FEATURES

FEATURES

No fewer than 40 directors failed the qualifying examination for appointment to the position of permanent secretaries.

A total of 92 directors were listed to sit the examination which took place on May 27, 2024.


While 40 directors scored below 50 per cent, which indicated failure, according to the result of the examination obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, three were absent while one director could not complete the exam.

 

A May 28, 2024 memo by the Office of the Head of Service tagged, “HCSF/ CMO/ AOD/012/IX/59’ noted that the next test will be an ICT-based test.

Recall that the Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, had earlier announced the commencement of the process for the appointment of new permanent secretaries to fill existing and impending vacancies for Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Ondo, Zamfara states, South-East and South-South zones.

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, disclosed this in a circular addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, among others.

In the memo, which she personally signed, Yemi-Esan noted that only directors who attained the position of substantive director on or before January 1, 2022, would be considered in the process.

The circular dated April 19, 2024 and tagged “HCSF/CMO/AOD/012/IX/24 read: “Following the approval of Mr. President, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is commencing the process of the appointment of Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service in respect of existing and impending vacancies for Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Ebony, Jigawa, Ondo, Zamfara States, South-East and South-South geo-political Zones, whose Permanent Secretaries have retired or will retire between April and September, 2024.

“Consequently, the mainstream Federal Civil Service officers who meet the following conditions are eligible to participate in the exercise.”

Giving the qualifications, the memo stated that candidates must “have attained the position of substantive Director on Salary Grade

Level 17 on or before 1st January, 2022; have updated their records on the IPPIS Verification Portal; are from the states or geopolitical zones listed in paragraph one above; and are not retiring from service earlier than 31st December 2025.”


The memo also stated that officers undergoing disciplinary procedures were excluded from the exercise.

In a recent post on his social media account, Nigerian comedian Seyi Law expressed admiration for President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office, highlighting the ongoing progress and areas for improvement.

Celebrating the president’s dedication to repositioning Nigeria, Seyi Law commended Tinubu’s commitment to creating a nation of equal opportunities for all.

He emphasized that the renewed hope agenda is still alive and well, led by the courage of supporters like himself.

 

Seyi Law also commended Tinubu for the successful launch of the student loan program and the impact of the 3MTT program in information technology.

 

He acknowledged the progress made in security matters but also noted that there is still work to be done.

He also applauded Tinubu’s achievements in the Ministry of Interior Affairs, including the ease of passport procurement and improved security at airports through the introduction of e-gates. However, he stressed the need for urgent intervention in the agricultural sector.

Seyi Law further called on the presidency to address pressing concerns such as the new minimum wage and door availability for infrastructural development.

 

he congratulated Tinubu on reaching the milestone of his first year in office and expressed hope for continued blessings on Nigeria.

On his X handle, he wrote:

The journey to reposition Nigeria has been arduous but your unwavering dedication is truly commendable. I firmly believe in your ability to transform Nigeria into a nation that provides equal opportunities for all. The renewed hope agenda remains alive and well, fuelled by the courage that sustains us, your supporters.”

“I extend my personal salute for the successful launch of the student loan program. Your efforts in the field of information technology through the 3MTT program have left a long-lasting impact as evidenced by the beneficiaries who stand as testimonials to your commitment,” he said in part.

He added, “Turning to security matters, the military has made significant strides, although there is still work to be done. In the Ministry of Interior Affairs, your achievements are noteworthy. Nigerians now celebrate the ease of passport procurement and improved security at airports, thanks to the introduction of e-gates.”

However, Your Excellency, alongside our celebrations, there are pressing concerns. Urgent intervention is needed in the agricultural sector and we eagerly await news regarding the new minimum wage. While infrastructural development is commendable, addressing door availability remains a critical priority. In conclusion, I extend heartfelt congratulations on reaching the milestone of your first test in office. May God continue to bless Nigeria”.

Media

Dikko Radda, governor of Katsina, says it would be difficult to address the issue of insecurity without taking measures to alleviate poverty.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, the governor unveiled his administration’s accomplishments in curbing poverty in state since his assumption in office. 

“If you are unable to stop or to reduce poverty and provide the teaming youths job opportunities, it will be very difficult to address the issue of insecurity,” NAN quoted the governor as saying.

“It is true that you don’t need anybody to tell you that there’s poverty. We also understood that the problem of insecurity is attached to the problem of banditry and criminalities that we have in our region. We promised to approach the problem in two ways, kinetic and non-kinetic approach.

 

Radda said it established the Katsina state enterprise development agency, aimed to support small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly micro and small businesses

 

He said the state government set aside a budget of N3.4 billion in collaboration with the Bank of Industries as managers.

“Just in the last three weeks, we launched the training of 3,000 youths across the state on mechatronics, who would be attached to various workshops.

“After their graduation, we’ll support them to set up their own workshops, so that they can provide job opportunities for our teaming youths in the state.

