Former Senate President Opened up on Decisions taken by NASS under his watch

Bukola Saraki, former Senate president, has opened up on why the upper chamber refused to confirm the appointment of some of the names sent to the red chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Responding to a Twitte by Dele Momodu publisher Ovation on Wednesday, December 30, Saraki, who served as the chairman of the 8th National Assembly (NASS), said the Senate's refusal to confirm Buhari's appointees was "never about a personal agenda."

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, however, said the decision was solely based on the interest of the country.

Saraki further disclosed that the Senate "did our due diligence", hence the reason for refusing the confirmation. He added that the NASS under him was focused on how to tackle the security challenges in the country.

Bukola Saraki says the 8th NASS wanted the best for the country, hence the refusal to confirm some appointees of the president. Credit: @bukolasaraki

"When we didn’t confirm certain appointees, it was because we did our due diligence. When we invited the IG and the security chiefs, it was because we wanted to find solutions to the issues of insecurity at the time. It was never about a personal agenda. It was always about Nigeria!"

Saraki also stressed that there was no decision made by the Senate that was not in the interest of the country.

"As I used to emphasize during our conversations while I was President of the 8th Senate, the decisions that we took, the positions we adopted, and the interventions that we embarked on were in the interest of the nation." 

Meanwhile, in a related news, the chairman of the 9th NASS, Ahmad Lawan, said he accepted the label of the assembly being a rubber stamp if it would guarantee good governance for Nigerians.

Lawan stated this on Monday, October 6, at the two-day joint executive-legislative retreat with the theme: “Promoting effective, legislative partnership and finding a middle ground,” held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Senate president stressed that the NASS decided quite early to work with the executive very harmoniously for the benefits of Nigerians.

Finally! ASUU suspends 9-month-old strike

After nine months of the tussle between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) over Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the union on Wednesday, December 23, called off its strike which started in March 2020.

The national president of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, made the announcement during a briefing of the union in Abuja, explaining that the development followed consultations with its National Executive Council (NEC).

He said:

The national chairman of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi . Credit: @ASUUNGR

"Academic Staff Union of Universities - and Nigeria (federal government) has finally agreed on major issues that will lead to termination of its 10 month old strike."

Ogunyemi added that the ASUU expresses joy on how the federal government handled the negotiation process, adding that they would be having their own executive meeting to conclude and get back to the government within 24hrs.

It was reported that the federal government was said to have begun paying two-month arrears of the university lecturers.

The federal government on Monday, December 21, said Nigerian university students would be returning to classrooms by January 2021.

Man who joined protest with 1 leg gets money for house rent, prosthetic

A physically-challenged young man called Charles has received great help from Nigerians as he got a new prosthetic leg.

According to Aproko Doctor on Twitter, the man lost his former artificial leg to police brutality.

With the help of Good Samaritans, he has started a walk-training with a new device, and he will also be getting the sum of N217,000 that people donated to him.

The money would be used to get him a house as he has been living in the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos state.

See Aproko Doctor's tweet below:

When the updates on the man's welfare surfaced on Twitter, Nigerians thronged the comment section to praise those who gave to change his life.

See some of the reactions below:

Wale Adetona said:

"Great news. Kudos to you and the team."

@STmorakinyo said:

"This is highly commendable.God bless you for the brilliant work you are doing. But is it possible to help him get something doing so that he will be able to take care of himself as well as paying the subsequent rental due. That's really necessary too please. God bless."

Charles is also learning to walk with the new device. Photo source: @aproko_doctor

@kingbaba01 said:

"On God, great job, but i think he should use the money to start a business and save to rent a house later. Or how does he intend to renew the rent when its due for a new payment?"

@OkereUgonna4 said:

"Omo...I can't imagine that feeling when after amputation you wake up to realize one of your body part is gone.....I appreciate those who made donations towards his welfare."

"Congratulations to Charles , aproko and the donors. This is a real way to end the year 2020."@mmiliugo said:

Supreme Court fixes March 12 for judgment in ex-Gov Dariye’s appeal

 The Supreme Court has scheduled judgment for March 12 next year in the appeal by former Plateau State Governor, Senator Joshua Dariye.

The senator representing Plateau central in the Senate

The court chose the date on Thursday after taking final arguments from lawyers representing parties.

Dariye is, by his appeal, praying the Supreme Court to upturn the November 16, 20218 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which convicted him and sentenced him to 10 years for diverting public funds estimated at N1.162billion while he was the governor.

A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Stephen Adah, in its decision, upheld an earlier judgement by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), delivered on June 12, 2018.

 Dariye who was the governor of Plateau state between 1999 and 2007 was in June 2018 sentenced to 14 years in prison by an Abuja High Court for stealing state funds while in office.

