admin

FCTA Workers Begin Three-Day Protest Monday

by

  The Joint Union Action Committee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, has declared a three-day protest beginning Monday, June 30 to Wednesday, July 2, 2025, over what it describes as the “blatant refusal” of the FCT Minister to address longstanding issues affecting staff welfare and rights. President of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer, in a statement titled “PROTEST!!! PROTEST!!! PROTEST!!!” on Thursday, directed all members and affiliate unions across the FCTA to mobilise and gather at the Minister’s Main Gate in Area 11, Garki, by 7:00 am each day of the protest. According to her, “The protest is against the blatant refusal of the FCT Minister to address… salient issues affecting staff.” She listed grievances to include the non-promotion of staff since 2023, unresolved salary administration problems, and unpaid entitlements. The union is also demanding structural changes within the administration, improved staff welfare, and an end to deductions they consider illegal. “The Chairman FCT Civil Service Commission must go. We say no to overseeing directors’ position,” Iortyer declared, Other demands include, “Domestication of IPPIS, inaccessibility of the salary portal to salary desk officers, no overhead since December 2024, stop our NHF deduction, non-payment of five months wage awards/health workers hazard allowance arrears, no training and retraining of FCTA staff, out-of-school FCTA primary school pupils, and non-payment of AEPB enforcement squad. All members of staff are advised to gather at the Minister’s main gate Area 11 to drive home their demands,” the statement added.  

BREAKING: Tinubu Signs Tax Reform Bills Into Law

by

  President Bola Tinubu has signed into law four tax reform bills on key areas of Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework. Tinubu signed the bills at a ceremony held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, at about 03:20pm local time. The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders. “When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Onanuga said. The presidential assent to the bills was witnessed by the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate Majority Leader, House Majority Leader, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and his House counterpart. The Chairman of the Governors Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State; the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; the Minister of Finance and Coordination Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, were also at the ceremony. One of the four bills is the Nigeria Tax Bill (Ease of Doing Business), which aims to consolidate Nigeria’s fragmented tax laws into a harmonised statute. “By reducing the multiplicity of taxes and eliminating duplication, the bill will enhance the ease of doing business, reduce taxpayer compliance burdens, and create a more predictable fiscal environment,” said the Presidency in a statement Wednesday night. The second bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, will establish a uniform legal and operational framework for tax administration across federal, state, and local governments. The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, the third bill, repeals the current Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and creates a more autonomous and performance-driven national revenue agency— the Nigeria Revenue Service. It defines the NRS’s expanded mandate, including non-tax revenue collection, and lays out transparency, accountability, and efficiency mechanisms. The fourth bill is the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. It provides for a formal governance structure to facilitate cooperation between revenue authorities at all levels of government. It introduces essential oversight mechanisms, including establishing a Tax Appeal Tribunal and an Office of the Tax Ombudsman. Punch

(PHOTOS): Makinde Pledges To Boost Olunloyo’s Library With Digitization•••As Govt Holds Executive Session In Honour Of The Late Ex-gov

