want to stress the importance of keeping in mind that nothing of consequence can be accomplished in the legislature through the efforts of a single individual.
Either you will succeed together or you will fail individually.

“In addition, you have the significant responsibility of developing a productive working relationship with the executive arm of the organization. Your responsibility for overseeing executive actions does not constitute an open invitation to conflict simply for the sake of conflict.

He went on to say that the General Elections that took place in 2023 were the ones that were the most fiercely contested and competitive ever since the country had returned to democratic rule in 1999.

“Assumptions about electoral performance that were based on historical antecedents were proven to be incorrect in this election.

“Deeply ingrained political parties and interests were uprooted in locations where this had been proven impossible for the previous two decades.

“Persons who had never aspired to political office or whose previous aspirations had failed, succeeded this time,” said the winning candidate.

“The playbook for our national politics has been completely rewritten. We have entered a new era in the history of democracy in Nigeria. The people of Nigeria have recently become aware of the immense power that lies within their votes.

Read Also: Banks supporting unlicensed foreign companies will face CBN sanctions

“The days of an officeholder’s membership in a particular political party conferring on them a virtually automatic guarantee of reelection have come to an end as a result of this election.”

The speaker also mentioned that the democratic process in Nigeria was still in its infancy when compared to other countries around the world and even other countries in Africa.

“This dreadful turn of events places an urgent obligation on all of us political leaders to speed up the democratic dividends for all of the people in our nation; either that, or we risk the complete loss of legitimacy, which can only result in negative outcomes.

“In order for our democracy to live up to the reasonable expectations of the people of Nigeria, the institutions of our government need to become significantly more effective than they are right now.”

As he opened the ceremony, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, stated that the 9th Senate had been mindful from the very beginning of the potentially damaging effect that persistent conflict with the Executive could have and the subsequent impact that it would have on legislative activities.

“However, we were also fully aware that a positive working relationship is not only desirable but absolutely necessary in order to accomplish the goal of providing effective and efficient service to the people.

“As a result of this, the 9th National Assembly, which I presided over, took a cordial but businesslike approach to relations between the executive branch and the legislature.

“The primary goal here was to cultivate a harmonious working relationship based on mutual respect, consultation, cooperation, collaboration, and partnership.”

“Because of the way in which engagement with the executive branch has been handled, many people have the wrong impression and misunderstanding that the 9th National Assembly is nothing more than a “rubber stamp” assembly.

“Yet, our goal in favoring an engagement with the executive that is based on harmony and collaboration has been to better serve Nigeria by creating a secure environment for the growth of the nation,”

According to Lawan, the 9th Senate had an extremely successful session in terms of the quantity and quality of bills that were introduced, passed, and signed into law.

“As of the month of July 2022, a total of 874 bills have been presented for consideration in the Senate, of which 162 have been approved.

“Remarkably, President Muhammadu Buhari has given his approval to 104 of the bills that were passed by the 9th Senate.

“As a result of this, it was significantly higher than those of previous assemblies,” the author writes, “which recorded 31 for the 4th Assembly, 98 for the 5th Assembly, 52 for the 6th Assembly, 60 for the 7th Assembly, and 74 for the 8th Assembly.”

Also speaking was Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), who stated that the institute possesses the experience, tools, and expertise to support the new members in the drafting of bills and motions, as well as the analysis and scrutiny of bills, among other things.

Sulaiman urged the legislators to engage with the public, civil society, the media, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and other stakeholders on a regular basis and in a constructive manner in order to improve the legislation.

On her part, acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria Bill Atkinson stated that the commission was proud of the long standing partnership with the National Assembly. Atkinson made this statement on behalf of the commission.

Read Also: Presidential Polls: Tribunal warns against using technicalities, delay strategies

She predicted that the tenth Assembly would be one of the most diverse in history, with seventy percent of its members being brand new.

At the same time that Atkinson was encouraging the new members “to hit the ground running,” he urged them to learn from the mistakes made by their predecessors.

Senior APC lawmakers challenge Tinubu, APC’s consensus for House Speaker

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May 9, 2023

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Senior APC lawmakers challenge Tinubu, APC’s consensus for House Speaker

Senior members of the ruling party in Nigeria have vowed to contest their party’s selection for Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna) has reportedly been chosen by the ruling APC to serve as the Speaker of the 10th House, which will be inaugurated next month. This announcement was made on Monday. The APC claimed that Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, had been consulted before making the decision.

