If senior ministers have hinted that they do not need ministers of state, why is Mr President imposing it on them? After all, Sections 147 and 148 of the Nigerian Constitution say nothing about ministers of state. He is now imposing unconstitutional ministers of state on his senior ministers. Is appointment as minister of state the only way to provide jobs for the boys? So, President Tinubu, be real woke!
In recent times, there has been growing debate across Nigeria about the potential benefits of shifting from a presidential to a parliamentary system of government. But what exactly does a parliamentary system entail? In this article, Tribune Online presents a 10-point explainer on the parliamentary system of government, which Nigeria once practiced from 1960 until it was interrupted by a military coup in 1966. This means the government must retain the confidence of the parliamentary majority to stay in power. Global ExamplesCountries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany are examples of successful parliamentary systems.
The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) on Wednesday announced that 19 out of 38 directors shortlisted for Permanent Secretary positions in the Federal Civil Service failed the qualifying exam. The Federal Government commenced the selection process in October to fill Permanent Secretary roles across eight states with vacant positions. According to an OHCSF memo dated October 7, 2024, and signed by Head of Service, Didi Walson-Jack, directors currently under disciplinary action were deemed ineligible for the selection process. Providing further details, OHCSF Director of Press, Eno Olotu, stated, “Of the 38 eligible directors who sat for the exam, 19 have passed the first stage and will move on to the second stage, which will assess their competency in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in government operations on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.”Olotu noted that recruitment is a rigorous three-stage process aimed at selecting the most capable candidates. Those who pass the second stage will proceed to the final phase on Friday, November 15, 2024, where a panel of senior civil servants and private sector experts will conduct the last assessment.
This failure stemmed from inconsistent policies and a shift towards protectionism, in stark contrast to Taiwan’s successful industrial transformation under Sun Yun-Suan’s leadership. Taiwan’s strategic policies and focus on core competencies, known as the ‘Taiwan Miracle,’ positioned it among Asia’s leading economies. The divergent outcomes between Taiwan and Nigeria highlight the critical need for strategic investment in human capital to enhance economic prosperity and global competitiveness. The symphony of synergy: Taiwan’s industrial clustersIn the global economic arena, Taiwan has excelled through its strategic use of industrial clusters, transforming its SMEs into dynamic centers of industry and innovation. This scenario paints a clear picture: Nigeria’s economic strategies, marred by inconsistency and inefficacy, have led to an alarming rate of industrial decline.
A busy air route is a critical component of the aviation industry and is characterized by high demand and frequent flights. Several factors contribute to making an air route busy, which include demand and supply-side factors. As trade within African nations increases, so too has the demand for air travel, leading to a significant expansion of air connectivity. According to the African Airlines Association's (AFRAA) 2024 Air Traffic Report, African airlines recorded more international traffic in the first quarter of 2024 - around 33% of the total traffic. The country dominated the African air traffic route in the ranking with five major travel routes.
Ludogorets defender Olivier Verdon will be unavailable for Benin when they trade tackles with Nigeria in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday, Soccernet.ng reports. Although Nigeria have always dominated the fixture, in recent month, Benin have proven to be a stubborn nut to crack. The Squirrels of Benin already defeated Nigeria in June this year, and they would look to draw inspiration from that. Aside from the fact that Nigeria has better players, Benin are missing some important players. Moreover, the last time Benin defeated Nigeria, Verdon did not play.
Artiste TMP Offisial has stated that reconciling with his record label, Aura Music Inc., has taught him balance. In an interview with Saturday Beats, he said, “Honestly, this experience has taught me a lot about the importance of balance. Those moments gave me a lot of strength and clarity, and I wanted that to be felt in my new music,” TMP Offisial said. Shedding light on the reception of his latest single, Everyday, featuring TI Blaze, he said, “The response to Everyday has been incredible. Seeing the love it’s received has reminded me why I do this—it’s all about connecting with people and sharing real stories.”