by

  IBADAN – Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, declared that the state government would preserve and digitise the library of a late former governor of the state, Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo and make it a tourist attraction centre. Governor Makinde, who described the library as a treasure trove of knowledge capable of offering solutions to numerous challenges facing the country, said preserving the library is one of the ways of immortalising Dr Olunlolyo, who was the second elected governor of the old Oyo State comprising present day Oyo and Osun states. The governor stated this while paying his last respect to the late Dr Olunloyo, at the lying -in-state and executive session organised in his honour by the state government and held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. He added that the state government would also commission the Omololu Olunloyo Leisure Park at Alakia-Airport Area of Ibadan, which was named after the revered statesman in 2023. Recall that the state government equally named the 3 km Airport Road after the former governor. Makinde eulogised the late former governor for being one of his go-to persons on how to solve the problems of the state. He added that exploring the tourism potential of the library would also align with his administration’s focus on tourism development. He said: “I have lost a partner. Sometimes, he would tell me how some problems were solved before my time in the state. When people look at me and wonder how come Oyo State is so peaceful during my tenure, they don’t know that I go to these leaders and they analyse things for me and leave me to take the best decisions for the state. “We must give honour to whom it is due. This event is important; it is an avenue for us to give a befitting passage to an individual who gave a good part of his life to serve this state and country. “There are two things I need to let this gathering know. One is the fact that the Omololu Olunloyo Park is ready for commissioning and we will open it soon. Two, in most of my discussions with Baba, there was no way we would talk and wouldn’t get to the issue of his library. “So, I am making a public announcement now that the state would support the family to preserve and digitise that library. “It is a library where we can practically find solutions to a whole lot of challenges we are still faced with currently. We must preserve the library and ensure that when people visit Oyo State, the library becomes a tourist centre that we can showcase.” Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, described Dr Olunloyo as a towering intellectual with a strong commitment to public service. He said: “Today is a day of reflection on the life and time of Dr Omololu Olunloyo. Today does not call for grief, sorrow or lamentation. “In reflecting, we must put into perspective his contributions to life, our society and the world at large. “He was a towering intellectual who had a strong commitment to public service. He served our state at the highest level with distinction and rare brilliance. “We believe that he has left enough for us to tap into in order for us to make a good life. We have lost a colossus whose footprint would remain etched on the sands of time.” Speaking on behalf of the Olunloyo family, the first child of the deceased, Mrs Oluyemi Olunloyo-Buckner, described her late father as a politician of a rare genius and an exceptionally brilliant statesman whose contribution to Oyo State was huge. She added that he was a man that gave his children identity, heritage and love. Also in their separate orations, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima and the Acting Rector, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Dr Taiwo Lasisi, described Olunloyo as an embodiment of brilliance, with a profound commitment to public service. The event had in attendance the wife of a former governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; a former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former deputy governor, Barr. Hazeem Gbolarumi; former Minister of Trades and Investment, Chief Mrs Onikepo Akande, CON, as well as Chairman and Co-Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun and Elder Wole Oyelese. Other government functionaries in attendance were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Olanike Adeyemo; Oyo State Exco Members; service commanders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and family members, among other dignitaries.

Tinubu Concerned Over Opposition’s Lack Of Unity—Akpabio

by

  The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has stated that President Bola Tinubu, is interested in a vibrant opposition, urging the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, and the Labour Party, to put their houses in order. Akpabio made the statement during the inauguration of Arterial Road N20 Interchange Bridges. Referencing the recent crisis in the PDP regarding the position of the National Secretary of the party, and the recent defection of Senator Neda Imasuen, Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, from the Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Senate President said the President was saddened to see the opposition in disarray. “However you people got yourself into this confusion, try and get yourself out of it very quickly. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is interested in seeing a vibrant opposition. As a true democrat, we would like to see a very vibrant opposition in the country. It saddens him when he sees the way the opposition in Nigeria is in disarray. “Just before I came here to represent him (Tinubu), I received and read a letter from the Labour Party. So it’s not only PDP that is in disarray. Even the Labour Party is cracked. And people who are strong members of the Labour Party are angling to run Nigeria when they cannot put a small political party like that in order,” he said. Akpabio also stated that he wasn’t tired of receiving defectors to the APC, adding that the party’s doors were open. “Senator Neda Imasuen just decamped this afternoon from the Labour Party and moved from the left-hand side of the Senate to the right-hand side. So that took my time, Honourable Minister, I had to do that ritual. “I’m not tired. I’m happy to receive them because our doors are open in the All Progressive Congress. So congratulations to Imasuen, who has decided to leave the fractured Labour Party to join the APC,” Akpabio stated. In his address, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, faulted the PDP for waiting on directives from the Independent National Electoral Commission before implementing a Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. Addressing the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, Wike argued that the issue of reinstating Anyanwu did not arise, noting that the Secretary was not an appointee of the Chairman, and has been working since his election. “I heard it when the acting National Chairman of PDP was directing the National Secretary to resume. The National Secretary is not your appointee. The National Secretary has been doing his work. So, you can’t call him to resume. “The National Secretary has been working and will continue to work. He doesn’t require anybody to direct him to resume work. “If it’s because of your ignorance of the law, too bad. The law does not recognize ignorance. That you’re ignorant of the law is not an excuse. I feel so bad when people can now move to INEC, for INEC to direct them to obey Supreme Court judgment, it’s most unfortunate,” he said. The FCT Minister rebuked Damagum, saying he won’t join those sabotaging themselves. He urged Damagum to seek guidance instead of acting out of ego or relying solely on allocations, adding that money isn’t the solution to every problem. “Continue to shoot yourself. I will not be a party of those who will shoot themselves. When you don’t know something, ask the right person. Not because of ego, not because of oh, I’m receiving monthly allocation. Money does not solve all the problems. “There’s nothing you can do about it. If you want to learn, come and meet us, we will teach you how to go about it,” Wike said.

