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Gbajabiamila Faults 1999 Constitution, Calls For Amendment

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has faulted the 1999 Constitution, calling for an amendment by the National Assembly.

Speaking on Tuesday in Lagos during the public hearing on the review of the Nigerian Constitution, Gbajabiamila said the National Assembly could only achieve the task after getting the inputs and support of the citizens.

While noting that the document failed to address some critical national questions confronting the country, Gbajabiamila said there was an urgent need for the legislature to amend it.

“Our constitution falls short of this standard,” the Speaker was quoted as saying via a statement issued by his spokesman, Lanre Lasisi.

“The 1999 Constitution is the product of a hurried national compromise that we entered into two decades ago in order to ensure that the military returned to the barracks and that we returned to democratic government.”

Participants at the 2-day public hearing included the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Babafemi Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; members of the House of Representatives Special Committee on the Review of the Constitution; members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ); Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC); representatives of political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), youth organizations and market women.

Gbajabiamila said though the current exercise is not the first of its kind, it might be the most important one in the nation’s recent history as the decisions to be made would have far-reaching consequences for the future of Nigeria.

In response to the doubts expressed in some quarters about the exercise, he noted that there was no perfect constitution anywhere in the world, but that it was imperative for Nigeria to have a near-perfect constitution to enable the country to confront and resolve many of its political, economic and socio-cultural challenges.

The Speaker, therefore, urged Nigerians to participate fully in the ongoing process so that their inputs would be captured for the country to have a new direction, adding that they could not afford to miss the opportunity of addressing their challenges and sustaining their future at this critical moment.

He assured Nigerians of the sincerity of purpose of the 9th National Assembly to deliver a reviewed constitution that everyone would be proud of.

He said, “The foundational constitution of the United States of America deemed people of colour to be ‘less than’ and denied women the right to vote. It did not include any limits on the President’s term of office and allowed for citizens to be denied the right to vote for failure to pay the ‘poll tax’. Twenty-seven reviews and amendments, over one hundred years cured these and other defects.

“No nation in the world has a perfect constitution, but we need a near-perfect constitution in Nigeria and we can achieve that through substantive amendments that significantly alter the character of our nation.

“Therefore, the task before us now is to use this process of review and amendment to devise for ourselves a constitution that resolves the issues of identity and political structure, of human rights and the administration of government, resource control, national security and so much else, that have fractured our nation and hindered our progress and prosperity.

“Our job is to produce a constitution that turns the page on our past, yet heeds its many painful lessons. It is not an easy task, but it is a necessary and urgent one.”

He added that “We will not be able to deliver on this historic assignment if we restrict ourselves to tinkering around the edges of the constitution or by imposing upon ourselves artificial redlines that restrict honest conversation.

“All of us in the House of Representatives will work conscientiously and in good faith so that it may be said of us in this process that we made an audacious attempt at creating for our nation a constitution that recognises our diversity and draws strength from it, and addresses once and for all, the fault lines that distract from nation-building.

“It is all too clear that many of our citizens have come to expect too little of our politics and government. We are suffering from the tyranny of low expectations and the cynicism that causes us to believe that the political process cannot produce anything worthy or worthwhile.

“I understand the causes of this cynicism, but I refuse to share in it. I still believe that politics and government in Nigeria can be a force for good and that by our common endeavour we can achieve the vision of a just, peaceful, and prosperous society.

“However, beyond these Public Hearings, you still have an opportunity to make submissions that will be considered and that will help this process achieve the best outcomes. Please, by all means, participate. Let your voice be heard, and let your vision also inform the direction of this process.

“I urge all who have come to participate here today to do so with decorum and respect for one another. Let our deliberations be well-intentioned, well informed and reflect our patriotism. In this way, we will have a most productive engagement over the next two days.”

In his goodwill message, Governor Sanwo-Olu through his deputy, Hamzat, said the need for a special status for Lagos State in the constitution could not be overemphasised.

The governor said being the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, whatever affects the State has the capacity to affect the entire country, hence the need for a special status.

He also urged members of the National Assembly to prioritise fiscal federalism, local government autonomy, in addition to state police in the ongoing review process.

 

 

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Senate Confirms Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance

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2 days ago

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March 11, 2026

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Taiwo Oyedele
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The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance following his screening before the upper legislative chamber.

