Tinubu announces new appointments

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Chukwuemeka Woke as the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA. Similarly, Mr Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr Adedeji Ashiru, as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA. Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Mr Ngelale said that Woke is an engineer, environmental specialist and a politician. He said that the appointee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, and had served under the Environmental, Safety, and Operations Departments of the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The Presidential spokesman said Woke was Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State and Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, for many years. Mr Ngelale said that Ashiru holds a Doctorate degree in Engineering from the Common Wealth University, UK, and has led a consortium of blue-chip companies, in addition to earning many stripes in his professional endeavour. “The President expects the new Chief Executive Officers to deploy their competencies to these critical agencies for sustainable gains and turnaround, while maintaining utmost transparency in their operations.”

Abba Kyari Granted Bail After 27 Months In Prison 

Abba Kyari has been granted bail following 27 months of being held in detention. An Abuja Federal High Court has approved a two-week bail for DCP Abba Kyari, the former commander of the Force Intelligence Response Team, following his 27-month detention. Kyari is anticipated to complete the funeral ceremonies for his late mother, Yachilla Kyari. The court has scheduled Friday, May 31st, as the date to decide on his bail application in the ongoing trial involving drug-related charges brought forth by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. This legal matter stems from his arrest over two years ago on February 14, 2022. The mother passed away on the morning of Sunday, May 5, 2024. She is survived by 10 children, consisting of five boys and five girls. Among them is Abba, who is the eldest son.

FG bans money ritual, five other vices in Nollywood movies

Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), announced that the Federal Government has approved a ban on depicting money rituals and the glamorization of vices in Nollywood movies. This announcement was made at a National Stakeholder Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood, held in Enugu on Wednesday. The NFVCB organised the event in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).   The engagement brought together movie producers, directors, actors, and leaders of various guilds and associations from across the Nigerian film industry. Husseini emphasised the urgent need for bold and ambitious actions from parents, guardians, and stakeholders to address the industry’s current challenges. “When my predecessor discussed with the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the need for legislation to reduce smoking in Nigerian movies, it became clear that money rituals should also be addressed,” Husseini stated. “This regulation now includes ritual killings and the glamorization of other crimes to further sanitize the film industry.” He announced that the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has approved the regulation under section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004. The new regulation, titled “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorisation Display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits” Regulations 2024, has been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Justice for gazetting. Husseini highlighted that the sensitization program aims to educate stakeholders about the dangers of depicting smoking in Nigerian movies. Besides health risks, he noted that glamorizing smoking negatively influences teens and young adults, who are the primary audience of Nigerian films. The NFVCB plans to undertake extensive enlightenment programs in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups, and other institutions. “The film industry plays a vital role in the entertainment and creative sector, and it is crucial that we prioritize its progress,” Husseini said. “

ASUU knocks FG over appointment of new governing council boards

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Bauchi zone, on Tuesday, decried the appointment of governing boards across Federal Tertiary Institutions, saying that the Bola Tinubu-led administration should instead reinstate the earlier dissolved members. The zone, comprising executives from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State University Gadau, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State University, Plateau State University, and the University of Jos, made these disclosures after its meeting in Gombe State. Speaking, Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Namo Aku, noted that the union didn’t demand fresh appointments for boards, adding that the Tinubu should reinstate the previously sacked members. Aku disclosed that the vacuum caused by the sack of governing council boards, made Vice Chancellors act as emperors and empresses. He said, “NEC-in-session expressed utter dismay over the continued erosion of autonomy of public universities, which is a clear violation of the Universities Miscellaneous ACT 1993 (as amended in 2012). The illegal dissolution of the Governing Councils by the President Tinubu-led Government, as well as some state governments, is tantamount to a coup against the public University System. “This unwholesome act has emboldened some Vice-chancellors to govern universities as emperors/emperesses with the introduction of obnoxious policies that are antithetical to the university culture. Some university administrators now place adverts for the appointment of vice-chancellors without authorisation from the Governing Councils. “Some vice-chancellors, in collaboration with Federal and State Ministries of Education, engage in illegal recruitment and discipline of staff as well as the management of university finances without regard for transparency and accountability. “ASUU condemns these acts of corruption and calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as affected State Governments to respect the laws establishing the universities, by re-instating Governing Councils whose terms have not lapsed and to re-constitute those whose terms have lapsed.” While urging for reconsideration of Nimi Briggs’ committee report following present economic realities, Aku added, “In 2009, the Federal and State Governments signed a comprehensive agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The Agreement provided for a new salary package for academic staff and improved working conditions and funding of universities.” Aku added, “The Agreement also reaffirmed the autonomy of the universities as contained in the previous agreements. It was agreed that the agreement would be reviewed every three years. Since 2012, the Union has prevailed on Federal and State Governments to return to the negotiation table to no avail. “After a series of agitations and strike actions, the re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreement began in 2017, first with Dr. Wale Babalakin as Chairman of the Re-negotiation Committee and later Emeritus Prof. Munzali Jibril and the late Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs. A draft Agreement was reached with the late Prof. Briggs-led Committee in 2021. Alas, agents of the Buhari-led Government refused to sign the draft Agreement for implementation.” Also, Immediate Past Coordinator, Lawan Abubakar said reconstitution of boards wasn’t the demand of the union, saying, “Government should do the needful because the union will meet at the end of timeframe given at the National Executive Council meeting. It’s for the government to do what is needed. The constitution of the governing council that the government has just done was not initially part of our request. We asked for reinstatement because it was unlawful for the government to dissolve the universities governing councils.” Also speaking, Comrade Alphonsus Alubo, SAN, called for the restoration of council boards, saying, “Nigerians appear to welcome the constitution of councils but for us we ask for reinstatement of the councils, the restoration of cou

