NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Politics

Defections: Stay, build your political parties, Prof. tells opposition politicians

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By Ikenna Osuoha

Prof. Vitalis Orikeze-Ajumbe, former Imo Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has advised members of the opposition political parties to remain in their parties to make them viable and effective.

Orikeze-Ajumbe gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

The professor expressed concern over the level of defection by Nigerian politicians in the opposition, describing it as “selfishness and unpatriotic”.

“There is nothing wrong for politicians in opposition to remain in their political parties no matter how long or circumstances.

“It will make them more viable and effective in their role as watchdogs than joining the ruling party,” he said.

The elder statesman blamed massive defection of politicians in opposition on gluttony and gullibility.

He urged politicians in opposition to rise above individual benefits but be dedicated to defense of the people.

Orikeze-Ajumbe called on Nigerian politicians to shun all manner of political merchandise for a better and greater Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria should always be their priority not their pockets.

The former ANPP Chairman dismissed insinuations that Nigeria was drifting to a one party state.

“Nigeria, no matter what, can never be a one party state, we are above that,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Amos Magaji of the PDP in the House of Representatives defected to the APC on alleged grounds of crisis in the PDP. (NAN)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Maureen Atuonwu

Politics

Senator hails Tinubu for signing Fed. Poly, Rano bill into law

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By Naomi Sharang

The senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Sen. Sumaila Kawu, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his recent assent to the bill establishing Federal Polytechnic, Rano.

Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, Kawu said that the action would guarantee vocational education in Kano State and the country at large.

“The establishment of the institution was not just victory for our community or zone, but a transformative step for Kano State and Nigeria at large.

“It will provide our youths with access to quality, technical and vocational education.

“It will also equip them with the necessary skills to thrive in an increasingly competitive job market,” he said.

According to him, the establishment of the institution will ensure elevation of educational landscape of the country.

Kawu also commended the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Kabiru Rurum, representing Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency, for his commitment and vision.

“I also commend the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau.

“I also express gratitude to the Speaker of the House of Respresentives, Abbas Tajudeen, and other members of the national assembly for their collective efforts at ensuring the successful passage of the bill,” he said.

Kawu urged the government and people of Kano State to rally round the ‘laudable initiative’.

“Let us unite in our commitment to building a brighter future of Kano South and the entire Nigeria, in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu,” he said. (NAN)

(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muftau Adediran and ‘Wale Sadeeq

Politics

Expert blames abandoned projects on under-utilisation of Quantity Surveyors

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By EricJames Ochigbo

A former President of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Malam Murtala Aliyu, has blamed the rising cases of abandoned projects in the country on gross under-utilisation of Quantity Surveyors.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, Aliyu described quantity surveyors as experts in cost management.

Aliyu, who is the Secretary-General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), put the figure of the quantity surveyor currently available in the country at 10,000, saying that this was grossly inadequate.

According to him, when the functions of quantity surveyors are properly understood, their presence will be required at all levels where value for money is needed.

Aliyu said that each of the 774 local government areas and all the 36 state in the country, with ministries implementing capital projects, required the services of quantity surveyors.

“We have universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, construction companies and so on; they all require quantity surveyors in their relevant departments.

“If you look at the situation in the country, I think we (quantity surveyors) are still very few and we need to build up the numbers.

“But because of the approach and the economy, you may still have some quantity surveyors that are either unemployed or under-unemployed, because people are still not going through the process.

”If we go through the process as we should, when we engage the appropriate professionals, you will not have trillions of Naira uncompleted projects in the country.

“Today, if you go around the country and assess the quantum of uncompleted projects, you will be shocked the value of the money tied down that is not being utilised.

“This is because of the under-utilisation of professionals who can generally tell you how to plan your project and how to execute it at the approximate cost within a given time frame,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Politics

ACF ’ll unveil position on tax reform bills soon– Sec.-Gen.

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By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, Feb. 5, 2025 (NAN) Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) says it will soon made known its position on the Tax Reform Bills forwarded to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in October 2024.

Secretary-General of ACF, Mr Muritala Aliyu, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

NAN reports that the ACF is a quasi-political and socio-cultural organisation seeking to promote the political interest of the people of the northern part of the country.

NAN also report that the tax reform bills are: Nigeria Tax Bill, Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

The bills seek to provide fiscal framework as well as clear and concise legal frameworks for all the taxes in the country and reduce disputes in tax administration.

Aliyu acknowledged the need for tax reforms as a way of expanding the tax net and ensuring effective tax collection in the country.

“We agree that the tax system needs to be reviewed, re-evaluated and reformed. We believe that people should be taxed appropriately because a lot of people don’t pay tax.

“We also believe that there should be more efficiency in collection of taxes. We are forward to a mechanism within the tax system that will be able to allocate resources on the basis of consumption and derivation principle,” he said.

