President of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Smart Olugbeko, has urged the federal government to also review the centralisation of payroll administration through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). Olugbeko stated this while hailing President Bola Tinubu for cancelling the policy directing tertiary institutions to remit 40 per cent of their Internally Generated Revenue to the national treasury, saying it shows he has listening ears. Olugbeko lamented that the policy undermined the statutory functions of the Governing Councils, and breached the establishment integrity of the tertiary education sector in general and the Colleges of Education system in particular. He said IPPIS had become a means of defrauding COEASU members as there were thousands of cases of short-payment, outright non-payment, unlawful delay and/or withholding of third-party deductions. “We urge President Bola Tinubu to revisit the issue of IPPIS in the interest of justice and industrial harmony,” he said. Speaking on the suspension of the 40% IGR, he said, “While we knew absolutely that the policy would not stand as we were poised to resist it with all legitimate powers we possess as a Trade Union in the sector, we must acknowledge the sense of good reason, listening disposition, democratic ethos and responsible leadership shown by Mr. President in suspending the policy without allowing the situation to degenerate into an unnecessary face-off between labour and Government. “Of equal concern to our Union is the need to conclude the long overdue renegotiation of COEASU-FG 2010 agreement; upward review of the monthly running grant being given to the Managements of Colleges of Education and timely release of the fund; resolution of the issue of outsourced services particularly security and cleaning; and the implementation, without further delay, of the special bursary and grant to education students in Universities and Colleges of Education.”

  The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Maitama Tuggar, says with the Siemens gas deal between Nigeria and Germany, Nigerians will experience improved electricity supply by the first half of 2024. Tuggar spoke virtually from Berlin, Germany, on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday. “In the coming year by the first half of next year (2024), there will be a remarkable improvement in the electricity supply in Nigeria,” he said, adding that the setbacks experienced in the past would be managed by the President Bola Tinubu administration. Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2018 promised to expand Nigeria’s electricity capacity which is currently at 4,000 megawatts to 25,000mw by 2025 when he inked a deal with Siemens Energy in Germany under the Presidential Power Initiative but the project has not been actualised. However, the minister, who is part of the President’s team at the G20 Compact with Africa Economic Conference in Germany, said the Siemens deal is “fully back”. Tuggar said the gas deal between Nigeria and Germany is a win-win. He said, “The fact that we are exporting gas to Germany or we intend to do that does not mean that we are depriving Nigeria’s domestic gas needs; that will be fulfilled as well but you also need the revenue that would accrue from such exports to invest further in taking electricity and gas to other parts of Nigeria. So, it’s all interconnected and one does not stop the other from happening.” The minister further said electricity supply would improve with the completion of the ongoing AKK project – the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano project.

  The Senate has mandated its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to interface with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to initiate the process of revising the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. This followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sheu Kaka (APC, Borno Central) during Tuesday’s plenary. The Laws of the Federation of Nigeria was an alphabetical compilation of laws operative in Nigeria which are updated regularly. The compilation of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria was carried out under the authority of the Attorney General of the Federation, subject to the approval of the National Assembly through an Act. Kaka, in his motion, said the statutes in the LFN were enacted in different years before and after Nigeria’s independence even though they were all cited as “LFN 2004”. He said, “The LFN has remained unrevised for almost two decades, with the implication that the several laws enacted in Nigeria from 1 January 2003 till date remain excluded from the compilation. “There was an attempt to revise the LFN in 2010 but the effort had no legal framework of the National Assembly approving it.” He also expressed concern that the continued non-revision of LFN has not only left numerous statutes out of the compilation but also retained many repealed statutes with attendant confusion and other negative impacts. According to him, “the non-compilation of the several federal statutes leads to a dearth of knowledge of many existing laws on the part of Nigerians, especially students, lecturers, researchers, lawyers, legislators, and judges among others.” He said the revision of LFN was long overdue and as such will be in the interest of democratic governance in Nigeria to commence the revision process without further delay.

  Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa, Tuesday, disclosed that every military man including himself is fed N1,500 per day. He stated this when he and other Service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, appeared before the House of Representatives to brief the lawmakers on their activities and efforts aimed at combating the rising security challenge in the country. The service chiefs’ appearance signalled the commencement of sectoral debates by ministries, departments, and agencies organised by the lower legislative chamber. Those present at the briefing include the Musa, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. While the CDS Musa requested improved funding, disclosing that every military man including himself is fed N1,500 per day, he sought for collaboration of the judiciary to ensure that criminals are not released on technicalities and that special courts address the arrest of high-level criminals. He expressed concern that it puts the safety of security personnel at risk, adding that Simon Ekpa was a menace to the country and that action must be taken diplomatically. On illegal mining, Musa expressed a desire for states to take over for proper management. IGP Kayode Egbetokun outlined some challenges within the force, including poor logistics provision, insufficient patrol vehicles for police divisions, inadequate training, and poor welfare of personnel.

