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Osinbajo Returns to Abuja After Meeting With Buhari

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Buhari and Osinbajo
  • Osinbajo Returns to Abuja After Meeting With Buhari

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo arrived Abuja at about 5 a.m. Wednesday, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in London, the British capital Tuesday evening.

Osinbajo had departed for London Tuesday afternoon to meet with the president, 65 days after the latter left the country to get treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

The acting president, whose trip was announced by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, in a tweet Tuesday night, was scheduled to return to the country immediately after the meeting.

“AgP Osinbajo meeting with President Buhari in London today, and returning to Abuja immediately afterwards,” Akande tweeted.

A Reuters report said that Osinbajo was seen entering Abuja House, the Nigerian High Commission, in the Campden Hill area of the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London. He did not make any comment as he entered the building.

Immediately after his meeting with Buhari, the acting president, presidency sources further disclosed, departed Abuja House for Stansted Airport, London, where his plane was scheduled to depart London at 11.30 p.m. Tuesday.

The presidency sources said that other top-ranking officials who were in London at the time of Osinbajo’s flying visit included the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, who was attending a course in the British capital, and the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika.

It is unlikely any of them was present during the meeting between the president and his deputy.

Information about Osinbajo’s trip to London had circulated all day at the Presidential Villa Tuesday, but State House correspondents were hesitant to report it because there was no official confirmation of the trip.

Attempts to confirm it hit a brick wall, as his aides kept denying the trip, saying it was untrue.

However, pointers that the information was true were evident in the desolation evident in the acting president’s wing, which had been bustling with activities Tuesday morning.

Before his departure, the acting president had presided over the quarterly business forum, which had members of the cabinet and the organised private sector in attendance.

It is believed that Osinbajo’s trip was not by his own design and might have been at the instance of the president to discuss the myriad of challenges confronting the acting president in the course of discharging the functions of his office.

Most notable of the challenges that have confronted Osinbajo in Buhari’s absence were the threats by some Northern youths to evict residents of Igbo extraction from the North by October 1 and the continuing agitation by Biafra agitators for the breakup of Nigeria.

Also, the threat by the Senate to stop further confirmation of presidential nominees, following the failure by the executive to remove the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, who had been rejected twice by the Red Chamber, has widened the rift between both arms of government.

Since Buhari’s departure more than two months ago, nothing has been heard of the president.

Tuesday was the first time Osinbajo officially met with Buhari since he travelled to the UK for medical treatment for the second time this year.

His wife, Aisha, who is with him in London, on Monday had alluded to his recovery and possible return when she said in a Facebook post: “God has answered the prayers of the weaker animals. The hyenas and the jackals will soon be sent out of the kingdom.”

A presidency source also confirmed Tuesday that the president was recovering from his illness, but could not give a date on his return to the country.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Government

Senate Suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for 3 Months Over Budget Padding Allegations

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Abdul-Ahmed-Ningi

The Senate has announced the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi for three months following his allegations of budget padding to the tune of N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget.

Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central and chairs the Senate Committee on Population, had made the claims in a recent interview with the Hausa service of the BBC.

During a plenary session, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a motion to address Ningi’s allegations, citing the urgent need to address what he termed as “false allegations.”

The transcript of Ningi’s interview was read on the Senate floor, prompting deliberation on the appropriate action to take.

Initially, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed a 12-month suspension for Ningi, but Senator Chris Ekpeyong moved to reduce it to six months.

Eventually, Senator Garba Maidoki amended the motion further, suggesting a three-month suspension.

The amended motion was put to a voice vote, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision to suspend Ningi for three months.

Following the ruling, Ningi was escorted out of the Senate chamber by the Sergeants-at-arms.

The suspension comes amidst division within the Senate over Ningi’s claims, with some senators disowning his allegations and calling for a thorough investigation.

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Government

Ekiti Governor Unveils Multi-Billion Naira Relief Programmes Amid Economic Crisis

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Biodun Oyebanji

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has announced a comprehensive relief package aimed at alleviating the hardship faced by the people of the state.

The relief programs encompass various sectors to cushion the impact of the economic downturn.

One of the key initiatives entails clearing salary arrears amounting to over N2.7 billion owed to both State and Local Government workers.

This move signifies the government’s commitment to addressing the financial burdens faced by its workforce.

Furthermore, Governor Oyebanji has approved a substantial increase of N600 million per month in the subvention of autonomous institutions, including the Judiciary and tertiary institutions.

This augmentation is intended to enable these institutions to implement wage awards in alignment with State and Local Government workers’ salaries.

In addition to addressing salary arrears, the relief programs extend to pensioners, with the approval of payments totaling N1.5 billion for two months’ pension arrears.

Moreover, an increase in the monthly gratuity payment to state pensioners and local government pensioners will provide additional financial support, totaling N200 million monthly.

The relief initiatives also encompass agricultural and small-scale business sectors.

The allocation of funds for food production and livestock transformation projects underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing food security and economic sustainability at the grassroots level.

Governor Oyebanji emphasized that these relief programs are part of the state’s concerted efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of the economic downturn and foster shared prosperity.

The comprehensive nature of the initiatives reflects a proactive approach towards addressing the challenges faced by Ekiti State residents.

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President Tinubu Orders Immediate Settlement of N342m Electricity Bill for Presidential Villa

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power project

President Bola Tinubu has directed the prompt settlement of a N342 million outstanding electricity bill owed by the Presidential Villa to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

This move comes in response to the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and the AEDC.

The AEDC had earlier threatened to disconnect electricity services to the Presidential Villa and 86 Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) over a total outstanding debt of N47.20 billion as of December 2023.

Contrary to the initial claim by the AEDC that the State House owed N923 million in electricity bills, the Presidency clarified that the actual outstanding amount is N342.35 million.

This discrepancy underscores the importance of accurate accounting and reconciliation between entities.

In a statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency affirmed the commitment to settle the debt promptly.

Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila assured that the debt would be paid to the AEDC before the end of the week.

The directive from the Presidency extends beyond the State House, as Gbajabiamila urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with the AEDC and settle their outstanding electricity bills.

The AEDC, on its part, issued a 10-day notice to the affected government agencies to settle their debts or face disconnection.

This development highlights the importance of financial accountability and responsible management of public utilities.

It also underscores the necessity for government entities to fulfill their financial obligations to service providers promptly, ensuring uninterrupted services and avoiding potential disruptions.

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