The secretary-general said that the forum was concerned about the operationalisation of some of the clauses in the bills when they were eventually passed into law.

He said that the derivation clause in the bill did not capture the interest of the north, while the one on family capital gain tax dealing with inheritances did not align with the existing Islamic principles practiced by Muslims in the north.

“On the tax controversy, we have a committee headed by former Gov. Mohammed Makarfi of Kaduna State, alongside some experts in finance and taxation, academicians and lawyers to look at the bills and come up with recommendations.

“We have the report and we have submitted it to the northern caucus in the National Assembly, both Senate and the House of Reps and the Northern Governors’ Forum; we have also given copies to the traditional institution.

“By the end of this week, the report should be available to the media. These are some of the things we are doing to address some of the challenges in the country,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Politics

Adopt non-kinetic approach to addressing security challenges– ACF

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By EricJames Ochigbo

Secretary-General of Arewa Consultative Forum, Mr Murtala Aliyu, has urged the Federal Government to adopt a non-kinetic approach to addressing insecurity in the north.

Aliyu stated this while featuring at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Wednesday.

The ACF scribe expressed regret that the zone, which used to be a quiet and nice place to live in, had now become an epicenter of insecurity.

“From Boko Haram in the North-East to farmer-herders crisis in the North-Central and banditry in the North-West, various governments had made efforts. Though we have achieved some milestones, there is still a lot to be done about the insecurity in the country.

“In moving from one place to another, like from Funtua to Gusau, Gusau to Kauran-Namoda, Kaduna to Birni-Gwari, parts of Danbua to Maidugiri, Biu to Damaturu, pray that you are not kidnapped for ransom. There is still the risk.

“So there are still challenges in the security of the nation and government must take steps to finding solutions to it; government has mostly used the kinetic approach and I think there is a need for expansion beyond the kinetic approach.

“I know there were cases where bandits were engaged; some of them had given up and captives were released,” he said.

According to Aliyu, insecurity in the north is already affecting food production, as farmers are not allowed to go to their farms, adding that even where they farm, they have to pay some unofficial taxes which add to the prices of food.

“Free movement is affected; the confidence of community members is affected; these are some of the challenges that government needs to sit down and address,” he said.

The secretary-general said that as a socio-cultural group, the forum was marking efforts to ensure security of lives and property in the zone.

He said that ahead of the 2023 general elections, the forum met with the five leading presidential candidates and presented papers to them containing its major concerns.

Aliyu said that this papers contained actions requiring urgent attention, including security, education and poverty alleviation.

Aliyu said that the forum tasked all the candidates to prioritise the issues raised, adding that the north covers almost 80 per cent of the country’s landmark and hosts more than half of the population.

“If you have about 75 per cent of land mass submerged in insecurity and over half of the population in a tensed environment, then you are in trouble,” he said.

Although the secretary-general acknowledged that there had been great progress under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, he, howeve, said that there was still much to be done to secure the zone.

He said that the report of the forum’s security committee, headed by a former Chief of Army Staff, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau and a former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, would be ready soon.

“We have done similar things on peace and reconciliation among communities in the north, between farmers and herders, on religious tension and so on.

“That committee is working and soon, the draft report will be ready and when we finish finetuning it, it will be out for the public,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

National Assembly (NASS) complex
Economy/Business , Politics

Audit queries: Senate decries persistent absence of FIRS, NNPCL, NCS, CBN before panel

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Audit

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate has expressed concern over persistent failure of some critical revenue generating agencies to respond to expenditure queries raised by Office of Auditor-General for the Federation, (OAGF).

It also vowed to report and recommend sack of the chief executives of such agencies to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appropriate action.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Sen. Aliyu Wadada, said these at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said there was the need for the agencies to account for the funds appropriated by the National Assembly, in line with legislative provisions that empowers the parliament to carry out oversight responsibilities.

Wadada said that the auditor-general’s report which had been submitted to the committee raised significant queries on the expenditure of some of the agencies.

He listed some of the agencies that failed to appear before the committee to answer to the audit queries to include: Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), among others.

The lawmaker said that the senate would report heads of such agencies to the president after providing them with another opportunity to answer to the queries.

“All efforts to get Nigeria Customs Service to the table to know how this happen proved abortive.

“It is important for Nigerians to know what happened under “ways and means”, why Central Bank of Nigeria debited borrower and credited borrower.

“Central Bank of Nigeria debited consolidated revenue funds account and credited treasury single account which amounted to over N30 trillion.

“Consolidated revenue funds account is government account, and the TSA is also government account.

“And in charging the interest, instead of the interest to be charged to treasury account, they went ahead again to charge the treasury account.

“They also went ahead to the treasury account and charged the consolidated revenue funds account, which now have amounted to over N6 trillion.