Radda said the state is implementing community centers in villages to develop, provide employment, and support to young men and women in localities.

“We concentrating on the frontline and vulnerable local governments so that the government will address that issue squarely,” the governor continued.

 

“Second way of fighting poverty is to improve productivity. Agriculture is our major occupation, that’s why we created Katsina State Irrigation authority.

“The aim is to have all year-round irrigation farming in the state, that will reduce redundancy, and keep everybody busy.

The governor said the importance of farmers being educated about farming as a business to boost productivity.

He noted that upon his assumption in office, there were only 72 extension workers in the state, but now there are 722.

“Just yesterday we gave each of them a motorcycle and other equipment to enable them move around to enlighten farmers on the way to improve their productivity.

“We also launched the sales of about 20,000 metric tons of fertilizer to farmers in the state at a very subsidised price.

“These are some of the things that we are putting in place to engage the farmers, the youths and the locals to be more productive, reduce the level of poverty and improve their livelihood.”

The governor added that the state government, through the KT-CARES, has supported over 6,100 farmers in the state.

“We also supported women and youths with items worth over N2.5billion to get them moving.”

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, has said President Bola Tinubu defeated Boko Haram terrorists within his first year in office.

Akume disclosed this during a book launch to celebrate Tinubu’s achievements since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

A statement by John Ameh, media aide to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nicholas Ella, on Thursday, said Akume lauded Tinubu for defeating Boko Haram.

 

The SGF also disclosed that security agencies have successfully tackled the activities of kidnappers.

According to Akume: “There is no one that is in doubt of President Bola Tinubu’s giant strides in the last year. The federal government under President Tinubu’s leadership has defeated Boko Haram terrorists.

“President Tinubu, in just one year, has built many roads across Nigeria and other critical infrastructures like the Abuja Metro Rail.”

Secondary school students in Ebonyi State, Thursday defied the directive of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to write their West African Examinations Council, WAEC. 

IPOB had through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, declared May 30th as sit-at-home to honour those who died during the civil war. 

Disclosing how sacrosanct the day is IPOB noted that “Annually, we celebrate 30th of May as our heroes and heroine’s day when we remember the men and women who died that we may live, before, during, and after the Nigeria genocidal war against Biafrans between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.

 

“30th of May is solemn memorial day for Biafrans. To honor our heroes and heroines. Biafrans are asked to observe this one (1) day sit-at-home in reverence to the spirits of our departed heroes who fought for us to be alive today.

 

“Every Biafran in Biafra territory is expected to sit-at-home on this day and reflect on the danger of the force unity called Nigeria that have taken millions of lives of Biafrans. Other Biafrans outside Biafra territory are also encouraged to honor our heroes by observing the sit-at-home if possible or by limiting their activities on this day.

“To that effect, IPOB directs all schools, government offices, Private offices, Banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals to shut down all operations in honor of our heroes and heroines on Thursday, May 30, 2024”.

However, Vanguard observed that the students in the three zones in Ebonyi State are currently writing their examinations under the supervision of the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Nwobasi.

The commissioner while speaking on the Examination, lauded the governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Erishi Nwifuru, for providing adequate security to schools.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane said Ghana is now richer than Nigeria.


Rewane disclosed this in an interview with Channels Television.

The renowned economist said Nigeria has fallen from the 32nd largest economy in the world to 42nd.

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He added that in Africa, the nation has also descended from its 1st ranking to 4th in terms of wealth management and accumulation.


Rewane, who noted that Ghana has also overtaken Nigeria, said, “In the past, we were always richer than Ghana, now we are here. External reserves and GDP figures speak for themselves.”

In March this year, Rewane, the CEO of FDC, was among the appointed members of President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET) with a mandate to formulate and implement a consolidated emergency economic plan.

Speaking on the first anniversary of Tinubu’s term in office, Rewane categorized Nigeria’s economic performance into the good, bad, and ugly based on his available metrics.

He added that the economic metrics and rankings look tough but there is room for improvement in the Nigerian economy.

He said, “Our ranking among African countries has declined. Last year, our GDP growth was 2.98 per cent; South Africa was 1.93 per cent, Kenya four per cent, and Ghana 3.8 per cent. Inflation was 33 per cent for us, five per cent for South Africa, five per cent for Kenya, and 25 per cent for Ghana.

“Our GDP per capita is $1,111, while South Africa’s is $6,700, Kenya’s is $2,000, and Ghana’s is $2,200. External reserves as a percentage of GDP illustrate a tough picture.


“In the past, we were always richer than Ghana, but now we are here. External reserves and GDP figures speak for themselves.”

He added that major policy changes were announced in 2023, including the $1 trillion GDP goal, that the time lag between policy announcements and their effects was a drag on outcomes, and unintended consequences led to social unrest.


