The salary structures of Federal Government of Nigeria comprises the President, Vice President, Ministers, Governors, the Judiciary and other top government functionaries.

In this article, we take a look at the salaries of these officials, as set by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), which of course are subject to periodic review.

First is the President of Nigeria. He earns a basic salary of N14,058,820 per annum.

The Vice President’s basic salary is N12,126,290 per annum.

The ministers earns N7,801,640:00 per annum.

Minister of State earns N7,536,683 per annum.

Director –General earns N7,414,580 per annum

Special Advisers takes N7,091,493 per annum.

Judiciary: is next.

Chief Justice of Nigeria goes home with N6,727,944 per annum.

Justice of the Supreme Court earns N10,899,284 per annum.

Judges of Court of Appeal – N8,779,892 per annum.

Judges of Federal High Court – N7,940,820 per annum.

Legislature:

Senate President: N8,694,848 per annum.

Deputy Senate President: N8,082,083 per annum.

Senator: 12,766,320 per annum.

Speaker House of Reps. N4,954,220 per annum.

Deputy Speaker: 4,574,068 per annum.

Members of House of Reps. 9,529,038 per annum.

State Government:

State Governors: N7,782,967 per annum.

Deputy Governor: N7,392,752 per annum.

SSG/Commissioners: 4,880,871 per annum.

Local Government Service Commission: N4,562,901

Permanent Secretary for Local Government: N4,492,332

State Assembly:

Speaker, State House of Assembly: N2,049,843 per annum.

Deputy Speaker: N1,807,478 per annum.

Member of State House of Assembly: N2,473,866 per annum.

Local Government:

Local Government Chairman: N3,542,416 per annum.

Vice Local Government Chairman: N3,326,918

Supervisory Councilor/Secretary of Local Government: N2,964,296

Special Adviser of Local Government: N2,964,296

Legislative Leader of Local Government Council: N3, 123,505

Deputy Legislative Leader of Local Government Council: N3,094,200

Councilor of Local Government: N3,094,200

It is important to note that the remuneration package above, only represents the annual basic salaries these officeholders take home. It does not include their various regular allowances such as wardrobe allowance, motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance, personal assistants, entertainments, domestic staff, constituency, utilities, newspapers, accommodation, furniture, duty tour allowance, estacode, medicals, severance gratuity and others.

The post Salary Structures Of Political Office Holders In Nigeria 2023 appeared first on Ken Information Blog.

In this article, we are looking at the biography of Wike, his achievements as the former governor of Rivers State, current minister of FCT, great expectations from his fans and politicians and general overview.

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was born on December 13, 1967 in Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. He is an Ikwerre man from Rumuepirikom in Rivers State. Obio-Akpor. He grew up in Rivers State where he had his primary and secondary education respectively.

His Educational Background

Nyesom Wike attended Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political and Administrative Studies.

He furthered his education at the University of Port Harcourt, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Political and Administrative Studies.

His Political Career:

Nyesom Wike entered politics and became active in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a major political party in Nigeria.

He held various political positions, including serving as the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Rivers State and as a Minister of State for Education under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

In 2015, Nyesom Wike ran for and was elected as the Governor of Rivers State, a position he held as of my last knowledge update in September 2023.

He was reelected as Governor for a second term in 2019.

Wike has been known for his involvement in the development and political activities in Rivers State during his tenure as Governor.

Wike’s Achievements

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had achieved several significant milestones during his tenure as the Governor of Rivers State in Nigeria. Here are some of the notable achievements attributed to Governor Nyesom Wike:

1. Infrastructure Development:
   • Under Governor Wike’s leadership, there was a strong focus on infrastructure development in Rivers State. This included the construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and public buildings, improving transportation and connectivity within the state.
2. Education:
   • Efforts were made to revitalize the education sector. This included the construction and renovation of schools and the provision of scholarships to students to improve access to quality education.
3. Healthcare:
   • The healthcare sector saw significant investment, with the construction and equipping of new healthcare facilities, including hospitals and clinics. The goal was to improve access to quality healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
4. Security:
   • The administration took measures to enhance security and curb criminal activities in the state. This included supporting law enforcement agencies and implementing various security initiatives.
5. Economic Development:
   • Initiatives were launched to promote economic development and job creation. This included support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the attraction of investments to the state.
6. Youth and Sports Development:
   • There were efforts to promote sports and youth development, including the construction of sports facilities and support for sports development programs.
7. Environmental Initiatives:
   • Governor Wike’s administration also focused on environmental sustainability, launching projects to address environmental challenges and promote a cleaner and greener environment.
8. Urban Renewal and Beautification:
   • The state government embarked on urban renewal projects, which involved the beautification and modernization of major cities and towns in Rivers State.
9. Social Welfare Programs:
   • Various social welfare programs were initiated to support vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the state.
10. Political Leadership:
    • Governor Wike played an influential role in the politics of Nigeria, particularly within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and was recognized as a key political figure in the country.

Describing Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as a man of honor or an achiever is a matter of perspective and can be influenced by individual opinions and political affiliations. Assessments of political figures can vary widely, and different people may have different views on his leadership.

