QueenEsther Iroanusi
Nigeria
Believer • Democracy & Governance • Human Rights • Development • ex-Political Reporter @PremiumTimesng • Writer • BTS💜 • I speak English & French.
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Articles by QueenEsther Iroanusi
Nigeria: Buhari Appoints Former IGP As Chairman Police Service Commission
If confirmed by the Senate, Mr Arase will succeed Musiliu Smith, another former IGP who resigned under controversial circumstances last year. President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Solomon Arase, a former Inspector-General of Police, as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). The president made this known in a letter to the Senate on Tuesday wherein he sought the lawmakers' confirmation of the former IGP.
Nigeria: Atiku's Campaign Asks Buhari to Sack Keyamo
Mr Keyamo had last week filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling Atiku to surrender himself to EFCC, ICPC, and CCB for thorough investigations. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo. The party said Mr Keyamo should be sacked for allegedly abusing office.
Nigerian Governors Invite Emefiele Over Naira Redesign, Cash Withdrawal Policy
The NGF said the discussion with Mr Emefiele on Thursday promises to foster participation and dialogue between various stakeholders including governments and civil society organisations. The Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) has invited the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to a virtual meeting. The meeting, which is scheduled to hold virtually on Thursday, has on its agenda, the naira redesign as well as CBN's new policy on cash withdrawal.
Nigeria: PDP, APC Bicker Over Alleged Plans to Postpone General Elections
On Monday, the Chairman of the Board of Electoral Institute, Abdullahi Zuru, said at an event in Abuja, that the general elections face serious threats of cancellation should the security situation across the country failed to improve. Both the ruling party, APC, and the main opposition party, PDP, have tackled each other over alleged plans to postpone the 2023 general elections.
Nigeria: Threat to Impeach Buhari, Other Key Events in Nigeria's Senate in 2022
Nigeria: Threat to Impeach Buhari, Other Key Events in Nigeria's Senate in 2022 By Queenesther Iroanusi For most of 2022, the attention of senators was divided and mostly focused on party activities With the Ninth Assembly winding down legislative activities for the session, the Senate experienced fewer controversial episodes in 2022 compared to previous years.
Nigeria: Burna Boy Among African Stars in Rolling Stone's Greatest Singers
Nigerian music star Burna Boy and South Africa's Mariam Makeba made Rolling Stone's 'Greatest Singers List'. They ranked 197th and 53rd respectively. Also on the list are Nigeria's Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, who ranked 188th, and Senegalese tenor Youssou N'Dour ranked 69th. Other African musicians who make an appearance on the list include South African mbaqanga singer Mahlathini (153), Egyptian star Umm Kulthum (61) and British-Nigerian soul singer Sade Adu (51).
Nigeria: National Assembly Increases Own Budget to N228.1bn, Releases Details
Nigeria: National Assembly Increases Own Budget to N228.1bn, Releases Details By Queenesther Iroanusi The N228.1 billion approved for the National Assembly shows an increase of about N59.1 billion - against the N169 billion proposed by the president. The National Assembly has increased its budget to N228.1 billion for the 2023 fiscal year. The approved sum is part of the N21.8 trillion budget for 2023 passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Nigerian Senate Passes 2023 Budget
The budget, which is the last to be considered by the ninth Assembly, was increased from N20.5 trillion presented by President Muhammadu Buhari in October, to N21.8 trillion. The Senate has passed the nation's budget for the 2023 fiscal year. The budget was increased from N20.5 trillion presented by President Muhammadu Buhari in October, to N21.8 trillion (21,827,188,747,391). This shows an increase of over N1.3 trillion.
Nigeria: Senate Suspends Buhari's Request to Approve N23.7 Trillion Already Spent
The Senate resolved at an executive session to set up a committee to engage relevant MDAs for details of the president's request. The Senate has suspended the consideration of a request by President Muhammadu Buhari to approve N23.7 trillion that has been spent. The decision to suspend the request was a sequel to a rowdy session carried out by lawmakers who opposed the request and described it as unconstitutional.
