General News
We’re Building Community of Leaders Through Legislative Mentorship Initiative -Gbajabiamila
By Saint Mugaga
Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) is building a community of leaders committed to public service.
He also said that the Initiative is expanding across the continent of Africa in partnership with the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) led by its Secretary-General, Amb. ’Dapo Oyewole.
Gbajabiamila made the disclosure while inaugurating the Fourth Cohort of LMI in Abuja.
Delivering his keynote address, Gbajabiamila who founded the Initiative during his time as the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives also
reaffirmed the vision behind the Initiative, describing leadership as “A conscious act of service and a deliberate choice to rise above self and give meaning to the lives of others.”
He reflected on LMI’s journey since its inception in 2022, emphasizing that what began as a Nigerian project has evolved into a continental model of mentorship and legislative capacity development, with the alumni making tangible impact across public institutions ranging from the State Houses of assembly to the National Assembly, and in civil society organisations across Africa.
He said: “History will judge us by how well we prepare those who will inherit our institutions, our democracy, and our shared destiny. Through LMI, we are building a living community of leaders bound by shared values, integrity, empathy, and a passion for public service.
“The Legislative Mentorship Initiative will now operate under the framework of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures. Through this partnership, African Parliaments will be able to nominate exceptional young leaders to participate in the fellowship — building a continent-wide network of young Africans who will learn, collaborate and shape the future of our continent together.”
The former Speaker also announced the Oluwadamilola Agbaje Outstanding Fellow Award, named in honour of a late alumnus to recognise other fellows who exemplified integrity and excellence in public service.
In his remarks, Amb. Oyewole who is also Chairman, LMI Planning and Advisory Committee commended the Founder for his vision, reaffirming CoSPAL’s commitment towards scaling the Initiative’s impact across Africa.
“The three years in which I have been responsible for running the Legislative Mentorship Initiative under the leadership of our Founder, have been truly remarkable. I am deeply thankful for his leadership and the trust he bestowed in me alongside my exceptional team to manage this programme. In just three years, LMI has become one of Africa’s most respected leadership development programmes.
“As we expand LMI to other Africans, under the auspices of CoSPAL, we aim to institutionalise mentorship across parliaments, strengthen intergenerational leadership pipelines, and build a new architecture for public sector excellence in Africa.”
Oyewole further said under CoSPAL, LMI will serve as a pan-African public sector leadership academy to strengthen capacity and foster collaboration among young leaders and emerging legislators across the continent in line with the vision of LMI’s Founder.
He urged the LMI Cohort Four to embody “moral, intellectual and responsive leadership that listens, learns, and leads with empathy and vision.”
On her part, the Director of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative, Ms. Solape Sonuga expressed gratitude to the Founder as well the CoSPAL’s leadership for the renewed direction of the programme, describing LMI as “a convergence of shared purpose and intergenerational collaboration”.
“From over 7,000 applications, only 50 exceptional young Nigerians were selected for this cohort. This opportunity represents not just personal growth, but a collective responsibility to redefine leadership across our continent”, she said.
General News
Tinubu Announces 26 New Appointments, Gisaor Replaces Byuan at Federal Housing Authority
By Felix Umande, Makurdi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved 26 new appointments into 10 Federal Government agencies and commissions, in a major shake-up aimed at strengthening governance and service delivery.
The appointments were announced on Sunday, 20 July, 2026 and take immediate effect.
Among the key appointments, Gisaor Vincent Iorja, an economist, legal scholar and academic, has been named Executive Director, Finance of the Federal Housing Authority. He replaces Mathias Terwase Byuan, who resigned to contest the governorship election in Benue State. Gisaor currently serves as Secretary of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.
He will head the board alongside Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar and Engineer Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as members and non-executive directors. The incumbent Director-General of REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three previously appointed executive directors complete the board.
Major General Junaid Bindawa has been named Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. President Tinubu also made eight other appointments to the Commission.
Former House of Representatives member from Lagos, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, was appointed Secretary of the Commission. Commissioners appointed to represent states include Dr. Ogbole Ene Lilian, Benue; Oladele Olatubosun, Oyo; and Yakubu Umar Barde, Kaduna.
Other members of the Commission are Dr. Mai Adamu Yau, Borno; Ginika Florence Tor, Enugu; Engineer Lawrence Okoh, Edo; and Bello Morenike Iyabode, Kogi.
President Tinubu also appointed Dr. Abuh Mohammed as Director-General of the National Population Commission.
Dr. Akinola Odeyemi as Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, NBET.
Dr. Anthony Inalegwu Godwin as Chairman/CEO of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.
Engineer Julius Oloro, a former council chairman, as CEO of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, NCAM, Kwara, replacing
Dr. A.R. Kamal who died in January.
Tosin Johnson Adeyanju, previously Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, NLTF, has been redeployed as Secretary of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission.
