News
Reinstate Dr. Raji-Mustapha as NPC Director General, Coalition Appeals to President Tinubu
A coalition of civil society organizations gathered in Abuja on Wednesday to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an immediate reinstatement of Dr. Nasir Olaitan Raji-Mustapha as Director General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC). The group, led by Barr.Joseph Ndaguba, Head Legal Service of the Centre for Civil Relations, Open Dialogue and Development, expressed concern over the recent appointment of a new Director General without the requisite qualifications and experience.
The coalition argued that Dr. Raji-Mustapha, a seasoned productivity expert with three decades of service, was removed and replaced with an appointee lacking the necessary credentials stating that the decision undermines the principles of merit and fairness and threatens the NPC’s credibility and effectiveness.
Ndaguba said, “The NPC plays a crucial role in fostering productivity across all sectors of the economy, and the group emphasized the importance of having competent leaders at the helm. They cited examples of catastrophic failures in the financial and health sectors due to unqualified leadership and urged President Tinubu to act in the nation’s best interest by reinstating Dr. Raji-Mustapha.”
The coalition’s demands include the immediate reinstatement of Dr. Raji-Mustapha and a commitment to merit-based leadership appointments.
“We trust that President Tinubu will act swiftly to restore confidence in the NPC and reaffirm the Centre’s commitment to excellence. The consequences of not reinstating Dr. Raji-Mustapha are dire, with potential setbacks in Nigeria’s socio-economic development, diminished productivity, and compromised organizational integrity. The group urged President Tinubu to act swiftly to prevent this from happening.” They added.
The press conference was attended by leaders of civil society organizations, the media, amongst others. The coalition’s call to action echoes a growing concern among Nigerians for good governance and effective leadership.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported its seventh partial grid collapse in 2024. Despite the recurring issue, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, reassured the public that efforts to restore power are well underway, with about 90% of substations receiving bulk power.
Mbah noted that the Azura Power Station initiated the grid recovery, although a minor setback occurred. However, power supply has been restored to the Abuja region and other key distribution centers. The Ibom Gas Generating Station remained unaffected, continuing to supply power to the South-South region.
An investigation into the cause of the collapse will commence once full grid restoration is achieved.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic tanker explosion in Jigawa State, which claimed over 100 lives. In a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, extended condolences to the affected families, praying for strength and comfort in their time of grief.
Shettima assured the public that the federal government is mobilizing resources to support the injured and assist those affected. He has directed the immediate deployment of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide aid. The Vice President also stressed the need for a review of fuel transportation safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
In a separate statement, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu offered her condolences to Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi and the people of Jigawa, praying for peace and comfort for the families affected. She called the incident “unfortunate” and extended prayers for the recovery of the injured and the repose of the souls lost in the tragedy.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that it intercepted a total of 10,598 pieces of arms and 114,929 rounds of ammunition valued at N9.58 billion over the past six years. Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made this disclosure during a press conference on enforcement activities in Zone A.
Adeniyi highlighted that 60% of these seizures occurred in 2023, reflecting the Customs’ increased efforts to curb arms smuggling. He also mentioned that recent operations such as Operation Whirlwind and Operation Swift Sting are part of a strategic response to tackle evolving smuggling tactics.
In addition to arms seizures, the Customs CG announced the largest pangolin scale seizure since 2020, with 9,493 kg of scales confiscated in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission. The joint operation led to four arrests across Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos. The NCS continues to intensify efforts against wildlife trafficking, targeting supply routes in northern Nigeria and border areas.
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