Five high-ranking APC lawmakers, who had also declared their candidacy for the position, however, announced on Monday that they would team up to oppose their party’s nominee.

This was said on Monday at Muktar Betara’s official announcement for the position by the current Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who is also a candidate. The occasion took place at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.

Five of the candidates, according to Mr. Wase, have decided to unite in opposition to the APC’s consensus plan. He mentioned himself, Mr. Betara, Sada Soli, Alhassan Doguwa, and Ahmed Jaji as the five.

The candidates came together at the event on Monday to express their unity in the face of Mr. Abbas’ open endorsement.

Yusuf Gagdi and Miriam Onuoha were present at the declaration but refrained from publicly criticizing it.

According to earlier reports, the ruling party selected Ben Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia State, as deputy speaker and Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna State, as the consensus candidate.

Mr. Wase stated in his speech that he was opposed to any kind of consensus that was reached without the input of the House members. All legislators must fight to preserve the parliament, he claimed.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a candidate for the APC presidency.
incoming president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He claimed that four of the disgruntled candidates met and decided to challenge Mr. Abbas. Later, Mr. Doguwa, the current majority leader, joined the group, according to Mr. Wase.

“We are here to support the parliament’s independence. to make sure our family works together. I have never seen a moment like the one we are witnessing today in the parliament. Every member of parliament must therefore rise to the challenge and defend the institution. In light of this, the five of us sat down and decided to work together to stop the parliament from being taken over and turned into a lame duck.

“We won’t let this parliament be tarnished. We won’t let this parliament be taken over. Prior to being loyal to our party or to our people, we are loyal to our country. When you say you have a consensus candidate, the language for consensus is very simple, as my leader (Doguwa) did mention. This indicates extensive consultation. For consultation, people have been brought to the table. We are hearing rumors and speculation that some people have been chosen as consensus candidates in this case, the speaker said.

He declared, “We will defeat those forces who believe Nigeria is in our pocket.”

Speaking as well, Mr. Doguwa argued that lawmakers should be in charge of choosing the parliament’s leaders, not outsiders who did so without their input.

“We should only be concerned with the business of choosing our leaders. Respect must be shown for members who are on an equal footing.

When someone else, under any pretense, tries to decide how, where, when, or who should form leadership without consulting us, that ought to be viewed as a mere failure. Includement is crucial. Everyone should use his father’s name until then, but I’m open to suggestions,” he said.

Mr. Soli, a lawmaker from Katsina State, spoke in a straightforward manner. He stated that everyone must uphold the sacredness of the parliament. He claimed that the legislative body would be doomed based on the reports the lawmakers are receiving about the consensus agreement.

In his speech, Mr. Betara expressed his willingness to cooperate with the other candidates for the position in the parliament.

The institution is being reclaimed by the group, according to Mr. Betara.

All of the candidates who spoke explicitly stated that they are still vying for the speakership.

Legislators elected on the platforms of minor parties also announced Monday that they would challenge the APC for the position of speaker, which is a sign of the intense campaigning to come in the upcoming weeks.

In a statement on Monday, the lawmakers-elect, drawn from the seven minor parties, stated that they would use their numerical advantage to elect the lower House’s presiding officers.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Young Progressive Party (YPP) are the parties.

“History beckons on us to constructively, and creatively, chart the path towards the deepening of our nation’s democracy,” they said. “Since emerging as the “Greater Majority,” with a combined members-elected tally of 183, as opposed to the APC’s total of 177.

Presidential Polls: Tribunal warns against using technicalities, delay strategies

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May 9, 2023

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Presidential Polls: Tribunal warns against using technicalities, delay strategies

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), which met yesterday under tight security, issued a warning to all parties not to use technicalities and delay tactics that might impede the timely resolution of the five petitions it was considering.

Justice Haruna Tsamani, the five-member tribunal’s chairman, issued the warning during his inaugural speech to formally begin the pre-hearing session.

180 days are given to the tribunal to complete its task.

Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Monsurat O. Bolaji Yusuf, Boloukuromo Moses Ugo, and Justice Abba Mohammed are additional panelists.

Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) garnered 8,794,726 votes, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to win the election. With 6,984,520 votes, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finished second, and Peter Obi received 6,101,533 votes. Atiku and Obi had petitioned the tribunal to have Tinubu’s victory overturned because they were unhappy with the outcome.

