Tinubu Archives | Page 3 of 6

EndBadGovernance: SERAP hands Tinubu ultimatum to release arrested kids

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago01 mins

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued the Federal Government 48 hours deadline to release malnourished children that were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protest in August. The organisation stated this on its X handle on Sunday. “We’ve given the Tinubu administration 48 hours to release the hungry, malnourished children and other #EndBadGovernance protesters from arbitrary detention, or face legal action. “These children ought to be in school, and not languishing in detention,” SERAP stated.

Nigeria pushes for solutions to climate change at CHOGM 2024

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago05 mins

Nigeria has called for urgent and aggressive measures to combat the catastrophic impact of climate change, emphasizing that it is a global crisis that demands immediate action. It also restated its support for the preservation of democracy, the protection of civil rights across the Commonwealth, as well as ongoing reforms in the organisation, focusing more on results-oriented value creation. These, among others, were Nigeria’s priorities at the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Apia, the capital of the Independent State of Samoa, between October 21 and 26. The Nigerian delegation to the meeting was led by the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal, after technical flight issues prevented Vice President Kashim Shettima from representing his boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the summit. Meanwhile, a New Secretary General of the Commonwealth has emerged. She is Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, currently Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. Nigeria and other nations voted for her during the meeting of the Commonwealth leaders on Saturday. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has already congratulated Ghana and the new Secretary General. Speaking shortly after a visit to the Moataa village, a community in Apia decorated with Nigerian colours and flags, Lawal, who was immediately delegated by the President to stand in for VP Shettima, told world leaders at CHOGM 2024 that Nigeria has had its unpalatable share of the devastating impact of climate change through flooding, degraded lands and rising sea levels. “We need to address the climate challenge very strongly because of its effect on our society; it is a global phenomenon. We have experienced flooding in our country, degraded lands and rising sea levels, among others. “Now is the time to join forces at the level of the Commonwealth to address these issues,” the Minister stated, adding that Nigeria’s positions on the environment, democracy, security, and other issues were prompted by current challenges faced across the world. Lawal noted that Nigeria also made its position clear “in support of democracy and the protection of civil rights across Commonwealth nations, including the processes for strengthening the Commonwealth to make it stronger and more vibrant.” He emphasised that Nigeria also backed and encouraged ongoing institutional reforms at the Commonwealth, reaffirming its commitment to the organisation’s renewal. The Minister also reiterated Nigeria’s support for the new Secretary-General of the body, expressing hope that, with Botchwey’s emergence, there would be more robust engagement between Africa and the Commonwealth. Commonwealth leaders had earlier in their executive session, “welcomed His Majesty, King Charles III, to his first CHOGM as Head of the Commonwealth.” In a communiqué issued by the Commonwealth secretariat at the end of the meeting, the leaders commended the King’s unwavering commitment to a more sustainable and resilient future for the 56 member countries of Commonwealth, and to strengthening education, health and climate resilience, particularly in small island developing states (SIDS), a commitment that has inspired the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme. The leaders reflected on the gathering being the first CHOGM since the loss of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who served as Head of the Commonwealth with extraordinary duty for over seventy years. The meeting also named Antigua and Barbuda as the host of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2026.

Tinubu places limitations on Ministers

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

President Bola Tinubu has restricted Ministers, Ministers of State, and Heads of Agencies of the Federal Government to a maximum of three vehicles in their official convoys. No additional vehicles will be assigned to them for movement. The cost-cutting measure was announced on Thursday in a statement signed by the President. In January this year, President Tinubu took significant steps to reduce government expenditure by reducing his entourage on foreign trips from 50 to 20 officials. For local trips, he reduced it to 25 officials. He similarly reduced the Vice President’s entourage to five officials on foreign trips and 15 for local trips. In the directive issued today, President Tinubu also ordered all ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies to have at most five security personnel attached to them. The security team will comprise four police officers and one Department of State Services (DSS) officer. No additional security personnel will be assigned, he ordered. Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser to engage with the Military, Paramilitary and Security Agencies to determine a suitable reduction in their vehicle and security personnel deployment. All affected officials are expected to comply with these new measures immediately, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of these changes.