Here are some factors that have been mentioned in discussions about Governor Wike:

1. Achievements: Supporters of Governor Wike often point to his efforts in infrastructure development, education, healthcare, and other sectors as evidence of his achievements in office. They argue that he has made significant strides in improving the state’s infrastructure and providing essential services to the people of Rivers State.
2. Political Influence: Nyesom Wike has been a prominent political figure in Nigeria, particularly within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His influence in Nigerian politics and his ability to mobilize political support have been noted by his supporters.
3. Criticism: Like many political leaders, Governor Wike has also faced criticism from his opponents and critics. Some have raised concerns about issues such as governance style, political controversies, and allegations of authoritarianism.
4. Subjective Assessment: Whether one sees Governor Wike as a man of honor or an achiever often depends on their political perspective and personal beliefs. Supporters may view him as an achiever who has worked for the betterment of Rivers State, while opponents may have a different view.

As current minister of the Federal Capital Territory, expectations are high that he will perform optimally, maintaining his developmental strides he achieved in Rivers State.

Some expectations from a Minister of the FCT might include:

1. Infrastructure Development: Continued efforts to improve and expand infrastructure in the FCT, including roads, public transportation, and utilities.
2. Urban Planning: Implementation of urban planning and development initiatives to ensure the sustainable growth of Abuja as a modern and functional capital city.
3. Housing: Addressing housing challenges and promoting affordable housing options for residents of the FCT.
4. Security: Enhancing security measures and working with law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and order in the territory.
5. Economic Development: Supporting economic growth and investment in Abuja to boost its status as a business and administrative hub.
6. Environmental Sustainability: Initiatives to promote environmental conservation and sustainable practices within the city.
7. Social Services: Ensuring the provision of essential services, including healthcare, education, and social welfare, to the residents of the FCT.
8. Collaboration: Collaborating with various stakeholders, including local authorities, community leaders, and federal agencies, to achieve development goals.

Wike has been happily married to his lovely wife, Eberechi Suzzette Wike (formerly Obuzor) and they are blessed with three children. There is however no available information about their family affairs they have kept these issues from the public.

Wike’s Net Worth

Nyesom Wike is indeed a wealthy politician and attorney regarded as one of Nigeria’s richest and most powerful governors with an estimated net worth over $600 million dollars, excluding exotic cars and mansions in Rivers State.

In summary, It’s important to note that the specific priorities and policies of any Minister can vary widely based on their leadership style, political ideology, and the unique challenges and opportunities facing the Federal Capital Territory at the time of their appointment.

As Minister of the FCT, the best way to understand Wike’s approach and expectations for his tenure would be to support and cooperate with him and follow his official statements, policy announcements and actions in that capacity.

In politics, it’s common for opinions about leaders to be polarized, and assessments can be highly subjective. Ultimately, the perception of Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as a man of honor or an achiever can vary significantly among different individuals and groups, and it may be shaped by their political stance and personal experiences.

The post Nyesom Ezenwo Wike: Biography, Achievements, Expectations As Minister of FCT And Overview appeared first on Ken Information Blog.

He had served as an ex-aide to Muhammadu Buhari as his special adviser on media and publicity and was a-co-principal spokespersons of Ahmed Bola Tinubu presidential campaign council for the 2023 Nigeria Presidential elections which brought them to power.

He was born November 13, 1986 in Platteville, Wisconsin, United States to Nigerian father, Chief Precious Osaro Ngelale and German-American mother, Diane who served as Social Welfare Director of the Rivers State Government under Governor Melford Okilo.

Ajuri’s father was a geologist and politician who was elected to the Rivers State House of Assembly in the Third Republic and served until General Muhammadu Buhari military coup of 1983.

Following the military coup, his family moved to the United States in 1985.

After the return of civilian rule in 1999, his father returned to Nigeria and was appointed to federal cabinet as a minister.

Ajuri Ngelale’s Educational Background

Ajuri Ngelale had his secondary education at Government secondary school in Port Harcourt.

He later bagged a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Political Science and History from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, USA.

He returned to Nigeria in 2011 to participate in the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Ajuri Ngelale’s Career

Ngelale began his journalism career as a youth corps member at Africa Independent Television where he was deployed for his one-year national service. He has since achieved so much within his short time in both broadcasting and politics.

After completing his national service, he was retained by AIT as an investigative reporter and later served as news editor, producer and presenter from 2011 to 2016.

At AIT, Ngelale produced two critically acclaimed public affairs documentary series State of the Nation (2012) and Diary from the Delta (2016).

He also became famous for his report “EAGLE EYE”.

In 2016, Ngelale left AIT for Channels Television where he served as a co-anchor of popular public policy discussion program Sunrise Daily.

In partnership with the United States Government’s Mandela Washington Fellowship, he produced and presented Africa’s Future Leaders which documented young African leaders uplifting disadvantaged population through their individual efforts.

In 2019, Ngelale resigned from Channels TV to become lead media content producer for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Next Level Presidential Campaign for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari under Buhari/Osinbajo presidential Campaign organization.

The victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) at the poll in 2019 brought in President Buhari and Ngelale was appointed as his senior special adviser on public affairs and served in this position till 2023 when Buhari left office.

In October 2022, Ngelale was appointed co-principal spokesperson of Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Organization. He appeared frequently on national radio and TV and international media including CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera.

Ajuri has also worked as a Lead Consultant, Public Affairs at the Federal Ministry of Power.

On July 31 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed Ngelale his official spokesperson and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

Ajuri is an author of two books credited to his name –  Struggle for Nigeria’s Soul and Buhari: From General to President.

He is also an accomplished investigative journalist with his ‘Eagle Eye’ report and a staunch defender of former President Buhari administration and policies both locally and internationally through various media outlets.

His Marital Life

Ajuri Ngelale is happily married to an Igbo lady and has three children.

Ajuri Ngelale’s Net Worth

Ajuri Ngelale has achieved so much in his career as a broadcaster and politicican with an estimated net worth of over $1 million dollars.

A million thanks for your time, reading about Ajuri Ngelale’s biography, achievements, marital status and net worth. Your comments are welcome.

The post Ajuri Obari Ngelale: Biography, Achievements, Marital Status And Net Worth appeared first on Ken Information Blog.

This post talks about what a reform is, how we achieve it in some ways that can help achieve a more efficient, effective and equitable Nigeria and challenges that could hinder the process and overview.

By definition, a reform typically refers to a significant change or improvement in a system, institution, or process with the goal of making it more effective, efficient and equitable.

Reforms can be initiated by the government, civil society, or other stakeholders with the aim of addressing specific challenges or achieving certain objectives.

Whether a reform is realizable depends on various factors such as the political will of the government, the level of public support and participation, the availability of resources and the complexity of the issue being addressed.

Reforms can be difficult to achieve, particularly in contexts where vested interests and resistance to change exist. However, with sustained effort, commitment and collaboration, reforms can be achieved, as has been demonstrated by successful reform efforts in various countries and contexts.

It is important to note that reforms may not necessarily result in immediate or visible changes and some may take years or even decades to fully realize their intended outcomes.

Nonetheless, the clamour for reforms in Nigeria are essential for promoting development, ensuring social justice and building strong and resilient country.

Here are some of the needed factors of reform in Nigeria:

1. Citizen Engagement: Citizens must engage more actively in the democratic process by exercising their civic rights and responsibilities, holding elected officials accountable and participating in community activities that promote good governance and development.
2. Transparency and Accountability: The government must be more transparent and accountable in its operations, including the management of public resources, the delivery of services and the protection of human rights.
3. Rule of Law: Nigeria must ensure that the rule of law prevails at all times and that everyone is held accountable for their actions. This will require strengthening the justice system, including the police and the judiciary.
4. Economic Reforms: Nigeria needs to implement economic reforms that promote growth, job creation and poverty reduction. This includes investment in infrastructure, education, health and agriculture.
5. Political Reforms: Nigeria must undertake political reforms that strengthen democracy, promote free and fair elections and protect the rights of all citizens.
6. International Collaboration: Nigeria should collaborate more with the international community, including other African countries, to address common challenges such as corruption, terrorism and climate change.

However, there are several challenges that could hinder the success of reforms in Nigeria. Here are some of the most significant challenges:

1. Resistance to Change: Resistance to change is a common challenge to reforms in Nigeria. Some stakeholders may resist changes that threaten their interests or undermine their power and influence.
2. Corruption: Corruption remains a significant challenge to reforms in Nigeria, as it undermines transparency, accountability and good governance.
3. Limited Resources: Limited financial and human resources may pose a significant challenge to the implementation of reforms, particularly in a country like Nigeria where resources are often scarce and unevenly distributed.
4. Weak Institutions: Weak institutions, including the justice system, public service and regulatory bodies, may pose challenges to the effective implementation of reforms.
5. Political Instability: Political instability, including electoral violence and ethnic or religious tensions, could undermine the success of reforms in Nigeria, particularly if they create a challenging environment for dialogue and consensus-building.
6. Lack of Public Awareness and Participation: Lack of public awareness and participation may undermine the effectiveness of reforms in Nigeria, particularly if the public does not understand the issues being addressed or is not engaged in the reform process.

In summary, it is important to note that achieving reform in Nigeria requires the collective effort of everyone and these challenges mentioned above are not insurmountable and can be addressed through sustained effort, commitment and collaboration among stakeholders, political will, strong leadership and a commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance for the attainment of economic growth and social development.

The post How Can We Achieve The Clamour For ‘Reform’ In Nigeria? appeared first on Ken Information Blog.

State governors are also paramount in ensuring growth and development.

Infact, leadership at the state level is even more important than that of the central government because Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation with different tribes and culture.

Since 1960, Nigeria got her independence and practicing federalism, the achievements and accomplishments of some of our governors have been documented in different journals, books and even magazines.

Each Governor is the Chief security officer in the state and responsible for the wellbeing of his or her people. He is expected to work hand in hand with the people to ensure they are comfortable and happy.

In arriving at this judgement, we rise above political sentiments and put into consideration the developmental strides and other relevant key factors in governance.

