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Labour Minister Silent On Probe Report 8 Weeks After

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There is palpable unease in the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, an agency under the Federal Ministry Of Labour Employment over the Minister of Labour Simon Lalong’ s long silence on the report of the investigative panel he constituted to probe allegations of maladministration at the NSITF, many weeks after the committee concluded its work and submitted the report to the Minister

HE, Lalong , the Labour Minister reportedly inaugurated a probe panel with a two-week timeline , following series of internal and external petitions about the maladministration in the Fund. But eight weeks after the committee concluded its work, the Minister is yet make the panel’s report public

The development is said to be raising apprehension and high suspicion among the workers on the integrity of the panel’s work and the sincerity of the Minister to cleanse the Augean table at the Fund and fight corruption in line with the renewed hope agenda of the Tinubu’s administration, he promised at the inauguration of the investigative panel.

For instance, sources at the NSITF revealed that there is a ground swell of a plot by a former Minister of the ruling party, an ally of the embattled MD, to use his party contacts to rubbish the report, confine it to the dustbin and get an escape route and safe landing for the top management staff and their MD who is also under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission,ICPC, for paying herself N47million as gratuity and pension while in still office

Staff concerns are further reinforced by the violation of the civil service rule on interdiction, by the authorities at the supervising ministry for declining to order those facing the probe panel, the MD NSITF inclusive, to step aside while the panel concludes its work

While the Civil Service Rule provides that any officer interdicted or a prima -facie case is established on an offence, or under investigation, such officer should step aside pending the outcome of the of the probe. But in the NSITF case, the workers are worried that the MD and those listed for the probe are still carrying out their official functions, with emphasis on the MD, who declined to appear before the investigative committee but was represented by a proxy in the rank of a deputy general manager

Checks revealed that, that singular act of the MD , like her refusal to provide the necessary files and other relevant support materials required to aid investigation, may have affected to a great extent the work of the committee

TheBigeye, however gathered that the workers are more agitated than before over why a year, since 2022, management promotion is still being withheld to victimize the successful officers, demanding from the Minister the quick release of the 2022 management promotion , while in the same vein, the report of the panel be made public and all the recommendations therein roundly implemented

It was learnt that the workers are vehement over the immediate release of the report suspected to have indicted some top officials . They are agitated that the continuous delay in making the report public could compromise the integrity of the entire outcome of the panel’s findings and recommendations with the suspicion too that the long delay is to enable the MD in cahoots with an ex minister to lobby for a safe landing
Recalled that upon inauguration of the committee early October, the Labour Minister had said, “As the Minister of Labour and Employment, I am committed to addressing concerns regarding the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

To fulfill this commitment, I have taken the initiative to inaugurate a fact-finding committee tasked with investigating these issues and providing a report within a two-week timeframe.

During the committee’s inauguration, I emphasized the vital role that NSITF plays in safeguarding the social security of our workers. It is imperative that we overcome the challenges hindering the organization’s performance to align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to enhance the welfare of Nigerian workers.

The committee’s mandate encompasses investigating alleged irregularities, including the execution of contracts worth 1.8 billion naira, self-payment of gratuities to the Managing Director/Chief Executive while in service, non-release of promotions, irregular employments, and other issues outlined in the petitions submitted to my office” he said .

But almost a month after the inauguration and completion of the investigative panel’s work, the report is still shrouded in secrecy and suspected hi-tech power play

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Tinubu Assures Investors Nigeria Is Open for Business, Welcomes Coca-Cola’s $1bn Plan

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By Francis Wilfred 

President Bola Tinubu has assured local and international investors that Nigeria remains open for business, saying his administration is implementing reforms aimed at creating a more predictable, competitive and investment-friendly environment.

Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Abuja on Monday, the President said the government is addressing key challenges facing businesses under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Our message to investors, both Nigerian and international, is clear: Nigeria is open for business,” Tinubu said,

He noted that reliable infrastructure, efficient logistics, access to foreign exchange, stable regulations and a supportive tax system are critical to attracting investment and expanding production.

According to Yomi Odunuga, the President said ongoing economic reforms are designed to build a more productive and competitive economy, reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local manufacturing and create jobs for Nigerians.

Tinubu welcomed the Coca-Cola System’s proposed $1 billion investment in Nigeria over five years, announced in 2024, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economy. 

He said the administration is focused not only on the volume of investment attracted but also on its impact on employment, skills development, technology transfer and local sourcing.

“We are interested not only in the amount of capital that comes into Nigeria, but in what that capital does here,” he said.

The President also praised NBC’s continued expansion of production capacity, including new production lines in Oyo and Kano states, describing such investments as vital to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving policies, infrastructure and regulations to support businesses, while urging the private sector to complement government efforts through investment, innovation and job creation.

Tinubu further highlighted the importance of human capital development, commending NBC’s Supply Chain Academy for training over 1,400 young Nigerians and supporting women’s empowerment and community development initiatives.

He urged investors to take advantage of opportunities across Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country can build a stronger economy driven by local production, exports and globally competitive industries.

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Kano  Governorship: Accord Party Governorship Candidate Gashash Getting More Endorsement From Kano Electorates.

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By Jabiru Hassan.


The movement for Democratic Protection and good governance (MDSG) declared it's full support to the Accord Party Governorship Candidate Ambassador Dr. Mukhtar Gashash in the forthcoming general elections.

In a chat with our correspondent in kano, the national president of the movement, Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali,  stated that it is time for the people of kano state to bring new steward who is seriously planning to transform the state with highest regard.

He expressed his confidence that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash will do his best to ensure that kano state becomes more examplary at both sector without bias which is the task previous administrators failed to achieve.

Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali reiterated that " this time around, our movement is working day and night to make sure that Kano people mostly youths remained Committed to actualize real change in the state's politics, leadership and transformation under the Accord Party government".

He called on the people of kano state especially the eligible voters to vote Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash due to his Transformation plans for the progress of kano state and it's citizens at both Urban and rural settlements.

Responding to a question about Accord party's strength in kano state, Dauda Mohammed Ali disclosed that in today's democracy, competent candidates should be tipped for an elective positions not the popularity of the political parties stressing that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash has been found to be the best option for kano state due to his track record on competency, transparency as a real democrat.
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Caught in the middle: Ortom’s silent dance between two camps.

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There are growing questions about where Mr. Samuel Ortom, a former Governor of Benue State and a prominent figure in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), truly stands politically ahead of 2027.

Ortom was a key figure in the divisions within the PDP before the 2023 general elections and was widely associated with support for Mr. Peter Obi, who finished third in that contest. More recently, however, he has publicly expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The latest discussion began after a visit by Mr. Peter Obi to Benue State. Reports indicate that a vehicle said to belong to Ortom was used to receive Obi at the Air Force Base airport in Makurdi. It is not clear who authorized the use of the vehicle, and Ortom has not commented publicly on the matter.

During the same visit, Obi was reportedly prevented from travelling to Yelewata, where he had intended to condole with families affected by violence. Obi’s team attributed the blockage to supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

The Governor’s spokesman, Sir Tersoo Kula, denied any involvement by the Governor. He suggested the incident may have been staged to damage the Governor’s reputation, or that it could have resulted from disagreements within Obi’s own support base.

Ortom has not issued a statement clarifying his position on the 2027 elections or on the vehicle in question. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

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