News

Just in: ICPC Reportedly Nabs Ex-President Buhari Minister, Ngige

Published

6 months ago

September 5, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for questioning in connection with the ongoing probe at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), an agency he supervised as minister during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

A reliable source, who confirmed Ngige’s invitation on Wednesday night, said the former Anambra State governor honoured the invitation without the usual excuses usually tendered by some past high-profile personalities.

I think he was invited in respect of an ongoing investigation at NSITF when he was minister of Labour. He is still coming back to conclude his interview,” disclosed our source.

Details about his invitation were still sketchy last night. What was factually established by NewsOnline Nigeria was the former Minister’s invitation and the first leg of the interview session with the ICPC’s team of interrogators.

It would be recalled that in 2020, the former Minister accused the suspended management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) of misappropriating N48 billion.

Ngige made the allegation while appearing in an investigative hearing at the House of Representatives over the alleged illegal suspension of the management of the agency. The minister claimed that the management withdrew the amount through fake contracts, the proceeds of which were diverted into private pockets.

During the appearance, he pointed out that there were also irregular payments of salaries and allowances of N10 million, which were not in line with the condition of service of the organization or any reference to the Office of the Minister.

Amongst other claims, he said the suspended management while on leave, travelled outside the country through first class with their spouses, and paid themselves N9.8 million each without the approval of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Going further, Ngige accused them of engaging the services of legal practitioners at the sum of N180 million without the approval of the Attorney-General of the Federation. He added that they spent N146 million on vehicles, and on May 31, 2020, awarded 30 contracts worth N332 billion, which were split into smaller components of N49 million.

He disclosed that the contract splitting was to enable the transactions to fall within the threshold allowed by law for the NSITF management to award contracts.

Ngige stated that the suspended NSITF management spent N570 million on health insurance outside the National Health Insurance Scheme.

He added that since 2012, the NSITF had not submitted records of its audited accounts to the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, in line with the extant laws.

It was noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had since dragged the NSITF management to court on corruption charges.

News

Just in: Tinubu meets with PANDEF leaders at Aso Rock

Published

3 hours ago

March 11, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

The meeting, which began at 4:15pm with the arrival of President Tinubu is expected to discuss varying issues considered to be critical to the interest of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Convened by the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who passed away in February, PANDEF is the mouthpiece of the traditional rulers, leaders and stakeholders of the coastal states of the Niger Delta.

Just as the meeting commenced after the National Anthem had been sung, President Tinubu requested that a minute of silence be observed in memory of Chief Clark.

PANDEF, which is attending the meeting with a large entourage, has former governors, senior politicians, traditional rulers, and other categories of stakeholders in attendance.

Among those at the meeting on PANDEF’s entourage are King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Chairman, Board of Trustees of PANDEF; Obong Victor Attah, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees of PANDEF; Ambassador Godknows Igali, National Chairman of PANDEF; Senator Seriake Dickson; Professor Mike Ozakhome; former Cross River State governor, Mr Liyel Imoke; former Rivers Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru; former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe.

Others are Jaja of Opobo, Professor Dandeson Jaja; Senator Ita Enang; Senator Bassey Henshaw; Mrs Ibim Semenitari, former acting Managing Director of the NDDC; Uche Secondus; Senator Andrew Uchendu; National Coordinator of Host Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM, Okareme Maikpobi; Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs; spokesman of PANDEF, Chief Obiwevbi Ominimini.

Also attending are the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy,Bayo Onanuga; Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare; and other aides of the President.

Details shortly…

News

BREAKING: Heavy traffic as tanker explodes on Otedola Bridge

Published

3 hours ago

March 11, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A tanker exploded on Tuesday evening on Otedola Bridge along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, causing heavy traffic and panic on the route.

It was gathered that the incident has resulted in traffic congestion on both lanes of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

The explosion, according to eyewitnesses, occurred around 8 p.m which ignited a fire spreading rapidly.

Reacting, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that LASEMA’s Tiger Response Team is on the scene working to bring the situation under control.

Details shortly….

News

Bill To Establish Federal College of Entrepreneurship Ntigha Pass Second Reading

Published

5 hours ago

March 11, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish a Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State.

The bill is titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State, to Provide Full-time Courses, Teaching Instruction and Training in Technology, Applied Science, Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities and Management; and for Related Matters” (HB.1165).

Leading the debate, sponsor of the bill Rep. Ginger Onwusibe, stressed the urgenct need to equipping Nigerian youths with practical skills to address the nation’s rising unemployment crisis.

According to Onwusibe, this is part of efforts to tackle youth unemployment and promote economic self-reliance.

He noted that the traditional focus on white-collar jobs had left many graduates struggling to find employment, making vocational and entrepreneurial education a necessary alternative.

“Nigeria faces a rising youth unemployment crisis, exacerbated by an overdependence on white-collar jobs. To address this, we must begin to prioritize entrepreneurial education and vocational training to equip our youth with practical skills required for self-reliance and job creation,” Onwusibe stated.

He explained that, Ntigha strategically located, with its proximity to key commercial centers in the Southeast, making it an ideal site for such an institution.

The proposed college will offer specialized training in critical areas such as agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and digital innovation—aligning with the federal government’s broader economic diversification strategy.

Rep. Onwusibe argued that similar institutions in other countries had significantly contributed to economic transformation, and Nigeria must follow suit to enhance productivity, reduce poverty, and strengthen local industries.

“This initiative will not only empower young people but also boost local industries, reduce poverty, and enhance national productivity.

“We cannot afford to be left behind in the global drive for entrepreneurship and skills acquisition,” he said.

Members of the House are expected to further deliberate on the bill’s provisions before a final decision is made.

The establishment of the college would mark a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape and reducing the country’s high unemployment rate.