US Court Mandates Chicago Varsity to Disclose Tinubu’s Academic Records to Atiku
A United States Court has issued a directive to the Chicago State University (CSU) regarding the release of President Bola Tinubu’s academic records to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The presiding judge, Nancy Maldonado, has dismissed Tinubu’s objections and set a two-day deadline for CSU to provide the requested documents to Atiku. Judge Maldonado upheld the earlier ruling made on September 20 by US Magistrate Judge Jeffery Gilbert, which had ordered CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records in response to Atiku’s request. The judge emphasized that Atiku, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had the right to access these records. In her ruling, Judge Maldonado stated, “For the reasons stated in the Court’s accompanying Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Court overrules President Tinubu’s objections and adopts Judge Gilbert’s recommended decision in full. The Court, therefore, grants Mr. Abubakar’s application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782.” Furthermore, the court has set a timeline for CSU to comply with the directive. CSU is instructed to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to specific requests by Atiku’s legal team by 12:00 p.m. (noon) CDT on Monday, October 2, 2023. Additionally, the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of CSU’s corporate designee must be completed by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. Atiku’s request for Tinubu’s academic records stems from his ongoing legal challenge to the outcome of the February 25 presidential election in Nigeria. Atiku, the PDP candidate, has argued that the documents are essential in supporting his claim that Tinubu allegedly forged a certificate from CSU in 1979, which he submitted to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 presidential election. This court ruling represents a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding the presidential election and the authenticity of Tinubu’s academic qualifications.
Shelve Planned Strike, Tinubu, Sultan Beg NLC, TUC
President Bola Tinubu has appealed to the labour unions to give government more time to address the issues bedeviling the country. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have fixed October 3rd to embark on an indefinite strike following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government and the attendant hardship it has brought on Nigerians. Tinubu, who was represented by the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin, at a public lecture to mark Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary on Friday in Abuja, announced that the Federal Government is determined to address the socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians. Whilst urging them to sheathe their swords “in the interest of the masses”, Tinubu said his government was doing everything within its power to bring succour to Nigerians. “I want to emphasise as well that this government is new and the government is doing all within its powers to make sure it brings succour to the entire people of this country. “Government has already gone ahead to provide N500 billion to states to cushion the effects of subsidy removal. The President enjoined members of the unions to consider dialogue as the best way to resolve the issues. “The Sultan also talked about the issue of strike by the NLC. Please, on behalf of the President and the entire government, this is not the time for strike. It is too early. “Please let’s dialogue, let’s get together, let’s understand ourselves and let us look at the prevailing situation in the country,” he said. Earlier in his remark, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), had appealed to labour unions to shelve the nationwide strike slated to commence on Tuesday. Abubakar urged Labour not to embark on the industrial action but continue to dialouge with the Federal Government. He emphasised the need for dialogue to find solutions to the issues “instead of embarking on a strike”. “I am an advocate of dialogue because strikes don’t solve problems; they make them worse. Our leaders must tighten their belt, the common man is suffering. “I don’t think this government will just decide to make life bad for the people; as leaders and elders, we will always call on stakeholders not to embark on journeys that will make life worse for the common man. “I don’t think government can take it upon itself to make life unbearable for the common man, let’s give them chance and see what they can do,” he said. According to him, strike will add more problems to the existing economic situation. “If people are on strike, there wouldn’t be electricity, water, hospital and transportation system. “Please, let’s reach out to our brothers and sisters who are clamouring to go on strike. They should have a rethink,” Sultan appealed.