Osun LG Crisis: PDP Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention

by

  The Peoples Democratic Party, Osun State chapter, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing local government crisis in the state. The party chairman in the state, Mr. Sunday Bisi, made the call while speaking at the League of Veterans Journalists meeting on Wednesday in Osogbo. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that PDP claimed the February 10 judgment by the Court of Appeal, Akure, did not reinstate the sacked All Progressives Congress chairmen and councillors. However, APC insisted on the return of the chairmen and councillors, elected in 2022, to office. The Nigeria Labour Congress and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, thereafter, directed local government workers to withdraw their services from February 17, citing security concerns. Similarly, on June 13, the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, dismissed an application by the APC. The application sought to relist an earlier appeal that was struck out on January 13 for lack of diligent prosecution. However, APC maintained that the ruling did not nullify the election. Bisi, however, said that the intervention of the president was necessary to avoid a breakdown of law and order in the state. He alleged that the ongoing crisis in local government areas in the state was due to the refusal of the APC opposition to obey the Court of Appeal judgment. He said that the judgment by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, affirmed the PDP chairmen elected on Feb. 22 as authentic. “We have served copies of the judgment to all concerned authorities, and we are waiting for them to allow justice to prevail. We are here to serve the people of the state. “We will use all legal means to ensure that justice prevails, and we will not fall into the tactics of the opposition party for the declaration of a state of emergency in Osun,” he said. NAN

JUST IN: PDP Meets With INEC Officials In Closed-Door Meeting

by

  The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission are currently holding a closed-door meeting in Abuja on Tuesday as preparations intensify ahead of the party’s upcoming National Executive Committee meeting. They both went into the closed-door meeting immediately after having a press meeting at the INEC headquarters. Though details of the discussions remain undisclosed, the meeting focuses on issues related to internal party processes, upcoming elections, and the status of the party’s leadership structure. Those present include the acting National Chairman of PDP, Umar Damagum; INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu, PDP governors, top INEC officials, among others. Details later…. Punch

(PHOTOS) Four Killed In Multi-Vehicle Crash Along Soka Axis Of Ibadan-Lagos Expressway

by

  Tragedy struck on Tuesday along the Soka axis of the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway as a horrific accident involving multiple vehicles claimed four lives and left several others injured. The crash, which occurred in the early hours of the day, involved four trailers, four commercial Micra cars, and a Toyota Camry. Eyewitnesses said the chain-reaction collision began when a trailer collided with another trailer attempting to reverse out of an abandoned filling station near Soka. The impact caused three other trailers following closely behind to ram into the vehicles ahead, crushing several cars in the process. One of the Micra vehicles was completely flattened, killing all four occupants, including the driver. Among the victims was a woman who had boarded the Micra with her husband from Sanyo, just one stop before the crash site. The woman died instantly, while her husband, who was seated in the front passenger seat, survived with minor injuries. Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) promptly arrived at the scene, evacuating the bodies and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. This incident brings the total number of fatal accidents recorded on that stretch of the expressway to six so far this year, raising renewed concerns about road safety and enforcement in the area.

Mid-term Retreat: Makinde Launches Performance Delivery Compact To Measure Results•••Says Oyo Admitted Into World Union Of Whole Markets (PHOTOS)

