No more special allowances for civil servants - Finance Minister

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has told protesting workers of the Federal Ministry of Finance that the days of paying special allowances to civil servants are far gone.

Addressing the workers who were protesting the non-payment of allowances estimated at about N1.2 billion in Abuja on Thursday, the minister said that government could not afford to pay special allowances.

“When I said at the start of my tenure that I would restore fiscal responsibility to our economy, it was no idle promise. The money we spend is not our money, it belongs to the Nigerian people.

“We need to justify every naira and at a time when all Nigerians are suffering the consequences of the financial crisis inherited from previous administrations, we simply cannot afford to pay out special bonuses to civil servants. Those days are gone,” she said.

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Murder convict to die by hanging in Kano

The killer of the late Kano businessman and Yoruba leader, Ganiyu Akanbi Bello, has been sentenced to death by hanging.

Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano High Court found Abubakar Abdulrahman, 28, guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death.

Abdulrahman was however discharged and acquitted on the second charge of armed robbery.

Abdulrahman was charged with murdering Mr. Bello on the night of June 5, 2014 in his residence at Nasarawa GRA, opposite Kano Race Course by stabbing him in the heart with a kitchen knife.

The prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered several exhibits including the kitchen knife used by the convict to stab Mr. Bello and the victim's Blackberry mobile phone which he had converted to his own use by inserting his own SIM card in it.

The blackberry was part of the circumstantial evidences that nailed the accused.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Adama of the Legal Aid Council had begged the judge to temper justice with mercy because of his aged mother, young wife and son, but the judge declined the plea on the ground that Abdulrahman murdered a breadwinner and showed no remorse during the trial.

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N2.1b arms deals: DSS arrests Ihejirika

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.).
was picked up on Tuesday night at his Maitama residence in Abuja by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.

The arrest is said to be in connection with  the ongoing $2.1bn arms purchase probe centered around the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Confirming the development, a source from the service said ;  “It is true that we picked up the former COAS. He is helping us with investigation into the arms procurement when he was in service, but it is too early to say when he would be released on bail.”

It is believed that Ihejirika's arrest has to do with new leads linking him with some fraudulent dealings in the arms procurement processes during the last administration.

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Read President Buhari’s press release on war against corruption

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, vowed to rigorously pursue the war against corruption in order to rid the country of wanton looting of public resources.

He made the vow while addressing staff of the State House Abuja, who had assembled to welcome him from his two weeks holiday.

"I have never in my life believed in corruption. If we make any mistake in what we are doing and compromise our integrity, the country will be further dragged back.

"We’ll not touch anybody that did not touch public funds. If you behave yourself, you will sleep soundly, your children and families will enjoy respect.

"But if you have short-changed the treasury, you will be caught and you’ll have your day in court.

"I’m asking you to re-dedicate yourself to your country. As I said thirty years ago we have no other country than Nigeria. We are determined to rehabilitate the country for coming generations.

"The process of change is not easy but with your dedication, we can deal successfully with the issues that currently confront us."

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 22, 2016

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President Buhari breaking the Ramadan fast with Service Chiefs (Photo)

On Tuesday evening, President Buhari broke the Ramadan fast with the Service Chiefs (Military, Intelligence services and Police) at the State House, Abuja

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President Buhari with new Secretary-General of OPEC (Photo)

President Buhari received  the new Secretary-General of OPEC, Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo in audience at the State House Abuja on Wednesday.

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President Buhari with new IGP Idris and retired IGP Arase

President Muhammadu Buhari with new Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, outgoing IGP Solomon Arase Chief Of Staff Kyari,on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja.

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