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  • Tinubu graduated here in 1979 — Chicago State University

    Tinubu graduated here in 1979 — Chicago State University

    The Chicago State University, CSU, on Thursday, said President Bola Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Administration.

     

    In a statement published by CBS News (CBS Broadcasting Inc.), the institution said it was confident in the veracity and integrity of their records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate.

    However, it noted, United States’ federal law prevents “us from providing any further information about Tinubu’s record, without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.”

    The controversies over Tinubu’s academic records took a fresh turn when the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, took it up in a US court.

     

    At a hearing in Chicago, Atiku asked a federal judge to compel the CSU officials to turn over Tinubu’s academic documents and appear for depositions.

     

    Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois did not rule on the request.

     

    Recall that election tribunal had thrown out Atiku Abubakar’s case earlier. But recating, Atiku said the war was not over.

     

    The statement

    The statement from the Chicago State University on Tinubu as published by CBS read: “As an educational institution, we are sometimes asked to provide information related to student records.

     

    “Federal law known as FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release.

     

    “In August 2023, a request was made in U.S. federal court for the university to provide information related to educational records concerning Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, and a former CSU student

    The university has confirmed Tinubu attended CSU and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree. Federal law, however, prevents us from providing any further information without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.

    CSU is confident in the veracity and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate.

     

    “The university is not a party to the Nigerian legal proceedings that spurred this request, and a U.S. federal judge will determine whether the university will provide further requested information.

     

    “Our response to the request for Tinubu’s academic records has been entirely consistent with our practices, policies and federal law. We would respond in exactly the same manner for any request for any student information by a third party.”

     

     

  • Wike not just FCT Minister, but my Adviser – Tinubu

    Wike not just FCT Minister, but my Adviser – Tinubu

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Thursday said that the former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, is not just the FCT Minister but his adviser.

    Tinubu stated this when he welcomed the high-powered 62-man delegation from Rivers state, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He told Rivers State stakeholders that he has heard their cries on infrastructure development especially on the dilapidated Elementary junction-Onne axis of the East West Road linking the Port Harcourt Refinery.

     

    The President in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale was quoted as saying: “The Honourable Minister, Wike, is not just the Minister of FCT, he is also my adviser and an admirer of mine. He has hit the ground running and he should be encouraged by the State”.

     

    Advising the younger generation to be more patient with the processes of government, the President said, “I am the Captain and Chief Salesman of the country. We have to reverse the trend and achieve possibilities within a short period of time. Our people have high expectations for us. I pledge to work hard, and I pray to God to put me on the right path, not to disappoint Nigerians,” the President concluded.

     

     

     

  • Tinubu appoints Zacch Adedeji as FIRS acting boss

    Tinubu appoints Zacch Adedeji as FIRS acting boss

    President Bola Tinubu has appointed Zacch Adedeji as the acting chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).

     

    This was disclosed on Thursday in a statement by the Special Adviser to thePresident on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

    The statement also revealed that the erstwhile FIRS Chairman, Muhammad Nami, has been directed to proceed on three months of pre-retirement leave

    The directive, Ngelale stated, is in line with the provisions of Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243.

     

    “The President has directed the erstwhile FIRS Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, to proceed on 3 months of pre-retirement leave, as provisioned by Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243, with immediate effect, leading to his eventual retirement from service on December 8, 2023,” the statement read.

     

    “Hon. Zacch Adedeji is hereby appointed in acting capacity for a 90-day period before his subsequent confirmation as the substantive Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service for a term of four years in the first instance.”

     

    According to the statement, the new appointment takes immediate effect.

     

    Until his recent appointment, Adedeji was the special adviser to Tinubu on revenue.

     

    He was a former Commissioner of Finance during the administration of later Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi.

     

    Adedeji, a certified accountant who hails from the Iwo-Ate area of Ogo-Oluwa local government of Oyo state, recently bagged his doctorate degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

     

    Adedeji is a first-class graduate in accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University.

