News
Reps hail Tinubu on proposed subsidy removal, ask Nigerians to be patient
The house of representatives has commended President Bola Tinubu over his decision to discontinue the petrol subsidy regime.
The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution commending Tunubu during the plenary session on Tuesday after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Jimoh Olajide from Lagos.
While delivering his inaugural address on Monday, Tinubu said “petrol subsidy is gone” because the immediate administration did not make provision for such in the 2023 appropriation.
Tinubu commended his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari for “phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor”.
Speaking on the motion, Olajide said the funds that should be used for subsidy would be channelled to other development issues.
The lawmaker said Tinubu’s policy would favour the “downtrodden”.
He told his colleagues to support Tinubu to “deliver dividends of democracy” to Nigerians.
“H asked for it, he campaigned for it and he is ready for the task ahead,” he said.
“The tutor-general of Nigerian politics is concerned about the masses and has the meaningful objective to utilise Nigeria funds appropriately with budgetary reforms agenda on education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, food, security and above all security of lives and property as embedded in the constitution.”
The resolution was unanimously adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Femi Gbajabiamila, the presiding officer.
The house congratulated Tinubu and appealed to “Nigerians to remain patient, resilient and prayerful so that the President can deliver on his promises”.
THE BACK AND FORTH
After the motion was passed, Ugonna Ozurigbo, a lawmaker from Imo, raised a point of privilege, demanding that there should be a debate on the motion due to its significance.
“I think it is very important that you should give us a little time to discuss and express our feelings on this motion that was brought on,” he said.
But responding, Gbajabiamila said the gavel has been hit noting that the matter could be raised at a different time during plenary as a point of relevance.
“There is no breach of privilege, we have hit the gravel. We cannot go back,” he said.
“As we go along, anyone that wants to speak on the issue of subsidy — I am giving the leeway even though it would fall on the sword of relevance.”
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.
TheCable understands that Usman Ododo, Kogi governor, brought Bello to Abuja this morning and invited EFCC to come pick him up.
The EFCC had charged the former governor with alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of N80.2 billion.
In April, the commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, would later allege that Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi coffers to pay his child’s school fees in advance.
The anti-graft agency also filed a 19-count charge against Bello over alleged money laundering.
However, the arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the former governor.
In May, Abdulwahab Mohammed, counsel to Bello, told the court that the former governor’s whereabouts remain unknown and that he was nurturing some safety concerns.
On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, had said the court’s ruling was a “vindication” of the EFCC’s stance that Bello must face trial.
Sources had told TheCable that Bello has been hiding in plain sight — holed up in the “protective custody” of the Kogi state government — since he was declared wanted by the EFCC.
President Bola Tinubu has asked the house of representatives to confirm Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive chief of army staff (COAS).
Tinubu’s request is contained in a letter read by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, during plenary on Tuesday.
Tinubu said Oluyede’s confirmation is in accordance with the provision of section 218(2) of the 1999 constitution as amended and section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.
The president said the army chief’s contribution to the military and Nigeria makes him “well-suited” for the role.
He said Oluyede has been professional in his duties, adding that his confirmation should be done “expeditiously”.
On October 30, Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting COAS following the prolonged illness of Taoreed Lagbaja, the former army chief.
The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma and his Housing and Urban Development counterpart, Francis Ori.
It was gathered that they were suspended on Monday during the State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, which was sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday morning, read, “Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health respectively.”
It was also learnt that the development may be connected to the alleged theft of pieces of property belonging to the Ministry of Health by its officials and the reported underperformance of the Housing and Urban Development commissioner and his shoddy handling of the Amaeze Housing Scheme in the Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.
Recall that the governor was in the health ministry’s premises on Saturday night and met a scene where six officials were caught allegedly diverting government materials.
He, therefore, ordered their arrest and eventual prosecution.
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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.
She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others
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