Tinubu appoints new heads for PenCom, ICRC, NPC, 6 others  – Newstrends
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Tinubu appoints new heads for PenCom, ICRC, NPC, 6 others 

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Tinubu appoints new heads for PenCom, ICRC, NPC, 6 others 

President Bola Tinubu has appointed new heads for the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Other agencies with new heads are the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NHSA, among others.

According to separate statements released by the presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the appointments take immediate effect.

Tinubu appointed Ms Omolola Bridget Oloworaran as the new Director-General of the National Pension Commission, (PenCom).

Ms. Oloworaran is a finance and banking expert with many years of experience and the appointment is subject to the confirmation of the Nigerian Senate.

The statement added that the “President anticipates a goal-oriented leadership to drive efficiency and superlative performance in the National Pension Commission as the prime regulator of the Nigerian Pension Industry.”

President Tinubu also appointed Mr. Jobson Ewalefoh as the new Director-General of the ICRC.

Ewalefoh is a professional with years of experience in government and development organizations, in addition to expertise in public-private partnerships, public policy reform and development.

The appointment is also subject to the confirmation of the Senate and the President expects absolute dedication and probity in the management of the ICRC and in pursuit of its strategic objective of accelerating investment in national infrastructure through the innovative mobilization of private-sector funding.

For NALDA, President Tinubu appointed Mr. Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo as the new Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer.

Adebayo is an engineer and also a community and social development expert and the President expects the new Chief Executive Officer of NALDA to deploy his competence and experience in supporting and driving the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The statement also stated that President Tinubu appointed Dr. Mainasara Umar Kogo as the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Dr. Kogo is a seasoned lawyer and analyst in the fields of law, security, economy, politics, and international diplomacy.

“The President anticipates professionalism, integrity, and fidelity to the nation in the discharge of the functions of the Office of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), it added.

Other appointments made include, Mr. Saleh Abubakar as the new Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, NAGGW and Mr. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed as the new Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NHSA.

The statement said, “Mr. Abubakar is a highly experienced public administrator with decades of experience across several sectors.

“The President expects diligence and dedication in driving the agency’s mandate of empowering communities to combat land degradation, enhance food security, and build resilience to climate change through sustainable interventions and education.”

For the new DG of NHSA, the statement said, ” Mr. Mohammed is an architect, and also, a construction technology and environment professional.

“The President expects improved outcomes in the agency’s objective of operating and maintaining hydrological stations nationwide, as well as carrying out groundwater exploration and monitoring using various scientific techniques to provide hydrological and hydrogeological data needed for planning, design, execution and management of water resources and allied projects.”

President Tinubu has also approved the appointment of Mrs. Mojisolaoluwa Kehinde Alli-Macaulay as the Executive Director (Operations) of the Fund.

Mrs. Alli-Macaulay is a former lawmaker and former Chairperson of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation, and Job Creation.

The President in a statement issued by his spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, “anticipates a comprehensive re-positioning of the NSITF for enhanced social protection and qualitative service delivery to the Nigerian people

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Tinubu back in Nigeria after France trip

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu back in Nigeria after France trip

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after a brief work stay in France.

President Tinubu arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja around 2:25am on Friday.

He is expected to swear the new Chief Justice Nigeria (CJN) later today at the Council Chambers of the State House, following the statutory retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola from the office.

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The National Judicial Council (NJC), on August 15, after its 106th meeting, recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to Tinubu to replace the outgoing CJN, Ariwoola.

A statement on Thursday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, informed Tinubu will be swearing a new CJN in on Friday.

Tinubu back in Nigeria after France trip

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HURIWA labels Justice Ariwoola as worst CJN ever

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Chief Justice of Nigeria is Justice Olukayode Ariwoola

HURIWA labels Justice Ariwoola as worst CJN ever

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has said the tenure of the retiring Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, left a lot to be desired.

The association said Ariwoola tenure as CJN was a perfect example of how a nation’s judiciary shouldn’t be run.

Within Nigeria had reported that Ariwoola has retired as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, having reached the age of retirement.

Speaking on Ariwoola’s retirement, HURIWA stated that there was nothing to celebrate about his tenure as CJN.

According to the association, his time as the nation’s number one judicial officer was dogged scandals and controversies that bordered on corruption and nepotism.

HURIWA stated that Ariwoola’s tenure was characterised by brazen disregard for the principles of fairness and justice as the defining hallmarks of his leadership and left the judiciary in turmoil, significantly weakening its authority and eroding its credibility.

“One of the most troubling aspects of his time in office was the introduction of nepotistic practices in the appointment of judges,” HURIWA said in a statement signed by Emmanuel Onwubiko, its National Coordinator.

The association highlighted the appointment of Justice Ariwoola’s brother, Adebayo Lateef Ariwoola, as the head of the audit department at the National Judicial Council (NJC), a role that directly answers to the Chief Justice, who is also the Chairman of the NJC.

