News

Why President Is Yet To Move Into Villa Six Weeks After Inauguration

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2023

Over six weeks after assuming office, President Bola Tinubu has yet to occupy his official residence at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

While the President has been actively using his private conference room, office space, and Aso Chambers for crucial meetings with local and international guests, his official residence east of the office remains unoccupied.

In the afternoon of May 29, hours after his inauguration, Tinubu arrived at the State Banquet Hall for lunch with fellow Heads of State and country representatives, who witnessed the ceremony at Eagles Square, Abuja.

However, it is normal to see the President’s convoy leaving the premises at the close of his work day, bypassing his official residence, exiting the Villa, and heading for his Maitama private mansion. The same applies to his daily resumption.

The PUNCH learned that the reason could be the ongoing renovation that began in late April when former President Buhari vacated the 32-year-old structure for a temporary residence called the Glass House.

On May 6, 2023, weeks before Tinubu’s inauguration, maintenance work began around the Villa. It encompassed recoating worn-out portions with white paint, and a change of furniture in the green room of the Council Chamber, among others.

A spokesman for Buhari, Garba Shehu, had tweeted under a picture, “Painter at work. Villa wearing a new look for the incoming President.”

A senior source in the State House had told our correspondent that Tinubu, like his predecessors, was expected to decide what kind of furniture would be installed in his official residence.

Although Buhari moved into his new residence almost three weeks after his inauguration, Presidency sources confirmed the delay to our correspondent and said the same could not be expected of the new Commander-in-Chief, who is moving in eight years after a previous occupier.

The source stated, “These things are relative. It is not fixed at all. Goodluck Jonathan stayed for five years, and Buhari stayed for eight years. So, the level of repairs that needs to be done this time must have increased.

“There may be major alterations they are trying to do. For example, the Council Chamber we use today didn’t have all the technology it has now.

“There was a point during Baba’s (Buhari’s) tenure that it had to be shut down completely because they wanted to upgrade it. We were using the First Lady’s conference room for Federal Executive Council meetings at that time. And it took a long time to effect the changes.”

Another source said, “It’s also about individual choices, what you want in a place. But he (Tinubu) occupied the office as soon as he came in.”

On June 10, a security source confided in our correspondent, “He (Tinubu) has not moved in because maintenance is still on.”

Meanwhile, our correspondent also confirmed that the Aso Rock Chapel had been actively holding weekly meetings even though the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has yet to worship there.

The First Lady had stated that the President had not appointed a chaplain for the Aso Villa Chapel after the exit of the former Chaplain, Seyi Malomo.

Mrs Tinubu, in a statement last Monday, said the President reserved the right to appoint a chaplain while debunking claims on social media platforms that the Aso Villa Chapel had been closed down.

She said, “Our attention has been drawn to a story on social media about the purported closure of the Aso Rock Chapel by the First Lady; we wish to state categorically that this is a fabrication and a false representation of the true situation.

“The First Lady at no time gave such a directive that the chapel be shut nor asked for the keys to be handed over to her.”

At the time of filing this report, the former chaplain could not be reached.

PUNCH

News

Delta Govt, Communities Trade Words Over Infrastructure Deficit

Published

4 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

The Delta State Government and some communities have disagreed over infrastructure deficits in their areas.

The Isoko and Udu communities raised an alarm and protested, demanding more government attention in their localities.

While the Udu people protested about being sidelined in recent infrastructure approvals by the Delta State Executive Council, Isoko youths claimed they had been neglected.

However, the state government described their allegations and agitations as misleading and not reflective of the administration’s equitable development agenda.

Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, responding to complaints from residents about the pace of work and the perceived absence of contractors on-site, explained that the inspection visit was unannounced to allow for an honest assessment.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration to equitable development across all parts of the state, dismissing claims that Udu LGA has been sidelined.

Speaking during an inspection tour of ongoing road projects in Udu, particularly the Bezi Road and drainage project linking Aladja to Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri South West LGA, Izeze said the presence of the administration in Udu is a clear demonstration of its dedication to inclusive infrastructure development.

“We are here to assess the progress on this critical road. The initial design of the road failed to anticipate the volume of water in the area. However, upon discovering the inadequacy of the original drainage plan, the government promptly approved an additional 465 metres of drains to channel water to a nearby natural canal along the Ogbe-Ijoh–Aladja axis,” Izeze stated.

Again, Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration has continued to prioritise infrastructure development, healthcare, and education across all parts of Delta State, including the Isoko axis.

