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The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has endorsed the removal of the Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area, Hon. Alice Allen Tangi, and his Vice Chairman, Hon. Sufade Jefferson Tobi, over alleged gross misconduct.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Abraham Ingobere, announced the decision during plenary, saying it was in compliance with Section 22, subsections 6 and 7 of the Bayelsa State Administration Law 2000.

The removal followed a petition against the council chairman over alleged failure to present monthly transparency briefings, failure to present the annual budget before spending and failure to appear before the House.

Ingobere said the Assembly’s resolution would be communicated to the executive arm of government for necessary action.

He disclosed that 17 of the 20 lawmakers present voted in favour of the removal.

Here’s a tightened rewrite, with the honorific dropped per house style and structure cleaned up:

The House of Assembly had summoned Allen Tangi to appear before it on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, despite a subsisting Bayelsa State High Court order directing parties in a related suit to maintain the status quo.

The move had heightened tensions over the Assembly’s actions against Allen, who was facing allegations bordering on mismanagement of council funds and failure to submit the council’s annual budget.

Justice D.E. Adokeme, sitting as a vacation judge at the Yenagoa Judicial Division of the Bayelsa State High Court, granted an ex parte application filed by Allen Tangi on August 10, 2026, ordering all parties to “maintain the status quo” pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Allen filed the suit against the Bayelsa State Government, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Sagbama Legislative Council, the Leader of the Council, and the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, among others.

Court filings show the matter has been fixed for an expedited hearing on August 20, 2026. The State Assembly, however, scheduled Allen Tangi’s appearance for August 18, two days ahead of the court hearing.

Assembly Approves University Staff Allowances

In another development, the Assembly approved funding for the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTA) for staff of the state’s universities.

The approval followed a request by Governor Douye Diri.

Speaking in support of the request, the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Monday Obolo, said the measure was necessary because of the challenges facing state-owned universities.

He said the allowances would improve the welfare and productivity of academic and non-academic staff.

According to Obolo, the allowances were negotiated at the federal level and would enable Bayelsa to align with other states that had introduced similar provisions.

He said the initiative would also strengthen the state’s academic system.

Obolo said, “Due to the enormous challenges faced in state-owned universities, the approval is necessary in order to enhance the productivity of lecturers and non-lecturers.”

He added that the provision would help Bayelsa State “be at par with other states” and make it one of the first states to introduce the allowances.

The lawmaker disclosed that the projected monthly increase across the state’s three universities would be N564,842,691.58.

He said the amount would be incorporated into the state’s salary structure, with payment expected to commence next month.

Contributing to the debate, the member representing Ekeremor Constituency II, Hon. Living Mitin, and his Kolokuma/Opokuma counterpart, Hon. Wisdom Fafin, backed the approval.

Mitin and Fafin said the CATA would improve the welfare of university staff and help prevent disruptions to the state’s education system.

The lawmakers also approved a new chart of accounts incorporating newly created ministries, departments and agencies in the state.

The measure, according to the Assembly, is in compliance with international best practices and is intended to facilitate transparent tracking of government revenue and expenditure.

The new chart of accounts is also expected to improve budgetary planning and support the implementation of the Prosperity Administration’s ASSURED agenda.

The Assembly also approved the 2027–2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF-FSP).

The approval is expected to pave the way for the preparation of the state’s 2027 annual budget.

Explaining the importance of the document, Obolo described the MTEF-FSP as a precursor to the annual budget, saying it would enable the government to assess key economic indicators.

He said the framework would help the government plan around variables such as crude oil prices, exchange rates and inflation.

Obolo stressed that the economic parameters contained in the document were achievable.

The Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Bernard Kenebai, commended Governor Diri for consistently submitting the document within the required timeframe.

Kenebai said the figures contained in the framework were realistic and would provide a sound basis for the state’s 2027 budget.

Assembly Takes First Reading Of Education Bills

Meanwhile, the Assembly took the first readings of the Universal Basic Education Board Amendment Bill 2026 and the Senior Secondary Education Board Bill 2026.

The bills are expected to undergo further legislative consideration before possible passage.

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed commitment to transforming Abuja’s infrastructure, with major road projects targeted for completion by December 2026 and early January 2027.

Wike gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday, after inspecting the ongoing construction of the Inner Southern Expressway (Goodluck Jonathan Way), a road project that was awarded in 2014 and the service carriageways of the Southern Parkway in Gaduwa District.

The minister expressed confidence that the projects would reshape the urban layout and enhance seamlessly interconnected mobility across the territory.

According to him, the completion of the long-standing projects will dramatically alter the aesthetic and functional design of the city center.

“I am quite confident by December ending, God willing, these two projects will have been delivered to us, and you can imagine what the landscape will be,” Wike stated.

He emphasised the visual and structural impact the completed interchanges and carriageways will have on the capital.

“Beyond physical infrastructure, the minister noted the positive socio-economic ripple effects on local communities, pointing out that local youth have been actively engaged in the construction efforts, fostering a peaceful environment free from community conflicts.

“With the target deadline set for the end of December, the completion of these critical corridors is expected to decongest major traffic arteries, improve citywide connectivity, and usher in a modern urban era for the FCT,” he said.

He praised the project’s main contractor, China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC), for maintaining continuous day-and-night operations on both the Southern Parkway and ISEX, a crucial artery originally awarded in 2014 that had experienced years of delays.

Wike highlighted the financial support from the federal government as a catalyst for the accelerated pace of work.

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving the complete release of funds for the ISEX Phase 1, an intervention that covers the construction of two major interchanges and over five kilometers of road infrastructure.

Commending CGC for demonstrating faith in the current administration by progressing significantly despite delayed initial mobilisation, the minister urged other contractors in the FCT to adopt a similar approach focused on development over immediate financial gain.

“Everything is not about profit; sometimes it is about your contribution to the development of the area. Money will come at the end of the day,” Wike noted.

He reassured contractors that the administration remains committed to honoring its financial obligations and cautioned firms against external pressures from competitors seeking to slow down the pace of construction.

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A young Iranian medical student, Sepehr Amirzadeh, has reportedly been sentenced to death in Iran after allegedly treating wounded protesters during the January uprising, sparking urgent calls for his release and for doctors around the world to intervene.

The January 2026 uprising in Iran was a massive wave of anti-government protests sparked by severe economic collapse, currency devaluation, and deep political frustration.

Triggered in late December 2025, the demonstrations escalated into widespread unrest before facing a brutal, lethal crackdown by state security forces beginning January 8, 2026.

The development was shared by Iranian journalist, Masih Alinejad, who described Amirzadeh as a medical student who “reportedly faces execution in Iran” and urged medical professionals to help save his life.

According to the appeal, Amirzadeh’s alleged offence was treating wounded protesters during the unrest. Alinejad said the young medical student “tried to save lives” at a time when people were suffering injuries.

His ‘crime’? He treated wounded protesters during January uprising. He tried to save lives,” the appeal stated.

Alinejad said Amirzadeh did not discriminate against those he treated based on their political views, but instead acted according to the fundamental principles of medicine.

They were seeking compensation for damage sustained during the five-month military conflict between Iran and the United States.

He said the issue had not been raised during earlier negotiations but argued that Tehran’s position provided an opportunity for Washington to make its own demands.

“I see that Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are asking for compensation for the damage done to them during the last five-month military conflict (started because they will not have a nuclear weapon), even though it was never mentioned in any If our negotiations or meetings!” Trump wrote.

“But it is an interesting idea because now I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts, for which they are famous, as led initially by General Soleimani.”