State governors are angry with Buhari

A handful of governors are furious with President Muhammadu Buhari for granting financial autonomy to the legislative and judicial arms of government in the 36 states of the federation, and are spoiling for showdown discussions.

On Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at exactly 2pm, the governors will meet via teleconference to take a common position and weigh their options.

On Friday, May 22, 2020, President Buhari signed Executive Order No. 10 of 2020 into law.

“Based on the power vested in me under Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I, today, signed into law Executive Order No. 10 of 2020 for the implementation of Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary," the president said.

The executive order means that the legislative and judicial arms of government across the 36 states will no longer be tied to the apron strings of powerful governors; and will receive their financial allocations straight from the center.

Buhari signs executive order implementing financial autonomy for state legislature and judiciary

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday May 22, signed an executive order implementing financial autonomy for state legislature and judiciary into law.

The Nigerian leader made the announcement in series of tweets shared on Friday. It read :

"Based on the power vested in me under Section 5 of the 1999 constitution (as Amended), I, today, signed into law Executive Order 10 of 2020 for the implementation of financial autonomy of state legislature and judiciary. This administration will continue to do everything to strengthen the principles and practice of democracy and democratic governance in Nigeria."

Eid El Fitri : FG declares Monday and Tuesday public holiday

The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to mark Eldi Fitri Celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja.

Aregbesola congratulated all Muslim faithful for successful completion of the Ramadan fast.

A statement by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Mohammed Manga, quoted Aregbesola as calling on Muslim faithful to replicate the life of kindness, love, tolerance, peace and good neighbourliness as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

The Minister however expressed his concern about the spate of ethnic conflicts that has resurfaced in some parts of Northern Nigeria in recent times.

He advised Nigerians to see themselves as a single entity and learn to tolerate one another despite their ethnic and religious differences.

Aregbesola further assured Nigerians that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was fully committed to battling COVID-19.

While commending the security agencies for the successes so far recorded in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, he advised Nigerians to take responsibility against the spread of the COVID-19.

The Minister reminded Muslims to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.

Buhari sacks NECO registrar, 4 others for fraud

President Muhammadu Buhari has terminated the appointment of Charles Uwakwe as registrar of National Examinations Council and four other management staff for various offences.

Their removal comes after a panel investigating allegations of misconduct against them while they were on suspension recommended they be removed.

A May 11 letter signed by the permanent secretary Sonny Echono said Uwakwe was accused of violating public procurement act.

A statement from the council’s head of information and public relations, Azeez Sani, said the “President in exercise of his powers, has approved your removal as Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of National Examinations Council with effect from the date of your suspension from duty”.

He was directed to hand over all government properties in his custody to the Acting Registrar of the Council.

The affected officers are: Mr. Bamidele Olure, Acting Director (Finance and Accounts), Dr. Shina Adetona, Head of Procurement Division, Mr. Tayo Odukoya, Deputy Director and Barr. Babatunde Aina, Head of Legal/Board matters.

Olure, Acting Director (Finance and Accounts), was dismissed financial impropriety and not qualified to Head the Finance and Accounts Department.

Adetona was dismissed for acts tantamount to fraudulent practices, sabotage and suppression of official records.

Odukoya was dismissed for acts of serious misconduct.

The letter directed the management of NECO to Commence the process of recovering ill-gotten benefits/gains from Odukoya who acted as Director of a company (M/S I-web Solutions) while in service of Government.

Aina was dismissed from service for falsification of records and dishonesty in the sale of NECO Guest House, which is being investigated by the EFCC.

"Abacha stashed billions of dollars abroad to save Nigeria" - Galadima

Buba Galadima, a former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that the billions of dollars the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha stashed in foreign banks were not looted.

Galadima in an interview with TheNation newspaper said Abacha saved the monies abroad to save the country from an impending US sanction during his administration.

The 72-yr-old politician, who was the Director-General, National Maritime Authority during Abacha’s regime said the late Head of State was advised by the then President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein and his counterpart in Libya, Muammar Gaddafi to save the monies in foreign banks. He said, 

“I have a completely different idea about what you called Abacha loot. I know as a fact that at that time, Abacha with knowledge of key members of his government, who knew about this money being stacked out, he was rightly advised by some of his colleague presidents around the world.

Saddam Hussein was one of them. Muammar Gaddafi was one of them. They advised him that there was the likelihood that the US could sanction Nigeria and as such he should save money outside that could last the country, at least, six months, even Nigeria’s account was blocked by the US, there won’t be panic.

I was a key figure in that government. I was one of the so-called Abacha boys if you must know. I was the Director-General, National Maritime Authority, whereby export and import to Nigeria, including crude, were directly coming under my desk. So, am in a position to talk about Abacha and the so-called loot”.

Galadima, however, maintained that those who believe Abacha was a monster are ignorant. General Sani Abacha ruled Nigeria between 1993 and 1998, but since 1999, Nigeria has been receiving some of the monies he stashed abroad.

On Monday, May 4, 2020, the Nigerian government received a sum of $311 million looted from the country’s treasury during the military regime of late Head of State.