A bill seeking to increase the retirement age of members of the armed forces has passed for second reading in the House of Representatives. The consolidated bill, sponsored by Jonathan Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa), and seven others, was debated on Thursday and passed for a second reading. The bill, among other things, seeks to amend Section 30 of the Armed Forces Act to increase the retirement age of the officers from 60 to 65 years and years in service from 35 to 40 years. The proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 30 by creating a new subsection four that proposes the new retirement. “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Principal Act, the age of retirement for members of the Armed Forces shall be 40 years of Service or 65 years of age whichever comes first,” the proposed Section 30 subsection (4).   If the bill is passed, members of the armed forces would retire at 65 years old or 40 years in service. There is another section seeking amendment of section 18A of the principal Act. The section seeks to provide for the re-engagement of retired senior officers who are forced to retire due to the appointment of service chiefs. It is a tradition in the military that when a junior is appointed as a service chief, senior officers, ahead of him or her, would proceed on retirement. The understanding is that senior military officers are unlikely to take orders from their juniors. The bill proposes that those retired officers should be hired as consultants in training institutions owned by the military. “As from the commencement of this Bill, any Senior Serving Member of the Armed Forces of the Federation that is required to retire compulsorily by reason only that an officer of the same rank or a subordinate rank is appointed by the President of the Federal Republic, as the Chief of Defence Staff, or Chief of Army Staff, or Chief of the Naval Staff Chief of the Air Staff, shall be engaged by the Chief of Defense Staff as Senior technical consultants for the training of officers of the Armed Forces of the Federation in the Nigerian Defence College, Armed Forces, Staff College or any other like institution,” the proposed section 18(A). Members of House of Representatives at Plenary [PHOTO: X @HouseNGR] Members of House of Representatives at Plenary [PHOTO: X @HouseNGR] In his lead debate, Mr Gaza said the “purpose of this bill is to ensure that serving military officers learn from the wealth of knowledge and experiences of retired senior military officers compulsorily retired as a result of the appointment of their junior as Chief of Defence Staff or Service Chiefs.” The bill was passed for a second reading after it was put to vote by Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu, who presided over the session. It will be recalled that the federal government in January 2020 approved raising the retirement age and years of service for teachers in Nigeria from 60 years and 35 years to 65 years and 40 years, respectively. The then president, Muhammadu Buhari, sent the Bill to the National Assembly in June of that year. After it was passed, the president assented to it in April 2022.

  The Parish Priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Jootar, in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, Reverend Father Faustinus Gundu, has allegedly been killed by lightning. Local sources yet to be verified by authorities reportedly narrated the incident in dual version. A version said the deceased priest whom they popularly referred to as “Albino” was struck by lightening during the rain earlier on Thursday, while another said he slumped and died. The witnesses, however, claimed that the deceased priest had rushed outside his house to pick a towel from the linen soon after the rain began but slipped and fell hitting his head on a hard surface. Our correspondent further learnt that the late Gundu was alone at the time of the incident and had no one to immediately help him so he remained on the spot where he fell down while the rain lasted. Locals said that he had died by the time people discovered him and tried to help out. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue Command, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident to journalists in Makurdi. Anene was however not certain about whether he slumped and died or he died as a result of being struck by thunder. “I received the report but they alleged thunder. It is until we investigate before that would be concluded,” the PPRO said

  A senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Ifeanyi Ubah, has revealed that the South East will plead with the Federal Government for the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from detention. When asked on Channels Television’s Politics Today if the IPOB leader would be released soon, Ubah responded: “Definitely”. “I am of the firm belief that if we can consult – with the consultation we have had, the government will start looking in that direction,” he said Thursday. “Even though it is something that the government cannot say – based on the issues in court, the government cannot say that they can take a unilateral position. But I believe by the time we join the forces coming into the centre spread, we will make an appeal.” He attributed Kanu’s continued detention as one of the reasons fueling insecurity in the South-East region But Ubah expressed optimism that efforts will be made to combat insecurity in the area. “We spoke on many issues, not only insecurity. We discussed insecurity; it was one of the focused infrastructures, but most importantly, even looking at the stability of the southeast and my state – our detained brother, Nnamdi Kanu. “A lot of things are on the table; let us see how, where we will get to,” he said. The senator, who earlier on Thursday switched from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the Southeast is raising these issues because it wants “tranquility and stability” to reign there. “Everybody that wants peace in the South-East should help join or help pray for me and see that my move will bring value to the South-East and bring tranquility and peace so that people will start going back to the southeast,” he added. “People are no more going: Mondays are being observed as sit-at-home, so many things are involved.” The Supreme Court has however fixed December 15 to deliver its judgement on the appeal that is seeking to compel the Federal Government to release the IPOB leader.