Aniagwu emphasised that, contrary to the claims, the Isoko nation has benefited immensely from the administration’s MORE Agenda, with over 53 strategic projects either completed, ongoing, or approved across Isoko North and Isoko South Local Government Areas.

He said the projects cut across road infrastructure, internal road networks in rural and urban communities, healthcare upgrades, and significant interventions in tertiary education.
(DAILY POST)

News

Lagos Doctors To Begin 3-day Warning Strike

Published

4 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

Medical doctors under the employ of the Lagos State government on Saturday declared a three-day warning strike in protest against what they described as an “illegal and disrespectful” salary deduction by the Lagos State Government.

The medical doctors under the aegis of the Medical Guild said the warning strike is set to begin from 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025, to 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025, if the government fails to meet their demands.

They said the decision to embark on the industrial action came after all avenues for dialogue and reconciliation were exhausted without positive results.

Addressing journalists during a press conference held at the Guild’s secretariat in Lagos, Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Japhet Olugbogi, said the crisis stemmed from a unilateral salary deduction implemented by the state government in April 2025, which affected all medical and dental practitioners in its employ.

“The development came to us as a rude shock. Our members were visibly aggrieved and agitated. Although many clamoured for an immediate strike, the officers’ committee chose the path of civility, pursuing advocacy and diplomatic engagement with relevant government agencies,” Olugbogi stated.

According to him, the funds were eventually reversed following what he described as “spirited intervention and strategic engagement,” and a six-member conciliation committee was set up, comprising three representatives each from the government and the Guild.

“We presented all relevant documents clarifying the calculation of the CONMESS salary scale, and it was agreed that the status quo would be maintained while the government deliberated internally and returned with a final position,” Olugbogi said.

However, in what the Guild termed a breach of trust, the Lagos State Treasury Office in July again implemented a salary cut, prompting the Guild to declare a warning strike set to begin from 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025, to 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025, if the government fails to meet their demands.

The Guild is demanding the immediate reversal of the July salary deductions. It is also calling for the full payment of the 12-month revised CONMESS arrears owed to honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. In addition, the Guild resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the state government after the warning strike, and if the demands remain unmet at the end of the ultimatum, an indefinite strike will commence.

Olugbogi criticised the government for its actions, especially at a time of economic hardship and mass emigration of health professionals, popularly referred to as the japa syndrome.

“Let it be known that the most senior doctor in Lagos State employment does not earn up to $1,100.

“And yet, the government, in its wisdom, feels that reducing this meagre income is the best way to motivate the health workforce.”

He called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene and prevent a total collapse of the state’s healthcare system.

“We are by this medium calling on our compassionate Governor to kindly intervene to ensure the reversal of the illegally deducted funds,” he said.

Over 385 doctors attended the emergency congress where the strike decision was ratified.
Also, the Guild’s Secretary, Dr. Adekunle Akinade, affirmed the union’s readiness to escalate action if their grievances are not addressed.

News

Why Only South East Deserves New State – Ozekhome

Published

5 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

Constitutional and human rights lawyer, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on Saturday, maintained that most of the states that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria today are not viable and, as such, saw no reason why more states should be created in the country.

Ozekhome, who blamed the condition of the states on the “skewed federal template” being operated in the form of a unitary system of government, called for a complete overhaul of the 1999 Constitution.

According to him, the present constitution is not only cumbersome, with the centre vested with too much power and too many responsibilities, but was also a product of the military class, which has ruled Nigeria for quite some time.

He spoke at a “Walk for Wellness” campaign embarked upon by the Mike Ozekhome Chambers (MOC) in Abuja on Saturday.

“Some of us are now saying rather than create more states, we should collapse the present structure into about six geopolitical zones, which should serve as regional governments.

“A parliamentary system of government operating on a regional basis will be more beneficial to the people because it will catalyse development and competitiveness among the regions. Right now, no state is competing; all of them just go to Abuja at the end of the month to take from the federation account to share,” he said.

The senior lawyer lamented that Nigeria has become a sharing country that is not baking anything because “they don’t care or even know how to bake anything.”

According to him, while Nasarawa has the highest mineral deposits of over 36 items, followed by Plateau with 28 items, with Sokoto and Kaduna States in that order, the entire country still relies on crude oil, which is fast losing its value across the world.

“I will suggest that if we are to retain the state structure, we should retain the states as federating units, thus having two tiers of government,” he said, leaving local government to the states.

He added: “The only state I will have said should be created right now should be in the South East, to bring them to equity with other geopolitical zones in the country.”