In this post, the most outstanding Governor in Nigeria 2023/2024 is Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, also widely known as Mr. Project. We shall be looking at his numerous projects in Rivers State

Ezenwo Nyesom Wike is a politician and the sixth current Governor of Rivers State, a man widely loved by majority of the people in Rivers state till tomorrow because of his developmental projects.

Ezenwo Nyesom was born on 13 December 1963. He is an Ikwerre man from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State.

His Educational Background

And Achievements

Governor Nyesom Wike who assumed the mantle of leadership in Rivers State under the platform of People’s Democratic Party and was educated at Rivers State University of Science and Technology where he studied Law and was called to Nigerian bar.

So we can say that Ezenwo Nyesom Wike is not just a governor, but a lawyer as well.

Wike was eleced as a two-term Executive Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area from 1999 to 2007.

He was appointed Minister of State for Education on 14 July 2011.

GGovernor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is one of the governors that contributed greatly to the development of education in Nigeria.

Governor Wike gave free public primary and secondary education in 2019 to facilitate the learning process of the poor masses who couldn’t afford the fees of a normal school.

He is a pillar to his people as he doesn’t allow external authorities to dictate what is good and not good for his people and state.

Wike as a lawyer knows his rights and doesn’t give room for injustice..

He ensures that culprits are brought to book and justice is not denied.

He listens to his people and try as much as possible to meet their needs.

It’s not possible to please everyone but the few that he can please, he does it well.

Earlier this year, Wike kicked-off the construction of three (3) major flyovers simultaneously at Port Harcourt.

He also tightened the Security in Rivers state to ensure peace and tranquility amongst the people as every life is important.

Governor Nyesom Wike is a wealthy Nigerian Governor who has transformed RivRivers state into an economic hub despite threats and distractions from the opposition party in his state.

Nigerian Governors have at one point or the other failed their citizens but Governor Wike, though not perfect have won the heart of his people and should be emulated by other Governors.

What can we say about Wike? To a large extent, selfless, dedicated, outspoken and goal getter. If every Governor in the country can be bold enough and selfless like Governor Wike, Nigeria will be a better and safer place for her citizens.

His Marital Life

Governor Wike is married to Eberechi Wike and they have 3 Children .

Wike’s Net Worth

Governor Nyesom Wike’s net worth is estimated to be over $550 million.

Amazingly Mr Governor has an Instagram page and he has more than 3000 follo followers.

You can follow him on

Instagram @ wikenyesom

Facebook @ Gov Nyesom Wike.

Thanks for reading about Governor Nyesom Wike’s biography and net worth.

The post The  Most Outstanding Governor In Nigeria 2023/2024 appeared first on Ken Information Blog.

Darleen Benson Cobhams is a popular Nigerian actress, television personality and a model.

She was born and raised in Port Harcourt and Calabar. She is one in a family of five children, all girls. Her father was a journalist and mother a business woman.

Educational Background

Darleen had her primary and secondary education in Port Harcourt and Calabar where she obtained her first and secondary school certificates respectively.

She later went to the University of Lagos where she bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts. She has since remained focused and active in the movie industry.

Her Acting Career

Darleen joined the Nigerian Movie Industry in 1998. She had series of auditions and accepted minors roles then in movies. She eventually had her  breakthrough after a hit movie “Venom of Justice”.

She became more popular after acting in several Nollywood movies.

She is creative, skillful and exceptionally talented actress. She can interpret movie roles in a brilliant manner and can as well accept any character in movies. Her style of acting is such that gives acting real life situation.

Darleen has over 100 movies to her name, some of which include Honey Moon Hotel, Women On Campus, Game, Venom of Justice and ‘Maama’ produced by Opa Williams. The same movie earned her an award as best new actress at Reel Awards.

Darleen is known to acts in most romantic movies alongside the big stars in the industry like Ramsey Noah, Ini Edo, Tonto Dikeh, Uti Nwachuwku, Ik Ogbonna, Joseph Benjamin and several others.

Awards

Darleen Benson Cobham has in her years of acting earned several prestigious awards. Some and most recent include:

• Most promising actress in Nigeria at the Best of Nollywood Awards.
• Best actress in a supporting role at the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
• Best New actress at Reel Awards.

Her Personal Life

Darleen Benson is married to Cobhams Asuquo, the famous Nigerian music producer and the union is blessed with beautiful children.

Her Net Worth

Darleen Benson Cobham is a renowned Nollywood actress, rated one of the richest and most influential with a net worth of about $300,000 dollars.

The post Actress Darleen Benson Cobham: Biography And Net Worth appeared first on Ken Information Blog.

Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila is the 9^th Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives after a wide margin defeat of his rival, Umar Mohammed Bago representing Chanchaga Federal Constituency.

The cheering news greeted Nigerians and the entire world on Tuesday 11^th June 2019 after Femi under the platform of APC representing Surulere I Federal Constituency in Lagos, defeated his rival with 283 votes to beat Bago also on the platform of All Peoples Congress (APC) who scored 76 votes of the total votes cast.