  The police, Tuesday, said its operatives have arrested one Samsom Ibiloma, a 52-year-old Kogi indigene who has defrauded victims of over N10 million while impersonating the Secretary to Delta State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu. This was revealed in a press statement by Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe. Edafe said the arrest was sequel to a series of complaints received from multiple victims on a suspected fraudster impersonating the secretary to the Delta State government, promising to give them jobs in the State. He said the Delta State Police Command successfully arrested one Samsom Ibiloma, a member of the syndicate who specializes in impersonating top government officials. The statement read, “For a long while, this syndicate has been operating under the alias of Hon. Kingsley Emu, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, and defrauding unsuspecting victims seeking for jobs of millions of Naira. “The Delta State Police Commissioner, CP Wale Abass, being a man of zero tolerance to fraudulent activities and other criminal vices, detailed operatives of the Command’s DECOY Squad, and directed that effort be put into ensuring a meticulous investigation into the matter. “The Commander CP-DECOY ASP Julius Robinson, while armed with available technically generated intelligence stormed Walter Odili Area by Enerhen Junction in Warri on 1/11/2023, and effected the arrest of the said Samsom Ibiloma, a 52yrs native of Dekina LGA of Kogi State who resides in Warri. “The suspect confessed to impersonating government officials of repute and influence. He further admitted he has so far defrauded his victims over Ten Million Naira (#10,000,000). The suspects also confessed that the leader of the syndicate is one Stephen Odeemero, whom he claimed to be the mastermind of the crime. The suspect is in custody and effort is on to arrest other fleeing members of the gang. “The Commissioner of Police calls on residents who have fallen victim to their fraudulent act to visit the command headquarters or the PPRO office.” It added.

  The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, has announced the revocation of mineral titles of 1,633 holders with a stern warning to the former title holders to vacate the relevant cadastre immediately. According to him, security agencies, in collaboration with the Mines Inspectorate of the Ministry, have been authorised to apprehend any defaulters found in the areas where titles have been revoked. Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Alake explained that the mineral titles were revoked due to the holders’ failure to pay the prescribed annual service fees on time. He said despite a 30-day written default notice from the Mining Cadastre Office, the holders were found in violation and non-compliance with their statutory obligations to the government.

  The crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly is far from over as the police again took over the complex on Tuesday. This came as members loyal to both factions allegedly held separate sittings at different locations. Four police patrol vans were sighted at the entrance of the assembly complex, while the movement of people and vehicles along the Moscow Road Axis of the assembly were restricted. Also, an Armoured Personnel Carrier was seen pacing from one end to the other on the road where the complex is located, while scores of armed operatives mounted strategic locations. The reason for the security beef-up could not be immediately ascertained, but it was gathered that some lawmakers sat on Tuesday. It was gathered that 25 lawmakers led by House Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, sat early on Tuesday. The lawmakers reportedly deliberated on two items concerning the suspension of the strike by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria. They also called on the State Commissioner for Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate the explosion at the Assembly which razed the hallowed Chamber and destroyed several property. Also, the other lawmakers led by factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, passed a vote of confidence on Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Rising from a sitting on Tuesday, they commended the governor on his developmental strides and security initiatives to keep the state peaceful. Ehie, in a statement signed by Legislative Aide, Ken Uchendu, said it takes a man of vision to steer the ship of development for the benefit of the people of the State The faction resolved to continuously give the governor the required support to accomplish his consolidation and continuity agenda to benefit the State. The lawmaker also condemned the attack on Ehie’s residence on Sunday night as well as the burning of the House of Assembly. The lawmakers appealed to the governor to commence the rehabilitation works as soon as possible. “Furthermore, the house impressed on the need for the Inspector General of police, and other related security apparatus of the state to investigate these attacks and bring the culprits to book,” the statement read

  The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, said no administration was immune to mistakes, adding that his government was committed to public goods. The governor said this while reacting to the procurement record released by the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency during the inauguration of the Lagos State Building Control Agency Building, PWD Ikeja. While welcoming the open letter by the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress in Lagos, Funso Doherty, Sanwo-Olu assured him that the government will continue to publish its spending and keep it open for public scrutiny. “We are committed, responsible and transparent. We don’t have a problem with anybody, or any individual. We acknowledge that these are ways we should be doing things. “We appreciate criticism. We appreciate the fact that people can look at us in the face that we need to do well in the state,” the governor said in a video clip shared by his aide, Jubril Gawat, on X handle. He added, “So we don’t have a problem with the originator of an open letter. In fact, we like it and we want to thank him, and that’s to say that indeed, to be a government that’s firm and responsible, we should not shy away from criticism. “But it is only when criticism is malicious, unintended and it is to misrepresent the truth and that’s where there’s a problem. “Some officers in Lagos have all come out to say that indeed we can make mistakes on some lines of items. I heard of a particular one that an item was meant to be N2m but it was written as N2bn. “For me, I’m leading a team of very dedicated public officials; I’m leading a team of committed civil servants. I’m leading a team of self-motivated public officials who want to stand and say that they can be well recognised. “All we want to do is to serve the people of Lagos, and serve the state with every iota of strength and commitment we have, and believing Lagosians can truly see the benefit of our service. “I just want to make this point, and put it to rest. The website will continue to work. We’ll put all our numbers there and we’ll continue to pride ourselves at all times that indeed we can make mistakes but it is not any intention for us to be unmindful of what public goods are, and to ensure that public goods is what will continue to be respected.”