by

  IBADAN – Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has announced the launch of what he described as a Legacy Compact, also known as Oyo State’s Performance Delivery Compact, which will help the administration to measure results and successes in the next two years. The governor gave this indication on Monday, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), venue of the 2025 Mid-Term Leadership Retreat organised by the Oyo State Government. According to the governor, the performance delivery compact will enable each Ministry, Department and Agency to identify three to five legacy deliverables that they can realistically complete before 2027; break the deliverables down into 6-month targets to see what will be delivered by January 2026, and what will be completed by May 2027; and ensure that each target is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. He added that the compact will also enable the MDAs to publish the commitments as their Oyo Legacy Pledge, be prepared to stand before the public and say: “this is what we promised, this is what we delivered” and also collaborate across ministries through Joint Compacts, especially where outcomes overlap — such as infrastructure and commerce, education and youth, tourism and environment. Governor Makinde, who spoke on the theme: “Reflecting on progress, refining priorities and re-firing for maximum impact and legacy,” noted that the performance compacts would guide resourcing, visibility, and decision-making for the remainder of the administration, adding that they would be monitored quarterly and reviewed at the state’s Legacy Retreat in 2026. He added that the administration has made remarkable achievements in the last two years of Omituntun 2.0, with successes in the economic sector where the state has been admitted into the World Union of Wholesale Markets courtesy of its partnership with Semmaris on the Ijaiye Food Wholesale Market, the ongoing upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport into an international airport and the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road, which first phase of 32km would be commissioned before the end of 2025. He added that the administration has recorded remarkable successes in the education sector, where it recruited 14,000 teaching and non-teaching staff, upgraded 105 classrooms with another 36 ongoing; in the health sector where 264 Primary Health Centres have been upgraded and in the infrastructure sector, where feeder and rural roads are receiving priority attention. Governor Makinde noted, however, that it was time to step back and evaluate the efforts with a view to energising MDAs to finish strong as the administration moves into its last two years in office. He said: “Let me formally welcome you to this retreat where we will be reflecting on the journey of Omituntun 2.0. We will be x-raying our activities through the lens of our Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development 2023 to 2027. We are now halfway through this mandate and it is a good time to take a step back to ask ourselves: how far have we come, what remains to be done, and what must we do now to finish strong? “We began this journey not merely with promises, but with a vision—to shift from accelerated development to sustainable transformation. A vision that says: we do not only build for applause, we build for impact. Let us begin by acknowledging that there is much to be proud of. “Under the Economic pillar, Oyo State has made history. We became the first sub-national in Africa to gain admission into the World Union of Wholesale Markets. We secured a landmark partnership with Semmaris to establish Nigeria’s first Rungis-style wholesale agri-food market — a direct outcome of our agribusiness-first strategy. I want to again publicly thank Dr Debo Akande for his role in making this possible. “We commissioned the 11MW Independent Power Project, powering the State Secretariat 24/7 for the first time in 49 years. “We started the Circular Road and the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport upgrade, while paying attention to feeder roads starting from the Ibadan Zone and extending to other zones from this year. We have also commenced the rehabilitation of rural roads through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP). “Significantly, we brought water to our people. Let me also thank Elias Adeojo for his role in this. He did the unexpected and is still working. Well done. “Our tourism vision is taking shape. We held the first tourism summit in 2024, which helped us to see what direction we wanted to go with tourism, and we are back this year with the second edition, where we will be making a clear call to investors and showing a shift in how we have been working in that sector. “In Education, we recruited over 14,000 new personnel — teaching and non-teaching — to close the gap in our classrooms. We’ve upgraded 105 schools in underserved areas and commenced work on 36 more. The focus is not just on structures, but also on curriculum reform, digital tools, and inclusion. “In Healthcare, we’ve extended the Omituntun Free Health Mission, reaching over 18,000 people this year alone, equipped 264 Primary Healthcare Centres, and improved health equity. Diseases like Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis have been eliminated in several LGAs — a first for our State. I acknowledge the work our Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, and the rest of the team are doing in this sector. God bless you. “In Security, we have grown Amotekun to about 2,500 personnel, equipped our forces, and invested in forest protection, rural security, and community intelligence. Our farmers are returning to their farms. Our people are safer today because we chose to act early. “I thank you all for all the work you have put in to make Omituntun 2.0 Part 1 a success. We are now moving to Part 2. This moment calls for honest reflection. Have we made progress? Yes. Are we where we need to be? Not yet. “Across our Roadmap, there remain gaps — not of vision, but of delivery. Projects that began with promise now need a final push; several critical road … Read more

