…Nation building and federal characterDespite the complexity of managing expectations and priorities these days, another time has again come to reflect on this thing called federal character in the context of urgency of nation building. So many editorials and commentaries were written and spoken on federal character and nation building but the lanky General from Daura didn’t care a hoot about federal character. And that impunity has made the federal character commission to remain without any federal character. Recall that on June 18, 2017, I drew attention to this same anomaly here in an article titled, “A Federal Character Commission Without Federal Character” https://guardian.ng/opinion/a-federal-character-commission-without-federal-character/But as usual, the president ignored the federal character bogeyman despite the embarrassment to the administration. The Federal Character principle has its root in a proneness for fairness.

Some of the ex-lawmakers in government are:TinubuTinubu is a former member of the National Assembly, though briefly. First Lady Oluremi TinubuNigeria’s first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, is also an alumnus of the National Assembly. HadejiaThe Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, Ibrahim Hadejia, is another alumnus of the National Assembly. GumelMeanwhile, Senator Abdullahi Gumel has been appointed as the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate). NASS alumni in APC NWCAPC chairman, AdamuThe National Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, was also a member of the ninth Senate.

Power consumers, on Saturday, expressed relief after it was confirmed that electricity distribution companies had not implemented the proposed hike in the tariff payable for electricity nationwide. Some power distribution firms had announced on Sunday, June 25, 2023, that there would be a hike in tariff from July 1, 2023. But the development caused apprehension among power consumers as many prepaid consumers rushed to buy more units in their meters, while anticipating a possible hike in tariff. Furthermore, collection losses arise from difficulties in retrieving payments from consumers,” the commission stated. It said the ATC&C losses were grouped into technical losses, which include heat losses due to load flow in electrical lines and transformation loss in transformers.

Boko Haram terrorists have killed no fewer than 5,873 Nigerians between December 2020 and May 2023, a report has said. SBM Intelligence in its report released on Friday said the number of fatalities was recorded in 430 incidents. The report added that Borno leads with the highest number of fatalities, followed by Yobe, Niger, Kastina, and Adamawa states. The report noted that although the military had recorded progress in the fight against the terrorists, the war was far from over. It can be done once the political will is there and they work together instead of working at cross-purposes.

Don’t you think these acts will threaten the unity of the body of Christ which the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) professes? But when hate, suspicion and insecurity begin to come in, that is when people begin to align with denominational values. So basically, when they begin to stigmatise, you then begin to know which block you belong to. What do you think the CCC leadership across the board can do to reduce the attacks on the church? We do not pull people from pentecostal churches; we put together pagans and those who do not know God into the fold and introduce God to them.

IPMAN Denies Plan To Hike Petrol To N700 Per LitrePhoto Credit: Guardian NigeriaThe Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has denied the alleged plan by the association to increase the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol to N700 per litre nationwide. Tajudeen stressed that the price of the product would not be more than what is being sold presently. Tinubu Ready To Position Nigeria As Africa’s Leader - AlakePhoto Credit: The NationThe Presidency, on Saturday, said President Bola Tinubu is prepared to steer the affairs of Nigeria in the direction that will position the country as the leader in the African continent. The State Commissioner of Police, Gyogon Grimah, has directed that the perpetrators be arrested and prosecuted according to the law. The commissioner who described the incident as unfortunate, noted that no person had the right to take another life under any guise.

Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has expressed “deep sadness of the state Government over the loss of five members in a road crash while they were returning from a church conference in Lagos. In a message of condolence to the family on Saturday, the governor said, it was more painful because those who lost their lives were from close-knit families. Tribune reports that tragedy had hit a family in Eket town, Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State as it lost five members in a road crash while they were returning from a church conference in Lagos. According to the head of the bereaved family, Samingo Etukakpan, who lost all five family members, the family has been thrown into a “great moment of grief.”“It is a moment of grief for me and my family. Recent data from the Federal Road Safety Commission shows that; Road traffic crashes claim over 40,000 lives annually in Nigeria, while road violations arising from speed, road signs or vehicle lights are the leading causes of road traffic accidents in the country.

The Federal Government spent $62.66m to service railway-related debts in the first quarter of 2023, according to Nigeria’s external debt service payments report by the Debt Management Office. Between January and March 2023, The Nigeria Railway Modernisation Project (Idu-Kaduna Section) took $23.1mThe Nigeria Railway Modernisation Project (Lagos-Ibadan Section) gulped $15.49m. The PUNCH also learnt that the Nigeria Abuja Light Rail Project gulping $24.07m. The total amount spent in Q1 2023 is a slight increase from the $61.73m spent in Q1 2022. The rising railway debt servicing costs occurred as the government struggled to generate revenue from the railway sector.