Read Also: NASS: Kalu writes APC NWC and incoming senators

At around 9:15 am, Justice Tsammani made an opening statement to the court pre-hearing, assuring everyone that they would be happy with the decision made at the conclusion of the case and advising attorneys to avoid making frivolous requests that might cause delays in the court’s proceedings.

“Let’s refrain from making sensational remarks as we begin hearing the petitions. Let’s keep in mind that the country’s safety and interests come first.

“We should avoid pointless applications and objections to free up time for the case’s actual merits rather than pointless technicalities.

“Let’s work together so that everyone can feel confident that justice has been served.”

Lead attorneys for the various parties vowed to work with the tribunal to see that the justice in the petitions before it is done.

Chief Wole Olanipekun, the president-elect’s attorney, assured the court of the full cooperation of his team and argued that the issue needed to be resolved without resorting to pointless technicalities.

Chief Chris Uche, the leader of the legal team defending PDP and Atiku presidential candidates, similarly stated that they would do everything in their power to aid the court in carrying out its duties.

When it comes down to it, I am very confident that the petitions will have an impact on Nigeria’s jurisprudence and constitutionalism, said Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, who is speaking on behalf of the LP and its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi. We will make every effort to help your Lordships.

Through its attorney, Mr. Abubakar Mahmood, INEC expressed its confidence in the court’s ability to fairly decide all of the petitions that are before it.

Mahmood said, “My lords, we are confident that justice will be served in the end.

The Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), and Peter Obi & Labour Party (LP) petitions, each designated CA/PEPC/01/2023, CA/PEPC/02/2023, and CA/PEPC/03/2023, were the three petitions scheduled for hearing at the tribunal’s preliminary session.

The petition the AA filed against INEC and Tinubu of the APC was withdrawn, which was the session’s high point. The legal counsel for the party, Chief Oba Maduabuchi, had asked for the petition’s further development to be halted. The senior attorney informed the court that a withdrawal notice was submitted on May 3 to that effect. As a result, Justice Tsamani dismissed the petition after learning that the respondents had not raised any objections to the withdrawal.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Bola Ahmed Tinubu are the three respondents to the Action Peoples Party (APP) petition, which is also scheduled for the pre-hearing session.Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who spoke on behalf of the APC, Mr. Obi, and chieftains from different parties were present for the opening proceedings.

Protesters request that the Tribunal halt Tinubu’s inauguration.

Drama was present during the session as a group of protesters, claiming to be a coalition of civil societies, pleaded with the court to halt the inauguration on the grounds that there were still a number of unresolved matters involving the APC candidate. However, after briefly gathering outside the Court as proceedings inside the tribunal continued, they were dispersed by security personnel.

•Atiku, PDP wants proceedings to be broadcast live

In a petition dated May 5, Atiku requested that the court issue an order instructing the parties and the court’s registry on the guidelines for allowing media professionals and their equipment into the courtroom.

In their application, their team of attorneys, led by Mr. Chris Uche, argued that because the electoral dispute in question had a peculiar constitutional dimension and involved millions of Nigerians, it was of public interest and that they had a constitutional right to receive.

In order to fulfill its constitutional obligation to hold proceedings in public, courts may choose to grant the public access to them in person or online.

The maxim that justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done is in line with the enormous and tremendous technological advancements and developments in Nigeria and beyond, including the current trend by this court towards embracing electronic procedures, virtual hearing, and electronic filing. Accordingly, a departure from the rules to allow a regulated televising of the proceedings in this matter is in accordance with this maxim.

Television coverage of court proceedings is not unusual for this court and will boost public trust.

Similar recommendations were made in the communique issued by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) following its National Executive Committee meeting in Birnin Kebbi on March 23. The NBA had pleaded with the court system to permit live broadcasting of court proceedings on election petitions, especially the presidential election cases.

The initiative had also received support from a group operating under the auspices of Leaders of Thought and Legal Icons.

Nigerians were encouraged to sign an online petition in support of the project by the group.

A human rights attorney named Mr. Femi Falana supported the calls for election petition trials to be broadcast live.

The application hearing date has not been set.

The project had also received support from a group operating under the auspices of Leaders of Thoughts and Legal Icons. In order to achieve this, the group issued an appeal on commonbliceng, an unbiased online forum, asking Nigerians to support the project by signing up.

