By George Mgbeleke

The National Assembly on Tuesday clarified recent reports and public perceptions regarding the transmission of one of the Constitution Alteration Bills to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 Statesof the Federation.

Recall that on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq. issued a Press release informing the general public that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill,2026, titled:
“A Bil for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 10 Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services; and for Related Matters,”had been transmitted to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation for their consideration and approval.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is only this particular Constitution Alteration Bill that has so far been
transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly. It is therefore incorrect to suggest or create the
impression that all the Constitution Alteration Bills before the National Assembly have been
transmitted to the States.

“The decision to accord priority to the Bill on the establishment of State Police Service is in
response to widespread public demands and the need to address concerns relating to security and
policing in the country through an appropriate constitutional and legal framework.

“The other Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bills before the National Assembly will be transmitted
to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation upon their passage in identical form
by both Chambers of the National Assembly, in accordance with the constitutional amendment
process.”

Continuing the statement noted,”The National Assembly remains commited to ensuring that the ongoing Constitution Alteration process is conducted transparently, responsibly and in accordance with the provisions of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Members of the public and the media are therefore encouraged to rely on official communications
of the National Assembly for accurate information regarding the status and transmission of the
various Constitution Alteration Bills.”

By Our Correspondent

Controversy trails recent chieftanicy title conferred on the first lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu as a Pan Igbo Socio-political Organization, Imeobi Igbo Forum, Tuesday in Awka, Anambra state capital, condemned in strong terms the conferment of a Chieftaincy title of “Osodieme,” on Sen. Remi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, by Igbo Traditional Rulers’ Council with the latest coming from traditional Rulers in Anambra state, recalling her hatred on the Igbo race.

Insisting that she does not deserve such an honour from the Igbo race, the forum disclosed that she once threatened and massively abused the Igbo residents in Lagos in 2019 during electioneering campaigns, demanding for their being driven out and their property to be confiscated by the Yoruba.

Making the condemnation through her national chairman, Chief Ikegulu Chukwukpezie, the forum reiterated that conferring such honour to her is desecration of Igbo customs and tradition, lamenting that those who are suppose to speak out against the injustices meted out to their Igbo brothers turned deaf ears and endorsed her conferment.

Frowning at their calmness the forum said, “The drum beats are silent.The canopies and chairs returned to the rental. The hired crowd has dispersed. Not minding the way and manner the desecration of Igbo custom and tradition went. All for a woman who has massively abused the Igbo in 2019 in Lagos.

” She pontificated that Igbos should be driven out of Lagos and their properties confiscated and taken over by the yorubas.In another encounter with an Igbo woman voter in Lagos, she sinically claimed that ‘Igbos we no dey trust una again’.

“Ever since, the woman had neither recanted her statements nor apologized to Ndigbo. Imeobi Igbo Forum wonders whether this new love she now professes while collecting titles is genuine? Could it be just for votes? Since when did she restore trust for the untrustworthy Igbos.

“So why are some Southeast political elites falling over each other to please her and endorse her husband? These characters occupying political offices paid glowing tributes to her husband, even promised to ensure that Ndigbo by all means vote for APC, come 2027.

“After these many days of jamboree, what is there for Ndigbo? Or is it just to link up a few individuals to the seat of power to beg, cap in hand?
It was expected that the old and new APC members including those with a foot on two camps, would have sat down with the August guest to secure some mouth watering concessions for Ndigbo.

” Some would say that she is not the president, but having been conferred with the title of Oso di eme, means that she is hand in gloves with her husband in managing or mismanaging Nigeria.If Remi Tinubu is an ‘Oso di eme’, it means that she is an accomplice to all the injustices perpetrated against Ndigbo by her husband’s mismanagement of Igbo concerns.

” Ndigbo want answers to many issues, which include that, young Igbo youths randomly picked up in the pretence of being IPOB/ESN are languishing in various secret detention centres across Nigeria without trial.

“Recruitments and appointments are done in Nigeria federal establishments, excluding Igbos. Loans are procured, for which igbos will be part of the repayment, for infrastructure development, but Southeast zone would not benefit. Rail lines that have crisscrossed Nigeria with a tube train, to go from Lagos to Maiduguri, but have not found its path in the Igbo heartland.
Even the gas harvested in the Southeast is reticulated away, circumventing the Igbo heartland.

“Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway have remained a death trap.No functional seaport in the Southeast which is the destination of most imports in Nigeria.No international airport in the Southeast, with the most travelled population in Nigeria.
So what exactly drives some Igbo political and business elites to support an administration that is more anti Igbo than Buhari administration.

“Greed! No other force than greed for wealth and material acquisitions. Prominent yorubas have ascerted that they are Yorubas before Nigeria. When will the Igbo be Igbo first, before Nigeria? So we ask again, what exactly is the benefit of the jamboree with the First Lady for Ndigbo?
Ndigbo must borrow a leaf from other nationalities in Nigeria, having suffered deadly sabotage and back bitting in the past. We must learn to be our brother’s keeper and demand what is due to us as a people”, the forum maintained.

By David Owei

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has stressed the importance of a strong and professional civil service to effective governance, saying permanent secretaries must serve as a critical bridge between political leaders and the bureaucracy.

Governor Diri, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, stated this on Monday while declaring open a three-day executive training programme for permanent secretaries in Yenagoa.

The training, organised by the Bayelsa State Government in collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), has the theme, “Strategic Leadership and Public-Sector Governance for Effective Service Delivery.”

The Governor said his administration holds the civil service and bureaucracy in high esteem, maintaining that the “bureaucracy is expected to promote order, efficiency, fairness, accountability, proper record-keeping and institutional continuity.”

While urging permanent secretaries to provide professional advice to political leaders and work closely with directors and other professionals within their ministries, Governor Diri stressed the need for continuous learning.

Making reference to the managerial principles of the German political economist, Max Weber, the Bayelsa Chief Executive warned that public servants who failed to update their knowledge could become disconnected from current realities.

He equally urged the permanent secretaries to also recognise the contributions of directors and other officials in their ministries, saying effective administration could not be left to commissioners and permanent secretaries alone.

His words: “Until you have a strong bureaucracy, you can’t run a good government. We should ensure that we are intentional and conscious of that particular role. You are a bridge.

“There are people that are permanent secretaries today. They joined service maybe about 30 years ago, and they are still working with the old knowledge, you can’t fit in now. So, you really have to update through learning.

“Most of the times, you see that activities and decisions in some ministry are between the commissioner and the permanent secretary, or sometimes they add the DFA. You don’t assume you know it all. You must carry your directors and other officers along.”

In his welcome address, the Head of Service, Dr. Ebiye Wisdom Sawyer, said the training was coming at a time when citizens expected government institutions to be more responsive, transparent and efficient.

Dr Sawyer noted that permanent secretaries occupy a strategic position in the machinery of government, with responsibility for policy implementation, strengthening institutional systems and promoting professionalism in the public service.

He also urged the participants to embrace digital transformation and improve administrative processes, data management and access to government services.

According to Dr Sawyer, “Citizens expect government institutions to be responsive, transparent, efficient and capable of delivering quality services that positively affect their lives.”

“Strategic leadership requires more than the ability to manage routine administrative responsibilities. It demands vision, sound judgement, innovation, effective communication, accountability and the capacity to inspire officers towards achieving clearly defined institutional goals.”

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Hon. Perekiye Buruboyefe, urged the participants to open their minds and hearts to the knowledge to be offered during the programme, wishing them a successful training.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), Dr. Sani Abubakar, expressed the institute’s commitment to ensuring that the training achieved its objectives, assuring the state government and participants of the institute’s support.

On his part, the Bayelsa State Director, Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr Jonathan Asigo, said the training would help permanent secretaries understand the guiding principles governing the conduct of public officers and enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Permanent Secretaries Forum, Dr Agadah Zuoboemi, noted that training the leadership of the civil service would have a wider impact on other workers, expressing hope that the trainees would apply the knowledge acquired to improve service delivery across their various ministries.

Present at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. (Mrs.) Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai; Commissioner for Public Utilities, Engr. Karin Kumoko; Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei; and commissioners from the state civil service commission, among others.