  President Bola Tinubu has approved more than 260 road repairs interventions across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, disclosed this on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while speaking with journalists after an audience with President Tinubu in his office. The Minister, who further disclosed that the emergency repairs on the 260 roads nationwide will gulp about N217 billion, added that President Tinubu had approved more road construction works, including project upgrades. According to the Minister, the President has also approved the resurfacing of the 3rd Mainland Bridge, construction of Lekki deep seaport road, re-construction of two collapsed bridges in Enugu and reconstruction of two locations on the Onitsha-Owerri Road. Other roads approved for construction include the upgrading of the ongoing Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia road, dualization of the Lafia by-pass. I’ve always commended Mr President for his deep interest in reinstating most of our roads in the country. Everyday we get a lot of concerns from the public on the very deplorable situation of our roads, but there is no paper I brought in respect of that that Mr President has not approved. “Just yesterday he approved over 260 road interventions across the 36 states and the FCT. You’ll recall that last week he approved a lot of emergency roads and bridges repairs; we have three bridges that collapsed on the Southwest roads, he approved for reconstruction immediately. We have the Shendam- Lafia that collapsed, we also have the approval for its repairs. We have about 17 points along the East-West Road that have been destroyed by flood, Mr President has approved and released money for the immediate repairs. Of course the Third Mainland Bridge’s resurfacing and repairs of some noticeable deflections, which have to be done under the deck on top of the water with equipments, he has also approved that. “Two bridges that collapsed in Enugu, approved by Mr President; the two locations on the Onitsha-Owerri Road, Mr President approved the reconstruction; Lokoja-Abuja Road, Mr President approved the reconstruction. “I can name them, apart from the 260 emergency repairs all over the country that worth about N217 billion, so I’m quite glad. “This afternoon again, Mr President approved upgrading of the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia Road, of course it’s ongoing, but it’s a PPP the Chinese and we’re paying 15%. Also the construction of the Lafia Bypass Dualisation from Makurdi, through Oturkpo, through Oboloafor, down to 9th Mile, it’s a major one, but Mr President has approved it. This is also being financed by the China EXIMBank, Lafia-Keffi Road is also financed by Chinese EXIMBank. “Then the of 7th AXA Road, Lekki Deep Seaport (access), in Lagos. You know the Lagos State government is building the deep seaport, meaning that all the cargoes that cannot berth at the existing ports in Lagos can now come to that location and that’s where the Dangote Refinery is located. “I saw thousands and thousands of well-established companies that are already installing their equipments there. It’s to be a huge free trade zone. So Mr President has approved that I should go ahead and sign MoU and that it should be programmed for priority in our business with the Chinese”, he said. President Tinubu also approved the reconstitution of the Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), with the aim of speeding up the road maintenance nationwide. “Let me also announced that Mr President approved the reconstitution of FERMA Board and this is very good for us, this is so that work can now get a bit more serious with FERMA in terms of very prompt maintenance of the roads” Uhahi disclosed. When asked how soon Nigerians should expect to see mobilisation to site, Umahi said “said there’s a process; we’re doing the designs and procurement and selecting contractors to this. We’re calling some contractors that have existing projects within these locations. “We’re getting selective renderings from the approval of BPP and these are the procedures. I’m sure with the onset of dry season from November, these works will get started and we’re going to put a lot of pressure on them for them to complete the works,” he said.