Femi who before emergence as the 9^th Speaker of the Green House is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while Bago had  the support for the position by opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Olufemi Hakeem Gbajabiamila, was born on the 25^th of June 1962 into the family of Lateef and Olufunke Gbajabiamila.

He did his primary education in Lagos at the popular Mainland Preparatory School and went to Igbobi College, Yaba in 1973 for his secondary education where he obtained his first and secondary school certificates respectively in 1978.

Gbajabiamila went to King Williams College, Isle of Man, United Kingdom where he sat for  his ‘A Levels’ and graduated in 1980. He returned to Nigeria to pursue a degree in Law at the University of Lagos.

He graduated with honors in 1983 and was subsequently admitted into the Nigerian Law School.  He was called to the Nigerian bar in the year 1984.

Gbajabiamila set up  his own Chamber, Femi Gbaja and Co. on Broad Street, Lagos, before furthering his education in the  United States.

He was said to have earned the prestigious Juris Doctorate at the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia where he graduated with a first class.

Gbajabiamila returned to Nigeria to become a full time politician by joining the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD)  and won his first term election in the House of Representatives in 2003.

In 2007, Femi was re-elected as Action Congress (AC) leader and Minority Whip of the House.

In 2011, he also contested and emerged winner for the third term on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He was again re-elected ACN leader and leader of the opposition in the House.

In 2014, Gbajabiamila emerged the Leader of opposition in the House led his colleagues into the merger that gave rise to what is now known as  the APC.

2015, he was elected for the fourth time  but lost his fight to become Speaker to Yakubu Dogara. The unrelentless Politician, now Speaker did not stop at the defeat, as his re-election at the 2019 general election paved the way for the exotic position of the 9^th Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives.

Femi Gbajabiamila was elected Leader of the 8th House of Representatives on July 28, 2015.

This dogged fighter has sponsored a number of bills and motions including the following:

• Employee Rights Bill
• Vocational Schools Bill
• The Economic Stimulus Bill
• Local content in Construction Industry Bill
• Interest-Free Students Loan and Establishment of Nigeria Education Bank Bill.

Gbajabiamila is the first politician to strongly denounce the estimated billings by the Electricity Distribution Company and sponsored the bill criminalizing the estimated billing system, which he described as criminal and must stop.

While Nigerians and indeed the entire look forward to his successful tenure as the 9^th Speaker of the Federal House of Representative, we pray he will not depart from the just cause, equality for all and social justice which he has always known and fought for.

The new Speaker of the National Assembly is married with children with an estimated net worth of about $50 million dollars.

The post Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila: Biography And Net Worth appeared first on Ken Information Blog.

 Atiku Abubakar (GCON), former Vice President of Nigeria, is a Politician, businessman, a Philanthropist and 2019 Presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Early life Background

Atiku Abubakar was born 25 November 1946 in Adamawa State to a Fulani trader and farmer Garba Abubakar. He was said to be the only child of his parents when his only sister died at infancy. Atiku said his father saw him as a rare gift, a child of destiny and wanted him to grow up in a wholesome environment of love and spirituality. Eventually, his mother died in 1984 of a heart attack.

This perhaps necessitated his preference to marry many wives and have several children.

Educational Background

Atiku Abubakar could not start school at the ripe age because his father was opposed to him having Western education. This singular act did not go down well with his father who was arrested and jailed until he paid a fine. Consequently, Atiku Abubakar was admitted into Jada Primary School at the age of eight.

After his primary school, Atiku was admitted into Adamawa Provincial Secondary School, Yola in 1960. He graduated from secondary school in 1965 after he made grade three in the West African School Certificate Examinations.

He then proceeded to attend the Nigerian Police College, Kaduna, and later went for a position as a tax official in the Regional Ministry of Finance. He later got admission to study at the School of Hygiene, Kano in 1966 and obtained a diploma in 1967, the same year, admitted for a Law Diploma at Ahmadu Bello University on a scholarship. He graduated in 1969 and was subsequently employed by the Nigeria Customs Service that same year.

His Personal Life

Atiku served as Customs officer for about 20 years before retiring as Deputy director of Customs, the second highest position in the service in April, 1989. He has since remained in business and politics.

His political ambition actually started when in 1993, he ran for the post of a President under the platform of (S.D.P) Social Democratic Party. As fate would have it, he emerged the number 3 position coming behind M.K.O. Abiola and Babagana Kingibe.

He contested as governor of Adamawa State and won. While waiting as  governor-elect, he was selected by the then presidential candidate Olusegun Obasanjo as his running mate under the platform of People’s Democratic Party. The duo went on to win the elections in February 1999, and Abubakar was sworn-in as Nigeria’s second democratically elected vice president on 29 May 1999. He served as the 11th vice-president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 under president of Olusegun Obasanjo.

However, Atiku’s second term as Vice President was characterized by a strained relationship with President Obasanjo. This strange relationship did not augur well with Atiku as he was subsequently affected negatively in his future political ambition.

