IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has directed the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, ambassadors, heads of agencies, and other government appointees with political ambition to step down. 

In a circular issued on Wednesday, the directive affected the CBN Governor who is among the heads of extra-ministerial departments. “For the avoidance of doubt, this directive affects all Ministers, Heads, and Members of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Agencies and Parastatals of Government, Ambassadors as well as other political appointees who desire to contest for elective offices,” read the circular issued hours after President Muhammadu Buhari’s ordered members of the cabinet seeking offices in next year’s poll to resign.

The SGF noted that those affected should hand over to the most senior persons next to them.

“For smooth running of the machinery of government and our foreign Missions, affected Ministers are to hand over to Ministers of State where they exist or to the Permanent Secretary, where there is no Minister of Ambassadors shall hand over to their Deputy Heads of Mission or the most senior Foreign Service Officer in line with established practices,” he explained.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has opted to throw the contest for its presidential ticket open rather than zone it to a particular region of the country.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, announced this decision on Wednesday while briefing reporters at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after the NEC meeting. He informed reporters that the decision was part of the resolutions reached at the end of the 96th PDP NEC meeting, which was well attended by various party leaders.

“After a very extensive deliberation, NEC aligned with the recommendation of the PDP National Zoning Committee that the presidential election should now be left open. The Party should also work towards consensus candidate where possible,” the communique read in part.

“NEC noted the recommendation of the Zoning Committee that in the interest of justice and fair play, the Party should take decision on Zoning timeously so as to prevent complications to the process.”

They have scored 261 goals between them, made 13 trips to a total of eight different countries and been involved in six penalty shootouts. Now Chelsea and Liverpool are preparing to meet in the FA Cup final towards the end of what has been an exhausting season for both clubs.

After Liverpool defeated Chelsea 11-10 on penalties in the Carabao Cup final in February, it is the first time the same teams have met in the League Cup and FA Cup final in the same season since Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday in 1993. The Gunners lifted both trophies that year, winning 2-1 in the League Cup final and 2-1 after extra time in an FA Cup final replay.

The meeting of Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley for the second time in 76 days is an illustration of how deep both clubs have gone in the cup competitions. Liverpool's progression to the Champions League final means they will have played every possible fixture possible this season.

Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage but have played in the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup, winning both competitions.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to consider the plight of students and call off its ongoing strike. He made the appeal at the 19th National productivity day and conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit award held on Thursday.

The President equally urged students in public tertiary institutions to exercise patience as the Federal Government is striving to address the nagging issues in the nation’s university system within the ambit of available resources. Buhari’s appeal came two days after the union extended its industrial action, accusing the government of unwillingness to address its demands.

During Thursday’s event at the State House, President Buhari conferred the 2019/2020 awards on 37 individuals and 11 organizations. So far, three-hundred and eighty-two individuals and 97 organizations have been awarded since the ceremony began in February 1991.

Among the awardees is the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, who was honoured for his role in advancing agriculture in the country; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, for his role in the war against COVID; Doctor Chikwe Iheakweazu, former Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN Habitat) has announced the appointment of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu President of the Ugwumba Center for Leadership Development in Africa as its Special Youth Envoy. 

This appointment was one of the major decisions taken at the partnership meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya with the Head of the Youth and Livelihoods Department of the world body, Mr. Douglas Ragan, in which Remy Chukwunyere, the Executive Director of the Ugwumba Leadership Center was in attendance.

The letter reads in part: “The UN Habitat Special Youth Envoy is the first of its kind and it is conceptualized to be bestowed on an outstanding personality not older than 55 years, who has supported and contributed immensely to the development and empowerment of young people, especially in the areas of employment; leadership; innovation; etc.

As the UN Habitat Special Youth Envoy, you shall:

a) Deliver a keynote address at the Youth Assembly during the 11th edition of the UN Habitat World Urban Forum in Poland;

b) Encourage youths from across the African continent to attend the Forum in Poland;

c) Be a Special Guest at all UN Habitat’s events, where you would advocate for issues that affect youths, globally...”

The Board and Management of the Ugwumba Leadership Center hereby congratulates our President, for yet another international honour and recognition.

To God be the glory!

#UgwumbaCares #UN #Africa #Nigeria #Youths #Development

A presidential aspirant, Emeka Nwajiuba, has resigned his appointment as the Minister of State for Education. Nwajiuba, who is seeking to run for president on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), resigned from office on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed the minister’s resignation. The announcement comes a few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) seeking to vie for any elective position to drop their appointment.

President Buhari had issued the directive while presiding over the weekly FEC meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This directive, however, excludes the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, because he is an elected member of the cabinet.

Ministers affected Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation), Godswill Akpabio (Niger Delta Affairs), Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment), Ogbonnaya Onu (Science, Technology, and Innovation), Emeka Nwajiuba (Education – State), and Timipre Sylva (Petroleum Resources – State. All of these ministers are presidential aspirants and have bought the nomination and expression of interest forms of the ruling APC.