“I want to have my own bank, I want to move to Wall Street”, Bosun said to his friend while at breakfast. I want to have my own bank, I want to move to Wall Street, Bosun said to his friend while at breakfast. Se bi they said Wall Street is the world’s principal financial center. Bosun you need to calm down, things don’t always work like that, Wall Street? “Are you suggesting you can fake your way into starting your own bank and moving to Wall Street?”To be continued.

Troops of the 4 Special Forces, Doma, Nasarawa State, have arrested 12 suspected rail track vandals at Angwan Yara, Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Maj. Joseph Afolasade, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations of the Command, made the disclosure at a press briefing on Friday in Doma. “The suspects were arrested with a large quantity of rail tracks loaded in two trucks. “In the course of the investigation, the troops arrested additional seven suspects on June 18 who had made confessional statements. Maj. Afolashade further revealed that the Army also rejected a bribe of N5 million offered by the suspects.

Following series of trainings by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria, female students in Adamawa state can now produce reusable sanitary pads and make money out of it. The training for the stakeholders was funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation Accelerated Sanitation and Water for All Programme ll (DGIS-ASWA II) in conjunction with UNICEF. Teachers, male and female school children were trained on the need to adhere to best practices, especially on personal hygiene of female school children relating to menstruation during school hours and even at home in the state. One of the trainees said that, “ But with the UNICEF intervention, stakeholders are now on the same page and discussing the issue freely without any strings attached”. The outcome according to the stakeholders has become a win-win situation for the growth of Education in the area.

Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has said that he has no regret whatsoever on the demolition exercise and recovery of public properties that were illegally acquired and distributed to sacred cows by the immediate past administration. He disclosed this on Friday while receiving the Emir of Kano Alh Aminu Ado Bayero who in company of district heads and other members of the emirate council paid a Sallah homage to the Governor at the government house as part of Eid Kabir celebrations. Kabir appreciated the Emir and members of the emirate council for the visit which is first of its kind since his assumption of office and enumerated achievements of his administration in the last 31 days in the areas of; paying NECO Fees For 55,000 secondary schools students amounting to 1.5 billion naira, restoration of streets lighst and minimizing the cases of phone snatching in Kano metropolis. Governor Yusuf added that others include; resumption of screening for the award of foreign scholarship for Kano indigenes with first class degrees, prompt payment of salaries and pension and evacuation of thousands of tons of refuse in the metropolis. Earlier the Emir said the visit was to felicitate with the Governor on Eid Kabir and assured his readiness to offer advice that will be of importance to the development of the state and called on government and well to do individuals to assist the less privileged in cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

The immediate past Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, has stated that Nigeria, with its population of over 220 million, needs to create over 500 universities to meet the admission needs of its citizens. The Permanent Secretary, Mr Andrew David Adejo, directed him to hand over to the Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration until a substantive head is appointed. However, the former Executive Secretary of NUC emphasized that education is the right of all citizens and not just the privileged few. He believed that there was a need to create more universities to bridge the significant gap in admission for candidates, highlighting that only 1 per cent of the country’s population is currently studying in Nigerian universities. The acting Executive Secretary, Mr Chris Maiyaki, pledged to work with the Commission’s management to ensure that graduates of the university system can compete favourably with their counterparts worldwide.

President Bola Tinubu has said that he is taking ‘baby steps of pains’ to fix Nigeria’s problems, urging Nigerians not to be in a hurry over challenges facing the nation. The president also declared that it is in the hands of Nigerians to ensure that the country gets to its desired destination. Tinubu said this at the palace of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, during a visit to traditional rulers in the State. He begged Nigerians to go with him through what he called the baby steps of pain. He said “at least, we delivered, despite the hardship of no money, no fuel, I credit you, thank you.

Governor Dr Alex Otti has issued a directive for the immediate suspension of the Head of Service (HoS) and all Permanent Secretaries in the State civil service, according to a late-night press release on Thursday. The decision comes following the inauguration of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of properties and funds belonging to the Abia State Government. In the press release, Kazie Uko, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, stated that Lady Joy Maduka, Director of the Ministry of Education, has been appointed as the Acting Head of Service (HOS) by the governor. Earlier this week, Governor Alex Otti inaugurated a five-member judicial inquiry tasked with the recovery of looted government property and funds. The inquiry is chaired by Hon Justice Ikwuoma Duruoha-Igwe (rtd.).