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Tinubu’s cost-cutting measures mere window dressing -Timi Frank

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Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Tuesday, dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s cost-cutting measures, describing them as superficial and mere widow dressing.

Frank in a statement in Abuja described the austerity measures purportedly aimed at reducing cost of governance as fake and deceitful.

He noted that while countries like Rwanda and Tanzania have genuinely reduced excessive government spending, the reverse is the case in Nigeria where the president is giving austerity directives on one hand and engaging on lavish spending on the other hand.

Frank recalled that Tinubu had in January 2024 ordered a 60 per cent slash in his entourage and that of his wife, the Vice President and his wife, while on a foreign trip.

He said while the President limited his delegation on such trips to 20, the Vice President, First Lady and wife of the VP were to go with five staff only.

However, he lamented that the President and Vice President have not only increased the number of their foreign trips, large entourage continue to accompany them. Ditto for the First Lady and Ministers.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East,
said: “President Tinubu’s recent cost-cutting measures, including limiting ministers to three official vehicles and reducing their security personnel, is superficial than substantive reforms.

“While these directives may suggest a commitment to fiscal responsibility, they fail to address the underlying issues of Nigeria’s bloated bureaucracy and excessive governance costs.

“Notwithstanding that his plan to merge agencies in line with the Steve Oronsaye Report, has been jettisoned, he has equally encouraged the National Assembly to approve the establishments of zonal development commissions out of which he has assented to the North West and South East zonal intervention agencies’ bills.

“Besides, the President keeps creating ministries with multiple agencies – the latest being that of Livestock and Regional Development.

“The President is well aware that restricting ministers’ vehicles and security details does not tackle the systemic corruption that inflates government expenditures.

“Furthermore, his administration continues to prioritize lavish spending over meaningful reforms, like the purchase of a new presidential jet, approval of 300 per cent increase in salary of judicial officers, building of official quarters for judges being planned by the FCT and the acquisition of a N5billion presidential Yacht.”

Frank equally raised the alarm that by building houses for judicial officers, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, is out to corruptly compromise the judiciary to decide both ongoing and future cases, including electoral disputes, in favour of himself, President Tinubu and all members of the present administration.

“This, among others, reveal a stark disconnect between rhetoric and action especially his removal of fuel subsidies, which have contributed to high inflation and resulted in crushing economic pain for average Nigerians, yet he keeps telling Nigerians to bear his inflicted economic hardships and wait for a better tomorrow.”

He called on the President to abide by his policy of traveling with only 20 persons on foreign trips, as well as the limit of five persons for the Vice President and the First Lady if he is serious about cutting cost of governance in the country.

He also told the President that reducing the fleet of cars in a Minister’s convoy and security detail accompanying any convoy have no significant impact in reducing the cost of governance.

He called on the President and all officials in the three arms of government – executive, legislative and judiciary – to urgently reduce their salaries and allowances by 50 per cent if the administration is serious about reducing cost of governance.

He called on Nigerians to brace up for more painful measures from the President, while urging them to mobilise and vote in a new government in 2027.

General News

Natasha: Senate passes vote of confidence in Akpabio  …..says sexual harassment allegation is before the court

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By George Mgbeleke
Satisfied with the way suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP Kogi Central) for misconduct and her sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
were handled, the Red Chamber on Thursday passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the number three citizen.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio

This followed a motion raised by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central), under Orders 40 and 51 of the Senate Rules on the controversies created by the actions taken on the misconduct and alleged sexual harassment.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for violating the Senate Rules, had described it as an injustice and reported the matter to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU of the United Nations on Tuesday.
Presenting the motion, Senator Bamidele stressed the need for clarity, adherence to legislative rules and a renewed focus on governance despite the heightened public interest in the matter due to allegations made by the Kogi lawmaker.
According to him, at no point between August 2023 and the present was the Senate informed of any sexual harassment claims, adding that the issue at hand was purely about disciplinary measures related to breaches of Senate rules.
“I want to make it clear that the matter referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges had nothing to do with sexual harassment.
“The Senate President did not preside over any case related to such allegations. What was addressed was a flagrant disregard for Senate rules and we followed due process as guided by the Constitution,” he stressed.
Senator Bamidele, who insisted that the Senate took the right decision to maintain order and uphold legislative integrity, refuted claims that the Red Chamber acted beyond its constitutional rights, noting that suspension remains the only alternative to anarchy within the chamber.
“It was never an issue before us that any member of us was sexually harassed and we hold on to that point. We need to put the events of the last two weeks and concentrate. There is work before us and we have done everything possible, ensuring that the electoral reforms and others have legislative expressions,” he added.
The Senate Leader was happy about the IPU’s reaction to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s report, saying the international body acted within its own rules, and that any statements made by the Senator in question at the IPU meeting were done in a personal capacity, not as a designated delegate representing Nigeria.
He said: “It was never an issue before us that any senator was sexually harassed. We need to move past the events of the last two weeks and focus on our legislative responsibilities. There is critical work before us, including electoral reforms, economic recovery, and tax reform bills.
“The 7th schedule of the 1999 Constitution is clear, and we all swore by oath that we will make laws for the good of this country. We swore to that oath and ensured everyone abides by that oath.”
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary session, said it was time to focus on the implementation of the 2025 budget already signed by President Bola Tinubu through legislative functions, especially since the sexual harassment allegation is now before the court.
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HOSTCON Youth Council hails Senator Ned Nwoko on his new  appointment

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Senator Ned Nwoko(right) and Emmanuel Fiawei(left)

HOSTCON Youth Council hails Senator Ned Nwoko on his new  appointment

By David Owei, Bayelsa

Youths of the Host Communities Producing Oil, Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council Of Nigeria (HOSTCON) have described as ” commendable” the appointment of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, Sen. Ned Nwoko as the Chairman, Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft.

