COVER
Reps Ready to Halt Hardship in Nigeria – Minority Whip, Isa
The Minority Whip of the House Representatives, Alhaji Ali Isa JC, has assured that the 10th House of Representatives would work round the clock to halt the hardship confronting Nigerians as a result of the recent removal of fuel subsidy.
Isa who is representing the Ballanga/Billiri Federal Constituency of Gombe state, made this known in an exclusive interview with DAILY ASSET’s Eddy Ochigbo in his office at the House of Representatives.
He expressed gratitude to his colleagues for giving him the opportunity to serve the House as Minority Whip, pledging to serve in the interest of all Nigerians.
He also spoke on other burning national issues.Excerpts:
On his impression about the Speaker of the House of Representatives
“Mr Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker, is very complete gentleman.
A man that has honor and dignity. The first day after the inauguration of the principal officers, he said his major concern, what the House can do would be to ensure that Nigerians that are facing a lot hardship are supported. He has started a lot of consultations with members. First concern is the removal of fuel subsidy. We are aware that Nigerians are facing a lot of hardship. Workers and even the unemployed are suffering from the consequences of the removal of fuel subsidy. But as a leader who is concerned, the Speaker has personally stepped in to see how we can make inputs that will bring about some palliatives to suffering Nigerians”.On his emergence as Minority Whip, a principal position in the House Representatives:
Let me start by thanking God Almighty for giving me the opportunity to even witness the inauguration and also thank my constituents for giving me the opportunity to be reelected as a member of the 10th Assembly. I feel very honored. I came to the 10th assembly just to represent my people and ensure that they get fair treatment the deserve. But after coming to the tenth assembly, my colleagues who are also my leaders across the country, also decided to give me another responsibility. We in the minority in the House decided to show to Nigerians that we are working together. We have four positions in the leadership, the Minority Leader, Minority Whip, Deputy Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Whip. The four positions; after so much consultations; we in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), were allocated with two positions – the Minority Leader and the Minority Whip, then the Deputy Minority Leader went to New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), while the Labour Party (LP) took the Deputy Minority Whip. We know that we have other minority parties, even though the PDP is more with more than one hundred and eighty members. Other parties are less than sixty but what we need in the National Assembly is have everybody’s vote to ensure that the Nigerian voice is head. So we said let’s start by showing leadership by example. So I thank God and honorable members in House of Representatives across the country for considering me worthy to occupy the position of Minority Whip. I feel honored.
Plans for Ballanga/Billiri Federal Constituency:
I don’t think being an APC controlled state would have any effect. Our major concern is just as I keep saying, now we are in governance, the time of politics is over. As far as I am concerned, it is what we can do that our people can benefit. If I lobby for hospitals or schools in other communities in Gombe state, every individual would benefit, no matter which party he or she belongs. The hardship we are facing does not know any political party. So as far as we are concerned, we will work very hard to ensure that projects are brought not only into my federal constituency but to other parts of Northern Nigeria because by virtue of my position as Minority Whip, I represent the north. The position I am holding is not only for constituency but across the country. So we want to work together, even if we are from different political parties, to alleviate the suffering of all Nigerians. Politics will not distract us from bringing development to our people.
On what to expect from the 10th Assembly and how to avoid becoming a ‘Rubber Stamp’
I don’t want to say much about 9th Assembly because I was not part of the ninth assembly. So I don’t know whether they were rubber stamp or not. But one thing I want to assure Nigerians is that we in the 10th Assembly are going to work for Nigerians. We are going to ensure that the voice of Nigerians will be heard, whether it is the voice of the majority or the minority. We will stand by Nigerians and we would work for Nigerians.
His Message to Nigerians
I will appeal to all Nigerians to be patient. We just received supplementary budget today and the major issue we going to consider is like I said earlier, is what would cushion the effect of the subsidy removal. What would reduce the hardship is now our major concern. So I appeal to Nigerians to continue to give us all the necessary support because this House of the 10th Assembly is the house of the common man. It is the house of all Nigerians.