Labour Ministry Debunks Independence Day Wage Award By Tinubu
The Ministry of Labour says the report that President Bola Tinubu would announce a wage award to workers on Independence Day is untrue. This is contained in a statement issued Mr Olajide Oshundun, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour in Abuja. “The attention of the ministry of Labour and Employment has been drawn to reports circulating online claiming that the President will announce wage awards and palliatives to workers during his October 1st Independence Day speech. “The report which is said to have emanated from a purported interview with the Director of Information in the ministry claimed that a last-minute meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday between Federal Government and Labour to avert the proposed strike. “We wish to categorically state that the report is false and misleading as at no time did the Director of Information make such disclosure,” he said. He urged members of the public to ignore the report as it is a total fabrication of an interview by the reporter to suit the narrative of the interests best-known to the newspaper. He added that, for the benefit of doubt, it is important to stress that the Director of Information at the ministry does not speak for the President. The director said that he was also not involved in writing the speech for the President to warrant him making any categorical statement on its content. “If and when the Minister schedules a meeting with Labour, the public will be adequately notified through verified channels. “The said newspaper is advised to retract the story and maintain professionalism in its reportage to avoid misleading the public,” he said.
Senate Confirms Olayemi Cardoso As CBN Governor
In a significant development, the Senate has officially confirmed the appointment of Dr. Olayemi Cardoso as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This confirmation comes after thorough screening and evaluation on Tuesday, during which Cardoso’s qualifications and suitability for the role were thoroughly examined. Dr. Cardoso’s confirmation also marks the approval of four nominees for the positions of Deputy Governors at the CBN. These appointments collectively signify a crucial step in shaping the direction of the apex bank’s operations over the next five years. It’s worth noting that Dr. Cardoso had assumed the role of Acting CBN Governor last week, pending his formal screening and subsequent confirmation by the Senate. This confirmation solidifies his position as the head of the CBN and underscores his mandate to lead the nation’s central banking institution. In addition to the CBN appointments, the Senate has set a date for the screening of two additional ministerial nominees, a move proposed by President Bola Tinubu. Dr. Jamila Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande have been appointed as the Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths, respectively, by Tinubu during the National Assembly’s break. Their upcoming screening which will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, will further reshape the composition of the federal cabinet.
Subsidy Removal Has Reduced Nigeria’s Fuel Consumption By 33% –Minister
The Minister of State for Environment, Kunle Salako, has said that the courageous decision by Bola Tinubu’s administration to remove fuel subsidy has reduced the country’s consumption rate by about 33 percent. Salako said on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, that the action has reduced the emission generated by petrol. “The singular action has reduced Nigeria’s consumption of petrol by 33 per cent, reduced the level of emission generated by Nigerians,” he said. “The courageous decision to remove subsidy from petroleum is furthering climate action by Nigeria. “I had highlighted this development in some of the meetings I attended or represented the President and at the meeting of Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change and at the meeting of Commonwealth Ministers of Environment and Climate. “Nigeria participated in the meeting of Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change where I represented President to pass a resolution to adopt the Nairobi Declaration for final vetting by the meeting of AU. “The first meeting of Commonwealth Ministers of Environment and Climate in which the Ministers decided to approach the 28th Conference of Parties in Dubai come late November to early December with common front of pushing for better financing for climate action. “I represented Nigeria at the meeting, and I established that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by taking the courageous decision to remove subsidy from petroleum is furthering climate action by Nigeria. “It has also focused the attention of Nigeria at corporate and individual levels to renewable energy,’’ he said. Earlier in his statement delivered to the “High Level Event for Nature and People: from Ambition to Action”, on behalf of the President, Salako said achieving the world’s ambitious conservation targets, like 30×30, would require that we all do more to prioritise nature finance. 