Senator Sumaila Kawu, representing Kano South, has disclosed that his monthly earnings as a senator amount to over N21 million.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Kawu explained that while the official salary fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) stands at N1 million, deductions reduce this figure to approximately N600,000.

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However, when various allowances are factored in, the total take-home pay rises to N21 million per month.

These allowances cover expenses such as office running costs, local travel, and newspapers.

Kawu’s revelation comes in the wake of a statement by RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, who insisted that each senator officially receives a total of N1.06 million in salary and allowances per month, a claim that has sparked significant public debate.

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The controversy surrounding lawmakers’ earnings has been ongoing, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently criticizing the National Assembly members for what he described as self-serving practices in determining their pay.

During a meeting with House of Representatives members led by Ikenga Ugochinyere in Abeokuta, Obasanjo accused them of fixing their salaries and allowances, which he deemed immoral.

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The debate over the earnings of federal lawmakers was first brought to light when former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani revealed that each senator in the 8th Senate received a monthly running cost of N13.5 million, in addition to a salary of N750,000.

The recent disclosure by Senator Kawu only adds fuel to the ongoing controversy over the actual earnings of Nigeria’s lawmakers.

Former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Dr. Barr. Ibe Onoh, has emerged victorious in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election for the Enugu North Local Government Area chairmanship.

The primary, held on Wednesday, saw Dr. Onoh secure a decisive win, affirming his position as the party’s candidate for the upcoming council polls.

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Dr. Onoh, a distinguished legal practitioner and respected PDP member, received all delegate votes, reflecting his strong support base and widespread acceptance within the party.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Onoh expressed deep appreciation to Governor Peter Mbah, the state government, delegates, party leaders, and supporters for their confidence in him.

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He outlined his vision for Enugu North, emphasizing plans for infrastructural development, enhanced healthcare services, and improved educational facilities.

Dr. Onoh also pledged to focus on economic empowerment and youth engagement as key components of his agenda.

He called for unity among party members and urged them to work together to ensure a successful campaign.

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With the local government elections scheduled for October 2024 by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), political activities in the state are gaining momentum.

Former Deputy Chairman of Nkanu West Local government area of Enugu state, Hon. Chief John Ogbodo has been officially declared the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the upcoming local government council elections in Nkanu West.

The announcement was made at the end of the party’s primary election held on Wednesday.

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Ogbodo, a seasoned politician and respected figure within the PDP, secured all delegates votes to clinch the party’s ticket.

His emergence as the PDP candidate has been met with widespread approval among party members and supporters in Nkanu West, who believe that his experience and dedication to the council area will make him an effective leader.

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In his acceptance speech, Hon. Ogbodo thanked Governor Peter Mbah led state government, PDP delegates and all stakeholders for their support and confidence in his ability to lead the local government.

He promised to prioritize development initiatives that would improve the lives of the people in Nkanu West if elected come October this year.

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Hon. John Ogbodo also called on all party members to unite and work together to secure victory in the general elections, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and collective effort in achieving the party’s goals.

Daily Gazette recall that the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) had scheduled the council elections for October.

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Political activities in the state are already gaining momentum as candidates across different political parties intensify their campaigns.

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital, has nullified the victory of Hon. Simon Atigwe, member representing Udenu/Igboeze North federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

DAILY GAZETTE recall that after the 2023 general election, the Labour Party candidate, Hon. Dennis Agbo, was declared winner and returned elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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However, candidate of the APC, Dr. Oby Ajih, approached the tribunal seeking nullification of Agbo’s victory on the grounds that her party’s logo (APC) did not appear on Form EC8A.

However, the tribunal dismissed her petition for being vague, generic, nebulous, and lacking in merit.

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the lower court, Ajih approached the appellate court, arguing that the election did not comply with the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act.

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After hearing the matter, the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos nullified the victory of Hon. Dennis Agbo and ordered a fresh election within 90 days.

Delivering her judgment via Zoom, the court sustained the appeal of Oby Ajih, mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election for all parties involved.

In a judgment that lasted less than 30 minutes, the appellate court agreed that the appeal had merit and set aside the judgment of the tribunal.

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They said that the non-inclusion of the APC logo on Form EC8A, contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act.

On 3rd February, a court-ordered fresh election was held, and Hon. Simon Atigwe of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won and was declared winner by INEC.

Not satisfied with the outcome, Hon. Dennis Agbo and the Labour Party went to the tribunal with allegations of rigging, falsification of figures, wrong computation, multiple thumb printing, substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, among others.

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Delivering her judgment on Wednesday, the three-man tribunal nullified the victory of the PDP candidate, Simon Atigwe, and declared Dennis Agbo of the Labour Party winner of the polls.

DAILY GAZETTE correspondence who was in court reports that the tribunal agreed with the petitioners that there were massive rigging, obvious results swap, as well as mutilation of figures in favour of the PDP Candidate.

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It declared invalid, null and void the 2000 votes added to the PDP candidate and restored the votes of 25th February 2023 of 14,229 for the PDP and 28,870 votes for the LP candidate, Rt Hon Dennis Agbo.

“That Atigwe Simon Chukwuemeka was not duly elected by the valid votes cast”

“That the first petitioner won with 23,221 and PDP came second with 21,863 votes” the court held.

The court ordered that certificate of return issued to Atigwe be withdrawn and issued to Hon. Dennis Agbo.

His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Emeritus Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, has voiced his support for the youth in their efforts to challenge and end bad governance in Nigeria.

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Speaking at an event organized by the Christian Youth for Peace and Development Initiative in Abuja on Tuesday, the cardinal reflected on the recent 10-day nationwide protests, tagged #EndBadGovernance, and emphasized that the youth, like many Nigerians, desire better management of the country.

Cardinal Onaiyekan noted that the protests, which saw large numbers of young people taking to the streets, were not intended to attack any individual or government.

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“The youth were not out there to insult anyone,” he said.

“They didn’t declare an end to Tinubu’s government; they simply called for an end to bad governance. Is there anything wrong with that? We should all be committed to ending bad governance.”

He further commented on the broader consensus among Nigerians that there is room for significant improvement in the governance and management of the country.

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Onaiyekan expressed understanding for the impatience of the youth, adding, “When Mr. President advises the youth to be patient, I wonder if he himself was patient when he was 30 years old.

The young people cannot afford to be patient, and they shouldn’t be, because patience, in this context, might mean inaction.”

The cardinal also emphasized the importance of peace, acknowledging that achieving peace in Nigeria is a collective task that requires the involvement of many.

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He expressed his openness to participating in similar events organized by Muslim youth, highlighting the need for unity in promoting peace.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s history, Onaiyekan pointed out that young people have always been at the forefront of the nation’s struggles, from the colonial era to the present.

He reminded the audience that leaders like Awolowo, Azikiwe, and Ahmadu Bello were all young men when they took up the mantle of leadership.

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However, Onaiyekan expressed skepticism regarding recent government measures, such as the introduction of CNG buses, questioning whether they address the underlying issues that led to the protests.

He also voiced doubts about the practicality and long-term impact of CNG technology in the current Nigerian context.

Ambassador Simon Dolly-Kif, Director General of the Christian Youth for Peace and Development Initiative, echoed the need for peace, urging the youth to embrace constructive dialogue.

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He lamented the economic disruptions caused by the protests and stressed that development is impossible in an atmosphere of conflict.

Igboeze South Local Government Area, a key political subdivision in Enugu State, is divided into 16 political wards and four development centers: Ekete, South-East, Udeze, and Central.

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These development centers align with the two traditional political zones that have long defined the area’s governance structure: the South-East Zone and the South-West Zone.

Historically, the South-East Zone includes Ekete and South-East development centers, while the South-West Zone comprises Udeze and Central development centers.

Despite the introduction of the development centers, the traditional zones remain intact, continuing to serve as the foundation for political representation and resource allocation within the LGA.

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A significant aspect of this structure is the voting population ratio between the two zones, with the East holding approximately 60% and the West 40%.

Ideally, political and democratic benefits have been shared between these zones.

However, recent developments following the last general elections have sparked concerns over an apparent imbalance.

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The South-West Zone currently holds eight significant positions in government, while the South-East Zone is left with only one outgoing position—the local government’s PDP Chairmanship.

Current Political Representation:

Igboeze South-West Zone:
– Udeze Development Center:
1. Senate – Okey Ezea
2. House of Assembly – Harrison Ogara
3. Commissioner – Hon. Sunday Ajogwu
4. Chairman, Igboeze South Traditional Rulers Council – HRH Igwe Agbaje
5. Vice Chairman, Igboeze South Traditional Rulers Council – HRH Igwe Oke

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– Central Development Center:
1. Member, ESUT Board – Chief Engr Ajibo
2. Patron 2, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council – HRH Igwe H.I. Ezeh
3. Secretary, Igboeze South Traditional Rulers Council – HRH, Igwe Prof. Omeje

Igboeze South-East Zone:
– South-East Development Center:
1. 1st Term Chairman, PDP Igboeze South – Hon. Princess Chinwendu Ogbonna

– Ekete Development Center:
– No position currently occupied

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This lopsided distribution of power has led to increasing calls for the next Chairman of the council to come from the South-East Zone, specifically from the Ekete development center.

Ekete, which is the most populous development center, accounting for about 40% of the LGA’s population, remains significantly underrepresented.

Emerging Contenders for Council Chairmanship:

Among the key figures vying for the Chairmanship is Barr. Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze, a prominent legal practitioner from Umulolo Ward in Ekete development center.

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Barr. Ukwueze, the immediate past Chairman of the NBA Nsukka branch and a former Coordinating Chairman of the Bar in Enugu State, has a strong political and professional background.

His contributions to the PDP during the last election cycle are well-recognized, particularly his financial support for various campaign platforms and his philanthropic efforts aimed at empowering widows and orphans in the community.

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With growing support for his candidacy, Barr. Ukwueze’s leadership could mark a significant shift in the political dynamics of Igboeze South LGA, potentially restoring balance and ensuring fair representation across the traditional zones. As the momentum builds, the political landscape of Igboeze South LGA is poised for significant changes.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on Tuesday, overturned the dismissal of Mr. Iroju Ogundeji, a former Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, ordering his reinstatement.

The judgment marks the conclusion of a four-year legal battle that began with Ogundeji’s removal in 2020.

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Ogundeji, who represented Odigbo Constituency 2, was ousted from his position following a disagreement with the leadership of the 9th Assembly, then headed by Speaker Bamidele Oloyeloogun.

Following his removal, Ogundeji was replaced by Samuel Aderoboye, who served as Deputy Speaker until the Assembly’s term ended in 2023.

After his removal, Ogundeji sought redress at the Ondo State High Court, which ruled in his favor and ordered his reinstatement.

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However, the House of Assembly challenged the ruling, appealing the decision of Justice Akintan Osadebey at the state’s high court.

In a unanimous decision, the appellate court, comprising Justices Oyebisi Omoleye, Frederick Oziakpono-Oho, and Yusuf Bashir, upheld the judgment of the lower court.

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The Court of Appeal found that Ogundeji had not been given a fair hearing before his removal, rendering the Assembly’s decision null and void.

The court ordered that Ogundeji be reinstated to his position as Deputy Speaker and that he receive all entitlements due to him during his tenure in the 9th Assembly.

The ruling reinforces the principle of fair hearing in legislative procedures and marks a significant victory for Ogundeji in his pursuit of justice.