Kidney Donation : Late Senator's Family Warns Rumor Mongers

The family of late Senator GNS Pwajok has dispelled rumors making the rounds that their son donated his kidney to former governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State.

While announcing the burial plans for the late Senator which would culminate in interment in Jos on Friday 13 Nov 2015, family spokesman Samuel Dung Pwajok decried unwholesome rumors which he said were adding to the family's grief.

He said ; “We however wish to appeal that at this time of our grief, that the pains of this tragedy should not be compounded by certain actions and spreading of rumours that can only inflame the mood of the family and many of the late Senator’s associates and followers.

“The family wishes to re-emphasise that our son died of Heapato-cellular Carcinoma and has at no time donated any organ of his body to anyone as it is being spread.

“We therefore appeal to these rumour mongers to respect our wonderful son and brother’s memory and feel compassion for the family at this agonising time. We equally request all to let his soul rest in peace."

The family also denied another rumor that the late Senator's mother collapsed and died upon hearing of her son's demise.

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FG will only pay genuine debts owed contractors.

The Buhari administration will only pay genuine outstanding debts owed contractors. 

President Buhari who spoke on Friday during a meeting with the Board of Directors of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc led by Mutiu Sunmonu said that despite the country's prevailing economic challenges, government would meet its obligations to genuine contractors. 

When told at the meeting that construction companies had to bring in skilled workers from abroad due to shortage of skilled construction workers and artisans in the country, Buhari
directed the Ministries of Works, Lands, Housing and Urban Development to prepare and present for approval and implementation, a plan of action for the speedy revitalisation and expansion of the nation’s vocational training centres.

The president vowed to reposition vocational training centers established by the Federal Government across the country as efficient producers of skilled manpower for the building and construction industry.

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Tribunal Chairman Demands More Security

Following the increasing number of cases involving high profile political personalities at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar has written the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to beef up the security around him, his office, home and family.

Although it is not clear whether there is any threat to Justice Umar's life, sources say that his phone lines have been under intense pressure, forcing him to restrict calls.

He is also said to have restricted his movement to his residence and office.

According to a source,
“The application has been submitted to the CJN for necessary contact with appropriate security agencies.

“I think the letter was just a pre-emptive step to guarantee adequate security for the judge in view of the increasing number of sensitive matters at the tribunal."

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No retinue of aides, protocol Staff, large convoys for Buhari's ministers - Ngige

Indications are emerging that President Buhari’s incoming ministers will have to operate a lean budget devoid of the flamboyance associated with such offices in the past.

Minister designate and former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chris Ngige on Saturday gave an insight into what is expected of the new ministers at the end of a two day retreat organized for them by the presidency at Aso Villa.

“Leakages, retinue of aides, protocol staff, large convoys of cars are things that will not fly in this administration,” he said.

Ngige said that he and his colleagues have resolved to be part of the change agenda of the present administration.

He added that it is immaterial whether a minister has a portfolio or not, as long as he is able to contribute ideas to the Federal Executive Council.

“If you have portfolio, or if you don’t have portfolio, it is one single Federal Executive Council. You bring whatever it is on the table. That is not a problem at all.

“We have a right to discuss things around the ministries because it is one single cabinet. The important thing is that we want to move our people from where they are now.

“There is abject poverty, which concerns about 75 percent of the populace.

“So, we need to actually restructure the political and social moment of the country and that is what we are going to do. That means poverty will reduce,” he said.

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Drama in Dasuki's house as DSS and ex-NSA continue vigil.

The Department of State Services, DSS has continued its seige on the Abuja home of former National Security Adviser, Alhaji Sambo Dasuki.

The bone of contention is Dasuki's continued refusal to personally sign for a letter of invitation from the DSS and the latter's insistence that he does so.

Feelers from both sides indicate that the drama could shift to the courts on Monday as both sides are said to be consulting with their legal teams.

DSS operatives have kept vigil at Dasuki's house since Friday while the former NSA has bluntly refused to come out and personally receive the letter inviting him for a chat with the security agency.

According to a source familiar with the issue ;
“The drama has continued in Dasuki’s house. Both the DSS and Dasuki are locked in endless vigil. The DSS insisted on Dasuki personally receiving the letter of invitation but the ex-NSA said it should be given to his aides.

“The tension over the letter peaked in Dasuki’s residence when an Assistant Director of DSS added the caveat that the former NSA must personally sign for it. Dasuki was said to be suspicious of appending his signature to any letter.

“It has been a ding-dong affair. The DSS does not want to invade Dasuki’s residence and the former NSA is under compulsory house arrest.

“Although some visitors had been coming to meet with Dasuki, they were usually subjected to thorough screening while leaving.

“The operatives have conducted their activities with decorum. No visitor or member of Dasuki’s household has been molested so far.

“A new dimension also crept into the matter. Dasuki said if he is wanted in connection with $2 billion arms deal, the invitation letter should not read an audience with the DG of SSS.

“He said the letter brought y the DSS and read to his aides indicated that he was wanted by the DSS DG and not the panel probing arms deal.

“Dasuki also said he cannot be isolated for investigation because the mandate given to the probe panel was from 2007 to 2015. He said many ministers, ex-NSAs, DGs of DSS, and military officers are under the scrutiny of the panel.

“Dasuki said he will only honour a letter of invitation by the panel or a warrant of arrest from a court.”

Sources say that while Dasuki may approach the court on Monday to report the refusal of the DSS to allow him travel overseas for medical treatment, the DSS may approach the court for a warrant of arrest to compel him to answer the arms deal panel's invitation.

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APC will pay N5000 monthly to 25 million vulnerable Nigerians

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday said it is determined to keep its campaign promise to pay N5, 000 each to 25 million vulnerable Nigerians

APC's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that the party has devised creative means to fulfil its electioneering promises, including payment of social security allowance to the unemployed.

His words ;
“The non-implementation of the payment policy so far is due to the fact that it was not included in the 2015 budget.

"The Muhammadu Buhari administration has been busy putting in place measures that will make it possible to start the implementation of this project.

“Such measures include the introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“We are happy to inform Nigerians that as at the end of September 2015, over N1.4 trillion which hitherto was lying unproductive in various commercial banks has been recovered. The money had been lodged in the TSA.”

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Atiku Prays With Buhari In Aso Rock

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Friday observed the Jumaat prayers with President Muhammadu Buhari and other Muslim faithful at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Atiku Abubakar who left the Presidential Villa immediately after the prayers refused to answer questions from State House correspondents.

It is the first time the former Vice President would be sighted at the Villa since the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015.

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