Nigeria: Buhari's 'Problematic' 2023 Budget Stalls Passage
Nigerian lawmakers have postponed passage of the 2023 budget till next week due to "problems" discovered in the budget. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, announced this at the start of the plenary on Thursday. He said the lawmakers cannot pass the budget because it "came with some problems" that were discovered by the National Assembly Committees on Appropriations.
Nigeria: 'Problems' in Buhari's 2023 Budget Stalls Passage
Lawmakers cannot pass the budget because it "came with some problems" that were discovered by the National Assembly Committees on Appropriations. The National Assembly has postponed the passage of the 2023 budget till next week due to 'problems' discovered in the budget. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, announced this at the start of the plenary on Thursday.
Nigeria: Buhari Seeks NASS' Approval for N819bn 2022 Supplementary Budget
Mr Buhari said the supplementary budget became necessary because of the devastation caused by floods on farmlands and road infrastructure. President Muhammadu Buhari has transmitted a 2022 supplementary budget of N819 billion to the National Assembly. In separate letters to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the president sought the lawmakers' approval of the budget.
Nigeria: Senate Passes Business Facilitation Bill
The bill seeks to promote the ease of doing business in Nigeria by amending relevant legislation. The Senate has passed the Business Facilitation bill. The bill, an executive legislation, was one of the five bills for concurrence that the lawmakers considered and passed at plenary on Tuesday, having been passed by the House of Representatives. It seeks to promote the ease of doing business in Nigeria by amending relevant legislation.
Nigeria: Create Special Courts for Child Rights Violators - Activists Tell Nigerian Govt
The activists also called for a specialised agency dedicated to and responsible for protecting children in emergencies. The Lagos Speak Up Stand Out (SUSO) Peace and Security Activists have called on the federal government to create special courts across the country dedicated to trying child rights violators - to accelerate access to and dispensation of justice.
Nigeria: Senate Panel Grills Lauretta Onochie, Others for NDDC Appointment
President Muhammadu Buhari had on 23 November forwarded the names of Lauretta Onochie and 14 others for confirmation as chairman and members of the NDDC Board. The Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs screened Lauretta Onochie and 14 other nominees for their appointments as chair and members of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Ms Onochie, currently a special assistant to the president on new media, appeared before the panel on Thursday for the screening process.
Nigeria: Senate Asks CBN to Reconsider Cash Withdrawal Policy
The CBN, in a memo in November, announced a limit on cash withdrawal made by individuals and organisations with effect from 9 January, 2023. The Senate has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria to "considerably adjust the withdrawal limits" in response to public outcry on the policy. The lawmakers also mandated its Committee on Banking and Finance to embark on aggressive oversight of the apex bank on its commitment to flexible adjustment of the withdrawal limit.
Nigeria: Senate Moves to Limit President's Powers On Sacking EFCC Chairperson
The bill seeks to amend the EFCC Act to subject the removal of the chairman of the commission to the confirmation of the Senate to guarantee the security of tenure. A bill that seeks to limit the president's powers on removing the chairperson of the anti-graft agency, EFCC, scaled second reading at the Senate on Tuesday.
Nigeria: I'm Puzzled' By Boko Haram's Existence, Persistent Operations
"I am very conversant with the vegetation and with the border areas. I still cannot find a place in the Borno areas where anybody can hide and cannot be seen. I cannot honestly understand the Boko Haram phenomenon." The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said he is puzzled by the existence and operations of Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria.
Nigeria: I'll Give You Your Entitlements, Appointments, Atiku Tells Abuja Indigenes
"All the appointments that belongs to Abuja will be given to Abuja. We will review the Constitution to ensure that your aspirations are captured within, and in the process of restructuring the country, we will give you what you want." The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, says he will give the people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) all their entitlements without flinching, if voted into power in 2023.