According to HOSTCON, the appointment of Sen. Ned Nwoko by the 10th Senate under the leadership of Sen God’swill Akpabio as a game-changer for the entire oil and gas value chain in the nation’s oil industry.

The Host Communities Producing Oil Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council Of Nigeria under the leadership of the National President, Comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Path finder, stated in a statement issued via electronic mail, that the Senator Ned Nwoko-led Committee will salvage the nation’s oil and gas sector and the economic woes of the country.

According to HOSTCON, ” it would never be business as usual for the saboteurs, both locally and internationally because he has already hit the ground running, and Nigerians would see what has never happened in the fight against oil and gas thieves no matter who they are.”

“As a round peg in a round hole, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Other Related Matters, his underground strategies would take these thieves by storm and surprise, and this would usher in lasting solutions in curbing the menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal bunkering activities in the creeks of Niger Delta region and the hinterlands.”

“The Senator Ned Nwoko we know, is a man of courage and master strategist, who has all it takes to rid the oil and gas sector of this ugly menace of sabotage by some devilish persons who have over the years stolen our common patrimony for their self aggrandizement.”

“We must say that Senator Ned Nwoko, a son of the Niger Delta understands the region so deeply and has broad knowledge about the nefarious activities of these plunders of our national wealth, and knows how to marshal out his strategies to change the ugly narrative in the oil and gas sector.”

” His appointment is highly welcomed by all and sundry and due to his pedigree and sagacity as a patriotic, detribalized, and true Nigerian leader who has distinguished himself in serving the nation with national conscience.”

“We also want to assure Nigerians that Senator Ned Nwoko’s 100 days in this saddle will end oil theft and would be resounding and reverberating because we have seen the handwriting already, and that it would bring about a stupendous growth and development of the oil and gas sector in no distant time as he had already commenced the job by leading a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, seeking a partnership with the military to curb the menace, and also has set up and inaugurated a surveillance team for overt and covert oversight on oil facilities and institutions.”

“Interestingly, the committee has called for strengthening of intelligence-sharing mechanisms, surveillance operations and fostering of seamless inter-agency collaboration to dismantle the complex networks behind crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region and across the international borders.”

“Recently, he affirmed the The committee’s unwavering commitment and sense of patriotism in its resolve to implement watertight policies, deploy cutting-edge security technology, and ensure that those who undermine the national wealth are held accountable.”

“He also said that the task at hand transcends revenue protection; it is about securing the future, bolstering economic resilience, and creating an environment conducive for national progress.”

“0We want Nigerians to be confident about Senator Ned Nwoko because his track record based on his background as an international criminal lawyer. He has the expertise to ensure these thieves are brought to justice, and also his solid performance on the floor of the Senate and impact on his senatorial district is amazing as he has moved numerous life changing motions and bills been sponsored by distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko on the floor of the Red Chambers within the one and half years under the President Bola Tinubu ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra has drastically transformed the lives of his people.”

“Therefore at this juncture, the leadership of the HOSTCON YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA, under comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Pathfinder, National Exco, elders and Board of Trustees, throw our full weight behind Sen Ned Nwoko-led Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Other Related Matters.”

“We at HOSTCON, being the most critical umbrella body that is the ears, eyes, strength, energy and heart beat of the nation’s oil and gas producing communities in the creeks as well the strength and the life-wire of the nation’s economy will partner with the 10th Senate under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Godswill Akp, through the Chairman of the Senate Add-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Sen Ned Nwoko, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State to join hands together for us to foster a collective responsibility to salvage the economy of our dear country by all means from the hands of this sophisticated oil thieves in collaboration with their foreign counterparts in this illicit business bent to cripple out economy.”

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NAS seeks review of laws against gender-based discriminations and violence ..says gender-based biases at the homestead

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National Association of Seadogs—Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC) officials

By David Owei, Bayelsa

The National Association of Seadogs—Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC) has called for a review of laws mitigating against cases of gender-based discriminations and violence in the society.

The (NAS-PC), in conjunction with gender based advocacy groups including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State and the Do Foundation, however agreed that despite the needed review, there is the need of addressing gender-based biases at the homestead, noting that perpetrators of gender-based discriminations and violence are often fathers, brothers, and sons.

The Capoon of the Oxbow Marino Deck of the National Association of Seadogs—Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC), Engr. Adogbeji Egbonoje, while speaking during a state-wide radio discussion programme on Radio Bayelsa 97.1 FM, Yenagoa. This year’s theme, “For all Women and Girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment, stressed that paying attention to how sons are raised and groomed would have a profound impact on how they relate with women as adults.

He emphasized the importance of addressing gender-based biases at the homestead, noting that perpetrators of gender-based discriminations and violence are often fathers, brothers, and sons.

He stressed that paying attention to how sons are raised and groomed would have a profound impact on how they relate with women as adults.

He also highlighted the significance of cultivating the mind of the girl child from infancy, instilling confidence in young girls as they venture into the world as adults,” This, he believed, would empower them to withstand negative peer pressures and chart their paths in life.”

Also speaking on the radio discussion programme, the National Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),Barr. Ebiere Emmanuella and the Former Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry also shared expert insights on the historical context of International Women’s Day, progress made in gender equality, and the importance of education and policy changes in addressing systemic barriers.

The two legal experts pointed out the the roles of organizations like FIDA and the NBA in supporting marginalized women and pointed out contending issues of workplace equality, women’s leadership, and the role of men as allies in the fight for gender equality.

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