News
Tinubu govt spent N473m on First Lady’s trips to UK, Mozambique, Ethiopia
The Nigerian government spent the sum of N473 million to sponsor the trips of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to three countries; United Kingdom, Mozambique and Ethiopia, data from public payments portal Govspend.ng has shown.
Another sum of N144.571 million was spent to sponsor her trip to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
The trip was made on February 9, 2024. The dollar equivalent of the amount was $96,118.
Another sum of N202.386 million was spent to sponsor the First Lady’s trip to Mozambique in March 2024.
The dollar equivalent of the money stood at $126,834.00.
All of these expenditures were recorded on the same day, March 15, 2024 on the Govspend website.
The expenditures come amid concerns on the need to ensure proper management of the country’s scarce resources.
The Nigerian government has continually lamented inadequate revenue.
The organised labour recently demanded an increase in the minimum wage, a development that has continued to trigger disagreements, with the government saying it is unable to pay due to paucity of funds.
SaharaReporters recently raised flags on the inability of the country to release budget performance reports under the Tinubu-led administration, a violation of the law and one that denies citizens access to information on what the government is spending money on and how it is spent on a quarterly basis.
The government also plans to borrow N6.6 trillion to manage budget shortfalls, yet prudence in budget management remains a keen concern.
News
BREAKING: Human Rights Lawyer Dele Farotimi Released
By Gloria Ikibah
Prominent human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been released after fulfilling his bail conditions.
Farotimi, who had been in custody over allegations of defaming Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, regained his freedom on Tuesday morning.
He is currently enroute to his home in Lagos.
Confirming the development, activist and politician Omoyele Sowore stated on X, “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held in the prison facilities of Ekiti State and is now returning home to Lagos. The struggle continues!”
Earlier, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti granted Farotimi bail, setting conditions that included a N30 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must be a property owner), the submission of his passport, and a restriction on granting media interviews following his release.
News
NASC backpedals reverses Atiku’s appointment as DCNA, replaces him with Yero
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Following the intervention by the National Assembly leadership, the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, has reversed the appointment of Dr Ibrahim Atiku as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, DCNA.
The Commission has replaced Atiku with the permanent secretary [Estate and Works Directorate], Engineer Bashir Yero.
This was consequent upon the outcome of a meeting convened Monday night by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and their deputies in attendance.
Present also at the meeting were the Chairman of the NASC, Engineer Ahmed Amshi, two commissioners from NASC, and some permanent secretaries in the NASS bureaucracy.
THE CONCLAVE learnt that the high-level meeting took place in the Senate President’s residence.
Reports from the meeting said that the chairman of the NASC and his commissioners could not justify the appointment of Atiku when asked by the speaker how the choice of Atiku was arrived at.
THE CONCLAVE reports that it was at that point that the commission chairman sought the leave of the Senate President and the Speaker to ask that the permanent secretaries present should excuse them since they could not be sitting over a matter in which they had personal interest.
Upon their return to the room, after the leadership had arrived at a resolution one way or another, it was agreed that Engr. Bashir Yero of Estate and Works Directorate be appointed the DCNA, while Engr Sanda Liman of Procurement Directorate, be redeployed in Estate and Works.
The newly promoted Ibrahim Atiku [to the position of permanent secretary], as resolved and directed, should be deployed in Procurement Directorate.
The NASC is expected to formalise and/or activate the decision soonest.
Source: CONCLAVE
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