SWAN congratulates Shehu Dikko, hails Tinubu for returning to National Sports Commission

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago04 mins

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has hailed the emergence of astute administrator, Mallam Shehu Dikko, as the Chairman of the newly reinstated National Sports Commission (NSC). In a congratulatory letter to the NSC helmsman dated October 23, 2024, signed by the Secretary-General Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, described Mallam Dikko as an experienced and hardworking sports doyen who has proven himself over the years. Part of the letter reads, “SWAN as a professional body celebrates your emergence as the Chairman of the National Sports Commission. Your appointment is a strong indication that the Sports sector will soon experience huge relief from the current burden of ineffectiveness and inefficiencies. “As a known Sports personality, you are not a stranger in the system, both within Nigeria, Africa and beyond. Having undertaken previous responsibilities and delivered outstandingly, your new position as the number one man on the saddle presents new opportunity for you to once again prove your mettle as a team player. “As sporting media, we are quite optimistic in your ability to turn things around as we assure you of our support as always. Being a friend of the media, we believe our partnership will continue to be strengthened as you creatively evolve a progressive and sustainable grassroots development strategy for Nigeria’s Sports.” Meanwhile, the SWAN President has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his apt initiative in reinstating the NSC years after it was jettisoned by his predecessor. The number one sports writer in a statement on Thursday in Abuja said the action of the President is a clear demonstration of his determination to revolutionise Nigeria’s sporting architecture. “This single approach to Nigeria’s Sports Development back with immediate action shows that our President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is headed towards the right direction in returning the lost glory of Nigeria among the comity of Nations as far as Sports sector is concerned. “Sports as second most viable economic growth option globally after ICT requires intense funding and attention as it gives teeming youth the opportunity to be engaged, empowered as well as thrive in their chosen area of endeavours,” he said.

Tinubu appoints Shehu Dikko as NSC boss

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Shehu Dikko as the Chairman of the National Sports Commission. This appointment comes after the president scraped the Ministry of Sports Development and had its functions transferred to the National Sports Commission in order to develop a vibrant sports economy. The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, was redeployed as the Minister of State for Trade and Investment. Dikko, the Kaduna State-born football administrator, was the Chairman of the League Management Company responsible for the management of the Nigerian Professional Football League. He previously served as a consultant for the Nigerian House of Representatives on Sports committee. Dikko contested for the President of the Nigeria Football Federation in 2022, but later stepped down for Ibrahim Gusau who emerged victorious. Also scrapped was the Ministry of Niger Delta which was replaced with Ministry of Regional Development to oversee the activities of all the Regional Development Commissions. Tinubu also merged the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture to become Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.

Breaking: Tinubu scraps Niger Delta, Sports Ministries

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago01 mins

President Tinubu and Federal Executive Council have scrapped Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of sports development. According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, there will now be a ministry of regional development to oversee all the regional development commissions, such as Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission, North East Development Commission. The National Sports Commission will take over the role of the Ministry of Sports. The FEC also approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy. The decisions were taken today at the meeting of Federal Executive Council in Abuja.

