Economy, Social Issues Top Agenda As Tinubu Presides Over 2nd FEC Meeting

The Federal Executive Council meeting is scheduled for today, Monday. Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this to State House Correspondents. President Bola Tinubu will chair the meeting, with the attendance of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff to the President, and various Ministers. Other high-ranking government officials, such as the Head of Service of the Federation and Special Advisers, will also be present. Ngelale highlighted that this second edition of the meeting during this administration will address matters related to the president’s approvals concerning economic and social issues. The inaugural meeting took place in August, where new ministers received their initial briefings on their roles and responsibilities in the Renewed Hope Agenda. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) is a constitutional institution where government policies are deliberated and endorsed by Ministers. The President serves as the Chairman, while the Vice President serves as the Vice Chairman.

Let’s Support Tinubu, NNPCL – Civil Rights Group

A conference of civil society groups for good governance (CSGGG) is calling for collective support for the progress and growth of NNPC Limited under the capable leadership of Mele Kyari. They have expressed concerns about the negative efforts to discredit Mallam Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, aimed at removing him from office to gain unrestricted access to state resources for personal gain. The group, represented by its President, Comrade Dominic Ogakwu, is responding to an unwarranted smear campaign against the remarkable achievements and ongoing progress of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) in certain sections of the media. He refuted the claim that there is a secret award of control of Nigeria’s pipelines to a Northern oil cabal, calling it not only baseless and a product of the imagination but also a cowardly assertion. According to Ogakwu, the spreading of gross misinformation and unsupported allegations regarding oil pipeline rehabilitation and surveillance contracts has become a weapon of choice for these unpatriotic elements. He emphasized that these recent attempts lack substance and are mere distractions. He issued a warning to those determined to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s transformative leadership, urging them to reconsider their actions and cease their meaningless agitations and threats. Ogakwu further explained, “To award such a contract, a transparent tendering process is required, involving public notices and invitations for qualified companies to bid. The contracts have been awarded following rigorous procedures consistent with industry norms, and each bidding company underwent a competitive tender selection process, overseen by regulatory institutions such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, transaction advisors, Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and the Ministry of Justice.”

Ways and Means: Tinubu Won’t Exceed Statutory Limit– Edun

President Bola Tinubu will not go above statutory limits in obtaining budget support facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Ways and Means Advances. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, said this at the weekend in Marrakech, at the ongoing World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings. He said that Tinubu was committed to “keeping with the spirit and the letter” of autonomy of the CBN. The stakeholders and financial experts had criticised former President Muhammadu Buhari for worsening the country’s debt burden. By obtaining more than N22.7 trillion in Ways and Means Advances from the apex bank. Edun, however, said that the country was discussing with the World Bank for a 1.5 billion dollars budget support. “The World Bank is the number one development bank that helps developing countries to fund their projects and programmes. “We are happy that the funding will come in soon. World Bank money is the cheapest, ” he said. The minister said that the government was also concerned about financing. “About one trillion dollars is needed to meet the target of climate change globally. These is a climate financing fund which is relatively cheap. “There is also a commitment to help Africa and the third world with climate transition because they are not responsible for climate change in any substantial way. “One of the ways to help them is through climate financing and we will be looking at green bond and more climate financing options,” he said. 

Certificate Saga: Clarify Your Academic Credentials To Nigerians, Obi Tells Tinubu

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reintroduce himself to the Nigerian public and throw more light on his academic qualifications. This call comes in light of recent developments, where a US court ordered the release of President Tinubu’s academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU) at the request of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. During a press conference in Abuja, Obi requested that President Tinubu provide clarification regarding the schools he attended, whether he participated in the one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, and if he ever changed his name. This, he believes, will help prevent what he described as an international embarrassment related to identity crisis. Former Anambra State Governor emphasized that having held the highest political office in the country, President Tinubu no longer has a right to personal privacy regarding his identity. Atiku, the former Vice President, had initially requested the release of President Tinubu’s academic certificate from Chicago State University due to concerns about the authenticity of the certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the former Lagos State governor. Following the release of the academic records, Atiku called on Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other concerned Nigerians to join his pursuit of “justice” on the matter and vowed to continue seeking justice.

