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Tinubu Assigns Portfolios To Wike, 44 Others …To Swear In Ministers, Monday

President Bola Tinubu will next Monday swear in 45 ministers he assigned portfolios on Wednesday night.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, disclosed this in a statement late Wednesday in Abuja.
The event is billed to hold at the State House Conference Centre, Aso villa in Abuja by 10 am.
A statement by the Director, Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey, said the ministers are allowed to come with two guests each.
The statement also contained the 45 ministers and their portfolios.
While the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, was assigned to the Federal Capital Territory ((FCT) as minister, his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi, was made Minister of Works, and former governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola as Minister of Transportation.
Revered economist and financial expert, Wale Edun who has, since the beginning of Tinubu’s administration on May 29, served as economic adviser, would serve as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, while Adebayo Adelabu supervises the Ministry of Power as minister.
Contrary to predictions of many pundits that Dele Alake who has been the President’s spokesperson would serve in the same capacity as Minister of Information and National Orientation, a veteran journalist and publisher of Blueprint Newspapers, Muhammed Idris, was deployed to the ministry while Alake was assigned as Minister of Solid Minerals Development.
Expectedly, prominent lawyer and Tinubu’s legal adviser, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, was made Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The President created a few new ministries such as the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy with Bunmi Tunji-Ojo as minister; Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy with Hannatu Musawa as minister.
Tinubu also split the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas Resources into two with Heineken Lokpobiri serving as Minister of State, Petroleum Resources; and Ekperipe Ekpo as Minister of State, Gas Resources.
The Presidency also separated the Ministry of Sports Development from Youth, unlike what it was under previous administrations.
While John Enoh serves as Minister of Sports Development, a former member of the House of Representatives for Etsako, Abubakar Momoh, who is from Edo State, now heads the new Ministry of Youth.
Other ministers-designate that were assigned portfolios last Wednesday include former Governor of Jigawa State, Mohammed Badaru as Defence Minister; former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence; Tahir Maman, Minister of Education; Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education; Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing & Urban Development; Abdullahi Gwarzo, Minister of State, Housing & Urban Development, while Mairiga Mahmud serves as Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory.
Also assigned portfolios are former Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu as Minister of Budget & Economic Planning; Ishak Salako, Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management; Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation; Bello Goronyo, Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation; Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security; Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State, Agriculture, and Food Security; Saidu Alkali, Minister of Interior; and Yusuf Tuggar as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Professor Ali Pate will serve as Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Tunji Alausa, Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare; Ibrahim Geidam, Minister of Police Affair; Imaam Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of State, Police Affairs; Shuaibu Audu, Minister of Steel Development; U. Maigari Ahmadu, Minister of State, Steel Development; Zephaniah Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs; and Bosun Tijani as Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Former governor of Plateau State and Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the last general elections, Simon Lalong, will serve as Minister of Labour and Employment; Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State, Labour and Employment; Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism; Doris Anite, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; and Uche Nnaji as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Other ministers to be sworn in next Monday are APC’s campaign spokesperson in the last general elections, Festus Keyamo as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development; Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; and Uju Kennedy as Minister of Women Affairs.
Meanwhile, none of the 45 ministers-designate was assigned to the Ministry of Niger Delta, just as there is no substantive Minister of Environment yet.
The Tide also observed that the President may have toed former President Muhammadu Buhari’s path by assigning to himself Minister of Petroleum and Gas Resources.
By: Boye Salau
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FG To Seize Retirees’ Property Over Unpaid Housing Loans

The Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board says it has begun the compilation of list of retired civil servants who have defaulted on the full repayment of housing loans obtained.
Head of Information and Public Relations, FGSHLB, Mrs Ngozi Obiechina, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.
Obiechina quoted the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mrs Salamatu Ahmed, as saying that the move was aimed at recovering mortgaged properties from retirees who failed to meet their loan obligations.
Ahmed noted that the decision followed a recent memo issued by Mrs Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to her, the memo reminded public servants of the mandatory requirement to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness to the FGSHLB and MDA Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society as a precondition for retirement.
The Executive Secretary said that the board would take necessary legal steps to repossess properties where applicable, in line with the terms of the loan agreements.
She said this was in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules 021002 (p), issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“I am directed to bring to your attention the provision of Public Service Rule (PSR) 021002 (p), which mandates all public servants to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness as a prerequisite for retirement.
“The Federal Government will commence the seizure of mortgaged properties belonging to retiring federal public servants who have failed to fully repay housing loans obtained from the board,” she said.
Ahmed explained that the FGSHLB reserves the legal right to repossess any mortgaged property in cases where a public servant exits service without fully repaying the loan.
She reiterated that the directive also applied to already retired officers who were still indebted.
She urged all affected public servants to regularise their loan status and obtain the required clearance certificate without delay.
“The board is currently compiling a list of such retirees, which will be forwarded to relevant regulatory agencies for debt recovery.
“The FGSHLB remains committed to enforcing compliance and ensuring proper loan recovery procedures are followed, “ she added.
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FG Begins Induction For New Permanent Secretaries, Accountant-General

