The Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar on Tuesday in Abuja warned staff that disclosing confidential information without authorisation will attract penalties under the public service rules.

The Permanent Secretary stated this at the administration of Oath of Secrecy and Declaration of Secrecy to 42 staff of the State House, administered by Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court.

The Permanent Secretary explained that the oaths were administered to staff members who handle classified documents.

‘‘We discovered that due to deployment of officers and retirement a number of our staff need to be placed under the radar so that they will be aware that their jobs, the kind of documents or information they are handling from day to day and beyond, are so important and must be safeguarded.

‘‘That’s the reason we decided to do the needful by administering the Oath of Secrecy, highlighting the importance of letting them know what information they are managing and the consequences of the breach of such information,’’ he said.

The Permanent Secretary, who disclosed that the exercise will be continuous, expressed delight that so far the State House has not recorded any breach of information.

‘‘We have not had any breach. We don’t anticipate having any breach.

‘‘But then it’s our duty to let them understand that if there is any, there will be consequences after investigations and that also includes after they have retired from the Civil Service,’’ he said.

Earlier before the administration of the Oaths, Mr Tukur Yahaya, the Director of Special Services Department, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, took the staff through sensitization, explaining the essence of the Official Secrets Act, 1962.

‘‘The essence of this exercise is to ensure the safety and security of government information, documents and facilities,’’ he said.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called on the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) to help counter the false narratives by secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who portray Nigeria in a bad light.

The Minister made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when he received members of NIDO, UK Chapter, on a courtesy visit.

“As an organized and well connected group, I implore NIDO to leverage its contacts in government circles, parliamentary groups and global think tanks in world capitals to help change the narrative and sweep the carpet off the feet of secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who are bent on pushing false narratives to portray Nigeria in bad light.

”I have no doubt that you will take this call seriously and do everything in your power to change the narrative for the better,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Buhari Administration considers Nigerians in Diaspora as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, hence has done the unprecedented by establishing the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) which, he said, has been doing a good job in coordinating and providing an organized system of collaborations of Nigerians in Diaspora.

He slammed some Nigerians in Diaspora who are helping to fund the nefarious activities of secessionist groups that are campaigning around the world to propagate their fake narratives about the country.

“Instead of contributing their own quota, all you hear from a section of Nigerians in Diaspora and their allies back home are fake narratives and untrue allegations of religious persecution, political marginalization, human rights abuses, etc. These are baseless and false,” the Minister said.

Acknowledging that Nigeria is facing some challenges including dwindling revenue, he said in spite of the challenges, the Administration has recorded tremendous achievements in the area of infrastructure – roads, rail, power, housing, dams, etc. and agriculture, where the country is closer than ever to achieving self-sufficiency in major staples.

Alhaji Mohammed also listed the fight against corruption, which the Administration is prosecuting in an institutionalized manner, as well as the revamping of the economy, especially through diversification, as some of the achievements of the Buhari Administration.

He said as part of deliberate effort to counter anti-government propaganda, which is aimed at drowning the successes recorded by the administration, the government is scaling up diplomatic efforts to reverse the trend.

“On our part as government, we are currently re-engineering and ramping up our diplomatic efforts to counter and reverse the narrative, in addition to countering pervasive anti-government propaganda,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman, NIDO, UK Chapter, Mr. Chibuzo Ubochi, commended President Buhari for officially gazetting 25th July every year as the National Diaspora Day.

He called on the National Assembly to fast track the passage of the bill that would enable Nigerians in Diaspora to vote and be voted for during elections, in view of their numerous contributions to the Nigerian economy.

By Favour Goodness

Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over his inability to secure the country from criminals, which makes the blood of innocent lives to flow in the country.

Gumi added that the same advice he gave the erstwhile President, Goodluck Jonathan, would be given to his “own brother” who appeared to be less democratic even than Jonathan.

The Islamic scholar made these revelations as he addressed a Muslim gathering as seen in a video now in circulation.

Gumi said, “during the Jonathan era when blood was flowing, I criticised him because he was not doing enough. Why I blamed Jonathan with blood in his hands was because Boko Haram were putting bombs everywhere and the government was not doing enough.

“Because they killed under your regime, you’re responsible for that matter, if you have done your best, I can say Allah can forgive you, but if you are relaxed, no Allah cannot forgive you.

“So, the same thing now; the bloodshed now is more than the bloodshed during Jonathan’s regime. So, now, you judge yourself to be fair. Our religion is a religion of fairness. We are fair to ourselves. During Jonathan, when blood was flowing in churches, mosques, and streets, I said let him resign because he could not control it. He could not handle it. I said resign with immediate effect.

“When people are dying everywhere, and the President and governors are attending wedding ceremonies. That’s what I mean by I don’t care. It is either if I’m true to myself. As I called for the resignation of Jonathan, I should call for the resignation of President Buhari. With immediate effect and the government papers (media) should carry it also.

“Even Jonathan as bad as he was, he was more democratic. When he saw there was a problem, he relinquished power and he said I don’t want blood,” Gumi said.

Gumi said he had two options either which to apologise to Jonathan or to ask Buhari to resign. He said he was not left with a third option, insisting that Buhari should resign for not tackling insecurity.

“Now, I have one or two options. If I cannot tell my own brother what I have told this man, then I should take an aeroplane from Abuja to Jonathan and say forgive me for castigating you in public. Either seeking an apology or castigating the President; there is no third option,” Gumi added.

By Favour Goodness

Iyom Chinelo Amechi, the wife of First Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, is dead.

She was 91.

Mrs. Amechi died on July 23, 2021, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi after a 10-day illness.

She was a native of Umuoji in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state and retired as Chief Nursing Officer in 1982 at the Mburi General hospital, Nnewi now NAUTH.

Chief Mbazulike Amechi, the husband speaking in his Ukpor country home in Nnewi South Local Government of the state described the late wife as a typical professional nurse and good housewife who was able to blend her professional work with home management.

He appreciated the time he spent with the beloved wife, saying her many good legacies would be greatly missed by the entire family.

He said: “She was a typical professional nurse and a good housewife. She was able to blend her professional work with home management.

“I’m happy to marry her because she helped to nurse me. She was the head of the Catholic Women Organization in the church. She also played a prominent role during my nationalist drives.”

Describing himself as a trado-Christian with a dislike for multiple wives, the elder statesman said he had sworn as a member of the Zikist movement never to marry until Nigeria gained independence.

He however noted he later wedded at the Holy Trinity, Onitsha after about 10months of courtship.

A statement from the family signed by Mr. Tagbo Amechi said details of the burial arrangements would be announced later.