Presidency reacts to Senate’s confirmation of Service Chiefs

In a gesture akin to parting each other’s back, the Presidency has commended the senate for smooth confirmation of the President Tinubu’s Service Chief nominees. Few hours after confirmation of appointments of new Service Chiefs by the Senate on Wednesday , the presidency reacted to it with elation . Specifically the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Senate Matters , Senator Basheer Lado in a personally signed statement, expressed his happiness on the smooth screening and confirmation of appointments of the Service Chiefs by the Senate . Senator Lado in the statement said : “As the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, I facilitated this crucial interface to ensure a smooth and coordinated engagement between the Executive and the Legislature, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to effective governance and national security. “The appointment of Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major Gen. Waidi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), AVM Sunday K. Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represents a strategic step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and fostering synergy among the Armed Forces for the protection of our nation’s sovereignty and citizens. “I extend my profound appreciation to the President of the Senate, the Senate Leadership, and Distinguished Senators for the prompt and thorough consideration that led to the confirmation of the new Service Chiefs. “Their commitment underscores the strong collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature in advancing the national interest and ensuring the security and stability of our dear nation”

Behold Nigeria’s New Service Chiefs, Senate Commends Choices

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of new service chiefs nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The senate arrived at the decision to confirm the president’s nominations following a thorough screening session conducted by the Committee of the Whole. Those confirmed comprise of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Major General W. Shuaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff. During the plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the confirmations after each nominee received unanimous approval from lawmakers through a voice vote. READ ALSO: Senate Screens New Service Chiefs as Air Chief Aneke Affirms Super Tucano Jets are Fully Operational In his remarks, Akpabio congratulated the newly confirmed service chiefs and commended President Tinubu for what he described as a “careful and strategic selection” of officers with proven experience from various theatres of operation across the country. “We believe this will renew the hope of Nigerians regarding efforts to restore security across the nation. Security is everybody’s business, and we have found these nominees fit and capable to deliver,” Akpabio stated. He also acknowledged the Senate’s commitment to national security, noting that the chamber suspended all other agenda items to prioritize the screening and confirmation process. The new service chiefs replace their predecessors who were relieved of their duties by President Tinubu earlier in October following reported concerns about internal discontent within the armed forces. The Senate President prayed for divine guidance for the newly appointed military leaders as they assume responsibility for safeguarding lives and property across the country.

Senate commends Tinubu, Akpabio, NFIU, Others Over Nigeria’s Removal from FATF Grey List

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a motion commending President Bola Tinubu for their roles in securing Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List. The motion was sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Udende (Benue North East) and brought under Matters of Urgent Public Importance pursuant to Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended). Senator Udende’s motion was titled, “Need to Commend the Executive, the President of the Senate, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and Other Stakeholders for Their Efforts in the Removal of Nigeria’s Name from the FATF Grey List,” Others mentioned for commendation in the motion were the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and key financial and anti-corruption agencies Presenting the motion, Senator Udende noted that Nigeria’s delisting by FATF was a major milestone reflecting the country’s success in addressing strategic deficiencies in its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework. He said the development demonstrates Nigeria’s renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and global financial integrity standards. Udende recalled that Nigeria’s previous inclusion on the Grey List had exposed the nation to increased international monitoring, reputational risks, and reduced investor confidence. He attributed the recent delisting to “extensive reforms and coordinated policy actions” implemented by the Executive, National Assembly, and regulatory agencies. The Senate, in its resolution, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the NFIU and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Others are the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and other stakeholders for their “tireless efforts” in strengthening Nigeria’s financial governance systems. Lawmakers expressed delight that the delisting has already boosted investor confidence and enhanced Nigeria’s credibility in the global financial community. They noted that Nigerian financial institutions would now enjoy smoother cross-border operations, improved remittance inflows, and reduced compliance costs. The Senate further observed that the development would have long-term economic benefits, including increased foreign direct investment, stronger regulatory stability, job creation, and enhanced trade competitiveness. In its resolutions, the upper chamber urged all relevant financial and law enforcement agencies to sustain the momentum by maintaining full compliance with international standards and preventing a relapse into the FATF Grey List. The Senate also mandated its Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes to intensify legislative oversight and policy reviews to further strengthen Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework.