The Federal Government has kicked off a three-day induction programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation, aimed at equipping them for strategic leadership and effective policy implementation.
The induction, according to a statement yesterday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Eno Olotu, which commenced on Wednesday, is being held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening session, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the new appointees and described their roles as pivotal to governance and national development.
“Permanent Secretaries are the engine room of the government. They are critical to driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and reform across the service”, she said.
The Federal Government has kicked off a three-day induction programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation, aimed at equipping them for strategic leadership and effective policy implementation.
The induction, according to a statement yesterday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Eno Olotu, which commenced on Wednesday, is being held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening session, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the new appointees and described their roles as pivotal to governance and national development.
“Permanent Secretaries are the engine room of the government. They are critical to driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and reform across the service”, she said.
“The expectations are high, and the responsibility is immense. But with commitment and teamwork, we can deliver a more efficient, accountable, and citizen-centred public service.
“This final lap of FCSSIP 25 calls for urgency, accountability, and strategic focus. You must translate vision into measurable results,” she stated.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, described the programme as a strategic investment in leadership capacity and institutional effectiveness.
The sessions featured expert-led discussions, simulations, and strategic briefings facilitated by a distinguished faculty, including Engr. Suleiman Adamu, former Minister of Water Resources; Dr. Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice; Alh. Yusuf Addy, retired Federal Director; Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Amb. Mustapha Lawal Suleiman, Mr. Adesola Olusade, and Dr. Ifeoma Anagbogu, all retired Permanent Secretaries.
Participants include Dr. Obi Emeka Vitalis, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Mr. Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi, Mr. Olusanya Olubunmi, Dr. Keshinro Maryam Ismaila, Dr. Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma, Dr. Umobong Emanso Okop, Dr. Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen, Mrs. Oyekunle N. Patience, Dr. Kalba U. Danjuma, Mr. Nadungu Gagare, Mr. Onwusoro I. Maduka, Dr. Usman Salihu Aminu, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Mr. Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip, Dr. Anuma N. Ogbonnaya, Mr. Adeladan Rafiu Olaninre, and Mr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, alongside the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi.
The induction programme will feature sessions on public sector leadership, policy delivery, ethics in service, digital transformation, and performance management.
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NNPCL To Undergo Forensic Audit Soon -FG

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has announced that a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will begin soon.
Edun revealed this at the ongoing Nigerian Investor Forum, held alongside the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC.
The minister explained that the recent changes in the NNPCL management are part of a broader effort by the Federal Government to clean up and examine the company closely.
While addressing top global investors, including representatives from J.P. Morgan, Edun shared key reforms the government has introduced to revive the economy and restore investor confidence.
He told the investors that the government’s bold economic steps have laid a strong foundation to attract private investment.
He stated, “Our goal is not just to maintain this momentum, but to accelerate it. We are targeting seven per cent annual growth, and we believe the policies we have implemented have laid the groundwork to achieve this.”
Edun highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has rolled out major reforms that are already making a difference.
He added that the Nigerian economy grew by 3.84 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024 and recorded a 3.4 per cent growth for the year.
Edun further stressed the importance of the reforms, describing them as “unprecedented,” adding that, “We said we would do it, and now we have done it. This time, we’re staying the course.”
He pointed out signs of progress such as lower budget deficits, a better trade balance, and a more stable exchange rate.
He also said that the focus is now on growing key sectors, especially agriculture.
According to Edun, agriculture is at the top of the government’s agenda, with the aim of improving food supply and increasing productivity.
“We aim to close the food supply gap, not by importing more, but by enabling domestic producers to scale and innovate,” he said.
On infrastructure, Edun revealed that the government has rolled out 90,000km of fibre optic cable to improve internet access.
He said this move is crucial for supporting young Nigerians and tech startups.
He also noted that 4,000km of roads have been offered for private sector participation, with the first 1,000km already approved for construction.
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