In a similar vein, prominent constitutional lawyer Prof. Ben Nwabueze and key members of Project Nigeria Movement (PNM), a group of eminent thinkers in the nation, have backed calls for live broadcasting of election petition trials. PNM is led by leading human rights attorney Femi Falana.

In a similar vein, Prof. Tonnie Iredia, a communications expert and former director general of the Nigeria Television Authority, called for the telecast of election petition proceedings in Nigeria in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) in an incisive paper that was published.

NASS: Kalu writes APC NWC and incoming senators

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May 9, 2023

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NASS: Kalu writes APC NWC and incoming senators

Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chief Whip, has informed the NWC and 108 senators-elect of his desire to lead the Senate.

This was stated in a statement released yesterday in Abuja by the Chief Whip of the Senate’s Media Office.

He, however, denied the rumor that he has received the support of incoming South East senators. He claimed that the South East senators-elect had not endorsed any candidates and had only come together to make a demand of the party and the President-elect.

In the letters he personally signed and sent to each NWC member and senator-elect, Kalu stated that he was applying for the position with honesty, humility, and sincerity.

He explained that the one month he spent mourning his late wife, Ifeoma, was the reason for his seeming inactivity in the race for the senate presidency.

The legislative agenda for Kalu, which has six priorities including economic growth and reform, constitutional and electoral reform, national security, improved social conditions and welfare, an effective and efficient National Assembly, and international influence, is attached to the letters of intent. The former governor of Abia vowed to support and uphold the constitution as well as promote friendly and cordial ties between the executive and judicial branches.

“Warm greetings and those of the Abia North Senatorial zone,” the letter began, “I bring you with a deep sense of joy and humility. My election as the senator representing Abia North at this pivotal juncture in our beloved country’s history entails a plethora of duties, chief among them the creation of quality legislation for the benefit of our citizens’ well-being. We need capable leaders to steer the 10th Senate’s affairs if we are to succeed in achieving these admirable objectives. The 10th Session of the Senate will need men and women in leadership positions who have a wealth of shared vision, the ability to build consensus, charisma, credibility, and pragmatism. For this reason, I humbly write to officially express my interest in being chosen as the next Senate President. With sincerity, humility, and candor, I offer to help you and the Nigerian people.

“Wisdom and experience gained over the years in the management of human and material resources are the biggest assets I bring to the table. I commit to serving you, advancing and defending the party’s principles and the constitution, and fostering friendly relations between the party, the executive branch, and the judiciary. One thing is for certain, and that is that if we work together in harmony, love, and respect, we can truly move Nigeria to the next level of peace, development, and progress.

Micro-zoning by APC encounters obstacles

The Parliamentary Advocacy Network (PAN Nigeria) has, in the meantime, denounced what it called executive irresponsibility and misadventures, as well as political shenanigans, in the selection of the National Assembly’s presiding officers.

The group, which is biased in favor of the independence of the national and state Houses of Assembly, observed with dismay how what should have been a straightforward, smooth, and harmless parliamentary process is being permitted to inflame the country’s political system in a way that is reminiscent of the days and weeks leading up to the February 25 and March 18 general elections.

This was said at an urgent meeting in Abuja to discuss matters of national concern, particularly the choice of presiding officers for the National Assembly by the incoming Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

The Network stated in a statement signed by its national coordinator Sunny Anderson Osiebe, national secretary Fred Itua, and national publicity secretary Nkem Anyata-Lafia that it had “noted the widening and dangerous predilection to what appears to be a budding and rising incidence in executive interference and rascality in the activities of the National Assembly, which we perceive deeply as a misconception of what in political parlance is, usually, termed as lobbying.”

We want to let Nigerians know that the legislature is one of the three branches of government, whose independence is protected by our Constitution and the fundamentals of democratic governance. We condemn this oppressive attempt to steer the incoming 10th National Assembly in the direction of a particular mindset.

“The above fact, therefore, compels the need for Nigerians of all tongues and creeds to rise in unison and condemn the aforementioned activities in order to nip in the bud the general tendency by members of the executive and their powerful individual agents of coerciveness to take over the legislative activities in the emerging 10th National Assembly,” the statement reads.

•Ex-senators support aspirant 72 retired senators have endorsed Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, for the position of Senate President.