“There’s a cost of living crisis in Nigeria, and minimum wage negotiations are a source of widespread conflict. The wrong sequencing of reforms is taking its toll on output. Nigerians and Nigeria need new borrowing to refinance existing obligations, and policy changes, institutional reforms, and new borrowings are expected to lead to positive and faster growth from 2025 to 2026.

“The economic weakness is partly structural and mostly exogenous. Exogenous means from outside, while structural means fundamental. The structural challenges include rent-seeking, market structure issues, energy crunch (4,000 MW), regulatory bottlenecks, declining labour productivity, and demographic pressures including urbanization.

“Exogenous shocks include COVID-19 disruptions, post-COVID global supply chain disruptions, political tensions, high global interest rates, transit developments, the cost of living crisis, wage agitation, and social unrest,” Rewane said.

The economist also reviewed President Bola Tinubu’s promises, policies, and announcements a year after his assumption in office.

“The first promise President Tinubu made was to increase GDP to $1 trillion in eight years. Before then, our GDP was almost $400 billion, so he aimed to double it in eight years.

“He removed petroleum subsidies, unified exchange rates, promised to overhaul the security infrastructure, and also promised to double power generation from 5,000 MW to 10,000 MW in 5 years, which means an increase of 1,250 MW every year.

“Additionally, he promised to bring inflation under control. These were the promises, policies, and announcements.”

The Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) comprises distinguished leaders and key government officials, with President Tinubu serving as Chairman of the PECC.

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi has called out Southeast governors.

Speaking on Thursday, he said Southeast governors should declare May 30 a public holiday to mark the Biafra War.


Amadi said there should be a Biafra Memorial Day in Nigeria.

This is coming amid the shutting down of the Southeast in compliance with the sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

IPOB and other pro-Biafra groups had set aside May 30 each year to remember those who paid the supreme price during the Biafra civil war.

Posting on X, Amadi wrote: “By the way, why can’t Southeast Governors declare May 30 a public holiday to mark the civil war and honor the heroes who died? Nations remember such events. There should be Biafra memorial

“As Governor, I will declare the 30th of May a holiday with public lectures and commemorative events.

“If I am a Governor no group will ever stop students from writing exams because of any ideology or political activity.

“We must protect the freedom of our people and the process of economic and social development. We cannot be playing with law and order.”

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed that university is not a necessity to succeed in life.
 
He stated this on his X account (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
 
The Conservative Party leader stated, “You don’t have to go to university to succeed in life.”
 
The controversial statement has since sparked a heated debate on social media.
 
The 44-year-old’s position stunned many, given his own impressive academic background.
 
Sunak graduated with a first-class bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Lincoln College, Oxford, and later earned a master’s degree from Stanford University in California as a Fulbright Scholar.
 
The Prime Minister’s comments come amid reports that British ministers plan to urge the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator, to limit enrollment in courses that do not lead to “good outcomes.”
 
Rishi Sunak stressed that while the current system fails many individuals, university remains “the right answer” for others.
Two Nigerian soldiers have been reportedly killed in Abia state.
 
According to DailyPost, the soldiers were killed by unknown gunmen enforcing the sit-at-home order on Thursday.
 
The military men were attacked at Obikabia junction in Aba, Abia State, by over 15 masked gunmen who also set their patrol van on fire.
 
A trending video shows the assailants shooting sporadically before setting the military van ablaze.
 
DAILY POST reports that a soldier later emerged, with a voice accompanying the video lamenting that “it’s like he is the only one that survived; others have been killed.”
 
The gunmen operated with an SUV jeep and a Sienna.
 
The Abia State Police Command and the Military have not spoken on the reported incident as of the time of filing this report.

The 36 state governors have been ordered to file their respective defense to a suit instituted against them by the Federal Government seeking for full autonomy for the 774 local government in the country.

The order was given by the Supreme Court on Thursday.


The apex court also ordered the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice to, upon receipt of the governors defense, file his reply within two days.

Justice Garba Lawal issued the order on Thursday while ruling in an application for abridgement of time argued by the AGF, Prince Lateef Fagebemi, SAN.

The AGF had prayed the court to compel the governors to file their responses within five days in view of the urgency and importance of the suit to local government autonomy.

Although the governors did not object to time abridgement, they however requested for 15 days to file defense.

Justice Lawal who led a seven-man panel of justices of the apex court, said that the decision of the court to reduce time was predicated on the national importance and urgency of the suit and the non-objection from the states of the federation.

The Supreme Court held that filing of all processes and exchanging of same must be completed withing the time and subsequently fixed June 13 for hearing of the suit.

Justice Lawal ordered that the eight states that were not in attendance at Thursday’s proceedings must be served with fresh hearing notice.

The eight state are Borno, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Sokoto, whose Attorneys General were absent in court despite being served with hearing notice.