May 29: Tinubu orders low-key celebration of first anniversary

The Nigerian government is going to hold a “low-key” official ceremony to mark the one year in office of President Bola Tinubu, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. Mr Idris stated this on Wednesday at the ministerial press briefing series held at the Radio House in Abuja. It is not clear if the government intends to hold the ceremony on 12 June, the day officially recognised as Democracy Day. Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration was being held on May 29 before President Buhari changed it to 12 June in commemoration of the 12 June 1993, presidential election annulled by the military government. Election data showed Moshood Abiola won the polls but he was never formally declared winner and was not sworn into office by the military government of Ibrahim Babangida.

Iran fixes date for Presidential Poll

As Iranians continue to mourn the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash over the weekend, the Islamic State will now hold a presidential election on June 28. This is coming as the United States gave a positive nod to the demise of President Ebrahim Raisi, claiming that Iranians are “probably better off” without him. Meanwhile, the decision according to local media to hold the election for his replacement was published after a meeting between the heads of the republic’s judicial, executive, and legislative authorities. Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has taken on the role of Acting President of Iran following Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s approval on Monday. It is unclear whether Mokhber himself will run. Candidate registration will take place from May 30 to June 3, followed by electoral campaigns scheduled to run from June 12 to 27.  Individuals, according to the report, will be vetted by the Guardian Council, a 12-member body of clerics and jurists that administers elections.  The president of Iran is usually elected every four years by a “direct vote of the people,” indicating that an election was due in or before June 2025. The announcement comes two days after the fatal helicopter crash, which killed the Iranian president. Raisi and several other senior officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were killed when the helicopter they were travelling in went down in the mountainous East Azerbaijan province in northwest Iran. After more than ten hours of searching – hampered by fog and rain – the president and his entourage were found and confirmed dead. The head of state was returning from the inauguration ceremony of a dam on the Iran-Azerbaijan border, having pledged to visit each of Iran’s 30 provinces at least once a year. Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said that condolences offered over Raisi’s death were merely a formality, adding that Iranians are “probably better off” without President Ebrahim Raisi. The State Department had expressed its “official condolences” in a brief statement on Monday, while reaffirming Washington’s “support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Blinken was grilled about the statement during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday, when Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) claimed it was “shocking” that the administration would mourn a “sworn enemy of the free world.” “We expressed official condolences as we’ve done when countries – adversaries, enemies or not – have lost leaders,” Blinken explained. “It changes nothing about the fact that Mr. Raisi was engaged in reprehensible conduct, including repressing his own people for many years.” Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) pressed Blinken further, asking whether the top US diplomat believed “the world is better today now that Raisi is dead.” “Given the horrible acts that he engaged in, both as a judge and as president, to the extent that he can no longer engage in them, yes, the Iranian people are probably better off,” Blinken replied.