Basheer Lado, a former senator from Kano Central, spoke at a press conference in Abuja yesterday on behalf of the ex-senators. He said that in the interest of fairness and equity, Akpabio should be zoned to the South South and given the number three position.

Lado, the group’s convener, suggested that Barau Jibrin, a senator for Kano North and a potential candidate for senate president, be given the position of deputy senate president.

•Yari’s backers downplay support

The 72 senators from the Second to Fourth Republics who are not currently in office have come under fire from the Good Governance Initiative (GGI), a group supporting Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, for supporting Senator Akpabio and calling for the resignation of other presidential candidates. Since many of the group’s members had previously fought for the independence of the legislature when it suited their interests, the pro-Yari group claimed that the call amounted to double standards.

In response to Akpabio’s endorsement, its president, Kunle Sanusi, stated that Yari would continue to run in order to fend off the conspiracy against him.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio was a member of the PDP Senators who voted for a Senate president in 2015 to uphold the legislative branch’s independence. Now that he has changed, he prefers to be hand-selected rather than winning a democratic election. That indicates the type of Senate President they intend to appoint to the 10th National Assembly, according to Sanusi.

FG plans to save Nigerians working as maids in Iraq

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May 9, 2023

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FG plans to save Nigerians working as maids in Iraq

Nigerian women in Iraq will receive assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.

Zacks Dauda, the NAPTIP spokesperson, revealed this to our correspondent on Monday.

The NAPTIP reportedly raised the alarm about the plight of young Nigerian women employed as domestic workers in Iraq on Wednesday last week, according to report.

Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, the director-general of NAPTIP, revealed that the organization was looking into a number of rogue labor recruiters who were thought to be major figures in the widespread recruitment of Nigerians to Iraq for domestic servitude.

Waziri-Ari claimed that the majority of the young Nigerian women employed there were routinely exploited in a variety of ways and are now pleading for help to go back home.

“We are flooded with requests for rescue and repatriation from female victims trafficked to Iraq, particularly to the cities of Baghdad and Basra, where they are assigned to homes by their recruiters to a difficult life of domestic servitude,” she said.

According to the information that is currently available, many of these victims have repeatedly been admitted to hospitals as a result of the demanding work schedules and challenging working conditions they are required to endure.

On Monday, NAPTIP spokesman Dauda provided an update on the situation, saying, “We do not have the number of Nigerian women in Iraq experiencing this terrible situation, but we are trying to find out where these cases are happening and we are trying to work with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to see if we can establish contacts and evacuate anyone we can find.”

Banks supporting unlicensed foreign companies will face CBN sanctions

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May 9, 2023

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Banks supporting unlicensed foreign companies will face CBN sanctions

By connecting capital to different investment opportunities, it could also encourage foreign direct investment in the host nation.

In light of these, the Central Bank of Nigeria issued this directive outlining the conditions for the authorization and operation of authorized representative offices of foreign banks in Nigeria.

The CBN noted that the rules applied to banks licensed under any foreign laws whose registered head office is outside of Nigeria; any financial institution licensed under foreign laws whose primary business includes the receipt of deposits, the granting of loans, and/or the provision of current and savings accounts; and any foreign-owned operating bank/financial holding company that is foreign-based and owns a controlling interest in one or more banks or institutions whose primary business includes the receipt of deposits.

National Assembly: APC picks Akpabio, Abbas

Politics

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May 9, 2023

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National Assembly: APC picks Akpabio, Abbas

On Monday, the All Progressives Congress named Senator Godwin Akpabio, who served as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in the previous administration, as the party’s consensus candidate for the presidency of the Senate in the 10th Assembly.

In addition, the incumbent leader of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Jibrin Barau, was selected by the governing party to take on the role of Deputy Senate President.

The APC allocated the presidency of the Senate to the South-South region, and the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives was given to the North-West region.

Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna, was given the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Green Chamber. Ben Kalu, a representative-elect from South-East, was successful in his bid for the position of Deputy Speaker.

Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, emerged from a crucial meeting that lasted for three and a half hours and told reporters that the only decision that had been made so far was the zoning of the two principal offices in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The meeting was held by the National Working Committee of the party.

Morka, who was flanked by the National Women Leader of the APC, Dr. Betta Edu, and the Deputy National Women Leader, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim, however, assuaged the concerns of Nigerians by assuring them that the leadership of the party would continue to consult with relevant stakeholders.