International Widows’ Day: Oyo First Lady Salutes Widows’ Courage, Distributes Cash, Food Items (PHOTOS)

by

  IBADAN – Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Engr. (Mrs.) Tamunominini Makinde, has said that the International Widows’ Day is not just a day to celebrate widows but a day to celebrate their courage. Mrs. Makinde disclosed this on Monday while hosting widows across the 33 local government areas of the state in her office, Agodi, Ibadan. The program was held to commemorate the 2025 International Widows’ Day. The event, which featured the distribution of food items, cash relief to thousands of widows as a gesture of love, compassion, and empowerment, had in attendance dignitaries from all works of life including wives of the Chairmen of the local governments, artisans, leaders of the market women, among others. At the event, Mrs. Makinde, who was represented by Hon. (Mrs) Bisi Oluranti Michael, member of the Oyo State House of Assembly representing Ogbomoso North Constituency, appreciated the wife of the governor, emphasized the need to appreciate the strength of widows and to reaffirm government’s commitment to supporting them. “Today is not just a remembrance of loss,” she said, “but a celebration of courage. “Widows face not only the pain of losing their partners but also the risk of losing their dignity and social standing. As mothers, caretakers, and pillars of their homes, your courage is inspiring, and your pain is acknowledged. This day belongs to you.” Diya Ogunjimi, who represented the Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun, urged the women to remain strong in the face of adversity. “We honour the memory of your loved ones and acknowledge your resilience. You are not alone, and we hope today brings renewed strength and encouragement,” she said. Also speaking, Mrs. Abiola Sanda, wife of the ALGON (Association of Local Governments of Nigeria) Chairman in Oyo State, who called on society to end all forms of stigmatization against widows. “If you cannot help a widow, at least do not stigmatize her,” she said. “Widows deserve dignity, not pity or suspicion.” Emotional testimonies were shared by beneficiaries like Mrs Tawakalitu Adam, who stated: “It is not easy to raise children and carry the cross alone, but gestures like this give us strength to carry on, we appreciate the wife of the giv for remembering us with material support” Also Mrs Motunrayo Salam, who encouraged fellow widows to stay hopeful: “It’s very painful to be a widow but with the help of God, we can carry on. So we appreciate our mother for gifting us on a day like this and also encouraging us with food items and cash support.” Dignitaries present at the event included several wives of local government chairmen from across the state, such as Mrs. Khadijah Salam (Oyo West), Mrs. Aisha Adeleke (Atiba), Mrs. Victoria Adegbite (Surulere), and Mrs. Olusola Adebimpe (Ibarapa East), among others. International Widows’ Day, marked annually on June 23, is observed to raise awareness about the struggles faced by widows globally and to advocate for their rights, protection, and inclusion.

Ibadan-Based PR Expert,Olamide Adeniji To Mark Birthday With Prison Inmates 

by

  IBADAN – In a moving demonstration of compassion and commitment to social responsibility, Ibadan-based Public Relations expert Olamide Adeniji chose to celebrate his June 24, 2025 birthday among inmates of the Agodi Correctional Center. Born in 1985, in Ibadan, South West Local Government Area of Oyo State, Olamide Adeniji is known for his annual tradition of sharing his birthday with the underprivileged, underscoring his belief in the inherent potential and dignity of all individuals. This year’s celebration, according to Olamide, an Information and Public Releations officer, will involve feeding about 200 inmates, donation of clothes, packs of soft drinks, and a variety of toiletries, all worth hundreds of thousands. “These donations are part of a sustained effort to improve living conditions within the facility,” Olamide said. According to Mr. Adeniji, his annual birthday celebration has attracted public interest not just for its charitable spirit, but also as a testament to the collective power of community support in fostering hope, reform, and positive transformation for those seeking a second chance at life. Olamide Adeniji, a senior officer in the Oyo state civil service, is a public speaker, a news editor, a social media influencer, and an event compere. He currently works as the media officer to the Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, OYOSUBEB, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran and some other top government functionaries.

Stay Informed. Stay Ahead

Get breaking news and top stories delivered to your inbox every morning.

You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.

Get the Morning Briefing

Tops stories from Nigeria delivered free to your inbox every day.

You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.

Your No 1 Trusted News Source 

Email info@citybuzz.com 

Web Citybuzznews.com

LEGAL

SECTIONS

©Copyright Citybuzz News. All rights reserved.