Tax Evasion: Absence of Binance official, Gambaryan, stalls arraignment

For the third time, the arraignment of Binance Holding Limited and it’s official, Tigran Gambaryan, on tax evasion charges brought against them by the federal government failed to hold due to the absence of the defendants at the federal high court Abuja. The company, alongside its officials, Tigran Gambaryan (2nd defendant)and Nadeem Anjarwalla (3rd defendant)who fled the country on March 22, 2024, were dragged to court for tax evasion by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). FIRS, had in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, preferred on them a 4-count charges of failing to register with the FIRS for the purpose of paying all relevant taxes administered by the service. The FIRS also alleged that while it was offering taxable services to subscribers on its trading platform, the company failed to issue invoices to the subscribers for the purposes of determining and payment of its Value Added Taxes. In the last adjourned date, Counsel for the FIRS, Moses Ideh, served the second defendant, Gambaryan with the charges, with the leave of the court, as the case was adjourned for his arraignment. However, in Thursdays proceedings, Gambaryan failed to appear in court The Counsel for the second defendant Chukwuka Ikwuazo (SAN), said he was not in court because the correctional service was yet to bring him. He asked for a stand down to find out what might have happened. Moses Ideh, representing the FIRS, expressed displeasure over the failure of the defendant to show up and opposed a stand down on the matter. He accused the defense counsel of knowing his client was not going to be present in court and not doing enough to make him available. Ikwuazo (SAN), who denied the claims, said the defendant is in the custody of the Correctional service and they are to blame for not providing him. He then asked for an adjournment and promised to ensure that the defendant is present in court on the next adjourned date. The motion for adjournment was not opposed by Ideh or T.J. Krukrubo (SAN), who represented the first defendant. Justice Emeka Nwite therefore adjourned the matter till July 14, for arraignment. It would be recalled that two executives of the company were arrested and detained after they flew into the country as a result of a ban on their website, by the Nigerian government, over allegations of handling illicit flow of cash through their platform. A Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently ordered Binance to provide the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with comprehensive information on all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform. This led to a spat between Binance and the Nigerian authorities who detained two of Binance’s executives upon arrival into the country. Nadeem Anjarwalla, one of the detained Binance executives escaped to Kenya according to Interpol and was tried in absentia. Documents for his Extradition to Nigeria have been prepared by the Interpol. The Crypto exchange company now faces two separate cases, with that of the EFCC, billed to continue tomorrow.

Again, Labour rejects FG’s minimum wage proposal 

Organised Labour has on Tuesday rejected the N54,000 proposed by the Federal government as new minimum wage. FG had in a meeting with Labour proposed N54,000 as against its earlier N48,000 offer. One of the leaders of the Organised Labour who attended the meeting revealed this to Vanguard in a telephone conversation. Recall that Organised Labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, walked out on the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage following the proposed N48,000 as minimum wage by the Federal Government. Last week Organised Labour told FG to perish any thought of offering N100,000 as the new minimum wage. It also asked the government to be serious with negotiations on the issue of workers’ wages, insisting that it used the lowest minimum in arriving at N615,000 as the new minimum

FG Proposes New Minimum Wage

The Federal Government has reportedly proposed N54,000 as a new minimum wage. This follows a walkout by the Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress during the last meeting with the Tripartite Committee over the proposed N48,000 as minimum wage. However, a source from the ongoing meeting with the FG in Abuja told Punch that the government has agreed to increase the minimum wage to N54,000. The source said, “The Federal Government has now proposed the sum of N54,000.” However, it is uncertain whether Labour would accept this offer, as the new proposal is far from the N615,000 proposed by the organized Labour.

BREAKING: CBN raises interest rate

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has increased the benchmark interest rate to 26.25 per cent. This was disclosed by the Governor of the CBN who doubles as the Chairman of the MPC at the end of the 295th MPC meeting held in Abuja. At the March MPC meeting, the benchmark rate had been increased by 200 basis points from 22.75 per cent to 24.75 per cent. The MPC has maintained a hawkish stance since it resumed meetings this year in a bid to tackle Nigeria’s persistent inflation. As of April, Nigeria’s inflation rate had risen to 33.69 per cent. A number of analysts have projected a rate hike while some suggested that the apex bank may consider a hold stance as the growth rate of inflation moderated month-on-month.