According to him, the decisions regarding the zoning and the consensus candidates were made during the meeting that they had on Friday in consultation with the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He stated, “The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress met today (Monday) to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President-elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other party leaders, and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.” He added, “The meeting was held to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with other party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.”

“The National Working Committee took note, with respect, of the results of the meetings that had been held between the President-elect and the leadership of the National Working Committee. The NWC has issued a call for additional and improved consultation with relevant stakeholders in order to guarantee the support of those who are running for leadership positions in the National Assembly as well as party members across the country.

69-year-old takes 2023 UTME in order to study medicine

Education

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May 8, 2023

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69-year-old takes 2023 UTME in order to study medicine

Babatunde Fabiyi, a 69-year-old man, was one of the applicants who took the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination with the intention of enrolling in the University of Lagos’ School of Medicine, according to data obtained from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

The Lagos State University, also known as LASU, was Fabiyi’s second choice after selecting UNILAG with the same goal of pursuing a medical degree, according to information obtained by our correspondent.

The exam board noted that the elderly man chose the Yaba College of Technology as his third choice for his course of study in science laboratory technology.

“The sexagenarian, who hailed from Egbado-North, Ogun State, sat the UTME at Centre 457, Nubi Private School, Okota, Lagos State,” JAMB noted in its comments. In their various submissions, the examination officials at the center claimed that Mr. Fabiyi was a model applicant because he not only arrived at the center on time but also carefully followed all instructions.

According to reports, more than 1.5 million candidates took the 2023 UTME, and the board has already announced the exam and mop-up UTME results.

Akure airport to become first sub-Sahara Africa’s aerotropolis

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May 8, 2023

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Akure airport to become first sub-Sahara Africa’s aerotropolis

The Akure Airport will become an aerotropolis thanks to agreements reached by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and Ala Resort Limited.

This was said by the resort’s chief executive officer, Mr. Moyosola Niran-Oladunni, on Monday in Akure at a press conference to announce the project’s inauguration on Tuesday.

According to Niran-Oladunni, the project will be officially launched when FAAN and the resort management sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

A metropolis that has grown inside and outside of an airport is known as an aerotropolis. It entails the creation of a city centered around an airport, with commercial, educational, entertainment, healthcare, and hospitality centers surrounding it.

According to Niran-Oladunni, the business was bringing ideas that would be valuable to the state.

According to him, the aerotropolis, the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, would center people’s lives around the aviation sector.

Niran-Oladunni claims that since 2017—the year after experts were asked to evaluate the airport’s suitability for the project—the resort has been making progress on the aerotropolis.

He said the project, which would be built in institutional, industrial, commercial, and agricultural phases, had received FAAN approval.

He claimed that the aerotropolis would feature an institutional area that would house a sports academy that could house any sports team, built by the Emirate Foundation, and a medical facility that would be constructed by a US company.

Additionally, the industrial zone would allow for the assembly and production of all building materials within its borders.

The airport authority would activate the cargo shed in the airport, Niran-Oladunni continued, adding that the aerotropolis has the potential to catalyze the cargo business in the airport.

He revealed that the aerotropolis would employ 14,000 skilled workers, with the infrastructure facilities costing N56 billion.

He claims that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Ala Resort Limited are working together to develop the project as a public-private partnership.

“Ala Resort and Aerotropolis will be a large-scale development, with aviation serving as the primary motivator and guiding principle. It will be surrounded by complementary projects for commercial, educational, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality, and light industrial centers.

“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to perform the ground-breaking, assisted by the Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and Minister of Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Hycinth Ngwu, General Manager, Business Development, FAAN Headquarters, said the choice was based on a public-private partnership aimed at creating an aerotropolis in the airport.

Ngwu gave his word that the project would go as planned and that Akure Airport would completely change how the authority generates income.

“Supporting the project is in the best interests of all parties involved. It will broaden the state and local governments’ sources of revenue.

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“The majority of the employees will undoubtedly be from the area. They ought to back it because it will contribute to their success.

“This is something we want to do in other airports. We began in Akure because, until recently, Abuja Airport had the largest land mass there, he explained.

Mrs. Lynda Ezike, the airport manager in Akure, assured that the management and staff of the airport were eager and prepared to support the unprecedented development mega project that was proposed for the airport.

“We are ready to support Ala Resort Ltd in ensuring the success of this mega project, which is for the betterment of all stakeholders,” she said.