News
End of road for transgender individuals as US Army stops accepting applicants
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
End of road for transgender individuals as the United States Army says it will no longer allow transgender individuals to join the military.
egged it at 15,000 out of a population of 1.3 million active-duty service members.
The directive is part of President Donald Trump’s executive order to rid federal agencies of programmes that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
On his inauguration day, Trump said he would create a society that is “colour-blind and merit-based”.
The US president accused the former administration of socially engineering race and gender into “every aspect of public and private life”.
He clarified that moving forward, it would be the official policy of the US government that there are only two genders, male and female.
Trump’s promise was certified in an executive order hours later.
Last week, Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
The signed order gives the US Department of Education the responsibility to ensure schools nationwide comply with the directive.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has initiated a probe into unremitted funds owed to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and several oil firms.
The investigation, led by Sub-Committee Chairman, Rep. Akinlade Isiaq, arose from concerns highlighted in the Auditor General’s 2020–2021 reports regarding unsettled financial obligations by NNPC Ltd and other industry players.
Findings from the audit indicate that, as of December 2021, NNPC Ltd and oil companies owed the Federation roughly $1.6 billion in royalties due to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) under various agreements, including the Production Sharing Contract, Repayment Agreement, and Modified Carry Arrangement. Additionally, NNPCL’s outstanding claims against the Federation were estimated at N1.9 trillion.
Responding to these queries, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, represented by Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, stated that part of the funds had been directed toward government-designated Priority Projects (GPP) and fuel subsidy payments, which remained in effect until its removal in September 2024.
He explained that deductions were sourced from the Federation’s crude oil and gas entitlements, including royalties, and were allocated to projects based on the approved national budget. However, he clarified that no deductions were made for GPP in 2023 and 2024, as implementation was dependent on the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Rep. Isiaq reaffirmed the committee’s dedication to professionalism and transparency, emphasizing the importance of accountability in managing Nigeria’s oil and gas resources.
“This hearing is a vital step in ensuring that our national resources are properly accounted for. We are committed to taking all necessary measures to recover these outstanding debts in the best interest of the Federation and its citizens,” he stated.
The committee has also summoned oil companies identified in the NUPRC report, which shows they owe the Federal Government a total of $929 million as of September 30, 2024.
To address financial discrepancies, key government agencies have been invited to provide clarity on the issue. These include the Accountant General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Ministry of Finance, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Their input is expected to shed light on the legal and procedural factors behind the non-payment of these funds. This investigation aims to establish stronger accountability and financial transparency within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The outgoing South-South zonal executive of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has began the mobilisation of statutory delegates of the party for the election of a new zonal executive of the party.
A statement signed by the acting Zonal Secretary of the party, George Turnah M.O.N and made available to newsmen invited all those qualified to attend the zonal congress as specified in Section 28(1) of the party’s constitution to avail themselves for the congress holding in Calabar, Cross River State.
The statement read in part:
“The Zonal Executive Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) South-South Zone hereby notifies and invites qualified Party members as contained in the Party constitution 28(1) , to the 2025 elective Congress of the Party scheduled to hold on Saturday, 22nd of February 2025 at The Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, Cross River State.”
The zonal scribe while noting that the congress is being convened for the election of “new officers to the Zonal Working/Executive Committee and other matters connected thereto” added that the invitation for the congress is at the instance of “Chief Dan Osi Orbih, National Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party South-South Zone, acting under the powers conferred upon him by Article 28(3) of the Party’s Constitution.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Senate reacting to the alleged funding of terrorism in Nigeria by the United States Agency for International Development USAID, Wednesday invited Security Intelligence Chiefs for investigation and veracity of the allegation by Perry Scott of the United States parliament.
The resolution followed an Order of Urgent National Security through Order 41 by Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume.
Ndume urged the Senate to consider the revelation as too weighty to gloss over, given the devastation that terrorists have done to the country, particularly the Boko Haram fighters, stressing that the investigation would put paid to speculations on how the non-state actors have been surviving over the years.
The heads of security intelligence agencies summoned by the Senate are, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Directorate of Intelligence Agency, DIA, Department of State Services, DSS, and the National Security Adviser, NIA.
Senate President, Godswill in sustaining the resolution remarked that security issues should not be discussed in the market, noting that the head of security intelligence will offer the Senate better perspective in a close door meeting with them.
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