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President Bola Tinubu has removed the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, from office 13 months after her re-appointment for another four years in office. In a statement issued on Monday by the Head, Corporate Communications Unit of PTAD, Olugbenga Ajayi, the President announced Tolulope Odunaiya as the new Executive Secretary of the directorate. The statement noted that Odunaiya officially assumed office on November 18, 2024, at the PTAD Headquarters, succeeding Ejikeme, who served from August 2019 to November 2024. Tinubu had, in October 2023, reappointed Ejikeme as the PTAD’s executive secretary. In her first address…

The Chadian Government has repatriated no fewer than 600 irregular migrants from Nigeria who were found engaging in begging activities in various parts of the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that thousands of Nigerian refugees have fled Nigeria’s restive Borno state since 2019 at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency to take refuge in neighboring countries of Chad and Cameroon. Mr Muhammed Barkindo, the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), disclosed this to newsmen while profiling the refugees in Maiduguri on Monday. Barkindo said that the migrants were primarily from Borno, Kano, Sokoto and…

Ayodele Olorunfemi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the Ondo governorship election, says Peter Obi and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) ruined his chances of winning. On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Lucky Aiyedatiwa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of the poll. The governor secured 366,781 votes in all 18 LGAs to defeat his closest rival Agboola Ajayi, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 117,845 votes. The LP candidate secured 1,162 votes, finishing fifth from bottom in the 17-candidate off-cycle election. BACKGROUND On the eve of the election, INEC…

STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT   FORMER PRESIDENT OBASANJO WAS NOT AN IDEAL LEADER TO EMULATE   In a recent display of his characteristic self-importance, former President Olusegun Obasanjo once again took to the public stage to bestow his unsolicited wisdom on leadership and governance in Nigeria. From his lofty perch, he blamed those who served after his tenure for the nation's myriad challenges.   Unfortunately, the former leader's habit of casting aspersions on every subsequent administration has devolved into a recurring pastime, overshadowing the expectation of an elder statesman to join a constructive dialogue on attaining national progress.   In…

Rep Philip Agbese (APC-Benue), Deputy Spokesman for the House of Representatives, says the parliament is committed to passing the tax reform bills initiated by President Bola Tinubu despite threats by the state governors. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Mr Agbese said the lawmakers considered the four executive bills “catalysts for economic growth” and would support them despite the governors’ threats to hinder lawmakers’ return to the House in 2027. The bills are Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill. The bills seek to provide a fiscal framework and…

The lawmaker representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa, has continued to receive accolades from his constituents for his effective representation in the Green Chamber. Our correspondent gathered that the lawmaker has initiated several impactful projects in the education sector, including the renovation of schools, the transformation of Ofali Agwu School into Abia’s first smart school, the installation of solar-powered streetlights in some communities within the federal constituency, road construction, training and empowerment initiatives with start-up grants, and many other interventions for his constituency. In an interview with the press on Monday, Mrs Mary…

Four persons have reportedly lost their lives as yet-to-be-identified gunmen opened fire on some residents and security operatives in the communities, in a fatal attack at Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area and Abatete, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday. According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen, suspected to be enforcing the Monday sit-at-home, were said to have arrived Abatete community at about 8:30 am and opened fire on some residents, before proceeding to the Ukpo Roundabout, where they also fired, randomly at many people, including some members of the Anambra State Vigilante Operatives. It was gathered that…

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of three Nigerians as directors-general of various agencies and one special adviser on Public Communications and Media. The newly appointed special adviser is Daniel Bwala, a former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar 2023 presidential campaign organisation. Atiku, a former Vice President contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election, and lost. Bwala was appointed Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications (State House). Other new appointees are Mr. Olawale Olopade -- Director-General, National Sports Commission; Dr. Abisoye Fagade -- Director-General,…