Nigeria: Senate Threatens to Cut Budgets of Over 100 MDAs for Ignoring Summons
Nigeria: Senate Threatens to Cut Budgets of Over 100 MDAs for Ignoring Summons By Queenesther Iroanusi The MDAs have repeatedly failed to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General's report. The Senate has threatened to cut down the 2023 budgetary allocation of over 100 Ministry, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Nigeria: Senate Threatens to Cut Budget of Over 100 MDAs for Ignoring Summons
The MDAs have repeatedly failed to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General's report. The Senate has threatened to cut down 2023 budgetary allocation of over 100 Ministry, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country. The threat is based on the grounds that heads of the MDAs have repeatedly failed to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General's report.
Nigeria: How Obasanjo 'Tackled' Head of State Yakubu Gowon During Nigerian Civil War
Nigeria: How Obasanjo 'Tackled' Head of State Yakubu Gowon During Nigerian Civil War By Queenesther Iroanusi Obasanjo lamented lack of understanding and general lack of seriousness in the approach to Nigeria's problems. While the Nigerian civil war raged, then Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo wrote daring letters to the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, questioning the approach of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to the conflict.
Nigeria: Senate Grills Finance Minister Over Allegations of N1.7trn Budget Padding
The minister told the Senate Committee on Appropriations that most of these sums of money are bilateral or multilateral loans captured in the budget of agencies selected for project execution for the sole purpose of transparency. The Nigerian Senate has grilled Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance over budget padding allegation. Mrs Ahmed was initially summoned by the lawmakers to explain insertions into the 2023 budgetary allocations of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Nigeria: Interview - Why I Want to Be Nigeria's Next President - Adc Candidate Kachikwu
In the first part of this interview, the ADC presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, talks about his plans for Nigerians if elected in 2023. Dumebi Kachikwu is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES' QueenEsther Iroanusi, he talks about his plans for Nigerians if elected in 2023, the crisis in his party and how he intends to address the crisis.
Nigeria: "The Letterman", a Timeless Historical Document - Jonathan
Mr Jonathan said the book on former President Olusegun Obasanjo will not only make a good read but serve as a document of value for future researchers in many fields including military tactics, leadership and nation-building. Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described a book written by PREMIUM TIMES' Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, on another former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, as a timeless historical document.
Nigeria: Buhari Approves N80bn for Reconstruction of Edo, Delta Roads
Mr Omo-Agege said he pleaded with Mr Buhari to consider the reconstruction Sapele/Benin Road and the Amukpe/Agbor/Uromi Road with funds from the NDDC's defrozen money. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release N80 billion for the reconstruction of Sapele/Benin Road and the Amukpe/Agbor/Uromi Road, all in Edo and Delta States. The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, disclosed this at a meeting with members of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), in Sapele, Delta State on Monday.
Nigeria: National Assembly - Controversy Trails Appointment of New Clerk
The NASC allegedly breached its Act by bypassing other senior officers of the National Assembly to appoint the new acting Clerk, Magaji Tambuwal. Controversy is trailing the appointment of the new Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA). The National Service Commission (NASC), on Friday, announced Magaji Tambuwal as the new Clerk to the federal legislature.
Nigeria: 2023 - Senate Summons Finance Minister Over Unexplained U.S.$464 Million In Ministry's Budget
The Senate committee says the finance minister should appear with details and plans for the allocation made despite the country's dwindling revenue and struggling economy. The Senate has summoned the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, to explain an allocation of N206 billion inserted into the 2023 budget of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
Nigeria: New Naira Notes - Senate Pledges Support As Lawmakers Disagree On Deadline
In October, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced the plan to redesign the 200, 500 and 1,000 notes which will go into circulation in December. Nigerian lawmakers have called on the country's monetary authorities to extend the deadline for residents to change their old naira notes to new ones. The Central Bank of Nigeria recently announced a plan to redesign naira notes and fixed 31st January 2023 as the deadline for residents to change their old notes.