I Wrote WAEC As Sadiq Abubakar, Atiku Explains Alleged Forged SSCE Certificate

In response to mounting allegations of forgery surrounding his Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) certificate, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has offered an explanation. Atiku Abubakar’s clarification was communicated via his aide, Dele Momodu, who shared the statement on the candidate’s social media platform, X, on Tuesday. The controversy had arisen due to concerns raised by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the name “Sadiq Abubakar” appearing on Atiku’s WAEC certificate, which seemed inconsistent with his other credentials. However, Atiku Abubakar’s response to the allegations provides clarity. According to Momodu’s statement, Atiku confirmed, “Yes, I used Sadiq Abubakar to sit for my WAEC, and after passing my exams, I went to swear an affidavit to say I am the same person as ATIKU Abubakar. I went to ABU as Atiku Abubakar and passed my exams as Atiku Abubakar. Interviewed as Atiku Abubakar by the Federal Civil Service Commission and hired into the Customs Service as Atiku Abubakar. So where is forgery there?”

IMF Downgrades Nigeria’s Economic Growth By 2.9%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded Nigeria’s economic growth by 2.9 per cent for 2023. In July, the Fund had projected a 3.2 per cent growth for Nigeria in 2023. The lender however warned that the growth would be impacted by security issues in the oil sector. In its October World Economic Outlook with the themed, ‘Navigating Global Divergences,’ posted on its website Tuesday, the IMF said, “Growth in Nigeria is projected to decline from 3.3 per cent in 2022 to 2.9 per cent in 2023 and 3.1 per cent in 2024, with negative effects of high inflation on consumption taking hold. “The forecast for 2023 is revised downward by 0.3 percentage point, reflecting weaker oil and gas production than expected, partially as a result of maintenance work.” The International lender, while commenting on its new prediction for the country, said: “ For the sub-Saharan African region, growth is expected to decline to 3.3 per cent in 2023 due to worsening weather shocks, the global slowdown, and domestic supply issues, the IMF said.  However, growth would pick up by 2024 to 4.0 per cent in 2024, which is still below the region’s historical average of 4.8 per cent. It also stated that global economic growth was projected to slow from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 3.0 per cent in 2023 and 2.9 per cent in 2024, well below the historical (2000–19) average of 3.8 per cent, the IMF declared. “Advanced economies are expected to slow from 2.6 per cent in 2022 to 1.5 per cent in 2023 and 1.4 per cent in 2024 as policy tightening starts to bite. Emerging market and developing economies are projected to have a modest decline in growth from 4.1 per cent in 2022 to 4.0 per cent in both 2023 and 2024″, the IMF said. The global financial institute stated that global inflation is expected to decelerate to 6.9 per cent in 2023 and 5.8 per cent in 2024 from the present 8.7 per cent in 2022.  

FG Determined To Uplift 70 Million Citizens From Poverty – Minister

The Federal Government is rapidly retooling its numerous Social Investment Schemes to enable it to immediately lift an initial 70 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next twelve months. Speaking on a television programme monitored by NIGERIAN ANCHOR on Sunday, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betty Edu listed the programmes and their targeted intervention figures to include the N-Power programme that is aimed at removing five million people out of poverty in five years and the GEEP that is supposed to provide funds to 1.5 million Nigerian small business owners and the Home-Grown School Feeding for 10million children amongst others. She disclosed that a presidential approval shall be obtained on October 17, 2023 for the roll out of the repackaged Conditional Cash Transfer which shall be targeted at benefitting a total of 15 million households. To achieve this, she said, critical stakeholders partnering with the ministry were already on the field working round the clock to revalidate the data and to clean up the register. “As we speak, we are having a verification exercise. Every state can bear us witness that we have put boots on the ground – persons who are working with the state cash transfer office as well as the governors who are the heads of the steering committee and then several other persons,” she disclosed. She disclosed that altogether, about 62million individuals shall benefit from the N25,000 that shall be disbursed to 15million households per month for an initial period of three months. Regarding the other flagship scheme of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), she said, the Federal Government will restart the Tradermoni scheme simultaneously in the 109 senatorial districts in the country in November with each beneficiary getting N50,000 to support their businesses.To achieve this, a large market shall be selected from each senatorial zone where the traders shall be processed and selected for the intervention, Dr. Edu disclosed. Even though she did not disclose how many traders shall be captured at this phase of the programme, Edu emphasized that, “Now, for the first set, which we are starting in November, we are selecting one big market per senatorial district. That is 109 markets and we are going into the markets, capturing the traders in their shops in the markets.” Towards the end of last year, the National Bureau of Statistics released the report on its national poverty survey in which it disclosed that a total of 133 million Nigerians were multidimensionally poor. Out of this number, about 71million Nigerians have been classified as extremely poor. Speaking to these grim statistics, Mrs. Edu explained that the immediate objective of the Federal Government was to pull the extremely poor out of poverty while erecting safety nets to prevent the multidimensionally poor from falling into extreme poverty. Earlier, the minister had announced the suspension of the N-Power programme which had been enmeshed in controversies. She threatened that those found guilty of any form of malfeasance shall be made to face the due process of the law.

NBC Slams Arise TV Final Warning Over ‘Derogatory, Incendiary’ Remarks

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has given the operators of Arise Television final warning on alleged violation of Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Director-General of NBC, Balarabe Shehu llelah, gave the warning in a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Arise Global Limited on Saturday in Abuja. In the letter titled “Preponderance of Derogatory and Incendiary Remarks: Final Warning”, Ilelah said the commission had observed with concern, the preponderance of incendiary remarks allowed on Arise News. “This letter once again seeks to underscore the tremendous responsibility put on the broadcaster to manage array of guests that may feature on the station from time to time. “For the benefit of doubt, on October 5 during the programme – ‘The Morning Show’, anchored by Reuben Abati, Rufai Useni and Ayo Mairo Ese, featured Oladotun Hassan and Dele Farotimi as guests. “The programme contained unguarded incendiary remarks by Dele Farotimi against the legislature, executive, judiciary and Mr President. “Similarly, On October 6, during the programme “Newsday”, it featured Kenneth Okonkwo (Spokesperson for Labour Party) who used derogatory remarks on air. “Your attention is therefore drawn to the relevant sections of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code for compliance please,” Ilelah said. The NBC boss explained further that section 1.10.3 says the broadcaster shall ensure that its presenter does not express his or her opinion in the programme, as a matter of professional standard. He said section 3.3.1 (a) stipulates that the broadcaster shall ensure that any information given in a programme, in whatever form, is accurate. Illelah said 3.3.3 (c) provided that the broadcaster shall be above inherent biases, prejudices and subjective mindsets. “According to section 3.3.1(e), the Broadcaster shall not treat any individual or organisation in an unjust and unfair manner in any programme. The NBC boss further explained that section 5.3.3(b) of the code stated that the broadcaster shall, in using political materials for news and current affairs programmes, avoid hate speech, inflammatory, derogatory, and divisive remarks of allusions. “Section 5.5.6 says, the broadcaster shall have a delay mechanism to guard against possible undesirable content. “Arise TV is advised to install a delay mechanism to guard against possible undesirable contents as prescribed in Section 5.5.6 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. “Please note that henceforth, your station shall be held liable for any infraction on your platform and applicable sanctions shall be imposed as prescribed by Law,” Ilelah stressed.