  • 100 days: Kano governor commended for human capital development programme, service delivery

    100 days: Kano governor commended for human capital development programme, service delivery

     

     

    Abuja:  A Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Auwal Mansur Galadanchi, has commended the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, for embarking on human capital development programmes aimed at tackling poverty in the state.

    Galadanchi, who gave the commendation on Thursday in a statement released to congratulate the governor on his 100th day in office, hailed him on his service delivery to the people of the state.

    “Your Excellency, it is with great honour and joy that I congratulate you on the commemoration of the 100th day since you were bestowed the mantle of leadership of Kano State.

    “In 100 days, you have demonstrated that politics that delivers service to the people does not have to exclude decency, integrity and compassion.

    “The immediate construction of the Faculty of Engineering Building in the Yusuf Maitama Sule University was an astute and yet nuanced indication of your determination to position Kano State as a knowledge driven hub for technological innovation/ industrialisation.

    “Your decision to provide financial support for 7000 Kano State students, studying at the Bayero University, Kano and your decision to resume sponsorship of First-Class students to pursue Post-graduate Degrees in foreign universities lent proof to your grasp of the need for human capacity development to service Kano State as a modern economy.

    “Furthermore, the reduction of school fees across all state-owned tertiary institutions by as much as 50% highlighted your empathy and strategic move to empower families and young people across the state to join the modern and formal economy without which Kano State cannot emerge as a 21st Century force,” he said.

    He said the distribution of N1.6 billion to the very poor and economically vulnerable people of the state; the approval of payment of benefits to families of deceased employees of the state’s civil service who lost their lives between the years 2018 and 2023; the prompt payment of pensioners; the resumption of water supply across the state, among others, had brought illumination to Yusuf’s purposive personality.

    He said though his administration was ushered in at a very challenging period, “following the mandate freely given by the good people of Kano State, and upon assuming office, it is heartening to see you govern in ways that foreshadow answers to the heartfelt prayers of the people and stakeholders of Kano State; the general populace, friends, admirers, investors and increasingly, political opponents.”(Flowerbudnews)

  • Appeal Court sacks Ndudi Elumelu, affirms LP candidate winner of Reps seat in Delta

    Appeal Court sacks Ndudi Elumelu, affirms LP candidate winner of Reps seat in Delta

     

    Abuja: The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, set aside the judgment of the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal in Asaba which declared Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the Feb. 25 election for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State.

    The appellate court, in two judgments, declared Ngozi Okolie of the Labour Party (LP) as winner of the election.

    The Appeal Court faulted the tribunal for voiding Okolie’s election and proceeded to dismiss the petition filed by Elumelu before the trial tribunal on which the voided judgment was given.

    It agreed with the lawyer to the Labour Party, Mahmud Magaji, SAN, that contrary to the findings of the tribunal, Okolie was duly nominated, sponsored by his party and that he resigned his appointment as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Delta State Government as required by the constitution.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

    Details later …

  • Breaking: Power restored after nationwide blackout in Nigeria

    Breaking: Power restored after nationwide blackout in Nigeria

    Electricity supply has been restored hours after a nationwide blackout due to the collapse of the national grid on Thursday.

    Disclosing this on its Twitter handle, now (X), Eko Electricity Distribution Company told its customers that electricity supply has been restored in the country.

     

    Dear Valued Customer. Kindly be informed that power supply has been restored from the grid. Thank you for your patience,” the company said.

     

     

    had reported how the country’s power supply dropped by 93.5 per cent to 273 megawatts, MW in the early hours of today, from  4,182MW recorded on Monday, this week, following a complete system collapse, due to equipment failure or grid disturbance in the sector.

    The award winning paper had also reported how the Electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos, apologised to their customers and promised to restore supply when the situation improves.

     

     

     

  • Minister assures NRC staff better allowances

    Minister assures NRC staff better allowances

     

     

    Lagos:   The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Sa’idu Alkali, on Wednesday assured staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) that better allowances were in the offing, to improve their welfare and productivity.