Abubakar again ran on the platform of the Action Congress, after the PDP on account of his issues with President Obasanjo. He lost the election, coming third after Umaru Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Notwithstanding, Atiku has made several unsuccessful attempts to get ticket to run for Presidency under All Progressive Grand Alliance (APC) before again returning to PDP where he got the ticket to run for the 2019 general elections. Again, Atiku lost the election to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

A successful businessman, Atiku Abubakar is a co-founder of Intels, a reputed  oil servicing company with extensive operations in Nigeria and abroad. He is also the founder of Adama Beverages Limited, a company for the production of juices and bottled water. He is the founder of  the American University of Nigeria (AUN), both in Yola, Adamawa.

While at Idi-Iroko, Abubakar met nineteen-year-old Titilayo Albert, who he secretly married in December 1971, in Lagos, because her family was initially opposed to the union. He again married other three wives raise the number to 28 because according to Atiku, he was not comfortable with his loneness as the only child. Atiku Abubakar , we learnt has four wives and 28 children.

Business Career

Atiku is a successful business man who started out in the real estate business during his early days as a Customs Officer. In 1974, we learnt he applied for and received a 31,000 Naira loan to build his first house in Yola. He continued this way, building a sizeable portfolio of property in Yola.

Like Dangote of Africa, he Atiku moved into agriculture, acquiring 2,500 hectares of land near Yola to start a maize and cotton farm in 1981. The business could not survive and in 1986, Atiku then ventured into trading, buying and selling truckloads of rice, flour and sugar.

Atiku also went into Nigeria Container Services (NICOTES), a logistics company operating within the Ports and there is wide speculations that NICOTES has actually earned much wealth for Abubakar.

Vice-Presidency

Abubakar was sworn in as Vice-President of Nigeria on 29 May 1999. He presided over the National Council on Privatization, overseeing the sale of hundreds of loss-making and poorly managed public enterprises.

In 1999 he, alongside South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma, launched the South Africa Nigeria Bi-national Commission.

In 2006, Abubakar was involved in a bitter public battle with his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, who then attempted to amend certain provisions of the constitution to pave way for his third term ambition.

Philanthropist and promotion of Education

Atiku is the founder of American University of Nigeria (AUN), the first American-style University to be established in Sub-Saharan Africa. The school was founded in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State as American University of Nigeria (AUN) in 2005.

Honours and awards

Atiku is a recipient of many honours and awards.

In 1982 Abubakar was awarded the chieftaincy of the Turaki of Adamawa by Adamawa’s traditional ruler, Alhaji Aliyu Mustafa.

In 2011, a nonprofit organization, separate from the Peace Corps, that serves as an Alumni Association for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers – honoured Abubakar with the Harris Wofford Global Citizen Award.

In June 2017, Abubakar was awarded the Chieftaincy title of the Waziri of Adamawa, and his previous title of Turaki was transferred to his son Aliyu.

He was recently conferred the award Hero Of Democracy by Hall of Grace Magazine.

Social media

Atiku is on Twitter since the 2011 elections, and has over one million followers and currently has over 1 million fans on  Facebook .

Also in 2013, he launched a blog and in August 2013 post, he shared his views on the role and relevance of social media to governance and democracy in Nigeria.

Atiku Beliefs

The man Atiku Abubakar is a true democrat, who believes in restructuring Nigeria. He has been receiving massive endorsement for his stand on True Federalism.

According to Atiku, “True Federalism will encourage states to compete to attract investments and skilled workers rather than merely waiting for monthly revenue allocation from Abuja”

Atiku also believe in allowing states to have control over their resources most especially the South South and South East of Nigeria.

His Net Worth

Atiku is rated one of the richest Politicians and business s in Nigeria with a net worth of over $20 billion dollars.

The post Atiku Abubakar: Biography And Net Worth appeared first on Ken Information Blog.

The man Bukola Saraki, a Muslim by religion, a medical doctor by profession, a politician, is a Hero of Nigerian Politics.

Born on 19th December 1962 to the family of Olusola Saraki, a senator (1979–1983) and a one time Senate Leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his mother Florence Morenike Saraki. He had his education in King’s College, Lagos, from 1973 to 1978, and Cheltenham College in the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1981 for his High School Certificate. He then studied at the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London from 1982 to 1987 and obtained his M.B.B.S London.

His Career and Achievements:

1988 – 1989, Bukola Saraki worked as a medical officer at Rush Green Hospital, Essex.

1990 – 2000, he was a director of Société Générale Bank (Nig) Ltd.

In 2000, served as Special Assistant on Budget to President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Saraki also served on the Economic Policy Coordination Committee, where he was responsible for the formulation and implementation of several key economic policies for Nigeria.

Bukola Saraki became the Governor of Kwara State in the 2003 under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and was re-elected in 2007 for a second term.

He was said to have recorded a number of achievements in agriculture, health, education, finance and environment policies. These numbers of achievements were said to have been responsible for successive successes including his appointment as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

Other notable and commendable achievements of Senator Bukola Saraki are:

Power generation and electricity

As governor Kwara state, Sarak in collaboration with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, re-energised the Ganmo Power Station at Ilorin, and hooked over 3750 rural communities to the national grid through the development and installation of 725 transformers and 7 substations. He completed the Nigeria Independent Power Project, 4 electrification projects which made power relatively stable, thereby giving the people living in Kwara state a good access to electricity.

