Nelly's SmartBriefs

A Federal High Court in Abuja told former Governor of Rivers, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the right to suspend or expel him if the action is done in accordance with the law. Justice James Omotosho stated this in a judgement he delivered on a suit filed by Wike prior to the 2023 general elections to seek a court order to stop the PDP from taking action against him without a fair hearing. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ex-governor had sued the PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC), and its National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 3rd respondents. Wike, in the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023) dated and filed February 2 by his lawyer, Joshua Musa, SAN, also joined the National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, National Secretary of PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as 4th to 6th respondents, respectively. He had prayed for an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo and

The United Nigeria Airlines said on Wednesday that one of its aircraft skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 in Lagos. Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos. Uchegbu said that the aircraft, which had 50 passengers on board, was flying in from the airport in Abakaliki, when the incident happened. He said the aircraft landed safely but was forced to terminate its movement to the apron off the runway. He said all passengers disembarked safely and were transported to the arrival hall alongside their luggage. The spokesman said that officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were at the scene of the incident alongside engineers, in order to move the aircraft to the hangar. He said that Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) had also been duly notified. Uchegbu reiterated the airline’s commitment to maintaining the strictest s

  Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged newly sworn in commissioners and other appointees to see their appointments as an opportunity to exude patriotism and offer selfless service to the state to enable the new administration succeed. Fubara, who gave the charge during the formal swearing in of four commissioners, Prof Zacheous Adangor, Dr Alabo George Kelly, Prof. Chinedu Mmom and Barrister Isaac Kamalu at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday urged the appointees to be diligent and patriotic in the discharge of their official duties. Also sworn in were the new Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, whose appointment the governor described as strictly on merit, and a member of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Ibierembo Thompson. Fubara disclosed that the task of governance before the new administration is enormous and no stone will be left unturned to ensure that the administration k

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the key mandate of his administration was to serve the interest of Rivers people with a deep sense of responsibility and commitment. The governor, who spoke during a special thanksgiving service organized by chiefs, leaders and stakeholders of Obio/Akpor LGA organised in honour of the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike at the All Saints Cathedral Anglican Church, Rumukurushi, asserted that he would not be distracted in the discharge of his official function as the state’s helmsman and that he would count on the support of Rivers people to succeed. Fubara, who commended the people of Obio/Akpor LGA for their overwhelming support during the governorship elections and on the  honour being bestowed on Wike, said the special thanksgiving service was a spiritual intervention to  prepare the former governor for higher service to the state, the nation and humanity at large. He said, "On behalf of the g

Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has approved the appointment of Dr. Kingsley Emu as the Secretary to the State Government. A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Festus Ahon in Asaba, said the governor also approved the appointment of Hon. Johnson Erijo as Chief of Staff to the Governor; Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo as Senior Political Adviser; and Barr. (Mrs) Lyna Aliya-Ochulor as Principal Secretary to the Governor. Ahon said the approval for the appointments was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Government House Administration, Sir Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje on Wednesday. According to the statement, the appointments take immediate effect.

The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has advised his successor to be wary of political sycophants whose only goal is to advance their own personal interests. Delivering his goodwill message, the former governor noted that some politicians are very dangerous and so must not be drawn close in matters of governance. Wike stated that he was able to survive the pitfalls laid against his administration by his traducers because he was determined and committed to serving the state. A statement signed by the signed the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Rivers State, Boniface Onyedi, in Government House on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, said that Wike urged the new governor to be wary of gossips and mischief-makers.  He advised him to remain resolute and firm in taking decisions that will impact the state positively. He thanked the people of Obio/Akpor for honouring him, and attributed his success in governance to the unflinching support of Rivers people.

The meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over fuel subsidy removal has ended without a consensus. The meeting began around 4 pm on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Representatives of the Federal Government included Dele Alake, the spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu; and the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari. Other government officials present were the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele; and former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The Organised Labour was represented by the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero; and the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo. After several hours of meeting with the Federal Government, the NLC demanded that the Federal Government return to the status quo by reversing the price of fuel before resuming negotiations with the NLC. The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, who

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has emerged as the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF). Also, Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, is the Vice-Chairman of PGF. The office of the Vice-Chairman is a new creation. The new leadership emerged at a combined meeting of immediate past governors, re-elected governors and newly elected governors held in Abuja on Wednesday, May 31st. PGF is the Forum for governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (CON), former Governor of Kaduna State/Chairman of the PGF Meeting, in a statement made available to The Star, stated that Uzodinma and Uba Sani would pilot the affairs of the Forum for the next four years. El-Rufai said: “At the meeting His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State, emerged as the Chairman of the PGF for the next four years. The Vice- Chairman is His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, the first in the history of the Foru

The Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has approved the appointment of Senior Government Officials expected to fill key positions in the administration of the State. The immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal was retained in view of his vast experience in governance to assist in the smooth take-off of the administration.  The Governor also retained the services of other senior members of the Nasir El-Rufai Administration to provide the link between the two administrations: Muhammad Hafiz Bayero will serve as Senior Advisor Counsellor to the Governor, while Barrister James Atung Kanyip and Chris Umar have been appointed Deputy Chiefs of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Shehu Usman Muhammad and Bulus Banquo Audu were appointed as Counsellors to the Governor. The Governor has also approved the appointment of a new Chief of Staff in the person of Sani Liman.  The new Chief of Staff is a highly experienced retired intelligence officer and astute admi

The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Tuesday, approved the appointment of 13 persons into various positions. This is contained in an announcement by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada. According to the statement, Imran Ahmad Rufai is appointed as Personal Assistant to the Governor; Aminu Almajiri, Deputy Chief of Staff; Sulaiman Bala Idris, Senior Special Assistant (New Media); Nura Almajiri, Senior Special Assistant (Political Matters); and Zaharadeen Bello Imam, Senior Special Assistant (Protocol Matters). Others are Pharm. Abdul Anka, Senior Special Assistant (Governor's Office); Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, Senior Special Assistant (Media and Public Affairs); and Faruku Shettiman Rijiya, Senior Special Assistant (Press Affairs). Others also are Kabiru Lawal Muhammad, Senior Special Assistant (Domestic Affairs); Shamsuddeen Muhammad, Ali Akilu Bungudu, (SSA Economic Matters); Mugira Yusuf, (Special Assistant on New Media) and Babangida Bisu, (Special Assist

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has approved the appointment of Prof. Kenneth Kalu as Secretary to the State Government (SSG). In a press release signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti approved the appointments of the following: 1. Prof. Kenneth Kalu - Secretary to the State Government. Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD (Chief of Staff to the Governor). Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo (Special Adviser Health Care Delivery Services) Ferdinand Ekeoma (Special Adviser Media and Publicity) Mr. Kazie Uko (Chief Press Secretary to the Governor) Mrs. Njum Onyemenam, Accountant General Mr. Ogbonnia Okereke (Head, Special Task Fore on Emergency Cleanup of Aba & Umuahia). The appointments take immediate effect.

The Senate on Tuesday, May 30, approved over N1trillion for the 2021 and 2022 budgets of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The total amount approved is N1,413,991,634,495.65 for 2021 and 2022 fiscal appropriation years of the commission. While N485,794,575,131 was approved for 2021, N928,297,049,364.65 was approved for 2022. Passage of the budget was sequel to a report of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on NDDC presented at the plenary. The ad-hoc committee chaired by Yusuf Yusuf (APC, Taraba Central) was constituted by the Senate to review expenditures of the NDDC in 2021 and 2022 by management of the commission without approval from the Senate. Yusuf while presenting the report at the plenary complained that details of revenue and expenditures of the NDDC in 2021, 2022 and 1st quarter of 2023 were not provided by the concerned authorities in the Ministry of Finance. He said the refusal of the authorities to provide the information could not allow the committee to ascertain w