    Alkali made the disclosure during a familiarisation visit to the NRC headquarters in Ebute-Meta, Lagos.

    He also assured the NRC management of the ministry’s support, toward realising its statutory functions in all ramifications.

    The minister said that transportation constituted a major organ in promoting economic growth across countries world over.

    “The visit is to evaluate the existing rail infrastructure and ongoing projects with particular reference to Lagos-Ibadan and Kano-Maradi railway modernisation project.

    ” The familiarisation tour of railway facilities and projects within Lagos was interesting, despite a number of discoveries that required urgent executive action,” Alkali said.

    (The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Sa’idu Alkali, and the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation during
    during the familiarisation Inspection to the Nigerian Railway Headquarters in Ebute-Meta, Lagos on Wednesday)

    He said that he would reach out to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Wale Adeniyi, to facilitate the removal of the customs building at APM Terminal.

    Alkali said that there was need to look for lasting solution on the delay in removal of the building, which had prevented the completion of the two standard gauge lines.

    He said the ministry was working towards fixing the single track carrying containers from Lagos to Kano within three months.

    The minister added that the ministry was also working toward expansion of the operational scope of Kajola Rail Wagon Assembly Plants.

    Alkali said that the ministry would ensure completion of Bola Tinubu Station of the standard gauge rail within three weeks.

    He commended the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) for establishing the Rail Wagon Assembly Plant at Kajola as their Corporate Social Responsibility.

    The minister said that the CCECC wagon operation should be expanded to include containers freight at ports, to boost economic activities.

    (The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Sa’idu Alkali, The Managing Director, NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria and Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation Property Ltd. Mr Timothy Zalanga, during the familiarisation Inspection to the Nigerian Railway Headquarters in Ebute-Meta, Lagos on Wednesday)

    Alkali said that this was necessary with the expansion of rail project services across the country.

    He requested the Managing Director of NRC Property Ltd., Mr Timothy Zalanga, to provide comprehensive data of the Corporation’s real estate.

    Alkali said that the Federal Ministry of Transportation would take advantage of bilateral and multilateral agreements
    between Nigeria and several countries on trade and transfer of technology.

    The Managing Director, NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, congratulated the minister on behalf of the entire staff on his appointment.


    Okhiria said that NRC was the bedrock of economic growth and development the country, through mass movement of freights and people.

    He said that railway, thereby, contributes to urbanisation, business expansion and social integration for peaceful coexistence.
    The managing director said that the NRC had faced challenges, which include security threats and vandalism of critical infrastructure.

    “We must commend the effort of various security agencies for securing the NRC facilities for safety of our valued passengers and other stakeholders by arresting and prosecuting offenders.

    “I will also commend the effort of the minister for the visit to Idu Railway Station Abuja, which in fact, and in all honesty, has spurred us to be more proactive.

    ” The visit has shown the minister’s commitment to safe, clean, effective and comfortable train service to Nigeria people,” Okhiria said.

    He pleaded with the minister to use his legislative experience to achieve his mandate of railway modernisation projects.

    Okhiria said that the laying of standard gauge tracks from Kaduna to Kano was in progress, while the next stage would be from Kano to Maradi.

    He also commended the efforts of the minister on the commencement of freight containers haulage from Apapa ports to Kano.

    The President, Union of NRC workers, Mr Innocent Ajiji, pledged to support the new minister for having them in mind to upscale the welfare of the staff. (Flowerbudnews)

     

  • FG moves NIMC to ministry of interior

    FG moves NIMC to ministry of interior

    THE Federal Government has moved the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) back to the Ministry of Interior, its original location when the Commission was established.

     

    Nigerian Tribune gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the relocation from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to the Interior so as to address the intractable problems associated with the National Identity Numbers (NIN) as one of the major conditions for seamless application and obtaining of International Passports and other travelling documents.

     

    Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, Kayode Adegoke also confirmed the development to Nigerian Tribune, saying the Commission has been moved to Interior.

