Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has relieved Professor Kenneth Kalu of his duties as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and asked him to proceed on leave.

In his place, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole has been appointed Acting SSG, effective January 1, 2026.

The announcement was made in a statement issued on Friday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku, and made available to journalists in Umuahia.

Meribole, who currently serves as the Governor’s Special Adviser on Projects, will begin the handover process on Monday, December 15, 2025, working closely with Kalu to ensure a smooth transition and the uninterrupted implementation of government policies and programs.

A medical doctor by training, Meribole is a seasoned professional who previously retired as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

His tenure as Special Adviser has been marked by the successful execution of several key developmental initiatives across the state.

Governor Otti expressed gratitude to Professor Kalu for his dedicated service to Abia State and commended his contributions to the administration.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will today arraign former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, on an eight-count charge bordering on corruption and abuse of office.

Ngige, who also served as Governor of Anambra State, is expected to appear before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

He is the sole defendant in the case, listed as FCT/HC/CR/726/2025.

The charges, dated October 31 and filed on December 9 by a team of EFCC prosecutors led by Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), accuse the former minister of awarding multiple contracts to companies allegedly linked to his associates while he supervised the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) between September 2015 and May 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the first charge, Ngige is accused of using his office to grant undue advantage to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, headed by his associate Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles.

The NSITF reportedly awarded seven consultancy, training and supply contracts to the firm valued at N366,470,920.68.

Count two alleges a similar offence involving Zitacom Nigeria Limited, also owned by Ezebinwa, to which eight contracts worth N583,682,686 were allegedly awarded.

In count three, Ngige is accused of influencing the award of eight contracts totalling N362,043,163.16 to Jeff & Xris Limited, managed by his associate Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike.

Count four concerns Olde English Consolidated Limited, owned by Uzoma Igbonwa, which allegedly received four contracts worth N668,138,141 through Ngige’s influence.

In count five, Ngige is further accused of favouring another Igbonwa-linked company, Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, which allegedly received four NSITF contracts worth N161,604,625.

The above offences are said to violate Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The remaining counts accuse the former minister of corruptly receiving financial gifts from contractors working with NSITF through organisations linked to him.

Count Six: Ngige allegedly received N38,650,000 from Cezimo Nigeria Limited into the account of the “Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation.”

Count Seven: He allegedly accepted N55,003,000 from Zitacom Nigeria Limited, channelled through the “Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme.”

Count Eight: He allegedly received N26,130,000 from Jeff & Xris Limited, also through the scholarship scheme.

These offences violate Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and attract penalties under Section 179(c) of the same Act.

Ngige is expected to take his plea when he appears before the court today.

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill for second reading to establish a specialised medical college for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Sponsored by Babajimi Benson, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence (APC, Lagos), the bill seeks to create a military-run medical institution to train doctors, specialist physicians, and allied health professionals specifically for the Armed Forces and other uniformed services.

Benson highlighted several reasons for the proposal, including the ongoing exodus of Nigerian doctors abroad, frequent strikes disrupting civilian medical education, and the need for military-specific training in areas such as trauma care, tropical medicine, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) response, and austere-environment medicine.

“Reliable medical support is crucial for the Army’s operational readiness, casualty management, preventive medicine, and the welfare of troops and their families,” Benson said.

He noted that despite the efforts of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps (NAMC), the national healthcare sector faces shortages of doctors, uneven specialist distribution, and a continued outflow of medical professionals.

Between 2016 and 2018, over 9,000 doctors reportedly left Nigeria for opportunities abroad, with estimates suggesting about 16,000 doctors emigrated over five years, leaving roughly 55,000 practicing in the country.

Benson added that the situation is even more severe within the Armed Forces, with only 21 doctors commissioned into the Army between 2019 and 2025 due to low interest from civilian medical professionals.

Currently, the Army has 189 doctors, nearly 40% of whom are pursuing specialist training in civilian institutions.