Nigeria: 2023 - PDP Insists Tinubu Ineligible to Contest
The PDP says Mr Tinubu was captured at the Jos campaign rally of the APC on Tuesday as saying "God bless the PDP" but immediately corrected himself and said "APC.' The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said recent 'errors' committed by Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, is enough proof that he is ineligible to run for the office of the president of the country in 2023.
Nigeria: 2023 - Nigerians Want Next President to Prioritise Security
About 42 per cent of the respondents said the next president should prioritize tackling insecurity. The majority of Nigerians who participated in an online poll want the next president to prioritise tackling insecurity across the country before other challenges. About 42 per cent of the respondents that took part in the poll by PREMIUM TIMES believe that security should be the priority of the next president.
Nigeria: Live Updates - 2023: Sowore, Yabagi, Umeadi, Adebayo Participate in Presidential Town-Hall Meeting
The town hall meeting will feature four presidential candidates who will tell Nigerians their plans for security and the economy. All is set for the second in the series of presidential town hall meetings. Four presidential candidates of the 18 registered political parties for next year's general election will be seated shortly to engage in a debate and tell Nigerians their plans for security and the economy.
Nigeria: Analysis - Beyond Attacks On Atiku's Convoy, His Supporters
Nigeria: Analysis - Beyond Attacks On Atiku's Convoy, His Supporters analysis By Queenesther Iroanusi Aside from the rift in the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has faced physical attacks on his entourage and supporters during campaign stops in two states controlled by the ruling party The plausible and perhaps only justification for how candidates of political parties react or handle physical attacks would be something like: "they signed up for it" or "they knew what they were...
Nigeria: Why APC Won't Survive 2023 - Atiku
"I don't think APC will survive after 2023. We are going to vote them out and by the time we vote them out, they will be dead." Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, has said the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, will not survive the general election in 2023. He said the APC which he described as an "alliance of convenience" is not a real political party and will collapse after the forthcoming presidential elections in February.
Nigeria: PDP Crisis - Ortom Apologises Over Outburst As Wike 'Opens' Room for Reconciliation
Mr Ortom had reportedly vowed not to work for Atiku who is Fulani because the people of the ethnic group are killing the people of Benue. Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has apologised for his comments on Fulani herders and how they have been killing residents of the state. He apologised on Wednesday when the G-5 paid a solidarity visit to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
Nigeria: Over 12,000 Inmates Freed in Six Years - Malami
Mr Malami says that decongesting the prisons was top on the President Muhammadu Buhari's to-do list upon assumption of office in 2015. Over 12,000 inmates have been released from various correctional centres across the country in the last six years, Nigeria's Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said. He disclosed this on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for his ministry's 2023 budget defence session.
Nigeria: Budget - Akume Laments Allocation of N180 Billion to Special Duties Ministry in 2023
The minister says the reduction by 71 per cent of the 2022 budgetary allocation to the ministry for the 2023 fiscal year will make it extremely difficult for it to function effectively. The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, George Akume, has told lawmakers of the National Assembly that his ministry needs more money to function properly.
Nigeria: 2023 - Tinubu, Atiku Absent At Presidential Town Hall Meeting
Apart from Messrs Tinubu and Atiku, the other two presidential candidates invited for the debate were Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP Two major presidential candidates, Bola Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, were absent at the presidential town hall meeting held Sunday evening.
Nigeria: NGF Worried Over Alarming Rate of Brain Drain
Mr Ehanire says 3,000 medical doctors graduate annually in the country and about 1,000 of them leave the country every year. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), is worried about the high rate at which medical doctors migrate from Nigeria to countries like the United Kingdom annually due to brain drain. Chairman of the Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.
Nigeria: Analysis - PDP's Endless Crisis and the Dangers It Portends
After months of trying to placate aggrieved leaders in the PDP, its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar says he is moving on with his campaigns.