“There were correspondences among the committee, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy and the Debt Management Office (DMO) because of the faulty document which they were not ready to answer and have been evasive,” he said.

Wadada said that the report of the auditor-general for the federation which queried the agencies covered 2019 till date.

He also alleged that Nigeria Satellite Communications Limited had been invited for about nine times, but failed to appear, adding that Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority also fell into the category. (NAN)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Politics

NCDC Bill ‘ll address infrastructural challenges in North Central – Sen. Mustapha

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By Naomi Sharang

Sen. Saliu Mustapha (APC – Kwara Central), has stated that the newly signed North Central Development Commission (NCDC) Bill will help address the region’s infrastructural challenges.

Mustapha, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu had signed the bill into law on Tuesday, officially establishing the NCDC.

Mustapha expressed satisfaction with the development, noting that the North Central region now joined other geopolitical zones in having a dedicated regional development commission aimed at addressing infrastructural deficits and fostering sustainable growth.

According to him, with the signing of the bill into law, President Tinubu has demonstrated a commitment to equitable national development.

He also extended his gratitude to the governors of the North Central states, particularly Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, for their political support in ensuring the successful passage of the bill.

Mustapha further acknowledged the role played by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in making the vision of the commission a reality.

“The establishment of the commission is a significant milestone in our region’s history

“It will serve as a catalyst for development, addressing the unique challenges facing the zone, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, security, and economic growth.

“I am confident that this commission will bring lasting benefits to our people,” Mustapha said.

NAN reports that similar bills for regional development commissions have already been signed into law for the South-West, North-West, and South-East regions by President Tinubu..(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
Politics

INEC tasks political parties on internal democratic principles

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Emmanuel Oloniruha

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tasked political parties to uphold democratic principles in their internal processes.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call at the launch of a book: “100 Years of Political Parties Evolution in Nigeria, 1923 – 2023’’ by Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Abuja on Thursday.

Yakubu, represented by the National Commissioner in-charge of Election and Party Monitoring, Sam Olumekun, said internal democracy within political parties was the foundation upon which credible general elections were built.

He urged political parties to conduct their activities in accordance/compliance with the legal framework – the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, as well as INEC regulations and guidelines.

According to him, political parties form the cornerstone of a democratic society and serve a function, unlike any other institution in a democracy.

The INEC chairman also identified conduct of credible primary elections as one of the key responsibilities of political parties.

“Effective leadership recruitment is made possible only when eligible persons with capacity are selected through duly conducted party primaries and put forward for elections.

“When political parties uphold democratic principles in their internal processes, it enhances public confidence in the electoral system and strengthens democratic governance.

“Unfortunately, we have witnessed instances where lack of internal democracy has led to disputes, litigations and disruptions in the electoral process,” he said.

Yakubu, therefore, said that it was imperative that political parties remained committed to transparent, fair and credible primaries as the county was moving toward future elections.

“I urge all political parties to strengthen their internal governance mechanisms and ensure that their processes reflect the will of their members.

“A democratic society begins with democratic political parties. Political parties must invest in building strong and law-abiding institutions with distinct ideological leanings rather than in installing behemoths,’’ he said.

The INEC chairman urged political parties, civil society organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to actively support and advocate for necessary legislative amendments that would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and make it more inclusive.

He commended IPAC for the initiative of writing the book and those who contributed to its success.

Yakubu said that the publication was not only a celebration of Nigeria’s political journey but also, a profound contribution to the discourse on democratic consolidation in the county.

He expressed INEC’s commitment to continuing to work with IPAC and other stakeholders to ensure free and fair elections that Nigeria’s democracy continued to grow from strength to strength.

A former Senate President, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, in his keynote address entitled: “The Imperative of Nigeria’s Political Stability: Issues and Solutions,”, said the need for a stable Nigeria “is dire and inescapable.”

Anyim said that Nigerians could no longer blame the colonial masters for its challenges after 64 years of independence, stressing that rather, they owed themselves the responsibility to build the country.

He identified the inability of Nigeria to effectively manage its plural composition and lift national consciousness over and above ethnic interests as the basis for every other factor affecting the progress and stability of the country.

Anyim, also a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that Nigeria’s journey to nationhood had been one of the struggles to manage its differences under a system that offered confidence and accommodation to all.

Anyim said Nigeria, as a complex and heterogenous/plural country, needed national dialogue to inspire patriotism and get rid of mutual distrust among the various ethnic nationalities.

“It behooves this generation of leaders and elites to establish that dialogue and reach that consensus that Nigeria surely needs to rid herself and her component parts of the mutual suspicions.