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This situation, the group argued, presents a clear conflict of interest and raises serious questions about the integrity of the NJC’s financial operations.

Beyond this, the association condemned Justice Ariwoola’s involvement in securing a judicial appointment for his son, Olukayode Ariwoola Jr., as a Judge of the Federal High Court.

“This move, which was met with widespread public outcry, exemplifies the deeply entrenched culture of nepotism that has taken root under Justice Ariwoola’s leadership,” it added.

“Justice Ariwoola’s actions have set a dangerous precedent, encouraging similar behavior among other judicial leaders.

“For instance, the Chief Judge of Abuja, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, following in Justice Ariwoola’s footsteps, appointed his daughter, Maryam Baba-Yusuf on the bench as a judge of the Abuja High Court and allegedly included the daughters of influential politicians, former governors, and ministers among the newly appointed judges.

“The implications of these actions are dire for the Nigerian judiciary. A federal court judge recently remarked that in Nigeria, it is nearly impossible to become a Federal High Court judge without connections to powerful individuals.

“This underscored the extent to which corruption has polluted the judicial appointment process,” HURIWA further alleged

HURIWA labels Justice Ariwoola as worst CJN ever

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N16tn needed to complete inherited road projects – Works minister

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Minister of Works David Umahi 

N16tn needed to complete inherited road projects – Works minister

The Minister of Works, David Umahi has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs over N16 trillion to complete a total of 18,932.50 kilometres of ongoing road projects, with a total of 2,064 contracts it inherited nationwide.

Umahi revealed this at a press conference on the achievements of the ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the total value of all the ongoing projects as at May 2023 was N14.42 trillion.

He said that the amount certified was N4.73 trillion; however, N3.12 trillion was paid, and the amount owed contractors for certified works was N1.61 trillion.

“The funding gap to complete all the inherited projects is about N13 trillion as at May 2023 and will be more than N16 trillion when all projects are reviewed, in line with current market realities.

“This is due to the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira.

“It is a very sound economic decision by this administration, considering the fact that some of the projects have lingered for between five and eight years.

“Consequently, the projects are being reviewed to match current market realities; this position excludes all the new projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the four legacy projects,’’ Umahi said.

According to him, the old traditional method of funding highway projects was through the annual budgetary provision.

He said, however, that over the years, budget provisions have seemed inadequate to address the challenges of highway development.

Umahi stated that to meet up funding for road projects, the ministry embraced alternative funding mechanisms like the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) and Sovereign SUKUK issued by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

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The minister said that other funding included the Road Tax Credit Scheme (NNPCL, NLNG, Dangote, BUA, MIN, Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd., and GZI Industries) and the use of multilateral loans.

Others are the Public Private Partnership (PPP)/Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI) and the newly established Renewed Hope Infrastructure Funding model.

He said that 82 projects were approved under the SUKUK fund, with a total sum of N100 billion invested in road construction and rehabilitation in 2017.

Umahi added that the projects included N100 billion in 2018, N162.55 billion in 2020, and N210.56 billion in 2021; for 2,812 km of road, N110 billion was approved in 2022, and the approved 2023 SUKUK provision stood at N250 billion.

He said that the sum of N2.59 trillion was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the funding of 65 highway projects under Phases I and II of the NNPCL Funding.

The minister said that the projects were to cover a total of 6,358 km, while the available funding for the projects up to 2025 was N2.59 trillion.

“The reviewed total contract sum due to inflation is N5.288 trillion.

“The funding gap for the completion of both phases I and II is N2.702 trillion.

“To date, the total payment made by NNPCL is in the sum of N840 billion, and the total outstanding funding approved by FEC is N1.750 trillion.

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The projects are spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country,’’ he said.

The minister said that the ministry, under its statutory responsibilities over the federal road network, introduced the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) under the Public Private Partnership Unit (PPP).

He said that this was to attract sustainable investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure and maximise the use of assets along the Right of Way (ROW).

Umahi said that the idea behind the private sector engagement was to provide an alternative source of financing for road development and management.

He said that the HDMI was expected to, among other things, bring order, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management, and maintenance of federal highways.

The minister said that the emergent concessionaires would recoup their investments through toll and non-toll revenues, as may be negotiated.

He added that four legacy highway projects were selected under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration for implementation to improve road network and train service connectivity across the six geopolitical zones and boost socio-economic development.

Umahi listed the projects to include the Lagos-Calabar (750 km) Coastal Road Corridor, Sokoto-Badagry (1,068 km) Road, Calabar-Abuja Superhighway Project (482 km) (TransSaharan Road), and Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Road (439 km).

He said that the Renewed Hope mandate of the Federal Ministry of Works included the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of federal road infrastructure nationwide.

N16tn needed to complete inherited road projects – Works minister

(NAN)

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