Oyedele, a tax expert and former chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, was approved after lawmakers expressed confidence in his competence and professional experience. He is expected to replace Doris Uzoka-Anite in the role.

During the screening, Oyedele said his nomination offered him an opportunity to serve the country, noting that he had built his career in the private sector before advising the federal government on fiscal reforms.

He highlighted his experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he served as Africa tax and policy leader with responsibility for more than 20 countries, adding that his work on international tax policy and economic reforms across more than 180 countries had prepared him to contribute to Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Oyedele also referenced his work as chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, noting that the committee had developed several reform initiatives, including four major tax reform laws recently passed by the National Assembly to modernise Nigeria’s fiscal framework and improve revenue generation.

He further emphasised the need for realistic budgeting, improved cash management and fiscal discipline, noting that delays in payments to contractors increase project costs and undermine trust in government, while reforms in tariff structures could encourage local manufacturing, create jobs and reduce reliance on imports.

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Tinubu Approves Posting of 65 Ambassadors, Sends Fani Kayode to Germany

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1 week ago

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March 6, 2026

By

President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to various countries and international missions, comprising 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career envoys.

The ambassadors were earlier confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December.

According to a statement issued by the State House, the postings cover diplomatic missions across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the United Nations.

Among the non-career ambassadors, former presidential aide Reno Omokri was posted to Mexico City, Mexico, while former Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole will serve as Nigeria’s envoy to Canada.

Former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau was posted to China, while businessman and former senator Jimoh Ibrahim was designated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Also among the nominees are former Lagos State deputy governor Olufemi Pedro, who will head Nigeria’s mission in Australia, and former intelligence chief Ayodele Oke, who has been posted to France.

Other non-career envoys include Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany, Fatima Florence Ajimobi to Austria, and Nora Ladi Daduut to South Korea.

In the career category, several seasoned diplomats were assigned to key missions, including Amb. Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algeria, Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal, Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris to the Netherlands, and Amb. Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya.

The statement noted that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, who will serve as High Commissioner.

France has also granted agrément for Ambassador Ayodele Oke as Nigeria’s envoy to Paris.

According to the presidency, the ministry has communicated the nominations of the other 62 envoys to their respective host countries and requested agrément in line with diplomatic protocol.

President Tinubu also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners ahead of their deployment.

 