Stop misusing DSS, proxies to silence us, SERAP tells Tinubu govt

Our Reporters6 months ago6 months ago011 mins

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu and his government “to stop the ‘weaponization’ of the country’s security agencies to target Nigerians simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights, and to direct the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately withdraw the baseless defamation lawsuit by their proxies against our organization and management staff.” Two named DSS officials last week filed a defamation lawsuit against SERAP, following allegations by the organization regarding the recent invasion of its Abuja office by some officials of the security agency. In the open letter dated 19 October 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “We are seriously concerned that your government seems to be weaponizing the DSS and misusing defamation laws as a tool of repression and to target those who defend human rights.” SERAP said, “Rather than addressing the allegations of widespread corruption in the oil sector and the worsening economic situation in the country, and reducing the cost of governance, your government is targeting those who campaign for actions in these areas.” The letter, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are immediately taken following the receipt and/or publication of this letter. “If the lawsuit is not immediately withdrawn, we will be prepared to defend our organization and management staff in court, and to join your government and DSS in the lawsuit. This may include calling witnesses to ensure justice, end impunity for rights abuses, and achieve legitimate public interests in this matter. “We have since 2004 pursued several public interest cases against the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. This is the first time any government will weaponize the country’s security agencies to intimidate and target our organization. “The defamation lawsuit is brought by two named DSS officials but their names are unknown to our organization. The lawsuit by these officials is apparently instigated and sponsored by the DSS under your watch. “It is critical for human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other citizens to be able to organize and freely exercise their human rights without the threat of baseless lawsuits by your government or its security agencies and/or their proxies. “Weaponizing the security agencies to intimidate, harass and silence human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors will weaken representative democracy, deepen impunity and undermine the rule of law. “Rather misusing the security agencies to crackdown on human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors, your government ought to take steps to thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigate the allegations raised by SERAP. “We are disappointed that your government has so far failed to respond to our recommendations calling on you to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of petrol across its retail outlets. “Your government has also failed to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury and to prosecute suspected perpetrators. “Your government also continues to refuse to obey several court judgments obtained by SERAP, including those which ordered the Federal Government to disclose the details of the agreement with X, formerly Twitter, to assess whether the agreement complies with the exercise of Nigerians’ human rights online and to account for payments of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months. “SERAP had on 9 September 2024 also called on you and your government to direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of our organization and our staff members. “Our call followed the invasion of our Abuja office by some officials of the DSS. SERAP was subsequently served with a defamation lawsuit with number CV/4547/24. “The country under your government has witnessed an escalating crackdown on human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom, as well as socio-economic rights. “The judicial harassment of those who peacefully defend human rights is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations. “Under your government, human rights defenders, activists, journalists and other civil society actors such as the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) continue to face harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary detention simply for carrying out their legitimate work. “The judicial harassment of SERAP by your government and its agencies shows hostility towards civil society actors defending the rights of other citizens, criticizing human rights violations, and challenging a culture of impunity for perpetrators. “SERAP therefore urges your government to end the intimidation, harassment and threats against our organization and management staff and other human rights defenders, activists as well as journalists and other civil society actors, including intimidation, through baseless legal processes. “SERAP strives to ensure that our human rights and anticorruption work meet the highest standards of analytical rigor devoid of politics. Our work is driven solely by the fundamental principles of justice, impartiality, solidarity and universality of human rights. SERAP believes that no government is beyond scrutiny and accountability. “SERAP’s non-partisan work in the field of human rights and anticorruption has been widely recognized nationally and internationally. Our organization received the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award in 2014, and was nominated for the UN Civil Society Award and Ford Foundation’s Jubilee Transparency Award. SERAP was also nominated for the 2024 Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Prizes. “Our organization’s calls on your government regarding the persistent increases in fuel prices and allegations of corruption in the NNPC are based on the constitutional and international responsibilities of your government to Nigerians who are victims of corruption, and your constitutional oath of office. “SERAP believes that it is through action like this that any…

Tinubu celebrates Ooni of Ife’s 50th birthday

Our Reporters6 months ago6 months ago03 mins

President Bola Tinubu proudly joins Nigerians, the people and chiefs of Ile-Ife, and the global Yoruba community in commemorating the 50th birthday of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, the Ojaja II. The President notes Ooni’s extraordinary leadership and maturity since ascending the throne at 41, emphasising his significant role in preserving the rich traditions of the Yoruba people in the ancient city known as The Source. President Tinubu acknowledges Oba Ogunwusi’s deep sense of duty, wisdom, and knowledge as he fulfils his responsibilities as both the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, Osun State, and the revered spiritual leader of the Yoruba people. The President also recognises Ooni’s critical contributions as Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, where he serves as a unifying figure, a steadfast supporter of government policies, and a passionate advocate for religious tolerance, peace, and the unification of our nation. President Tinubu commends Oba Ogunwusi’s tireless advocacy for women and youth empowerment through education and entrepreneurship, underscoring his admirable philanthropy and unwavering commitment to uplifting those in need throughout Nigeria and beyond. With heartfelt optimism and support, the President pays tribute to the Ooni for exemplifying the traditional Yoruba values of humility, peace, and generosity while also honouring the dignity and integrity of his exalted throne. As the esteemed Yoruba monarch celebrates this significant milestone, President Tinubu offers his sincere prayers for the continued success and prosperity of His Imperial Majesty’s reign, which will undoubtedly benefit the people of Ife and the nation at large.