Nigeria: 2023 Budget - N7.2 Billion Allocated for Presidential Villa 'Maintenance' Not Enough - Official
The amount is part of the total N21.1 billion allocated to the State House for the 2023 fiscal year. As part of the 2023 budgetary allocation for the State House, N7.2 billion was earmarked for the maintenance of Villa facilities. The amount is part of the total N21.1 billion allocated to the State House for the 2023 fiscal year. The State House also earmarked N1.96 billion for vehicle purchase and N644 million for maintenance of the State House Lagos Complex and guest houses.
Nigeria: Govt's Outstanding Liabilities On Road, Housing Projects Hit N956bn - Fashola
Mr Fashola said of the N956 billion outstanding liabilities, the government is owing contractors handling the National Housing Scheme N191.75 billion while the balance of N765 billion is owed contractors handling road projects. As of September 2022, the outstanding liabilities owed by the federal government to contractors handling road and housing projects across the country stood at N956 billion. This was disclosed by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.
Nigeria: Atiku Takes Campaign to U.S.
Atiku is expected to meet with PDP members in North America, some Nigerian business leaders based in the US, young Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora, among other meetings with some business community. Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arrived in Washington DC, the United States capital, on Thursday. His trip to the US is part of his campaign itinerary where he is expected to meet with Nigerians in that country ahead of the 2023 General Election.
Nigeria: Over 2,800 Persons Convicted of Cybercrime in 2022 - EFCC
EFCC says the convicted persons are mostly youth who should support the commission to rid the nation of cybercrimes and other criminal activities associated with cyberspace. Nigeria's anti-graft agency, EFCC, has succeeded in convicting 2,847 persons of cybercrime across the country as of October 2022. The EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, disclosed this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption on Thursday.
Nigeria: Atiku Donates N50m to Flood Victims in Bayelsa
Atiku says if elected president next year, he will complete the Dasin-Hausa Dam in Adamawa State to manage the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has donated N50 million to flood victims in Bayelsa State.
Nigeria: 774,000 Jobs - Senate Panel Demands Names, Account Details of Beneficiaries
The senators said none of their constituents benefited from the programme coordinated by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo. The Senate Public Account Committee has begun a probe into the Special Public Works programme coordinated by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in 2020. The panel has demanded a list of the 774,000 Nigerian beneficiaries that the programme was aimed at recruiting.
Nigeria: 2023 - Fani-Kayode Speaks On 'Pain' Nigerians Will Feel If APC Wins
Mr Fani-Kayode says the pain is the only necessary step to take to recover and restore the dwindling economy. Femi Fani-Kayode, the director, new media for the APC presidential campaign council, has said some Nigerians will feel pain if the party wins the 2023 general elections and begins economic recovery. While he said the pain will only last a while, Mr Fani-Kayode noted that it is the only necessary step to take to recover and restore the dwindling economy.
Nigeria: Floods - Peter Obi Suspends Campaigns, to Visit Affected States
Mr Obi also urged Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu and others to do same. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), has suspended campaign activities over the floods ravaging many parts of the country. Mr Obi has also called on the candidates of other political parties to suspend their campaigns and join him to help the flood victims. He said this when he visited the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Nigeria: Atiku Off to Europe On Business Trip
Atiku, according to a statement, travelled last night on a scheduled trip to meet with the technical partners of one of his business entities that was impacted by the Covid-19 global lockdown. Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has travelled to Europe for business. His media adviser, Paul Ibe, made this known in a statement to journalists.
Nigeria: 25 States Refuse To Vote On Constitution Amendment Bill, Give Reasons
The 25 states have threatened to take no action on the bills unless four more constitutional amendment bills are considered and passed by the National Assembly. Only 11 of Nigeria's 36 state legislatures have considered and voted on the 44 constitution amendment bills passed by the National Assembly earlier in the year. The states whose houses of assembly have voted on the bills are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun and Osun states.
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