NEWS
140 Officials To Assess Tinubu’s Ministers
Ahead of the inaugural assessment at the end of this month, a group of over 140 officials is gearing up for the inaugural assessment of federal ministries, departments, and agencies.
The officials recently convened in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for the third technical retreat, where they delved into the implementation of presidential priorities and ministerial deliverables.
Originating from 35 federal government entities, these officials, under the coordination of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit led by Mrs. Hadiza Bala-Usman, are poised to play a crucial role in evaluating and tracking the performance of key government sectors.
According to an undisclosed source, the assessment process will engage high-ranking officials, including permanent secretaries and directors of planning, along with four representatives from each of the 35 ministries involved.
The discussions are said to revolve around determining assessment modalities, key performance indicators, and reporting mechanisms.
During the retreat, Mrs. Hadiza Bala-Usman reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s stern message to participants, cautioning that ministers failing in their duties could face dismissal by the president.
She emphasized Tinubu’s commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians and urged complete dedication from delivery officers and planning directors within ministries.
Bala-Usman stressed the President’s seriousness about fulfilling promises, emphasizing that ministers would undergo assessment, and those falling short in performance might be replaced.
She said “We must understand that the President is very serious about his promises and that ministers will be assessed, and ministers will be dropped if they don’t perform.
“You must understand that as ministerial delivery desk officers, you are the engine room that will provide that feedback, constantly track ministerial progress, and report challenges and bottlenecks to the central coordinating and delivery unit.”
Delving into details, the presidential aide outlined the assessment criteria, stating “In the Ministry of Aviation, we will be assessing FAAN on customer experience at the airports; are the escalators, lifts, and conveyor belts functional?
“What are the consequences of delayed time of departure for airlines? These are things that everybody can feel and see.
“When talking about agriculture, we want to see our index of fertiliser use per hectare grow because of the attendant investment that has been made in fertiliser interventions.
Recall that on October 17, 2023, Mrs. Hadiza Bala-Usman announced that her office is set to initiate a quarterly assessment of the 48 ministers (now 47) appointed by the President, beginning in January 2024.
She emphasized January as the opportune period for this exercise, considering that all ministries would have received their budgets for the 2024 fiscal year by then.
In an interview on TVC, the former head of the Nigerian Ports Authority disclosed plans to initiate a comprehensive assessment of ministries starting January 2024.
She had said “We’re looking to commence an assessment of the respective ministries in January 2024. We’re going to have a quarterly assessment of performance, which will culminate into an annual scorecard.”
Bala-Usman outlined the process, stating that the annual scorecard would undergo review during periodic retreats, where performances would be measured against key performance indicators.
The first evaluation, spanning three months, follows a three-day cabinet retreat held from November 1 to 3, 2023. During this retreat, ministers committed by signing a performance bond with the President.
These bonds, individually signed by ministers and permanent secretaries, provide a detailed outline of the deliverables each ministry aims to achieve within the 2024 budget cycle.
Bala-Usman emphasized that the performance bond would serve as the tracking mechanism for ministerial performance.
A tragic building collapse in Rivers State has left a middle-aged contractor, identified as Udeme, feared dead after a two-storey structure under construction caved in at the Egbelu Mgbaraja area of Ogbogoro Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
This incident comes just one week after a three-storey building collapsed at the Iriebe axis of the same local government, though that incident fortunately recorded no casualties.
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The latest collapse occurred on Monday, November 4, 2024, around 2 p.m., with construction workers on site when the structure gave way.
According to eyewitness Mr. Jonathan Obey, the building’s second floor suddenly buckled, trapping Udeme beneath the rubble, while another worker managed to escape with serious injuries.
Obey, who attempted to rescue the trapped contractor, suspected negligence, saying, “We couldn’t reach him despite our efforts. An inspection revealed substandard materials had been used, with the foundation only three feet deep for a two-storey building, which is insufficient. The rebar was of poor quality, and essential supports, such as a center beam, were absent.”
The Rivers State Government has since sealed off the property and declared the developer, Vincent Nwoye, wanted for questioning.
Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, visited the site and expressed his dismay, attributing the collapse to gross negligence.
“This tragedy was preventable,” Bipi stated. “The developer failed to obtain an approved building plan and used inferior materials. The government will ensure accountability and take severe action.”
Bipi extended his condolences to the victim’s family and the Ogbogoro Community, affirming that the government will facilitate the family’s recovery of their loved one’s remains. “We sympathize with the bereaved family and the entire community,” he added.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Samuel Anya, also condemned the developer’s actions, highlighting the dangers posed when profit is prioritized over safety. “This loss is a direct consequence of unethical practices,” he said.
The government has committed to a thorough investigation and tighter regulatory enforcement to prevent further tragedies in Rivers State.
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye has passed on.
The news of his passing was leaked by a reliable source under the condition of anonymity.
The sad incident, according to the source, happened in Ado Ekiti in the early hours of Tuesday.
His death is being traced to a sickness which came upon him following the injury he sustained when a section of the Ekiti State High Court Complex, Ado Ekiti wall collapsed in July 12, 2023.
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The late Justice Adeyeye was at the office when the building collapse happened and sustained injuries.
While the state and his family were yet to issue statements on his demise, the Ekiti State Chapter of the Association of International Female Lawyers (FIDA) has sent condolences to the family.
The condolences message read: “With deep sorrow in our hearts and in total submission to the will of God, FIDA Ekiti consoles with the family of the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye on his call to glory.
“May He find rest with his maker.
“I pray that God grants the family, the Judiciary and the people of Ekiti State, the grace to bear this irreparable loss.
Adieu great one.”
Justice Adeyeye was born 1960 in Araromi Ugbesi in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State and was called to bar in 1986.
He started his career as a State Counsel in the civil service of the then Ondo State before joining the Ekiti State Judiciary Service Commission shortly after the state was created in 1996.
He was promoted to the position of a judge in the state’s high court in 2002 and has served at different occasions in the election petition tribunal.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed all charges against 76 individuals accused of participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
The ruling came after the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, moved to discontinue the case under orders from President Bola Tinubu.
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Justice Obiora Egwuatu, presiding over the matter, struck out the charges after hearing a motion from the AGF’s representative, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Mohammed Abubakar.
Citing Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, the AGF formally took over the case from the Inspector General of Police, then requested to drop all charges against the defendants, many of whom are minors.
The judge granted the AGF’s application without objection from defense counsel, ordering the immediate release of the accused, who were not present in court.
This decision follows a directive issued on Monday by President Tinubu, instructing the AGF to withdraw charges against the protesters.
More to follow……….
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