Tinubu Directs 10% Humanitarian Interventions For Older Persons

Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, says President Bola Tinubu has directed her ministry to reserve 10 per cent of social safety net intervention for older persons. This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by her Media aide, Mr Rasheed Zubair, in Abuja. It stated that the minister was speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting to commemorate the 2023 National Day of Older Persons in Nigeria. “Mr President has directed that my Ministry should set aside 10% of social safety net intervention programmes for older persons in the country. “The right of senior citizens in the areas of job security, health, livelihood, agriculture and other development planning must be considered. “Presently, older persons are said to be about 14.8 million out of the entire population, that’s why President directed that in all our social welfare interface older persons must be involved,” she said. Edu assured the senior citizens of the federal government’s resolve to provide them with necessary support towards improving the quality of their lives. “The President also directed that those who are under the poverty line must be assisted and captured in the social intervention programmes. “We would inaugurate two of such social intervention programmes with emphasis on senior citizens because we will be providing for senior citizens who are affected by humanitarian crises,” she said. She assured them of the administration’s readiness to priorities their welfare and well-being especially in its renewed hope agenda. Edu assured the citizens that government would do everything possible to prevent older persons from slipping below the poverty line in the country. “Older persons are one of the priorities of the federal government whose lives must be protected.” The minister appealed to UN agencies and development partners to factor in the interest and well-being of older citizens in their day-to-day operations. On his part, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale, said the engagement offered stakeholders the opportunity to reflect on the impact of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Schmale especially noted the protection of the rights of older persons, and commended Nigeria for establishing the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), saying it is a step in the right direction. He regretted that despite the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights, older persons continue to face obstacles in the enjoyment and exercise of their human rights. “Ageing is a complex and multifaceted reality that will touch all of us if we are lucky.” The Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Dr Emem Omakaro, commended the minister for attending the event despite her tight schedule. Omokaro explained that the centre, which began operation in 2021, has in the short period brought to the fore the plight of older persons in Nigeria. She expressed optimism that with Edu in charge of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation older persons in Nigeria would soon enjoy a new lease of life.

Atiku Vs Tinubu: US Court Confirms Nigeria’s Supreme Court Can Consider New Evidence

In a recent ruling by Justice Nancy Maldonado of the United States Court, it has been confirmed that the Supreme Court of Nigeria possesses the mechanism to consider new evidence under “exceptional circumstances.” This significant decision comes in response to President Ahmed Tinubu’s objection to presenting documents from Chicago University as evidence in Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s case. The US court emphasized that President Tinubu failed to provide any testimony or evidence indicating that the Court of Appeal’s decision somehow prevented the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in its discretion, from considering new arguments and evidence under “exceptional circumstances.” It was noted that President Tinubu, in fact, conceded this procedural mechanism before Judge Gilbert and did not dispute its existence. The court further clarified that President Tinubu’s suggestion that the evidence “cannot be considered under any circumstances” is unsupported by the record, highlighting that the US court cannot speculate on Nigerian law and procedure. However, it recognized the undisputed existence of a mechanism allowing Mr. Abubakar to potentially introduce the requested discovery into foreign proceedings. The decision regarding whether the Supreme Court of Nigeria will accept these documents or consider them in its decision lies within the jurisdiction of that court. The court stressed the undeniable significance of the discovery and the crucial issues at stake. It acknowledged that Chicago State University (CSU) is the sole source of the sought-after information concerning President Tinubu’s diploma and education, with no alternative means for Mr. Abubakar to access it. Based on Rule 26 considerations and the paramount importance of the discovery, the court supported the request for discovery. It affirmed that it would not obstruct the flow of discovery when it is within the possession of a US institution, especially given CSU’s readiness to provide it. The court concluded that Mr. Abubakar’s interest in the discovery outweighs President Tinubu’s privacy concerns. Considering these factors, the court found that the discretionary factors support granting Mr. Abubakar’s application. It also noted that President Tinubu did not specifically object to the scope of the discovery requests and that the requests were appropriately tailored to seek relevant information. In conclusion, the US court overruled President Tinubu’s objections and adopted Judge Gilbert’s ruling in full. Mr. Abubakar’s Application for discovery was granted. An expedited schedule was set for completion of discovery, aligning with the pending Supreme Court of Nigeria deadline. CSU was directed to produce relevant documents and complete the deposition, ensuring compliance with the established timeline.