In a recent turn, President Bola Tinubu sent three ministerial nominations to the Senate. After a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, this move became a key discussion point in the latest plenary session.
Despite consistent calls, the new list neglects the South East. Previously, Tinubu had released a list of 48 potential ministers. While some regions boasted up to nine nominations, the South East only had its mandatory five. This disparity has led to louder voices asking the President to reconsider.
Balarabe Abbas Lawal is now stepping in, replacing Kaduna State’s Nasir El-Rufai. Additionally, Tinubu has recommended Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Kwara State) and Ayodele Olawande (Ondo State) for ministerial roles. In August, the Senate, after deliberating on the initial 48 names, had given a nod to 45, sidelining three including El-Rufai. Yet, the Senate hasn’t finalized a date for screening the new entrants.
Just after the fuel subsidy removal announcement, President Tinubu suggested measures to soften its blow. Consequently, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, leading the Senate Committee on Gas, proposed a supplementary budget for 2023. The main aim here is to kick-start the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project.
In a bid to support civil servants post the subsidy removal, the Federal Government has rolled out four refurbished buses. These vehicles will cover specific routes until the arrival of the CNG buses.
Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service, unveiled these buses. There’s a 33-seater for the Nyanya-Mararraba-Masaka route. Meanwhile, three other 18-seaters will serve routes like Kubwa-Suleja and Airport-Gwagwalada.
In a recent event in Abuja, Yemi-Esan acknowledged the staff’s commitment and hopes these buses will aid their daily commutes. Bala Mohammed, the Director of General Services, highlighted the government’s dedication, stating, “This move underscores our unwavering commitment.” Concluding the event, Raymond Uwaneyi, Director of Human Resources, expressed his gratitude.
