Gist Arena

W elcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President Bukola Saraki took the official Prayer and led the Chambers into today’s proceedings at 10.46am. Senator Oluremi Tinubu moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 3rd October, 2017. Senator Fatima Raji-Rasaki seconded. ANNOUNCEMENT Senate President Bukola Saraki welcomed people who were present in the gallery to observe Plenary. PETITIONS Senator Tayo Alasoadura raised a petition from a member of his constituency Corporal Adebayogun against his commander for his unlawful dismissal from the Nigerian Army. Senator Ali Wakili raised a petition from a member of his constituency Retired Colonel Suleiman on a compulsory retirement from the Nigerian Army who seeks to be reinstated. Senate President Bukola Saraki referred all petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in 2weeks. POINT OF ORDER Senato...

T he meeting between the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, and President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled for Friday and not today (Thursday) as earlier reported. A presidency source had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES of the meeting; however a review of the president’s official schedule shows the meeting is set for Friday at 11 a.m. The meeting is coming three days after a memo sent by the minister to the president, complaining about insubordination and alleged corruption by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, was leaked to the media. In his letter, Mr. Kachikwu urged the president to take urgent action to save the NNPC amid a N9 trillion contract controversy involving Mr. Baru. Mr. Kachikwu said the contracts were awarded without following due process. Mr. Kachikwu said he found it necessary to call the attention of the president to the wrongdoings because they were capable of hindering progress in the country’s petroleum sector or eve...

T he Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, will meet President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa today (Thursday). Mr. Kachikwu is slated to meet Mr. Buhari at 11:30 a.m. The meeting is coming two days after a memo sent by the minister to the president, complaining about insubordination and alleged corruption by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, was leaked to the media. In his letter, Mr. Kachikwu urged the president to take urgent action to save the NNPC amid a N9 trillion contract scam allegedly involving Mr. Baru. Mr. Kachikwu said he found it necessary to call the attention of the president to the wrongdoings because they were capable of hindering progress in the country’s petroleum sector or even reverse recorded strides. He also said he resorted to writing the memo because of his inability to have a one on one meeting with the president. The minister is expected to further discuss the allegations with the pre...

F ear has gripped the residents of Bayelsa State as a deadly viral epidemic known as “monkeypox” has broken out in the state. According to the World Health Organisation, monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs primarily in remote parts of Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. “The monkeypox virus can cause a fatal illness in humans and, although it is similar to human smallpox which has been eradicated, it is much milder,” WHO says. It was authoritatively learnt that a medical doctor and 10 persons who came down with the monkeypox had been quarantined in an isolation centre at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state. The isolation centre was reportedly created by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and the epidemiological team of the state’s Ministry of Health to control the spread of the virus. The NCDC and the epidemiological team were said to be tracking 49 other persons who ...

T he family of Asta, wife of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has reacted to comments by Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial district, Hamman Misau. Senator Misau had on Wednesday on the floor of the Senate alleged that the IGP married Asta secretly in Kaduna after allegedly impregnating her. But the family said that their daughter got married to the IGP publicly at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna. Nasiru Baba Saleh, a member of the family, told Daily Trust that Misau lied against their daughter and that he must prove the allegations in court. “We are seriously angry, because this is a girl that grew up in a responsible way. She got a very good upbringing, and we married her out peacefully”, he said. “We see no reason why this man will come publicly inside the chamber of the Senate to say the man impregnated her before he married her. “What is his proof? This issue has gone viral on the social media. Both the mom and dad are cry...