Primary health care On health programmes, he introduced statewide campaign in 2008 to reduce maternal and child mortality from malaria. This included distribution of insecticide-treated nets and free malaria drugs to pregnant mothers and children. A number of hospitals were built, refurbished, leading to the redevelopment of hospitals in Afon, Patigi and Lafiagi. Other measures included improved training and re-training for medical staff; and staff living quarters; and employment of qualified medical doctors and other health workers. Many of the primary care programmes were sponsored by international agencies such as WHO and UNICEF

Agriculture and farming

Saraki introduced agricultural policy reforms to increase the commercial viability of farming, and also the volume of exports to international markets. One of his major achievements was inviting displaced white farmers from Zimbabwe to farm in Kwara State and this led to the establishment of Shonga Farms programme, which is now being replicated across Nigeria.

Infrastructure development

Saraki led significant and statewide infrastructure development, including improvements in road construction, and development of new sporting facilities such as Kwara Football Academy and the Ilorin International Airport Cargo Terminal. Today, Kwara State has an enviable record of a logistics and cargo hub in Nigeria and the region.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum

Saraki became chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum in 2007. Under his tenure as Chairman of Governors’ Forum, he introduced a number of reforms including:

• A fully resourced secretariat, with a technical and administrative division that was entirely focused on delivery.

• The State Peer Review Mechanism were developed to ensure closer working and collaboration. This mechanism gave room for case studies to be shared between states including power projects, primary healthcare centres for villages and other viable rural projects including hospitals and schools which hitherto had remained undisclosed.

Polio immunisation

As a medical doctor, he ensured that the Forum developed better and more extensive polio immunisation in Nigeria. In 2011, he introduced  the Immunisation Leadership Challenge Which  was designed to reward states in Nigeria that made significant improvements in polio and routine immunisation coverage by the end of 2012. The overall objective was to fast-track achievement of the milestone of interrupting further transmission of the wild polio virus in Nigeria. It was also designed to support governors’ top health priorities, including malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV prevention and treatment, safe drinking water and hygiene programmes.

Kwara Class of Honors

Senator Bukola Saraki founded Kwara Class of Honor, a program aimed at awarding Post-Graduate scholarship to First Class students of the state to continue their study in any higher institutions of their choice across the federation, and over 71 First class were awarded during the first phase of the scholarship program

Senatorial career

Bukola Saraki became a Senator after a successful two term tenure as governor of Kwara State. He was a Senator, representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District.

As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was appointed the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and also a member of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets and Finance. He fought very hard in the Senate to end the fuel subsidy regime in Nigeria, which has been an excessive waste of the country’s national resources.

Senator Saraki has campaigned extensively on health, food security, education and the environment. He fought relentlessly for strengthened laws on security, education and environment  especially  the clean up of oil spills. His National Oil Spill and Detection and Response Agency Amendment Bill seeks to ensure oil companies pay appropriate levels of compensation to communities affected by oil spills. In 2010, Saraki also intervened in the lead poisoning crisis in Zamfara State

Senate President

Senator Saraki emerged the Senate President of the Federal of Nigeria after his re-election in the 2015 general elections under the platform of All Progressives Congress APC on the 9^th of June 2015. This was a remarkable breakthrough as he was elected unopposed as President of the Senate by an across the party alliance comprising PDP and APC Senators.

Senator Bukola Saraki and a delegation of Senators visited Maiduguri, Borno State on 3 August 2015 to get a first hand assessment of the damage done in the north-eastern part of Nigeria by terrorist group Boko Haram and to give hope to internally displaced persons. The delegation was the first of its kind under the leadership of the Senate President Bukola since the insurgency began.

Code of Conduct Tribunal

While serving as Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bukola Saraki passed through a number of challenges ranging from charges of corruption by the Code of Conduct Bureau dated September 1, 2015. He was subsequently arraigned before a Code of Conduct Tribunal of offences ranging from:

• False declaration of assets while governor of Kwara state
• Acquiring assets beyond his legitimate earnings
• Operating foreign accounts while in office
• And allegation of theft, corruption, money laundering among others.

He was equally accused of borrowing huge sums of money running into billions from commercial banks, and used the proceeds of the loan to acquire several landed properties in Lagos, Abuja and London, while he was the governor of Kwara State.

Bukola Saraki became the first Senate President in Nigeria to be issued with arrest warrants by the Chairman of the Code Of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, issued an arrest warrant against Saraki on September 18, 2015.

Legal Team

A legal team of 79 lawyers went to Court on March 18, 2016, led by Kanu Godwin Agabi, to defend Saraki at the tribunal.

Another corruption charges indictment was issued against Bukola Saraki while serving as President of Senate by the EFCC. He and his aides were accused of money laundering of up to N3.5billion from the Paris Club Loan Refund. However, this allegation was swiftly denied by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

On Wednesday, June 14, 2017, the President Saraki was discharged and acquitted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja in the 18 count charge of corruption in the false declaration of assets charge brought against him in September 2015 by the federal government.

The tribunal held that the evidence proffered against Saraki by the federal government was unreliable to hold the charges against the defendant. He was subsequently free from the corruption charges.

