LAMIDO HANDS OVER TO SSG, JETS OUT ON ANNUAL LEAVE

Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, yesterday handed over the state administration to his Secretary to State Government (SSG) Lawan Abdu Babura, a week to inauguration of a new government.
This, he said, will allow him proceed on his annual leave.
Lamido flew out from Dutse International Airport amidst tears from his supporters and well wishers.
In a chat with journalists after his last executive council meeting, Lamido thanked his cabinet members, civil servants and the people of Jigawa State for their support and contribution to his government in the last eight years.
He, however, announced that his commissioners and all other government functionaries would continue in office until 12 midnight of May 29, 2015.

Govt withdraws charges against child bride

                                                                            Wasila
The Kano State government has dropped murder charges against  a 14-year-old girl, who reportedly killed her husband.
The child bride, Wasila Tasiu allegedly thumb-printed a confessional statement while in police custody that she killed her husband, Umar Sani through application of rat poison in his local delicacy.
Tasiu was said to to have taken the action after she was forced to marry the deceased against her wish.
However, a government lawyer,  Abba Lamido Sorondinki made an oral application before the Gezewa High Court, Kano, where Tasiu had been standing trial in the last 20 months that the accused person be set free as the state was no longer interested in prosecuting her.
“I am declaring the government position of dropping the charges against her and she should be set free,” Sorondinki said.

Why APC Held Stakehloders Conference Sets To Mershal Out Policy Agenda

The All Progressives Congress (APC) unveiled its policy agenda today during a conference at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. The agenda’s main focus is on curtailing corruption, reviving the economy and building a larger capacity. The event was attended by experts from various fields, industry leaders, politicians, and business moguls from within and outside of Nigeria.

The guest speaker and former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, spoke extensively on the models and strategies the Party would use to achieve the change promised during the campaign, as expectations of Nigerians are so high.

Withdraw the honorary doctorate degree given to Ngozi Iweala of Nigeria

"YALE UNIVERSITY GAVE ITS PRESTIGIOUS HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE TO AN UNDESERVING NIGERIAN":Ngozi Iweala, the outgoing Nigeria's finance minister was awarded a honorary doctorate degree by Yale University on May 15, 2015. The citation from the Yale University reads:"Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Doctor of Humane Letters. You are a citizen of your country, your continent, and the world. Shaped by challenging experiences during your childhood in Nigeria, you have made social and economic reform your mission. As Nigeria’s coordinating minister of economic development and minister of finance, you have tackled corruption, created a vision and path to long-term economic stability, and worked to build a culture of transparency. At the World Bank, you made food security a priority and provided policy advice and capital for the world’s poorest countries. With wisdom, a fierce dedication to doing what is right, and unflagging energy, you have transformed the economic landscape of your nation. We are proud to name you Doctor of Humane Letter"

APLUC Seal Up Hotel, Schools For Tax Evation

Anambra Property and Land Use Charge yesterday sealed off  sealed-off seven buildings in Awka, including a school and a hotel over the refusal of the owners to pay property rate tax.
The affected buildings are Choice Hotel Ltd., Netherland International School, Chris Moore Lodge and residential buildings belonging to Mr Emeka Akaigwe, Mrs Peace Okeke and Mr Joachim Acho all in Awka.
Some of the guests and passers by pleaded to no avail as the exercise was going on even as the places are now under lock and key with huge implications on the owners especially schools and the hotels, judging from supplies and school still in session.
But the Head, Human Resources and Administration, Anambra Property and Land Use Charge, Mrs Chinenye Okafor, who lead the team of officials in carrying out the enforcement said it carried out the sealing off of the buildings following judgments it obtained from an Awka Magistrate court against the tax evaders.
Speaking in Awka on Wednesday Mrs Okafor said Anambra had 80, 000 tax defaulters, adding that this class of people owed the state government over N2.5bn, adding that about 550 of such cases were pending in courts.