The proposed Nigerian Military Medical College (NMMC) aims to create a stable pipeline of physicians trained for military service, insulated from strikes and academic disruptions common in civilian medical institutions.

International models, such as the Armed Forces Medical College in India and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in the U.S, demonstrate the benefits of military-controlled medical education, combining clinical competence with leadership and operational readiness.

Benson explained that the college would operate under the Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

Governance would include a Board of Governors chaired by the Chief of Defence Staff, an academic council with NUC and MDCN representatives, and a Medical Education Unit responsible for curriculum and quality assurance.

While acknowledging the high initial costs, Benson emphasized long-term benefits, including reduced reliance on emergency medical recruitment, lower medical evacuation expenses, improved troop health, and enhanced operational capacity.

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has written to the State House of Assembly seeking approval for a virement in the 2025 budget.

The request was read during Thursday’s plenary by the Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze, who referred it to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for review and report back next week.

The plenary was subsequently adjourned to Tuesday, December 11, 2025.

In his letter, Governor Soludo requested authorisation to adjust capital and recurrent expenditures as well as capital receipts in the approved 2025 fiscal plan.

While full details of the proposed changes were not made public, the governor explained that the adjustments were necessary due to emerging priorities, limited resources, and prevailing economic challenges.

Soludo emphasized that the revisions aim to address urgent needs across the state and ensure maximum impact and value for residents.

He wrote, “It would be greatly appreciated if the draft virement for the 2025 Appropriation Bill is placed before the House at the earliest time for consideration and passage into law.”

The governor also highlighted that his administration’s 2025 budget achieved over 60 per cent performance, despite being an election year, and stressed that the adjustments are intended to deliver improved service outcomes.

Earlier, on November 25, Punch Online reported that Soludo presented a N757 billion budget proposal for 2026, titled “Changing Gears 3.0: Solution Continues”.

The proposal allocates N595.3 billion (79%) for capital expenditure and N161.6 billion for recurrent spending, with a projected deficit of N225.7 billion, expected to be financed through hybrid funding, public–private partnerships, enhanced internally generated revenue, concessions, and support from financial institutions.

Soludo assured that “every kobo will be prudently utilised to maximise value for the people of Anambra.”

Senators Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) engaged in a heated exchange on Thursday over the ambassadorial nomination of former presidential aide Reno Omokri in Abuja.

The confrontation occurred on the second day of the ongoing screening of President Bola Tinubu’s 65 career and non-career ambassadorial nominees submitted to the Senate last week.

Omokri watched silently from Room 301 as the two senior legislators traded sharp procedural and political remarks.

Tensions rose when Oshiomhole began addressing Omokri’s nomination, declaring, “I cannot be intimidated by people who go here and there. After all, we see people on television questioning this list.”

Ndume interrupted, stressing that Senate procedure must be followed: “If there is a motion on the ground, it should be seconded. If it is not seconded, it’s dead.”

Oshiomhole refused to yield, appealing to the Committee Chairman, Senator Abubakar Bello (APC, Niger North), to let him continue in the public interest.

Ndume fired back, insisting, “There is no such petition before us. The Senate is not a joke!”

The exchange escalated into political jabs. Oshiomhole said, “When I talk, those who have not been governors should listen… President Tinubu has shown real quality—that criticism during the election does not prevent appointment.”

Nudume shot back, “You have never dreamed of being a senator when I became one.” The Committee Chairman intervened to restore order, reminding Oshiomhole of the pending motion.

Omokri remained composed but tense as the debate unfolded, uncertain how it might influence the Senate’s perception of his nomination.

Thursday’s drama came a day after controversy over Emmanuel Adeyemi, a career diplomat nominee from Ekiti State, who struggled to name all three senators representing his home state, prompting outrage.

Adeyemi’s team attempted to look up the answer on a phone, drawing criticism from lawmakers including Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, while some colleagues pleaded for leniency.

Adeyemi is among three nominees from Ekiti, alongside Erelu Angela Adebayo and Olumilua Oluwayemika.