Umar the CCT Chairman, further said that the report of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the tribunal was more of intelligence gathering rather than conventional investigation.

Appeal Court Decision

The Senate President was arraigned before The Court of Appeal who then ordered the tribunal to try Saraki on three out of the 18 counts amended charges bordering on false declaration of assets brought against him by the Federal Government. In the end, The Appeal Court also held that the prosecution failed to prove his case beyond reasonable double and was subsequently discharged and acquitted.

Supreme Court

On Friday, July 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dismissed all 18 charges of corruption and false asset declaration brought against the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, by the Federal Government, following his election as Senate President. Therefore, the court affirmed the June 2017 decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal which ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the case against Dr. Saraki.

Bukola Saraki again defected to People Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday August 7th 2018 which he attributed to many uncomfortable activities of the ruling APC party.

However, Saraki’s recent defection to PDP move was viewed by the ruling party as selfish, illegal and called for his resignation as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There was a clandestine move by the ruling party to impeach him. This secret move led to the DSS taking over the premises of the Senate which was widely condemned by all lovers of democracy and the sack of the Director General of State Security Service DSS.

Inspite of the trials, tribulations, clandestine moves by his political enemies, Senate President Bukola Saraki stood tall, committed, resolute and calm and remain non violent. He said his trials were designed to ridicule him and thanked God he was free from all the tribulations.

What can we say of a man like Saraki? A non violent and winning politician, a national  bridge builder, a peace maker, an achiever, a true Democrat and above all, a good example of a Hero Of  Nigerian Politics.

The post Bukola Saraki, A Hero of Nigerian Politics appeared first on Ken Information Blog.

Bottom of Form

Restructuring simply means to re-organise, to give a face-lift, to change the working structure for a better and effective system. The term could be applied to an organization, social and political system for a better result.

How do I mean by restructuring Nigeria?

The current outcry for the Country Nigeria’s restructuring is long overdue.  People believe that the Nigerian state is the bedrock of all crises even before now. Their argument is that some sections of the country especially the Niger Delta area where the bulk of the resources come from are not only marginalized but dehumanized and they believe that the only way out is  true restructuring to reflect true federalism. Until this is done, we are only postponing the evil days.  

Currently, the Nigerian state operates what people view as a false federal system. This brings discontent among the various component units that were forcibly joined together by the British colonialists into the Nigerian state.

It does not guarantee equity, justice and fairness. Evidences abound about the marginalisation, discrimination, criminal neglect and domination of one ethnic group against the other. The federal character principle which was designed to address the fears of the minorities and promote inclusive governance has been completely removed or grossly abused by the operators of the system.

Appointments and citing of projects are being done with dose of politics, tribal sentiment and nepotism. Hence the demand by the Igbos for a sovereign state of Biafra. However this does not go down well with the northern Nigeria and its elite who do not see anything wrong with the Nigerian structure and thus do not want restructuring.

There is a need for restructuring of our political, governance and economic structures. To achieve this therefore a number factors need to be put into consideration.

1.    There should be power rotation and zoning clauses in our constitution for key leadership positions at all tiers of government. This has become very important in view of the Igbos belief that they have been marginalized and excluded in governance.

2.    There should also be fiscal federalism or resource control. This call has long over due among the Niger Delta region of Nigeria who believe they have been marginalized over the years. Each state should be given the right to control and manage their resources. The concentration of power at the centre and the monthly allocation to states should be removed. This will bring about faster development in these regions where the bulk of resources come from.

3. For restructuring to work effectively in Nigeria, the economy should be diversified so that other areas like agriculture, entertainment, tourism and solid minerals can be fully explored and developed.

4.    There should be a balance in the area of appointments and provision of infrastructure. To this end, a special committee should be set up to address the injustices in terms of appointments, infrastructure, allegation of marginalization by one ethnic group and high security agencies to deal with any acts.

5.    Also, as part of reform and restructuring of political system, there should be amendments to the relevant legal regimes for elections to provide and protect the vulnerable in our system – such as the youths, women and persons with disabilities. Diaspora voting as is done in most advanced countries like USA, Britain etc should be incorporated in the system. Setting up of electoral offences commission to deal with offences arising from electoral breaches or violations should also be seriously addressed.

6.    The Niger Delta crises will have a permanent solution if the problem of marginalization, degradation and neglect of the area is properly addressed. The oil companies operating in these areas should be mandated to keep some percentage of their earnings to develop their host communities. Gas flaring which poses as health hazards to the areas should stop and the government should come up with stiffer penalties against gas flaring in the region. A clear and clean amnesty programme to the youths should be a strong focus.  Above all, establishments social amenities  such hospitals, good water, electricity and other meaningful projects that will the people sense of belonging should be of utmost priority.

In conclusion, restructuring Nigeria means a total overhauling of the entire system for a better and workable system that will address injustices, nepotism, tribalism, neglect of one ethnic group, senseless killings, political domination, corruption, capital flights etc as a result of loopholes inherent in the existing system. All hands must be on deck to restructure Nigeria politically, economically and socially.    

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