The President also constituted the board of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission with Dr. Abdullahi Maikano Saidu as Chairman. Members include Mohammed Asmau, Mohammed Aliyu Makama, Dr. Suleiman Gidado, Louis O. Ndukwe, Amaechi Ugwele and Olaniyi Idowu Onikola.
Shuni Muhammad Dahiru was named Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education. He replaces Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, who was reassigned to the Petroleum Trust Development Fund, PTDF, in April.
According to the Presidency, the appointments are part of ongoing efforts to reposition institutions to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
By Nick Ibe, Abuja
DSS is prepared to appeal to achieve death penalty for the two Ansaru terrorist group commanders given life sentences in Abuja were given by Emeka Nwite. The were sentenced on Monday after they pleaded guilty to a 32-count terrorism charge.
The convicts: Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, described as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and Mahmud al-Nigeri (a.k.a Malam Mamuda), his deputy and chief of staff.
The judge handed down the sentence after the convicts changed their plea from not guilty to guilty and, through their lawyer, appealed for leniency.
A senior DSS official, speaking after the judgement, said the agency considers the punishment inadequate given the gravity of the offences.
According to the official, the two men had initially indicated they would plead guilty but later changed their position around the period pupils and teachers were abducted in Oriire LGA of Oyo state by suspected members of the same group.
“For the nearly 60 days the kidnappers held on to the pupils and teachers of Oriire, the Ansaru commanders in our custody changed,” the official said.
“One of the top conditions the abductors gave was the unconditional release of these same Ansaru commanders in exchange for the Oriire kidnap victims.”
The DSS official said the defendants, who had earlier pleaded not guilty, later told the court they were undecided on the plea they intended to enter.
“Justice Nwite even had to hand them an ultimatum to make up their minds on or before Monday’s sitting.
“After the Oriire rescue, they came to court to plead guilty to all the charges.
“Allowing the two terror commanders walk away with life sentences will not serve the cause of justice for the two Oriire teachers beheaded by their abductors.
“The reason the terrorists beheaded the two Oriire teacher’s was to put pressure on government to release these two Ansaru commanders.
“It, therefore, wouldn’t be fair to see two men beheaded and their families are made to live with the losses without adequately bringing the culprits to book.”
By Nick Ibe, Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, (Retd) has denied as malicious and an entirely fabricated rumour circulating across various online and social media platforms alleging that he has expressed an intention to step down from his position.
Debunking this as fake news, a statement signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde
SA (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence stated unequivocally, and in the strongest possible terms that:
“These rumours are absolute falsehood borne out of complete mischief.
General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) remains fully focused on his national security mandate, deeply committed to his duties, and completely dedicated to piloting the nation’s defence strategy with results already being seen.
The release further called the public to disregard the fake news. It also strongly called on the media to desist from spreading unverified information falsehood from the internet and social media platforms but to verify from it before going public.
“The general public is hereby urged to completely disregard this fake news. We strongly advise media outlets and internet users to desist from spreading unverified information and seek clarifications from the office.”
Tinubu Announces 26 New Appointments, Gisaor Replaces Byuan at Federal Housing Authority
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande, Makurdi President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved 26 new appointments into 10 Federal Government agencies...
FIFA’s Unprecedented World Cup Prize Money – how much the winners got
Spread the loveBy Isa Abdul, Abuja Sunday’s fifa world cup final clash between Argentina and Spain has come and gone...
DSS Dissatisfied with Life Sentence handed Ansaru Commanders: To appeal sentence
Spread the loveBy Nick Ibe, Abuja DSS is prepared to appeal to achieve death penalty for the two Ansaru terrorist...
Fake News: Minister Of Defence not Intending to Resign
Spread the loveBy Nick Ibe, Abuja The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, (Retd) has denied as malicious...
We Fought a Wrong War With You Mutfwang Pleads with Igbos
Spread the loveBy Michael Lim, Jos Caleb Mutfwang, Plateau State Governor, apologised to the Igbo community for the role the...
Obi Kwankwaso Sign One-term Presidency Agreement
Spread the loveBy Isa Abdul Peter Obi has signed a one term agreement as president, if he wins the 2027...
Julianna Ofoku, Emerge First Female NUJ Chairman In Nasarawa
Spread the love… NAWOJ Congratulates Ofoku, Describes Her Victory As Historic From Terkura Vande in Makurdi Juliana Ofoku, has emerged...
For Extorting ICPC Chairman of N53,000 in Abuja: Police Arrest 4 “Thieves” in Uniform
Spread the loveBy Nick Ibe, Abuja For extorting N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related...
FG Moves to Fast-Track Local Production of Malaria, TB Test Kits
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande The Federal Government has taken fresh steps to accelerate the local production of Rapid Diagnostic...
Benue Police Debunk Makurdi-Lafia Roadblock Report, Arrest Suspects Over Professor’s Murder
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande, Makurdi The Benue State Police Command has dismissed reports of bandits mounting roadblocks and attacking...