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More Groups Seek Justice, Fairness for Halima Shehu
The North-East Consultative Assembly (NECA), has joined the growing chorus of concerned groups advocating for justice and fairness in the case of Halima Shehu, the suspended National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
NECA said it found it necessary to add its voice to the calls for a review of the process that led to Shehu’s suspension and subsequent investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over missing N37 billion from the coffers of the Agency.
In a statement signed by the national chairman of NECA, Abba Rious Borguma, said President Tinubu as a meticulous thoroughbred democrat must not compromise his principles for the interests of Ministers in charge of overseeing Agencies and Parastatals.
NECA acknowledges the seriousness of the allegations against Halima Shehu’s supervising Minister, Dr Betta Edu and the need for a thorough investigation.
“The allegations against officials of the Ministry involving unauthorized and fraudulent transfers of funds from the Agency’s Remita account to individual accounts are grave and demand immediate attention,” they said.
The Group urged the President to order an independent administrative enquiry into the allegations of breech by Edu of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulatory policy that restricts the arbitrary interference of ministries in the financial management of Parastatals (government-owned corporations) and agencies under them.
“In contravention of the CBN regulation that seeks to ensure that these entities have autonomy in managing their financial affairs without undue interference from the government, the Humanitarian Minister was said to have masterminded a fraudulent diversion of funds from the NSIPA accounts without the necessary approvals.
“On December 20th, 2023 for instance the Minister reportedly used the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to perform transactions amounting to a staggering N11 billion. These funds were withdrawn from the NSIPA Remita account, without the knowledge or consent of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Accounting Officer of the Agency.
The Group noted that the Minister was recently also fingered in a leaked Memo on the diversion of N585.1m fund for vulnerable groups, saying it is unacceptable and must be thoroughly investigated.
“This deliberate bypass of the Agency’s financial structure which has resulted in monies being paid out running into several billions of Naira out of the Agency’s Remlta Account with the CBN without the knowledge or approval of the National Coordinator of and without due regard to stipulated financial regulations.
“Tinubu must also interrogate allegations of illegal addition of more Signatories and Role players to the said Agency’s account without recourse to me or the Director of Finance and Admin (DFA), thereby opening the Agency to vulnerability of fraud and unauthorised transfer of funds,” the Group demanded.
NECA said it firmly believes that due process must be followed in handling issues related to the suspension or removal of public officers and political appointees confirmed by the Senate. The organization implores President Tinubu to ensure fairness and justice prevail in this case, as it is a fundamental tenet of democracy.
“The North-East Consultative Forum stands with Halima Shehu and seeks a just and fair resolution to this matter. We believe that everyone has the right to a fair hearing and that judgment should be based on evidence and due process, not on political maneuvering or personal vendettas. NECA urges all parties involved to focus on the facts and to act with integrity, transparency, and accountability.
“NECA also calls on fellow citizens and civil society organizations to continue advocating for justice and fairness in this case. It is crucial that the voices of the people are heard and that our leaders are reminded of their responsibility to uphold the principles of democracy and justice.”
In light of disappointing local election outcomes, members of the UK Conservative Party will gather this week to deliberate on the possible removal of their leader, Kemi Badenoch. The urgency stems from a growing concern about the party’s future following significant gains by Reform.
Two senior Conservative backbenchers have confirmed to The Independent that they are initiating discussions with fellow MPs regarding a leadership change. “We cannot continue as we are; she (Ms. Badenoch) is simply not equipped for the task,” stated one MP.
This move follows a disheartening election where the Conservatives lost 15 councils and 674 seats, raising alarms about the party’s viability. Concurrently, Nigel Farage announced that his party has eclipsed the Conservatives to become the primary opposition to Labour, securing 676 seats and overall control of 10 councils.
One Conservative MP remarked, “These results are actually worse than those from last year’s general election. We have somehow regressed.”
Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives faced a significant defeat last Thursday, resulting in the loss of hundreds of councillors and control of 15 councils.
Reports indicate that several Tories have approached Robert Jenrick to consider another leadership bid just six months after his previous attempt failed. While some plotting against Ms. Badenoch are her critics, sources claim that discussions regarding her future involve members beyond the usual factions.
Former Foreign Secretary Sir James Cleverly is also reportedly positioning himself as a centrist alternative to the right-leaning Jenrick, as noted in the report. Over the weekend, Sir James expressed to GB News that while he supports Badenoch, he remains open about a potential leadership bid should the opportunity arise.
Critics within the parliamentary party have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of a clear strategy to counter Reform. An initiative to garner her backing for an anti-Reform task force—drawing on former allies of Farage from Ukip and the Brexit Party—was reportedly ignored, despite backing from prominent Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash.
One senior backbencher commented, “I feel as if I’ve been banging my head against a brick wall trying to determine the strategy for confronting Farage and Reform. There has been nothing.”
Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, notably shared on X that all Tory council candidates in his Newark constituency had won, amid a backdrop of hundreds of Tory losses across the country. He dedicated his weekend to fundraising efforts in various regions.
However, one MP voiced concerns: “If we allow Kemi another year, it could spell disaster for us. There are no policies, no ideas, no strategy, and she lacks charisma.”
MPs are assessing that previously secure seats in regions like East Anglia, Essex, Kent, and southern England could be at risk based on last week’s results. There are also grievances regarding her selection of senior staff, particularly former MPs like Rachel MacLean and Therese Coffey. “They just don’t seem to grasp the severity of our situation,” another MP remarked.