30×30 is a global target to protect 30 per cent of the planet for nature by 2030. “Last year, at COP15, the world agreed to fully close the nature finance gap and set a near term target of delivering at least $20 billion in international finance to the Global South by 2025. “Last month in Addis, African countries came together and issued a declaration that underscored the importance of these nature finance targets. “Nigeria would like to urge all countries to increase their efforts on this issue and to work with us to ensure that the world follow through on these crucial finance commitments. “This is our vision for the future, and we invite everyone to act and envision solutions that will preserve nature for future generations,’’ he said. According to him, as a responsible State Party to several Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), including the Convention on Biological Diversity, Nigeria is doing its utmost to promote transformation actions. The minister said that Nigeria was doing its best to promote transformations actions that are commensurate with the scale of the biodiversity crisis. “We are exerting these efforts within our own country in addition to supporting countries in our Sub-region to increase their capacity in this regard,’’ he said. In addition, Salako said that he attended Blue Leaders High Level Meeting, where in his statement, he said Nigeria was doing its best to promote transformation actions that were commensurate with the scale of the biodiversity crisis. He told the leaders that Nigeria was exerting these efforts within the country in addition to supporting countries in our Sub-region to increase their capacity in this regard. “This is an ambitious goal, a goal shared by the Blue Leaders and by ECOWAS countries, including Nigeria. “The high sea is an essential part of the marine ecosystem which plays critical role in maintaining the health of our planet and people. “Nigeria being the country with the longest coastline in West Africa understands the adverse effect of unregulated high sea and is therefore committed to the agenda of the ‘BBNJ’ Treaty. “Prompt ratification of the newly adopted high seas treaty is an essential means to reach this goal. We must urgently ensure that the treaty is ratified and implemented,’’ he said. He announced that through Nigeria’s rallying efforts, the 55 member States of the African Union have reached a consensus to support ratification of the earliest feasible date, the new international ocean treaty for the high seas, as enshrined in Addis Ababa Declaration. The declaration was adopted at the 19th ordinary session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-19, August 2023). “Let us be bold for Oceans Conservation together and join African region to promptly ratify the new treaty,’’ he said.
Tinubu Orders Security Agencies To Rescue Abducted Gusau Varsity Students
President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action, instructing security agencies to undertake the immediate rescue operation of the abducted female students from the Federal University Gusau, who were forcibly taken by terrorists last Thursday. In a statement released by his media aide, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu strongly condemned this abhorrent act of abduction. He expressed his deep concern that there could be no moral justification for such a heinous crime committed against innocent victims whose only ‘offense’ was their pursuit of a quality education. The President has reassured the families of the abducted students that no effort will be spared in ensuring their safe return. Tinubu has made a firm commitment that the Federal Government will uphold the sanctity of educational institutions, preserving them as bastions of knowledge, growth, and opportunity, and free from the menacing threats of terrorists. The horrifying incident unfolded when bandits attacked three female students’ hostels in Sabon Gida, an area where students live outside the main campus of the university, during the midnight hours last Thursday, leading to the abduction of an unknown number of students. Although many female students were kidnapped, some managed to escape.
Come, Invest In Nigeria’s Bubbling Economy, Tinubu Tells US
President Bola Tinubu has invited the United States business community to come and invest in Nigeria’s ‘bubbling’ economy. Tinubu, who rang the closing bell at the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York on Wednesday, called on the United States business community to invest in Nigeria’s “bubbling market”. The President, who is attending the ongoing 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, was accompanied to the bell ceremony by the President of the U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Scott Eisner. The closing bell ceremony, held at the seven-storey tower of the Nasdaq headquarters in New York, signifies the end of a trading session. “I am happy to bring Nigeria to your doorsteps and honoured that we’re here today with a bubbling maket that will evolve the West African subregion,” Tinubu said. “The greatest economy is Nigeria. There is an immense opportunity in Nigeria that you can invest your money without fear. “We’ve removed a lot of the bottlenecks. We’ve cleared the subsidy that is corrupt and we’ve also retooled the exchange rate to a reliable, dependable one-figure floating of the exchange naira.”
FG Inaugurates Freight Services On Apapa-Ibadan Cargo Rail
The Federal Government has finally inaugurated the first cargo movement from the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor after initial concern over the under-utilization of the standard gauge rail line 2 years after its commissioning. The inauguration was performed by the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, during his first official tour of the rail corridor on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. The minister kicked off the tour at the Ebute Meta station before proceeding to Apapa for the launch, then travelled to Ibadan using the 157 km rail corridor. Three coaches of 30 wagons were loaded as the inaugural freight movement was kicked off. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said it would start with 3 coaches per day with its Managing Director (MD) noting that the corporation had the capacity to scale up the numbers. This effort is expected to decongest the Apapa port as shippers moved 92.28% of Nigeria’s total exports and 60.77 percent of imports through the facility in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1’22).
