News
SAD! Famous Senator is d3ad!
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Baringo County is in sad mood after the sudden demise of Senator William Cheptumo.
The news was made public on Sunday, February 16, with tributes pouring in from across the country. Leaders have acknowledged his contribution to both Baringo and the nation at large.
However, it is not clear what claimed the life of the Senator.
His last post on social media was shared on Saturday, February 15. In the post, he wished Azimio leader Raila Odinga the best in the African Union Commission chairmanship race.
“Wishing you the very best Baba. Let’s win together. Let’s bring it home together,” he stated in the post.
On February 9, politicians allied with the Senator shared that he had been released from the hospital after being admitted for several days because of an undisclosed ailment.
Speaking to the press at the time, the leaders described him as a great leader and mentor, asking others to join them in praying with Cheptumo’s family.
He was long-serving for Baringo North constituency for 15 years before being elected as Baringo Senator in 2022.
Baringo Senator Cheptumo’s Education
The late Senator spent his early years at Maregut Primary School, where he studied from 1975 to 1981, earning his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE).
He went to Bartolimo Secondary School for his high school education between 1982 and 1985. It was there that he earned his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
In 1986, he joined the prestigious Kabarnet High School for his Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE), a level that prepared him for university education.
Later, he secured a place at the University of Nairobi in 1988, where he pursued a Bachelor of Laws degree.
In 1992, he enrolled at the Kenya School of Law, where he earned his Diploma in Law, officially qualifying to practice as a lawyer.
His Political Career
From the legal field to the corridors of Parliament, Senator Cheptumo had a career that spanned over three decades.
He began his professional career as a legal officer at the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC) in 1993. In 1995, he transitioned to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), where he served as a s legal officer.
Further, in 1998, the senator established Cheptumo and Company Advocates, where he served as the proprietor for nearly a decade.
In 2008, he was appointed Executive at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, where he played a key role in shaping Kenya’s legal and constitutional framework.
However, he transitioned into politics in 2008 when he was elected Member of Parliament for Baringo North Constituency, a position he held for 14 years until 2022.
In August 2022 under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, he won the senatorial race in Baringo, defeating the previous Senator Gideon Moi.
Also, he was an influential figure in national politics, contributing to key legislative debates that shaped Kenya’s governance.
The House of Representatives Copmmittee on the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters has decided to investigate the failure of the six area councils to remit pension contributions to the Area Council Staff Pension Board.
This decision came after a motion was adopted during a session where the Board Director, Suleman Abdulrahman, appeared before the Committee on Wednesday.
The meeting was part of the Committee’s review of budget performance for 2024 in preparation for the 2025 budget cycle. During the session, Abdulrahman informed lawmakers that remittances had been inconsistent.
The Committee also questioned Abdulrahman on why the Board received more funds than were allocated in the 2024 budget.
Documents submitted by the Board indicated that while the total appropriation for pensioner costs was ₦131,148,262, the Board received ₦151,137,417.
In response, Abdulrahman explained that the excess in salary variations was due to increase in the minimum wage.
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.”
Reps Committee Probe Non-Remittance of Pension Contributions By FCT Area Councils
Reps Probe NNPCL, NUPRC Over Unpaid Federation Account Funds
PDP Mobilises For South-South Congress
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