Nonetheless, Tory MPs are also wary of new regulations requiring a third of them (currently 41 MPs) to trigger a vote of confidence through letters to the 1922 Committee chair, Bob Blackman. While MPs have yet to publicly advocate for Badenoch’s removal, some Conservatives have.
Jason Smithers, the former Tory leader of North Northamptonshire Council, publicly called for Badenoch’s resignation following the election results, stating, “I cannot comprehend how a party leader can remain in position after such dismal results nationwide.”
Phillip Blond, director of the ResPublica think tank and former advisor to David Cameron, has echoed calls for Badenoch to step down. However, she remains resolute in her position. In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Badenoch argued against the notion that leadership changes can swiftly rectify issues, asserting that the party’s current challenges will not be resolved in six months. She emphasized, “This isn’t merely about winning elections; it’s about remedying our country.”
Despite her statements, Badenoch’s interview seems to have heightened concerns among MPs. One senior MP noted, “She speaks as if we have ample time to turn things around. We do not. It may already be too late. She has left a significant gap for Nigel Farage to occupy.”
Members of the shadow cabinet are attempting to alleviate tensions, advising Tory MPs against moves to unseat Badenoch, emphasizing that she “needs time.”
The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Reform Committee to review existing policy documents and propose comprehensive reforms to ensure the scheme remains effective and responsive to current national needs.
Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday during the inauguration of the committee.
He noted that the NYSC had long been a pillar of national integration, promoting unity across Nigeria’s diverse cultures while providing young Nigerians with valuable life experiences.
“Today signifies an important step forward in our collective journey to improve one of Nigeria’s most valuable national institutions dedicated to unity, empowerment, and development,” Olawande said.
He emphasised the vital role the NYSC had played in fostering national unity and youth development since its inception in 1973, but stressed that it was now time to reassess and modernise the scheme to reflect contemporary realities and challenges.
“As the nation advances, we must improve the institutions that support its development.
“While the NYSC has made remarkable progress, it also faces significant challenges, particularly concerning the safety of corps members, infrastructural deficits, and questions about the scheme’s relevance in a changing socio-economic landscape,” he said.
Olawande explained that the committee’s mandate includes conducting a comprehensive review of the scheme, assessing its current operations, and proposing reforms to make it more secure, innovative, and impactful.
“Our goal is to transform NYSC into a platform that offers youth better opportunities in skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and career development,” he added.
“The committee will also review existing policy documents, laws, and reports guiding the NYSC; engage in consultations with stakeholders nationwide; and recommend legal, policy, and institutional reforms, including improved funding and monitoring frameworks.
“A comprehensive report is expected to be submitted to the Minister of Youth,” he said.
In her remarks, Hajiya Hadiza Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, stressed the need to restructure technical and vocational training in alignment with academic development.
She said such reforms would enable young people to make long-term contributions to their communities and the country.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, proposed the creation of a Teachers’ Corps and Medical Corps for NCE-certified graduates and healthcare professionals, especially those willing to serve in rural areas for a voluntary two-year period.
He said the Teachers’ Corps would help address educational gaps and offer a path to government employment, while the Medical Corps would strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved communities, particularly in maternal and child health.(NAN)
Nigerian government has called for decisive and unified action to unlock the country’s vast natural gas reserves.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed this while delivering a keynote address at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference hosted by Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) on Tuesday in Houston, Texas, U.S.
Ekpo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria into a globally competitive, gas-powered economy.
The theme of the session is: “Harnessing Nigeria’s Gas Potential for Domestic Utilisation and Global Export Market”.
“Nigeria holds over 210 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves; Africa’s largest and among the top ten globally.
“This resource is a divine gift, but it comes with a responsibility—to use it for sustainable development, job creation, industrialisation, and global energy security,”Ekpo said.
He said that “potential alone does not generate growth, action does.
The minister commended PETAN for showcasing Nigeria’s innovation on the world stage and emphasised that the country’s Decade of Gas initiative, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, is central to national energy transformation.
According to him, government is investing heavily in gas infrastructurepipelines, processing plants, and distribution systems, to make gas widely accessible for electricity, manufacturing, transport, and home use.
He said that barriers to industrial gas use were also being dismantled, with incentives created for sectors such as fertiliser production and modular gas hubs.
He also spotlighted innovative solutions like Floating LNG (FLNG), and new regional agreements such as the Nigeria–Equatorial Guinea Gas Pipeline, which aim to commercialise stranded gas and boost exports.
Ekpo stressed that innovation and technology, including digital oilfield solutions, low-carbon gas processing, and emissions monitoring, will be key drivers in this transformation.
He called for greater investment in R&D and closer collaboration between academia, startups, and the private sector.
Addressing the financing challenge, the minister noted that Nigeria must make its gas projects bankable and ESG-compliant to attract global investment amid shifting energy transition priorities.
He commended the efforts of Nigeria’s regulatory agencies, the NMDPRA and NUPRC, for fostering investor confidence through transparency and efficiency.
Ekpo emphasised the need for indigenous companies to take the lead in this new energy era.
“The future of gas in Nigeria is not just for multinational corporations, it belongs to every capable Nigerian entrepreneur ready to act.”
“Nigeria’s gas potential is vast, but it is only through decisive, collective action that we can transform that potential into prosperity—both for our people at home and for our position on the global stage,”he added. (NAN)