CJN, NOT AGF, DIRECTED ME ON WIKE'S INAUGURATION —BAYELSA CJ

BAYELSA State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, on Wednesday, cleared the air on her involvement in the inauguration of Rivers State governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike, on May 29.
In an exclusive telephone chat with the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday evening, she disclosed that it was the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, that directed her to conduct the constitutional exercise and not the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
Adoke had personally issued a statement on Tuesday, disclosing that the Federal Government had directed her to conduct the swearing-in, to forestall imminent constitutional crisis in Rivers State on May 29, when the tenure of incumbent Governor Rotimi Amaechi would lapse.
Rivers State judiciary has been in crisis over the choice of CJ, with the state president of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Peter Agumagu, also suspended by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The involvement of Adoke as the directing authority had been generating controversy, though it was generally agreed that the directive was constitutional.
Apparently not comfortable with the media reports that she was directed by Adoke, she explained that it was the CJN that wrote to her to carry out the constitutional duty, while the only involvement of Adoke was writing to the CJN to point out the imminent constitutional crisis and the position of the law on the political situation in Rivers State.

JONATHAN ASKS NIGERIANS, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT BUHARI’S ADMINISTRATION

Outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday asked Nigerians and the international community to support the administration of the incoming President, Muhammadu Buhari, to enable him deliver on his promises.
The president made the request as he received members of the African Ambassadors Group, who were on a farewell and solidarity visit.
“The President-elect is not new to governance in Africa so I want you to show the same commitment to him as you have to me. The President-elect knows that our commitment is always to project Africa. I am urging you to extend the same warmth and solidarity you have shown to me to him,’’ he said.
President Jonathan further enjoined African leaders to encourage trade within the continent by building infrastructures and institutions that promote trade and relationships.
The President recalled working extensively for more than five years with other African Presidents to forestall crisis in some African countries, especially in the West African sub-region, and also leading peace efforts in some of the countries like Cote ‘d’Ivoire, Mali and Guinea Bissau.
“I have been involved in solving many problems in African countries for more than five years and I know the enormity and cost of conflicts, especially on the citizenry. We cannot afford that in Nigeria.
“If we were to have a political conflict in Nigeria, I am not sure the sub-region will be able to accommodate our citizens. My commitment is to always put the country before my personal ambition and that is what I have demonstrated,’’ he said.

JONATHAN TO HAND OVER MINISTRIES, AGENCIES’ BRIEFS TO BUHARI MAY 28

In preparation to leave office, President Goodluck Jonathan will on May 28 hand over ministries and agencies' briefs to the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, in a brief ceremony at the Presidential Villa.
Jonathan will also take Buhari on a guided tour of the villa on the same day.
This is just as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved five universities.
The council will equally hold its valedictory session next Wednesday.
This was disclosed Wednesday when the Information Minister, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki, jointly briefed State House correspondents with Education Minister, Ibrahim Shekarau at the end of the council meeting.

WE’RE INHERITING NIGERIA’S WORST ECONOMY IN HISTORY – OSINBAJO

The Vice President-elect, Prof. Yomi Osinbajo, on Wednesday said Nigeria’s economy is in its worst shape in history.
He put the nation’s local and international debt profile at US$60billion with a 2015 debt serving bill of N953.6billion, representing 21 per cent of the 2015 budget.
Osinbajo gave these statistics in his remarks at the opening of a 2-day Policy Dialogue on the Implementation of the Agenda for Change, which began in Abuja on Wednesday.
He noted that an estimated 110 million, out of the nation’s over 170 million population, live in extreme poverty while the largest chunk of the benefits of our national wealth accrues to a small percentage of the population.
According to him, the nation’s dwindling oil revenues has made it difficult for two thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states to pay salaries.

CRACK NNPC IF YOU MUST SUCCEED, BLAIR TELLS BUHARI

Former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair has asked the incoming Nigeria’s president, General Mohammadu Buhari to overhaul the Nigerian National Petroleum corporation, NNPC, saying it was one sure way of tackling corruption and saving more money for infrastructural development.
Blair also asked the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC to switch from its opposition status and assume the posture of head of an organization, stressing that the days of persuasion and agitations were over.
He further stated that Buhari and the APC must be true to their words at all times, saying that the action of the incoming government within the first 100 days in office would determine the kind of goodwill it would eventually have.