National
Arewa Group Urges Tinubu, Ribadu to Dismiss Dauda Lawal’s Allegations as Baseless Political Maneuvering
The Arewa Concerns Citizens (ACC) has called on President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to dismiss the recent allegations presented by Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, describing them as politically motivated and without substance.
The controversy erupted on Tuesday when Governor Lawal accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, of maintaining ties to the banditry plaguing Zamfara State.
According to Lawal, he conveyed these concerns to both the President and the NSA, presenting what he called “the facts” regarding Matawalle’s alleged involvement in the region’s security crisis.
However, Matawalle, who served as Zamfara’s governor from 2019 to 2023, strongly refuted these claims. He defended his tenure, citing his decision to negotiate with bandits as a strategic measure to reduce violence.
“I have no ties with bandits,” Matawalle said, dismissing the accusations as baseless. “It is unfair to accuse me simply because I chose dialogue as a path to peace.”
In a strongly worded statement, Comrade Mansur Abubakar, the Coordinator of the ACC, expressed concerns over what he termed “the politicization of Zamfara’s security challenges.”
He urged both the President and NSA Ribadu to recognize Lawal’s accusations as a ploy to tarnish Matawalle’s legacy and gain political leverage ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Zamfara’s security and the well-being of its people should not be reduced to mere tools for political ambition,” Kaura said.
“Leaders must act in the interest of the people, not for personal gain.”
Mansur highlighted the success of initiatives led by Matawalle, including the elimination of notorious bandits such as Halilu Sububu, Kachalla Sani black, Kachalla Makore and Baleri Fakai which he credited with restoring a fragile peace to Zamfara and neighboring states.
“These are not coincidences; they are the outcomes of dedicated leadership,” he noted.
The ACC warned against what it described as Governor Lawal’s “underhanded tactics” and called for a sober appraisal of Matawalle’s record.
Kaura concluded by accusing Lawal of seeking to secure his political future through discrediting a rival with a stronger track record.
“In infrastructure, agriculture, and education, Lawal has nothing to show. His campaign against Matawalle is driven by fear of electoral defeat in 2027.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Aisha Achimugu.
The managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Felak Concept Group was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Achimugu was taken in around 5am on Tuesday after arriving in Nigeria from London.
More to follow…
The Federal Government has revealed its intention to begin disbursing the outstanding five months’ wage award arrears, amounting to N35,000, to workers immediately after the April 2025 salary payments. The arrears will be paid in monthly instalments until fully settled.
This information was shared in a statement on Monday by Mr. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), and reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Mokwa clarified that while the Federal Government had previously paid five months of the wage award in instalments, an additional five months remained unpaid. He confirmed that the outstanding arrears would now be addressed through equal monthly payments of N35,000.
He stated that the first payment will be made right after the distribution of April 2025 salaries, with additional payments following each month until the total arrears are cleared.
“The Federal Government is set to pay the outstanding five months’ N35,000 wage award arrears to workers,” he noted.
According to the report from NAN, Mokwa emphasized that the arrears would be paid in monthly instalments of N35,000 over a five-month period, with the initial payment occurring post-April 2025 salary disbursement.
This wage award is part of the Federal Government’s initiative to mitigate the effects of economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and other fiscal adjustments.
Mokwa reiterated the government’s dedication to fulfilling all agreements related to employee compensation and welfare, describing these actions as essential for enhancing productivity and efficiency within the public sector.
### Key Information
In 2023, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) proposed a wage award to support federal workers amid the challenges posed by fuel subsidy removal. In response, the Federal Government introduced a N35,000 wage award in September 2023 as a temporary relief measure for employees on lower salary scales, addressing the economic pressures from subsidy removal and currency reforms.
While partial payments were made between late 2023 and early 2024, delays in later months raised concerns among labor unions. In 2024, after further negotiations, the Federal Government approved an increase in the national minimum wage to N70,000, as part of broader strategies to tackle rising living costs.
The recent announcement regarding the resumption of outstanding wage award payments is expected to honor the Federal Government’s previous commitments.
A group of lawyers under the banner of the Guardian of Democracy and Rule of Law staged a massive protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Monday, demanding a judicial inquiry into the tenure of Mele Kolo Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
The protesters, led by Barrister Benjamin Theophilus, submitted a petition alleging widespread corruption, tax evasion, abuse of office, and misappropriation of public funds during Kyari’s leadership.
The petition highlighted several contentious issues, including inflated costs of refinery rehabilitation contracts, fraudulent crude oil allocations, mismanagement of the AKK Gas Pipeline Project, fuel subsidy fraud, and questionable crude-backed loans.
According to the petition, NNPCL under Kyari spent over $4 billion on rehabilitating the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, far exceeding an initial private-sector proposal of $1 billion for all three facilities.
“Kyari is alleged to have collaborated with consultants and contractors to conceal the actual cost of contracts and evade taxes,” the petition stated, noting that the refineries remain inefficient despite the expenditure.
The lawyers also accused Kyari of overseeing the diversion of crude oil allocations under the pretext of “pipeline security” at a rate of 80,000 barrels per day, with no transparent accountability mechanisms.
The $5 billion AKK Gas Pipeline Project was similarly flagged for irregularities in contract awards and execution, with little progress despite significant funding.
Further allegations include fuel subsidy fraud, with NNPCL reportedly increasing petroleum imports in 2020 during a global decline in fuel consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The petition also criticised crude-backed loans totalling $21.565 billion since 2019, which it claimed disadvantaged Nigeria by ceding trading profits to international traders.
The protesters called for a judicial commission to investigate Kyari’s tenure, probe payments to refinery contractors, and examine past audit failures.
They also urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to investigate suspected tax evasion and fraudulent declarations, while advocating for the recovery of any misappropriated public funds.
The Federal Ministry of Finance has yet to respond to the petition, and NNPCL officials were unavailable for comment at the time of reporting.