United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has announced plans to raise N157 billion through a rights issue.The disclosure was made via a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd (NGX).It said in a statement on Thursday that its stock brokers, United Capital Securities Ltd., had submitted an application to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.
to that effect. It added its stock brokers had requested for approval and listing of a Rights Issue of 3,156,869,665 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N50. 00 per share“Trading License Holders are hereby notified that United Bank for Africa Plc, through its Stockbrokers, United Capital Securities Ltd., has submitted an application to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.” in that regard.“The rights issue will be on the basis of one new ordinary share for every 13 ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.“The qualification date for the Rights Issue is July 16, 2025,” the bank noted.The move is part of UBA’s strategy to strengthen its capital base and support its expansion and growth objectives across Africa.(NAN)
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Over 4000 substandard and illegal schools have been uncovered and ready to be shut down across the state.The chief press secretary to the Benue State Governor, Tersoo Kula disclosed this at a press conference in Makurdi.Kula was reacting to a statement credited to former commissioner for education and knowledge management, Prof.
Dennis Ityavyar, said that Governor Alia has stabilised the educational sector since coming on board two years ago. ”No more strikes. Schools are moving on smoothly and in a bid to bring teaching and learning closer to the people and address the problem of younger school leavers in securing admission into tertiary institutions, the governor has established a new university.”The establishment of University of Agriculture Science and Technology Ihugh, Vandeikyaa LGA is real..The governor has secured the licence, acquired land and made appointments of principal officers.”This is to address the issue of providing admission for the teeming Benue indigenes seeking admission into Nigerian universities.”The Governor has employed over 9700 teachers to energize public primary schools in the state. Apart from the fact that our primary schools would be energized, 9700 youths have been taken off the streets.”The government of governor Alia has also paid the 38 months earned allowance owed to lecturers at the Moses Adasu University, formerly Benue State University Makurdi”, he said.He maintained that renovation of government secondary schools and colleges across the state are ongoing where ongoing construction of new structures is in some public primary and secondary schools to ensure conducive learning environment.”Public primary schools teachers are trained on ITCs to enhance the teaching and learning of information and technology innovations at elementary level.”This government has been able to identify over 4000 substandard schools in the state and have secured insurance cover for Benue State students and paid bursary allowances in law school students in the state”, Kula stated.Benue Moves to Domesticate National Policy on IDPsThe Benue State Government has commenced a validation process to domesticate the newly federal government policy on Internally Displaced Persons (PDP) in the State.Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management in the State, Aondowase Kunde, stated that upon stakeholders’ inputs into the Internally Displaced Persons policy document, it would be fully launched.He added that the aim is to improve the welfare of the displaced population in the state.Kunde stated this during a two policy validation meeting held at Benue Hotels Makurdi yesterday.He maintained that the document which was passed into law by the national assembly needed to be domesticated in the state in line with the peculiarities of the state.In his remarks, the chairman, House Committee on Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Benue State House of assembly, James Abu Umoro, noted that the state has suffered so many natural and man-made disasters that it requires the policy to be domesticated in the state.Umoru insisted that the house will not hesitate to pass the document into law when presented by the executive arm of government.He said the issue of IDP in the state is a concern for everyone and must be given accelerated consideration at any point in time.On his part, House committee chairman on SDG and Donor Agencies, Peter Uche, noted that in most cases, communities have suffered attacks for more than ten years.”Let me therefore, call on all to support the implementation of the policy document for the displaced to return to their ancestral homes to start their normal farming and business activities”, he stated.The Director General, Sustainable Development Goals, John Akuse, who spoke at the occasion, said the validation of the IDP policy document is vital in paving the way for the displaced population to be adequately taken care of regarding their peculiar needs.
By David Torough, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved the renaming of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State as Muhammadu Buhari University.
“May we now adopt the University of Maduguri as the Muhammadu Buhari University,” Tinubu said at the close of a special session of the Federal Executive Council held to honour Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
The President paid a glowing tribute to Buhari, describing him as “a good man, a decent man, an honourable man” whose legacy of discipline, patriotism and moral uprightness would endure for generations.