     

    On delays associated with issuance of NIN to Nigerians, especially those with change of birth date and arrangements of a sequence of names, Adegoke said the issues are being addressed.

     

    He disclosed that NIMC would launch a mobile application by this weekend as part of several innovations to tackle the problems.

     

    On whether NIMC is aware that some persons are using the problems to obtain money fraudulently from Nigerians, Adegoke dismissed the insinuations, saying such persons are certainly not from NIMC.

     

    The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had on assumption of office vowed to remove all bottlenecks and encumbrances in the process of issuance of the Nigerian travel document by the Nigeria Immigration Service.

     

    The Minister had on Thursday last week summoned the Acting Comptroller General, Adepoju Carol and Managing Director of Iris Smart Technologies, Yinka Fisher to his office over the over 200,000 international passport pending applications.

    He accordingly gave them

    a marching order, demanding the swift clearance of the over 200,000 backlog of passports in two weeks.

     

    Tunji-Ojo gave the order in furtherance of his earlier promise to remove “bottlenecks in the acquisition of passports and other immigration documents.”

     

    Delays in the processing and enrolment of passports in Nigeria has been a source of frustration for citizens, causing significant delays in obtaining crucial travel documents.

     

    He said: “As far as I am concerned, the issue of passport is a national emergency. I keep getting emails daily from Nigerians complaining. We cannot continue like that.

     

    “It has become an embarrassment to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I represent him here as your minister. That embarrassment is mine now. I am not changing my words. I need the backlog cleared in two weeks.”

     

    It was gathered that government was unhappy that a lot of Nigerians suffer unduly and in most cases extorted by some NIMC officials in the process of correcting date of birth or name in their National Identity Card issued by the Commission. The long process of doing this also causes delay in the issuance of passports to applicants by Immigration.

     

    During the last administration, the NIMC in conjunction with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) collaborated for the linkage of NIN with the Subscribers Identity Modules SIM, to fight incidences of kidnapping banditry, and terrorism.

     

    Over 100 million Nigerians linked their NIN with SIM within a period of three years.

    Nigerian Tribune gathered further that the process of moving out the NIMC to the Ministry of Interior is being accelerated in line with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s directive to remove all impediments and bottlenecks from obtaining NIN, and Passports.

     

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Immigration Service has disclosed that more personnel are being deployed to all its frontline desks across the country to meet the two-week deadline set by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

     

    Tunji-Ojo had a week ago asked the Service to clear the over 200,000 Passport application backlogs in the country. He announced on Tuesday that over 55,000 had been cleared within five days of his ultimatum.

     

    The Service maintained that since the Minister handed down the ultimate, the personnel of the NIS worked even at weekends, including Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that the backlogs were cleared.

     

    The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr Dotun Aridegbe when contacted said the NIS Acting Comptroller General, Mrs Wura-Ola Adepoju has been proactive in responding to the deadline, while all facilities as well equipment are working optimally.

     

    Dr Dotun said:” We have been working seriously to meet the deadline. And even before then, the Acting CG has been extremely proactive.

     

    “Our personnel are working every weekend at all Passport offices around the country. And the frontline desks are working as well, including on Saturdays and Sundays.

     

     

  • Total darkness hits S/East as EEDC operations collapse

    Total darkness hits S/East as EEDC operations collapse

    FOR the second time in two weeks, another round of total darkness has hit the South East following the collapse of operations of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.

    Head of Corporate Communications of EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh in a press statement titled ‘Notice Of Total System Collapse’ said the incident happened at about 12:40am on Thursday.

    The statement said: “The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a total system collapse which occurred at 12:40am today, 14th September,2023.

     

    “This has resulted to the loss of supply currently being experienced across the network.

     

    “Due to this development, all our interface TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) stations are out of supply, and we are unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.

     

    “We are on standby awaiting detailed information of the collapse and restoration of supply from the National Control Centre (NCC), Osogbo.”