Politics
RVHA Passes Two Bills, Adjourns Pension Bill
The Rivers State House of Assembly last
week passed the State Senior Secondary Schools Board Bill and the Universal
Basic Education Amendment Bill into laws.
The smooth passage of the two bills to law,
followed debate on the report of public hearing by the House Education Committee
presented by its Chairman, Hon. Augustine Ngo.
The lawmakers also accepted the
recommendation of the Committee that the bill on school inspection and
monitoring be sent back to the sponsors for repackaging based on
inconsistencies that were noticed in the proposed law.
In another development, the state
legislators commenced debate on the state Public Office Holders Bill, otherwise
called Pensions and fringe benefits for Governors and Deputy Governors Bill.
Opening debate on the issue, Hon. Benibo
Anabraba, representing Akuku-Toru, constituency 11, thanked, the Hon. Josiah
Olu-led committee for doing a good work, but called for the removal of some
words that are ambiguous.
Hon. Anabraba opined that phrases like
immediate family should be replaced with definite words like spouse and
children, while the accommodation to be provided should be anywhere in the
country with specification.
The lawmaker equally argued for the
reduction in the number of security details and added personal secretary or
personal assistant who would be more useful to the former officers.
In his contribution, Hon. Chidi Lloyd,
representing Emohua Constituency and sponsor of the bill, said the proposed law
intends to secure the future for former leaders and to check occupants of the
office from looting public funds since the state appreciates their
contributions by providing for them.
Hon. Onari Brown, Akuku Toru, Constituency
1, noted that the law should limit the construction of the house to Rivers
State with specific standard while the number of children to benefit should be
limited to six.
Hon. Innocent Barikor, Gokana, Victoria
Nyeche, Port Harcourt constituency 1, agreed that the dimension of the House to
be built is critical since the essence of the proposal was to benefit successive
Governors and their deputies, and should be located in the state.
However, Hon Augustine Ngo, Abua/Odual does
not see anything wrong with building the house in any part of the country of
the choice of the beneficiaries as found in the committee’s report.
Meanwhile, further debate on the proposed
law has been adjourned to tomorrow, while the lawmakers appeared unanimous on
the new title of the bill, “pensions and fringe benefits for governors and
Deputy governors”.
Politics
Why I Won’t Help Tinubu’s Govt Overcome Economic Challenges – Sanusi
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, says he would not help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to correct the administration’s policies affecting the citizens.
Emir Sanusi spoke on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025).
The emir stated that while there were “a few points” he could offer to explain the trajectory the administration had taken and how such decisions were predictable, he chose not to do so because “they don’t behave like friends.”
He said explaining the government’s policies would help the government, but he did not intend to assist them due to the way they had treated him.
“I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” the emir said while addressing some of the points made by speakers about the economy.
He added: “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued.
“Meanwhile, I’m watching a very nice movie with popcorn in my hands. But I will say one thing: What we are going through today is, at least in part, not totally, but at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No.”
Emir Sanusi, who was deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in 2024 by the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government.
His emirship has faced ongoing challenges from forces believed to be backed by the federal government, including federal officials’ continued recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
Last month, the police barricaded his palace, with the state government accusing the federal government of orchestrating the action to stir unrest in the peaceful state.
Politics
Reps Loses Deputy Chief Whip
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga, is dead.
Also known as Ijaya, Rt Hon. Onanuga, who was the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, is said to have died following a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday night.
Rt Hon Onanuga, who was born in Hammersmith, London, to Nigerian parents on December 2, 1965, was a politician and entrepreneur. She held the position of Deputy Chief Whip in the Nigerian House of Representatives since 2023.
She contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. She also served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
Politics
Aiyedatiwa Dissolves Cabinet, Retains Finance Commissioner, Attorney-General
Gov. Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The two commissioners exempted include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Adeniyan said in the statement that “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa thanked the executive council members “for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours”.
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