Quadri Aruna’s virtuoso displays at the WTT Frankfurt 2024 have earned him praise from the African table tennis fraternity despite bowing out of the tournament following a 3-2 defeat to German Ricardo Walther in the round of 16 on Wednesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. “Quadri Aruna may be out of WTTFrankfurt, but he left it all on the table with an incredible fight against Ricardo Walter!” the International Table Tennis Federation stated on its official X handle on Thursday. Aruna made a winning start to his campaign on Sunday by upsetting the No. 5 seed Tomokazu Harimoto, recording a stunning comeback to win a 3-2 comeback win (7-11, 11-13, 11-5, 14-12, 11-3). Playing with all the confidence and freedom in the world, Aruna hammered away at the ball, punishing Harimoto in the fast exchanges as the wave of momentum firmly shifted in the African trailblazer’s favour.
Super Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers has delivered a powerful response to Nigeria’s national team selectors after being left out of the squad for November’s international fixtures, Soccernet.ng reports. Instead of the in-form Dessers, Eguavoen opted for Kelechi Iheanacho and Umar Sadiq, both of whom have struggled for consistency this season. In contrast, Dessers has been in excellent form for Rangers, racking up eight goals and three assists across 18 appearances in all competitions. Coach Eguavoen will also have additional firepower in the form of Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface. Lookman scored for Atalanta in their 2-0 Champions League win over Stuttgart in Germany midweek and remains a top contender for the CAF African Player of the Year award next month.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has shared his thoughts on Galatasaray’s strengths ahead of their Europa League clash, Soccernet.ng reports. Ahead of the clash, the Tottenham boss noted that the Turkish side’s attacking prowess and physical strength will pose a real challenge for Spurs. Postecoglou pointed out Galatasaray’s quality in the final third, noting the skill and individual ability of their forwards, including the prolific Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. With the match taking place at Galatasaray’s formidable Rams home stadium, Postecoglou acknowledged the influence of the club’s passionate fanbase. He added: “Particularly here, at Galatasaray’s home stadium, with the fans behind them, there is a great energy in all their games.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared nine additional terrorists wanted, in connection with the rise of a new terror group in Nigeria. The newly identified terrorists include Abu Khadijah, Abdurrahman, Dadi Gumba (also known as Abu Muhammed), Usman Kanin Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Wa’a, Ibrahim Suyeka, BA Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse. The DHQ also confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group, called “Lukarawas,” which is believed to be operating primarily in northwestern Nigeria. This was revealed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, when he briefed journalists on the military operations in Abuja. He assured that military operations are ongoing to locate and eliminate the group, with Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) efforts continuing to target the terrorists.
Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Cross River State chapter has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to effect the promotion of magistrates or embark on a two-week warning strike. They threatened to withdraw their services from November 13, 2024, at the instance and subsequently embarked on an indefinite strike action. They also accused the state government of paltry payments and what they described as a ridiculous sum of N15,000 as monthly impress for Magistrates. “Immediate provision of official vehicles to all Magistrates in Cross River State and payment of at least N200,000 monthly impress to all Magistrates in Cross River State,” they said. Provision of official accommodation to Magistrates of Cross River State and undertaking burial expenses for any deceased Magistrate.
He said the proclamation had effectively boosted NICA’s role as the regulator of the credit management profession in Nigeria under the NICA Act, No 26 of 2022. The statement read: “This development has formally and officially recognised the credit administration management profession in Nigeria. Credit management now holds an esteemed place in the nation’s economic and academic landscape. “NICA’s federal recognition also empowers the institute to influence national economic transitioning policies, regulations, and standards, enabling NICA members and credit granting/providing communities to actively participate in developing frameworks that secure the country’s economic resilience. According to him, NICA members are now better positioned to leverage their expertise and pursue opportunities on an international stage.
Former President Donald Trump won the November 5, 2024, United States (U.S.) presidential election after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump, who will become the 47th president of the United States, outperformed his closest rival and Democratic candidate, Harris. Following the confirmation that Trump will lead the United States again for a second term, many are curious about when the Republican will return to the White House. As is tradition, Trump will be inaugurated as president and take office officially on Monday, January 20, 2025, following the customary transition period after the election. Between now and January 20, 2025, President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will collaborate with their transition team to coordinate the handover from President Biden’s administration.
Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, officially conceded defeat to her Republican rival, Donald Trump, in the 5 November 2024 United States presidential election. “They discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for everyone in the country,” the aide reported. Trump achieved a decisive victory, comfortably surpassing the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency. As is tradition, Trump will be inaugurated as president and officially take office on Monday, 20 January 2025, following the customary transition period after the election. Between now and 20 January 2025, President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will collaborate with their transition team to coordinate the handover from President Biden’s administration.
