News
Military Pays 90,000 Ex-servicemen Second Tranche Of owed Allowances
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
The Military Pensions Board said it has paid over 90,000 retired military personnel the second tranche of the owed 24 months arrears of minimum wage.
Recall that reported that retired military personnel, on January 5, protested at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters and Ministry of Defence to demand the payment of the minimum wage allowance, among others.
The Board, after the protest, paid 25% of the owed allowance to retired personnel in February.
In a statement by its chairman, Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal, the Board said the payment of another 25% of the owed allowance had been completed.
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He assured that the Board would ensure complete payment of the arrears before the end of the year, subject to funds released by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
It read, “The Military Pensions Board wishes to inform our esteemed military retirees and the general public that the Board commenced payment of the second tranche of 25% of the arrears of minimum wage increments to eligible military retirees on Friday, May 6, 2022, and concluded the exercise on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.
“The payments were made to the various bank accounts of pensioners on the MPB payroll. Consequently, all eligible military pensioners are advised to contact their banks for their entitlements.
“This payment is the second installment being paid to eligible military retirees who are active on the Board’s database, and it is in fulfillment of the agreement reached between the Board and the
Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning for quarterly releases of the appropriated sum in the first month of each quarter of this year.
“It is important to state that these payments are basically for arrears of increment in pensions of military retirees who are on MPB payroll between April 18, 2019, and April 30, 2021, occasioned by the new National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2019.”
Lawal also disclosed that all the Next of Kin of deceased military pensioners entitled to the same arrears had been paid in full.
He said, “It is also necessary to inform that all Next of Kin of deceased military pensioners entitled to these same arrears have been paid in full. Furthermore, the Board would like to inform our esteemed retirees and the general public that the MPB is up to date in paying monthly pensions and gratuities to our military pensioners/retirees and has fully settled the death benefits of all confirmed NOKs of deceased military personnel/pensioners. ”
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News
Church Of Nigeria Formally Cuts Ties With Wales Over Lesbian Archbishop
Published
4 hours agoon
August 7, 2025By
Editor
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially cut all ties with the Church in Wales following the appointment of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the 15th Archbishop of Wales.
The decision was announced by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, who described the development as ‘an abomination’ and a serious departure from biblical truth.
The announcement came during the opening session of the 14th Church of Nigeria Conference of Chancellors, Registrars and Legal Officers, held on Tuesday at the Church’s national secretariat in Abuja.
With the theme ‘Called as a Watchman’, the event brought together legal minds from across the Church to discuss matters of doctrinal integrity, justice, and governance.
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Primate Ndukuba delivered the keynote address titled ‘The Decade of the Reign of God: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects.’
Reacting to the Church in Wales’ elevation of a lesbian bishop, the Primate said, “We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as the Archbishop of Wales.”
He compared it to the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson in the Episcopal Church (USA), which had also led to Nigeria severing ties with that province.
“Just as the Church of Nigeria took steps after the election of Gene Robinson in the United States, we are severing every tie and relationship with the Church of Wales,” he said.
Primate Ndukuba also criticised what he described as the growing influence of revisionist teachings within sections of the Western Church.
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“These individuals have not relented from their evil agenda; rather, they have intensified it. What they call their wisdom and culture is an abomination to God,” he declared.
Despite cutting formal ties with the Church in Wales, the Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its support for orthodox Anglicans in the region through platforms such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).
“We pray that the Church of God in Wales will rise up, and that the faithful among them will stand strong. We, the Church of Nigeria, alongside GAFCON, will stand with them,” Ndukuba assured.
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Looking ahead, the Primate said the Church of Nigeria plans to expand its global mission, with new registrations underway in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.
“We feel that the Lord is calling us back to Europe for mission,” he said.
The Primate also used the opportunity to highlight the Church’s ongoing contributions to the GAFCON movement.
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He revealed that the Church of Nigeria had recently contributed $2.5 million to the GAFCON Endowment Fund and was planning a local Nigerian GAFCON Endowment worth $2.3 million to support orthodox Anglican work and mission.
On constitutional and legal matters, Ndukuba urged legal officers to strengthen the Church’s internal reforms and national engagement.