Senator Natasha, the girl-child and kitchen sink throwers

By: UGO ONUOHA IN our country, Nigeria, they are the alpha males. I mean the male class of the ruling elite. In truth, there’s virtually no female class of the ruling elite since the advent of this country in 1914 when the northern and southern protectorates were amalgamated by the British overlords. There’s this legend that it was a woman who, today in Nigeria, will be regarded as the ultimate ‘side chick’ or a consort to the then ruler of our country that named Nigeria, Nigeria. The woman, Flora Shaw, was a British journalist, and later wife of Lord Frederick Lugard, a British colonial administrator. The story was that in 1897,Flora Shaw coined the name “Nigeria” to refer to the region surrounding the River Niger, a river that was discovered by Mungo Park irrespective of the fact that people had lived on the banks of the same river for centuries before the coming of that meddlesome foreign, no good, interloper. Ironically, if Flora Shaw were to be alive today, she would have been in the forefront of the agitation for the respect of the rights of the embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. She was a noted strong advocate for women’s rights. There are still some female folks who speak out in the promotion and defence of women’s rights. But their voices are muffled and often drowned out by the cacophony of noises from the alpha males who are the custodians of “ji na nma” or the wielders of the stick and the carrot in the Nigerian realm. Women of stature in the mold of Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, Queen Amina, Gambo Sawaba, and the leaders of the protesting Aba Women in 1929 have become extinct. The 1929 Aba Women’s Riot was led by Madame Nwanyeruwa. A fearsome and extremely courageous woman who inspired others to organise a massive revolt against British colonial administrators in the southeastern part of this country. The riot which was also known as the Women’s War was a response to the introduction of direct taxation on women and the oppressive policies of the British colonial government. Significantly, the Aba Women’s War inspired other events in other parts of Igboland, and Nigeria throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Indeed, historians recorded that the riot was a significant event in the rise of African nationalism and a challenge to British colonial rule in some African countries including Nigeria. Natasha would have rest assured if we still have the Nwanyeruwas, Funmilayos, Margarets, Gambos and Aminas. In a sense Natasha is an orphan. The tragedy is that what is currently happening to senator Natasha in the cult called the senate of Nigeria, the supine and staggeringly corrupt and incompetent ‘Independent’ National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Executive branch of government in Abuja and Lokoja (Kogi state), and among some vested political actors have implications far beyond whatever fate would befall Natasha. If the mafia in politics and the various branches of our government succeed in silencing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, then the fate of women and our female children would be impaired permanently. Women will be stigmatized. Their participation in politics and governance will be adversely impacted. That adolescent girl in the university will be compelled to sign on to the Code of Silence in the face of sexual harassment by her lecturer or supervisor. The woman who desires to make a career in corporations or Nollywood will lose the courage to name and shame male sex predators. Ultimately, this country loses. The concerted efforts to squelch what appears to be Nigeria’s ‘Me Too’ season with the allegations of sexual harassment against the senate president, Godswill Akpabio by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have dire ramifications for this country. That we appear not to care is shocking, to say the least. It’s instructive and curious that Natasha’s senatorial zone that could only muster about 100,000 votes between the two leading contenders in 2023 after about one year of campaign, was able to manufacture 250,000 votes in a matter of hours to trigger Natasha’s planned recall. Curiouser still is the fact that the face of the recall campaign was that of an aide to the governor of Kogi state who is a noted political enemy of Natasha. In the last one month all manner of kitchen sinks are being thrown at Natasha simply because she complained about a toxic work environment. She claimed that she was suffering privations in her workplace, which is the senate of the federal republic, because she refused the alleged repeated sexual advances of the senate president, Akpabio, who is also the chairman of the national assembly. In the event of the unexpected, Senator Akpabio is the third in line to the presidency. So the office he occupies is significant. Ordinarily, the Natasha matter should be simple and straightforward. The burden is on the person who accused another of wrongdoing to prove her weighty allegations. The easiest way to resolve the matter would have been to provide the platform to put the accuser on the spot and then discredit her claims, and dismiss the evidence that she claimed were in her possession. But no. First, her petition was initially rejected because she signed it contrary to senate’s rule. Eventually, she succeeded in submitting the amended version but by that time some senators had said publicly that her petition was dead on arrival. How can a supposedly lawmaking body be so lawless, tactless, reckless, and brazen? Earlier, the chairman of the senate committee on public petitions, Neda Imaseun, was all over television stations speaking on the petition and suggesting that Natasha’s allegations lacked merit. Even as rotten as our country is, it is still difficult to find something so absurd to compare with the conduct of Senator Imaseun. Well, his behaviour should not be entirely surprising. After all, there’s information in the public domain that the man is a fugitive from the law in the United States of America (USA) where he had been disbarred from practicing law in the

Senate President’s Office Debunks Viral Video 

The office of Senate President Godswill Akpabio has responded to a viral video that misrepresents his comments about food and economic challenges.  According to Akpabio’s media aide, Jackson Udom, the video in question is a manipulated version of a lighthearted conversation among Senate members shortly after Akpabio’s inauguration in June 2023.  Udom clarified that the clip was part of a private discussion where Akpabio jokingly suggested his colleagues take advantage of a dinner organized for them, given the current economic climate.  He criticized the dissemination of this doctored footage as a harmful attempt to tarnish Akpabio’s reputation and cause embarrassment to him and his constituents. Udom called for a balanced portrayal, urging media outlets to publish corrections alongside the misleading video to address the negative implications it has had on public perception.  He stressed the importance of context in such communications, asserting that the original remarks were never intended for public scrutiny. ReplyForwardAdd reaction