Gist Arena

T he Senate has passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill for second reading. The bill was referred to the Committee on Appropriations for further legislative action. The upper chamber of the National Assembly has also adjourned plenary to December 19, 2017, to allow the standing committees to hold budget defence sessions for federal ministries, departments and agencies. PUNCH

P resident Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate seeking confirmation for Anthony Ojukwu as Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Senate President, Bukola Saraki read letter at Tuesday's plenary. Source:  @ Sumner_Sambo

F ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has visited the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where he is meeting with the caretaker national chairman of the party, Ahmed Makarfi, behind closed doors. Mr. Abubakar arrived the Wadata Plaza secretariat of the party at about 12 noon. A large number of his supporters had arrived the secretariat, located in Wuse zone 5 before his arrival. Mr. Abubakar recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

T hree months of delicate surgery in Dubai, a Boko Haram child victim, Ali Ahmadu, has returned to Nigeria. Ali, who had been on wheelchair in the last four years, can now walk, to the joy and relief of the huge crowd which welcomed him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, yesterday. Full of hearty smiles, Ali moved about freely, amid hugs and handshakes with the crowd. He arrived the country with his aunt, Hannatu Madu, Soordinator of Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care (GIPLC), Nuhu Kwajafa and representatives of Dickens Sanomi Foundation, which footed his bill. In smattering English laced with Hausa, Ali replied “I am fine,” when asked about his health. He stunned the crowd when he said his main aspiration is to be a policeman, so “to save people from harm.” But, it is not over for Ali. Upon his return, Taleveras Foundation has announced scholarship for him, from primary school to the university. Of Ali’s travails, surgery an

G overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has sworn in 28 new commissioners and 27 Transition Committee Chairmen for the 27 local government councils in the state. One of the commissioners sworn in by the governor is his biological sister, Mrs. Ogechi Ololo (nee Okorocha). She is now the state’s Commissioner for Happiness and Couples’ Fulfillment. Ololo, married to Chuks, an engineer, has served in various capacities since Okorocha became governor in 2011. She had, before her new appointment, served as her brother’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Domestic Matters. Swearing in the new commissioners and the Transition Committee Chairmen on Monday at the Imo International Convention Centre, Owerri, the governor charged them to leave their marks in their respective ministries and local governments. He urged them to see themselves as men and women on a rescue mission. Okorocha said, “You are the privileged group that has the opportunity to make na