He was found guilty of diverting N1.7 billion state ecological funds. However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja reduced the senator's jail term to 10 years
.

Amid stiff battle for power Kwara State loses powerful politician

Kwara state on Thursday, December 17, lost to the cold hands of death one of its very powerful and highly placed politicians, Simon Sayomi, at the age of 95.

Sayomi who hailed from Igosun in Oyun local government area of the state served as a deputy governor under the administration of Mohammed Lawal between 1999 and 2003.

The former deputy governor's death was confirmed in Ilorin, the state's capital by his son, Ola Sayomi.

Ola said:

Simon Sayom died at the age of 95 on Thursday, December 17 (Photo: The Nation)

“He died on Wednesday night between 9:30 p.m. and 10:p.m. He was born on Oct. 10, 1925. We will miss him because he was a hero to us in everything."

Meanwhile, the crisis rocking the Kwara state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday, December 10, took another twist as two of President Muhammadu Buhari kicked against the move by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to control the party.

The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, the minister of state for transportation, Gbemisola Saraki and other stakeholders in APC berated the governor for his efforts to stop Bashir Bolarinwa from being recognised as the chairman of the state caretaker committee.

Our source gathered that the stakeholders, however, described Governor AbdulRazaq's actions as illegal, illogical and unacceptable.

A chieftain of the party in the state, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, who addressed the press conference in Ilorin, expressed concern that the governor had not invited Bolarinwa for the swearing-in ceremony that would take place in Abuja.

“The information at our disposal is that Governor AbdulRazaq has gone to the national headquarters of the party to urge the national caretaker committee to exempt Bolarinwa from the swearing-in ceremony on the ground that Kwara executive of 2018 was not a product of a congress."

Terrible Tuesday in Rivers as 8 stampeded to death

 

Rivers state has been plunged into mourning as at least eight people were reportedly stampeded to death at a Xmas palliative sharing centre.

The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday morning, December 15, in Rumuodara town of Obio/Akpor local government area.

According to our source, the tragedy began when hundreds of people said to be members of Bitcoin, an online blockchain digital assets designed for giving charity, gathered at the centre to receive some palliative ahead of the Christmas.

However, the crowd became uncontrollable as people struggled to gain access to the office, leading to the stampede.

Speaking on the incident, the Rivers police command said the situation is being closely monitored to avert further tragedy.

Eight people have reportedly died during a stamped at a palliative sharing centre in Rivers. Credit: Gov Nyesom Ezenwo Wike

The command gave this assurance through its police public relations officer, Nnamdi Omoni.

World Bank approves $1.5bn loan for Nigeria

 

The World Bank has announced its approval of Nigeria’s request for a $1.5 billion (approximately N571 billion) loan barely two years it approved $486 million (N185 billion) loan for the West African country to improve electricity transmission network and infrastructure.

The Bretton Wood institution made this known on Tuesday, December 15, saying this will help the country "realise its long-term potentials."

According to the financial institution, the facility is a 5-year country partnership framework (CPF) that would last from 2021 to 2024, Sahara Reporters reporters.

Speaking on the development, Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank country director for Nigeria, said the loan will focus on four areas of engagement.. Credit: @DavidMalpassWBG

These include investing in human capital, promoting jobs and economic transformation and diversification, enhancing resilience and strengthening the foundations of the public sector.

Chaudhuri said the approval of the loan, which was requested in the wake of the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, was delayed to allow Nigeria to carry out currency reform including the unification and flexibility of the exchange rate, removal of fuel subsidy, among others.

He stated:

“This country partnership framework will guide our engagement for the next five years in supporting the government of Nigeria’s strategic priorities by taking a phased and adaptive approach.

“To realize its long-term potential, the country has to make tangible progress on key challenges and pursue some bold reforms. Our engagement will focus on supporting Nigeria’s efforts to reduce poverty and promote sustained private sector-led growth.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has stated that about 68% of households in Nigeria wallowing in poverty have resulted in taking loans just to buy foods.

NBS made this known in its August 2020 survey amid hard-biting food insecurity that has made the price of basic necessities soar up beyond the average affordable price.

According to the body, which made this known after a survey, the affected households were reported to have been borrowing from friends and family members.

NBS said 9% of the households obtained loans from banks and microfinance institutions, adding that this is due to the deteriorating economy which was compounded by the current highly-ravaging Covid-19 crisis.

Xmas: 8 die at palliative sharing centre in Rivers

 

Rivers state has been plunged into mourning as at least eight people were reportedly stampeded to death at Pitcoin Xmas palliative sharing centre.

The tragic incident, which happened at 7:30am, ahead of the Christmas, occurred todayTuesday morning, December 15, in Rumudara town of Obio/Akpor local government area. Full details later.