“You are to understand yourselves to be watchmen for the Church. You defend the Church against all forms of aggression. As modern-day watchmen, we must first listen to God, then speak His truth in love, knowing our duty lies in obedience,” he said, calling on legal professionals to support the Church’s constitutional review and advocate for a new Nigerian constitution.
News
EFCC Arraigns Six Katsina Revenue, Bank Workers Over N1.2bn Fraud
Published
5 hours agoon
August 7, 2025By
Editor
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday arraigned five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue and a staff of First Bank over an alleged N1.2 billion fraud.
The accused were brought before Justice Musa Danladi of the Katsina State High Court by the Commission’s Kano Zonal Directorate on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and diversion of public funds.
According to the anti-graft agency in a statement on Wednesday, the total sum allegedly diverted is N1,235,330,000, said to be tax remittances from the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Alliance for International Medical Action, which were due to the Katsina State Government.
The defendants, Nura Lawal, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim Mamman, Abubakar Saidu, Rabiu Adamu Abdullahi, and Adam Alhassan Albashir, a Public Sector Relationship Manager with First Bank, were all docked and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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One of the charges reads:
“That you Nura Lawal, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim Mamman, Abubakar Saidu, Rabiu Adamu Abdullahi and Adam Alhassan Albashir between January, 2022 to August, 2024 at Katsina within the jurisdiction of the Katsina State High Court, being staff of Board of Internal Revenue Services (BOIRS), Katsina and Public Sector Relationship Manager of First Bank, in such capacity conspired among yourselves to commit an unlawful act to wit: unlawfully converted to your personal uses the tax payments meant for the Katsina State Government and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State and punishable under Section 298 of the Same Law.”
After their plea, prosecution counsel Musa Isah urged the court to fix a trial date to enable the Commission prove its case.
However, the defence counsels filed separate bail applications for the six defendants, requesting their release pending trial. Isah opposed the applications.
Justice Danladi, after listening to both sides, granted bail to each defendant in the sum of N5m with one reliable surety resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
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The Judge said surety must possess verifiable landed property, with the title documents to be verified by the court registrar.
The case was adjourned to October 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
According to EFCC investigations, Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections and current Permanent Secretary of the Board, allegedly authorised the opening of an account named “BOIRS” with Sterling Bank. Sanusi Mohammed Yaro and Ibrahim Mamman were appointed as the sole signatories.
The commission said the account became the main channel for funnelling the diverted funds to NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company allegedly owned and controlled by Nura Lawal, an Assistant Director in the Career Skills/Staff Welfare unit of the Board.
EFCC findings also showed that NADIKKO and Lawal served as key conduits in laundering the proceeds, which were traced to multiple bank accounts linked to the suspects.
News
FG Urges Nigerians Abroad To Register With Embassies For Emergency Support
Published
5 hours agoon
August 7, 2025By
Editor
The Federal Government has called on Nigerians travelling abroad to register with Nigerian embassies and consulates in their host countries to enable timely intervention during emergencies.
The appeal was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, during a meeting with the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, led by its Chairman, Idehai Frederick, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to DICAN, Amb. Ahmed stressed the importance of informing Nigerian missions upon arrival in foreign countries, rather than waiting until problems arise.
“I advise Nigerians to make it a point of duty to make their presence known to the Nigerian mission in the country they’re visiting.
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“This simple step can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that Nigerians receive the support they need in times of crisis.
“There was a recent case of Nigerians trapped in the Central African Republic, where some Nigerians tried to give the Ministry a bad name,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted the role of timely and accurate information in managing crises and emphasised the need for closer collaboration with media organisations like DICAN to combat misinformation.
“Most of the time, giving the necessary information before they even ask for information is crucial in managing crises effectively.
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“We are saddled with the role of laundering the image of the country. Hence, the inevitability of a strengthened partnership between DICAN and the Ministry,” Perm. Sec. noted.
He underscored the significance of disseminating accurate narratives about Nigeria’s foreign policy, particularly in the face of growing disinformation.
Ambassador Ahmed also commended DICAN for hosting the maiden Diplomatic and Security International Conference, which brought together about 70 diplomats, security experts, academics, and representatives of civil society to discuss strategies for global safety and peace.
In appreciation of the Ministry’s cooperation, DICAN Chairman said, “The Permanent Secretary has shown commitment to working with DICAN, and we appreciate his efforts in promoting a positive image of Nigeria.”
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