Tribunal ruling, a clear verdict on integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process- Akpabio
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has said that the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) delivered a clear verdict which resounds the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process. Akpabio, in a statement on Thursday lauded the court judgment which affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2023 presidential election. He said the verdict is an affirmation of the popular mandate by Nigerians for Tinubu and Shettima at the February 25 presidential election. Akpabio congratulated Tinubu and Shettima on the resounding affirmation of their mandate. Akpabio said that the five-member panel painstakingly evaluated all the issues raised by the petitioners and and gave a clear ruling. He said it was clear for dispassionate observers that despite the challenges, Nigeria’s electoral process was making a steady progress and deserves the appreciation and support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria. Akpabio urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu’s government in its drive to deliver the renewed hope agenda of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “I also congratulate our great party, the All-Progressives Congress (APC), on its vindication by this well-thought-out landmark judgement. “This judgment has expressly affirmed the popular mandate of the Nigerian people for our party the APC and its Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, freely given at the February 2023 polls. “As the court has painstakingly addressed all the issues raised by the petitioners, I urge all concerned to accept the judgment and join hands with the Tinubu government in its bold efforts to secure the wellbeing of our people,” Akpabio said.
CSOs call for debt rescheduling with China, others
Over 50 civil society Organisations have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reschedule Nigeria’s debt with China. In a communiqué signed by Action Aid Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Heinrich Boell Stiftung Nigeria, OXFAM Nigeria, Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), and 48 others, the CSOs noted that the present situation where the country was spending 80 per cent of its resources to service debt was unsustainable. Analysts have said that the country spends over 90 per cent of its revenue on debt servicing. The federal government has put Nigeria’s debt profile at N77 trillion including the Ways and Means from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The group noted that the huge debt burden has put the country in a position where it would be difficult to fulfill its commitments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and contribute to the attainment of the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. According to them, instead of making accelerated progress, the country, like many others on the continent, is regressing. They therefore urged the National Assembly to review the existing debt management strategy with a view to strengthen it. “Adhering to relevant legal and institutional fiscal frameworks is important in the context of high and rising debt levels. Although the country has a comprehensive legal framework that specifies processes and obligations of government entities to manage debt, these are not always complied with. For example, annual borrowing plans are not made available to the public and borrowing occurs without being attached to any particular projects, contributing to a lack of transparency and accountability. “National Assembly should review the existing legal and institutional frameworks relevant to debt management with the view of closing existing loopholes and strengthening transparency and enforcement. For example, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and Debt Management Office should be empowered to sanction breaches of existing laws and regulations. “Lawmakers should carry out loan approvals with proper scrutiny and approvals be subject to public hearings and input. Public disclosure of, for example, the terms and conditions of loans, and borrowing plans are critical steps to increase transparency and accountability in Nigeria. “The Nigerian government and its decision-makers should reduce its reliance on borrowings from the international capital market and commercial loans. There is a need to more strictly adhere to the provision of the law on maintaining concessional loans,” the group said. While noting that Nigeria’s high debt levels is a function of poor revenue mobilisation through taxes and other means, they urged the federal government to introduce measures that would address the country’s revenue challenge. “An enhanced Debt Sustainability Analysis that integrate climate and other sustainability risks, and climate resilience benefits, as well as estimates of a country’s financing needs for climate change adaptation, mitigation, and achieving the broader goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for the SDGs; “Access to debt restructuring for all debt-distressed, climate-vulnerable low and middle-income countries, and a speeding up of debt relief talks; “A debt restructuring framework that incorporates adequate incentives to ensure private creditors participate and bear a fair share of the burden; “A departure from regressive conditions attached to debt restructuring frameworks (i.e. cutbacks on social spending), giving room to countries to develop their own plans to advance development and climate resilience (guided by SDG commitments and NDCs); “The inclusion of disaster clauses in lending deals with public and private creditors to allow countries to divert debt payments to disaster relief; “The possible establishment of a new Global Debt Authority, designed to operate in an inclusive manner, independent of creditors or debtors, and the development of an international legal framework for sovereign insolvency,” the communiqué read.