Tinubu said although the late president was not without flaws, his unwavering commitment to national service set him apart.
“President Buhari was not a perfect man, no leader is, but he was, in every sense of the word, a good man, a decent man, an honourable man.
“His record will be debated, as all legacies are, but the character he brought to public life, the moral force he carried, the incorruptible standard he represented, will not be forgotten.
“His was a life lived in full service to Nigeria, and in fidelity to God,” he said.
Reflecting on Buhari’s time in office and his long military and civil service, Tinubu praised the late leader’s simplicity, humility, and stoic resistance to the trappings of power.
He said, “He stood, always, ramrod straight; unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause and unafraid of the loneliness that often visits those who do what is right, rather than what is popular.
“His was a quiet courage, a righteousness that never announced itself. His patriotism lived more in action than in words.”
Tinubu also recounted their political alliance, which culminated in the historic 2015 elections that marked Nigeria’s first democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.
“We stood together, he and I. Alongside others drawn from across the political spectrum, regions and tongues, we formed an alliance that enabled Nigeria to experience its first true democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.
“When he was sworn in as our party’s first elected President, he led with restraint, governed with dignity, and bore the burdens of leadership without complaint,” he said.
The President expressed admiration for Buhari’s post-office modesty, noting that he returned to his hometown, Daura, without seeking to wield influence behind the scenes.
“When his tenure ended, he returned to Daura; not to command from the shadows or to hold court, but to live as he always had, never seeking to impose his will but content to let others carry the nation forward.
“Even in death, he maintained the serenity that defined him in life: not a sigh, not a groan, just a quiet submission to the will of God. Such was the man Nigeria has lost. Such was the man for whom our nation now mourns,” he added.
Tinubu thanked the Inter-Ministerial Committee and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, for organising a befitting state funeral within 48 hours, describing it as a “profound honour” to lead the burial procession in Daura.
He concluded his tribute with a prayer: “Mai Gaskiya, the People’s General, the Farmer President, your duty is done. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. May his life continue to inspire generations of Nigerians to serve with courage, conviction, and selflessness. President Buhari, thank you. Nigeria will remember you.”
Buhari died on Sunday, July 13, at the age of 82.
Anambra: INEC Registers 96,085 New Voters, Extends CVR by Three Days
ShareThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has registered 96,085 new voters in nine days and extended the exercise...
Tinubu Honors Buhari, Renames University of Maiduguri after Late President
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has approved the renaming of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State as Muhammadu...
C’River First Female NUJ Chairman Describes Tenure as Trial Period
ShareThe first female Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Cross River, Archibong Bassey has said that her...
Gov Makinde Confered With Prestigious Chieftaincy Title of Aare Omoluabi of Akure Land by Akure Kingdom
ShareThe Akure Kingdom will today bestow a prestigious chieftaincy title, Aare Omoluabi of Akure Land, meaning President of the Respectable...
PDP Stakeholders Olorunda Pass Vote of Confidence on Gov Adeleke
ShareFrom Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo The Olorunda Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Stakeholders has passed vote of confidence on Governor Ademola Adeleke...
Town Planners Task Benue Govt on Regional Devt, Master Plans
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr. Chime Ogbonna, has urged the Benue State...
Illegal Detention: Court Awards Bauchi Accountant General N100m
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja In a decisive rebuke of official impunity, the Federal High Court sitting in Bauchi has declared...
Military Cracks Down on Terror Collaborators, Exposes Arms Trafficking by Transport Union Members
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced multiple breakthroughs in its ongoing counter-terrorism operations, revealing that Nigerian...
Peace, Order Return to Niger LG after Series of Banditry Attacks
ShareFrom Dan Amasingha, Minna Rijau Local Government Area, one of the Frontline Councils under sustained banditry attack is now heaving...
LG Pensions/Gratuities: Bayelsa Warns Principal Officers Against Sabotage of Quick Payment Policy
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Bayelsa State Government has warned principal officers of local government councils in the state to desist...
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish