Politics
SGF Akume heads LG Autonomy Implementation Committee

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, would lead the Federal Government’s 10-man inter-ministerial committee to enforce the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, said that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and the Accountant General of the Federation are members of the committee.
The committee’s primary goal is to ensure that local governments are granted full autonomy, allowing them to function effectively without interference from state governments.
He said, “The Secretary to the Government of the Federation has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the Supreme Court judgment delivered on 11th July 2024 granting financial autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria. “
Imohiosen said that the
other members of the committee are the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance), the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, representatives of state governors and representatives of local governments.
Imohiosen added that the objective of the committee was to make sure the local governments in the country enjoy their autonomy.
He said, “The committee’s primary goal is to ensure that local governments are granted full autonomy, allowing them to function effectively without interference from state governments.
“This move is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to give appropriate implementation to the provisions of the Constitution, which recognises local governments as the third tier of government
The Supreme Court had on July 11 granted local governments across the country autonomy.
An apex court seven-man panel, in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.
Politics
BREAKING: Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno officially defects to APC

Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Eno expressed his gratitude to the PDP for their support during his tenure, stating that it was time for him to make a progressive move.
After completing a series of consultations, he decided to join the APC, citing his admiration for President Bola Tinubu and the need for Akwa Ibom State to align with the federal government to reap continuous benefits.
Governor Eno also assured the people of Akwa Ibom State that he would continue to work tirelessly for their benefit, regardless of party affiliation.
Politics
Reuben Abati: “Wike is Rude, He May Abuse Tinubu Tomorrow”

Arise Television popular co-host and former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as rude, adding that he might abuse President Bola Tinubu tomorrow.
Abati’s remarks come a day after the FCT Minister referred to a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as a politician who is hungry for power.
“Now that they are out of power, they say they are hungry. It’s not hunger for food. It’s hunger for power,” Wike said during a media chat on Monday.
Reacting to Wike’s comment while speaking on ‘The Morning Show’, an ARISE Television breakfast programme on Tuesday, Abati, a co-host, described Wike as a rude politician, noting that Amaechi is Wike’s boss in the field of politics.
“I think that Nyesom Wike is very rude and disrespectful because Rotimi Amaechi is his boss in politics,” said Abati.
“When he was local government chairman or was it councillor during Amaechi’s second term, it was Rotimi Amaechi that helped him to become local government chairman.”
He added that the FCT minister had previously insulted Peter Odili, a former Rivers governor, who helped him become governor.
The former presidential spokesperson said the FCT minister is showing signs that he will soon use abusive language against President Tinubu.
He advised the president to be wary of Wike because he could insult him in the future just as he had done with Amaechi and others.
Abati said: “Who will Nyesom Wike not insult? He insulted Senator John Mbata, who was his godfather at some point. He also showed signs that he will insult President Bola Tinubu.
“In that interview, he pointed out that if he had known that President Tinubu was going to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, he would have offered a different kind of advice.
“That is already a signal to President Tinubu to know that this man you are dealing with, his only interested is his own interests.
“President Tinubu should beware. Tomorrow he will abuse this same President Tinubu.”
Politics
Rivers Saga: “I was once your boss whether you like it or not” – Amaechi responds to Wike

A former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, has responded to the claim by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, that he (Amaechi) is not his boss.
Wike, during a media chat in Abuja, dismissed his former boss, saying the former Minister of Transportation is not influential.
He claimed that Amaechi, even as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign, could not deliver Rivers State to former President Muhammadu Buhari in both the 2015 and 2019 elections.
Later, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike also criticized former presidential spokesman Reuben Abati for describing him as rude.
Abati had asserted that Wike was very rude, stressing that former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi was his political boss.
The Arise Television anchor made the comment in reaction to Wike’s statement that Amaechi was power-hungry and failed to deliver 10 percent of the vote for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.
Responding, Olayinka questioned how Amaechi could be considered Wike’s boss in politics.
Posting on Facebook, Olayinka recalled how Wike remained in Rivers State to help Amaechi retrieve his mandate after the latter fled to Ghana in 2007.
In response, during an Arise News interview on Thursday, Amaechi was asked if he is still friends with Wike. He replied, “Why go into personal life?”
When asked if he still hangs out with Wike, Amaechi said, “I’ve told you this several times, subordinates. I was once his [Wike’s] boss, whether he likes it or not. I hired him; I could have said no.”
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