“Nigeria needs to get rid of distrust and antagonisms that have retarded her growth into the stable nation and contending global power she has every potential to be,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Kukah, who was the book reviewer, was represented by the Director, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr Sam Amadi. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Politics

Plateau APC has learnt from its mistakes —Rep. Dafaan

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By Mark Longyen

Rep. John Dafaan, Member, House of Representatives (APC-Plateau; Mikang, Shendam, Quaan-Pan Constituency), says the All Progressives Congress  (APC) in Plateau has learnt from the mistakes that led to its defeat in 2023.

Dafaan, a former Chief of Staff to the immediate past Governor of Plateau and  Senator representing Plateau South, Simon Lalong, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that the lessons learnt would help the party to bounce back in 2027.

According to him, it is the scorecards of APC members from Plateau, who are currently holding political offices at various levels, that will determine the party’s chances of dislodging the  People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“In retrospect, I think we have learnt our lessons from the errors and the mistakes that culminated in the APC’s defeat to PDP in 2023 in Plateau.

“Our scorecards should be able to speak for us in 2027, depending on how we deliver from now to 2027, we will make the difference and bounce back.

“Let the PDP lay its scorecard. We will also lay our own scorecards. And that is what will speak for us,” he said.

He, however, said that leaders of the APC were in the arena of governance and busy delivering dividends of democracy to the people, hence, 2027 should not be viewed as the ultimate goal.

Dafaan, who was declared the winner of the 2023 constituency election after the Court of Appeal sacked its erstwhile PDP occupant, said that he won in the eyes of the Law and by God’s grace.

He urged his opponents and those aggrieved by the outcome of the contest to accept it in good faith and join hands with him to deliver the dividends of democracy to the electorate.

“So, people should live with it and accept the fact that this is God’s will. And, once you accept it, you will live in peace. I am a man of faith.

“The law has spoken. I do not have any argument about that. All I know is that this is my time!

“At the high court and at the tribunal, when the judgement was against me, I just went to appeal. And the grace of God spoke for me.

“God has destined that I will lose six months and collect the rest,” he said.

Dafaan described his experience in the last one and a half years in the National Assembly as exciting, challenging and tedious, adding that the job is “not a walk in the park”

“The most exciting thing about being in the National Assembly is that it gives you a broader perspective of how your people can be better empowered.

“The challenge is that, despite the fact that there are opportunities for our people to be better, the constraints in governance make it difficult to translate these basic things to fruition.

“This is because we only legislate and lobby as legislators. The real action is done by the executive. But the role of the legislature is now assumed to be an executive role,” he said.

The lawmaker said that, in spite of the challenges he faced, he had been able to “weather the storm” and is delivering dividends of democracy to his constituents.

He said that he had been able to provide potable water to his people by drilling about 18 boreholes across the three local government areas that make up the constituency.

Dafaan said that because his constituents are basically agrarian by tradition, he distributed two trailers of chemical fertiliser across the entire constituency in 2024.

He said that he also built, equipped and electrified the Community Secondary School in Baap(Quaan-Pan LG); would soon complete an inherited one in Demshin(Shendam LG); and also trained some youths on ICT.

He said that he had lit up most of the constituency’s communities with solar panels, while efforts are underway to link Mikang and Quaan-Pan LGs to the national grid.

“I intend that we should be able to put the two LGAs on the national grid, but for the time being, we are trying to give them solar light.

“We have also empowered some people, who have now opened business centres within the three LGAs.

“We are also working on having an ICT centre that will be like the training hall for all those interested,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Politics

Niger PDP guber candidate drums support for Bago

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By Rita Iliya

The  governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023  general election in Niger state, Alh. Isah Liman-Kantigi, has urged the people to support Gov. Umaru Bago beyond 2027.

 

 

 

 

Liman-Kantigi stated this during a press conference on Tuesday in Minna.

 

He noted that the governor had performed creditably and deserved the total support of the people in order to consolidate on his achievements so far in the state.

 

 

 

 

The former guber candidate  said that he had received numerous text messages urging him to contest the governorship position in 2027.

 

He, however, declined, saying that he would vigorously campaign against producing a gubernatorial candidate from Zone A.

 

 

 

 

“I want to tell the entire people of Niger state that I officially endorse Umaru Bago as our candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election.

 

 

 

 

“Bago has started a lot of projects which have not been completed. It is my opinion that we should allow him to continue for a second term to complete what he has started,” he said.

 

 

 

 

Liman-Kantigi pointed out that his decision not to contest in 2027 was based a careful assessment of the situation on the ground, and urged others to join him in supporting the incumbent governor.

 

He said that his decision to concede defeat before the final result was announced during the last election was in the spirit of democracy as being practiced in America.

 

The former guber candidate also denied claims that his support for Bago could  have been influenced by contracts awarded to him by the state government.

 

Liman-Kantigi, however, explained that as a party man, he would work assiduously to ensure that the PDP wins other positions in 2027. (NAN)

Edited by Ebere Agozie/ Isaac Ukpoju

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