POSTINGS OF NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS

S/N NAME                        MISSION APPROVED

1.   SENATOR GRACE BENT: LOME-TOGO

2.   SEN. ITA ENANG: SOUTH AFRICA

3.   IKPEAZU VICTOR: SPAIN

4.   NKECHI LINDA UFOCHUKWU: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL

5.   MAHMUD YAKUBU: QATAR

6.   PAUL OGA ADIKWU: THE VATICAN CITY HOLY SEE

7.   VICE ADMIRAL IBOK-ETE EKWE IBAS: THE PHILIPPINES

8.   MR. RENO OMOKRI: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

9.   HON. (ENGR.) ABASI BRAIMAH (FMHR): BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

10.   MRS. ERELU ANGELA ADEBAYO: PORTUGAL

11.   BARR. OLUMILUA OLUWAYIMIKA AYOTUNWA: TOKYO, JAPAN

12.   RT. HON. UGWUANYI IFEANYI LAWRENCE: ATHENS, GREECE

13.   BARR. CHIOMA PRISCILLA OHAKIM: WARSAW, POLAND

14.   AMINU DALHATU: UNITED KINGDOM, UK

15.   LT. GEN  ABDULRAHMAN BELLO DAMBAZAU: BEIJING, CHINA

16.   HON. TASIU MUSA MAIGARI: GAMBIA

17.   OLUFEMI PEDRO: AUSTRALIA

18.   BARR. MUHAMMED UBANDOMA ALIYU: ARGENTINA

19.   LATEEF KAYODE ARE: USA

20.   AMB. JOSEPH SOLA IJI: RUSSIA

21.   SEN. JIMOH IBRAHIM: UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

22.   FEMI FANI KAYODE: GERMANY

23.   PROF. ISAAK FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE: OTTAWA, CANADA

24.   AJIMOBI FATIMA FLORENCE (F): AUSTRIA

25.   MRS. LOLA AKANDE (F): SWEDEN

26.   AYODELE OKE:  FRANCE

27.   YAKUBU N. GAMBO: SAUDI ARABIA

28.   SENATOR PROF. NORA LADI DADUUT: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

29.   BARR. ONUEZE CHUKWUJIKA JOE OKOCHA SAN: DUBLIN

30.   DR. KULU HARUNA ABUBAKAR: TUNIS, TUNISIA

31.   RT. HON. JERRY SAMUEL MANWE: PORT OF SPAIN, T&T

POSTINGS OF CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS LIST

S/N NAME MISSION APPROVED

1. AMB. NWABIOLA EZENWA CHUKWUMEKA: COTE D’IV/OIRE

2. BESTO MAIMUNA IBRAHIM: NIAMEY-NIGER

3. MONICA OKWUCHUKWU ENEBECHI: SAO TOME, STP

4. AMB. MOHAMMED MAHMUD LELE: ALGIERS-ALGERIA

5. ENDONI SYNDOPH PAEBI: OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO

6. AHMED MOHAMMED MONGUNO: CAIRO EGYPT

7. AMB.JANE ADAMS (NEE OKON) MICHAEL (F): KINGSTON-JAMAICA

8. AMB. CLARK-OMERU ALEXANDRA (F): LUSAKA-ZAMBIA

9. CHIMA GEOGGREY LIOMA DAVID: BAMAKO-MALI

10. AMB. ODUMAH YVONNE EHINOSEN: MALABO –E/GUINEA

11. AMB WASA SEGUN IGE: BEIRUT, LEBANON

12. RUBEN ABIMBOLA SAMUEL (F): ROME, ITALY

13. AMB.ONAGA OGECHUKWU KINGSLEY: MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

14. AMB.MAGAJI UMAR: KINSASHA, DR CONGO

15. AMB.MUHAMMAD SAIDU DAHIRU: NEW DELHI-INDIA

16. AMB. ABDUSSALAM HABU ZAYYAD: DAKAR-SENEGAL

17. AMB SHEHU ILU BARDE: ACCRA GHANA

18. AMB.AMINU NASIR: ETHIOPIA

19. ABUBAKAR MUSA MUSA: N’DJAMENA, CHAD

20. AMB. HAIDARA MOHAMMED IDRIS: THE HAGUE-NETHERLANDS

21. AMB.BAKO ADAMU UMAR: RABAT-MOROCCO

22. AMB. SULU GAMBARI OLATUNJI AHMED: MALAYSIA

23. AMB.ROMATA MOHAMMED OMOBOLANLE (F): TANZANIA

24. AMB. SHAGA JOHN SHAMAH: BOTSWANA

25. SALAU, HAMZA MOHAMMED: TEHRAN, IRAN

26. AMB.IBRAHIM DANLAMI: KENYA

27. IBRAHIM ADEOLA MOPELOLA (F): COTONOU-BENIN

28. AMB.AYENI ADEBAYO EMMANUEL: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

29. AMB.AKANDE WAHAB ADEKOLA: BERNE-SWITZERLAND

30. AMB. AREWA (NEE ADEDOKUN) ESTHER (F): WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA

31. AMB.GERGADI JOSEPH JOHN: LIBREVILLE-GABON

32. AMB. LUTHER OGBOMODE AYO-KALATA (F): SIERRA LEONE

33. DANLADI YAKUBU NYAKU : KHARTOUM-SUDAN

34. BELLO DOGON-DAJI HALIRU: BANGKOK, THAILAND

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Tinubu Orders Suspension of Cashless Payment System at Nigerian Airports

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1 week ago

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March 4, 2026

By

President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of the cashless payment system recently introduced at airports across the country.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on Wednesday, March 4, while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to Keyamo, the President ordered that the system be reviewed to ensure it operates efficiently without causing inconvenience to travellers.

“He directed that we go back to the drawing board, suspend the present system, and perfect a system that will work perfectly without putting unnecessary pressure on citizens,” the minister said.

Keyamo added that the review may involve collaboration with the private sector to develop a more seamless payment framework. In the interim, a hybrid system will be adopted, allowing travellers with payment cards to continue using them, while cash payments will also be accepted.

The cashless payment system was introduced this week by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria at the Lagos and Abuja airports. However, its rollout led to long queues and delays, prompting the President’s intervention.

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