News

NCSU Confers “Visionary Leader with Political Will” Award on RMAFC Chairman

Published

4 months ago

June 26, 2025

By Joel Ajayi

The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, OFR, has been honoured with the prestigious award of “A Visionary Leader with Political Will” by the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU). The award recognises his exceptional leadership and strong, cooperative relationship with staff, management, and members of the Commission.

The award ceremony, held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the RMAFC Headquarters in Abuja, drew union executives from the National Council, Federal Council, and Commission chapters, all of whom commended Dr. Shehu for his transparent, inclusive, and responsive leadership style.

In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Shehu expressed deep appreciation to the Union for the honour, reaffirming his belief in sincerity, fairness, and constructive engagement as the cornerstones of effective leadership.

“From the outset of my tenure, I made it a priority to listen to the concerns of staff and engage the Union in meaningful dialogue. This approach has helped foster the peaceful and cooperative environment we have at the Commission today,” he stated.

Dr. Shehu also reflected on the values instilled in him by his late father, a former civil servant and community leader, noting that humility, service, and respect for autonomy remain central to his leadership philosophy.

“I have no interest in influencing union decisions or elections. I respect the right of workers to choose their representatives, and I remain committed to working with anyone they elect in good faith and partnership,” he added.

Representing the NCSU National Chairman, Comrade Adoga Rufada, the National Vice President of the Union, Comrade Ganiyat Adeogun, applauded the harmony between the Commission’s leadership and staff union. She noted that such a collaborative atmosphere could only thrive under purposeful, people-centred leadership.

In his remarks, the Union’s General Secretary, Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo, conveyed the appreciation of the National Executive, describing Dr. Shehu’s leadership as exemplary.

“With this level of dedication and performance, it is clear that national honours are well within reach,” Olowoyo stated.

He further described the award as a collective expression of gratitude from the National Federal Council and the Regional Legislative Units of the Union for the progress achieved under Dr. Shehu’s leadership.

Echoing similar sentiments, Comrade Mohammed Kolo, Auditor of the NCSU Federal Council, praised Dr. Shehu’s responsiveness to staff concerns and commitment to engaging the Union with openness and integrity.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the RMAFC Chapter of the NCSU, Comrade Muhammed Rabiu Enagi, pledged to sustain the harmonious relationship between the Union and the Commission’s leadership, expressing optimism for even greater achievements.

A former Chairman of the RMAFC NCSU Chapter and erstwhile Vice Chairman of the NCSU Federal Council, Comrade Isa Usman Dagiri, lauded the Chairman’s inclusive leadership and reaffirmed the chapter’s unwavering support. He led attendees in a spirited rendition of the Union solidarity anthem, symbolising the deep goodwill shared between the Commission and its workforce.

The event concluded with a renewed call for sustained collaboration between the Union and the RMAFC leadership—anchored on trust, dialogue, and a shared vision for institutional excellence.

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Politics

Wike’s Loyalists in PDP Suspend Acting Chairman Damagum, Spokesman Ologunagba, Others

Published

43 mins ago

November 2, 2025

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

The Peoples Democratic Party has plunged deeper into crisis as fresh divisions emerged within its leadership, with a faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announcing the suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and five other members of the National Working Committee.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the factional NWC, the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, announced the party’s National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman, as the Acting National Chairman.

He stated, “First of all, we want to commend the judiciary over the judgment of yesterday, which is a victory for the entire PDP members all over. Nobody can claim victory over the judgment of the court. It is a judgment against impunity, against illegality. We promote unity, peace, and cohesion in the party.

“Having said that, the party did not overlook the activities of some members of the NWC who have already decided to cause disaffection in the party, which has made most of our leaders and governors leave the party in droves. I would say that this is the time to arrest such a situation and call it to order.

“On this note, after the emergency meeting, we decided, as a party, to suspend Ambassador Damagum, the National Chairman of the party, for incompetence, misappropriation of party funds, and flagrant disobedience of court judgments. We decided that we should suspend him for one month, and we will send him to the Disciplinary Committee for him to be able to answer questions.

“Secondly, we have overwhelming evidence against the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. We have seen the frequent press releases by the National Publicity Secretary which was confirmed that even at a point, the then National Vice Chairman suspended him for appearing or defending the party because of the unapproved frequent press releases. For us to have sanity in the party, we have suspended him.”

Anyanwu also announced the suspension of the National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, accusing him of failing to properly advise Damagum against engaging in anti-party activities and reckless behavior.

He continued, “On that note, he is also suspended for 30 days. Now, we talk about the National Financial Secretary, Daniel Woyenguikoro. We have discovered that in the last few days and months, there have been congresses and sales of forms meant for our congresses, which were bought and paid into two different accounts controlled by the National Financial Secretary. So, on this note, he has been suspended, and we are sending him to the Disciplinary Committee. We are also going to involve the financial agencies to look into those activities.

“Again, the Youth Leader, Sulaiman Kadade, PDP Youth all over, if you watched yesterday, the youth leaders all over the country met and said that they don’t want Mohammed Kandede to be their youth leader again because he has never activated the youth wing of our party, and that wing has been abandoned. For that reason, he has also been suspended for one month.

“Finally, the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo who is supposed to be my deputy, is also suspended for one month. He resumed the office of the National Secretary illegally, signed all kinds of letters, especially to some states, where he has caused disaffection among our party members in those states. For that reason, he has also been suspended for 30 days.

“All of them are sent to the Disciplinary Committee to show cause why they should not be expelled from the party. The judgment of yesterday confirmed the reason why this suspension should be effective. In their place, especially the National Chairman, we are asking the National Vice Chairman (North-Central), Mohammed Abdulrahman to act as National Chairman. In the place of the National Publicity Secretary, we are going to ask the Director of Publicity of our party, Chinwen Nnorom, to take over all the activities of the party in terms of information.”

According to Anyanwu, ten members of the NWC were in attendance.

Earlier, the NWC under Damagum’s leadership announced the suspension of Senator Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and two other members.

Despite the scheduled National Elective Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, internal strife continues to grip the party.

Supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remain dissatisfied with the leadership of the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum.

Their grievances revolve around unresolved disputes concerning the South-South zonal leadership and control of party structures in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau States. In addition, disagreements over the micro-zoning arrangement ahead of the convention have further deepened divisions within the PDP.

These ongoing conflicts eventually escalated into a legal confrontation aimed at halting the planned convention. On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim injunction restraining the PDP from proceeding with the convention until further notice.

In case number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, the court ruled that the PDP must suspend its convention pending full compliance with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act of 2022.

The case was filed by three aggrieved PDP members Austin Nwachukwu, the Imo State PDP Chairman; Amah Abraham Nnanna, the Abia State PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, the PDP Secretary for the South-South zone.

They argued that the planned convention violated both the Electoral Act and the party’s internal regulations, citing the PDP’s failure to conduct valid congresses in 14 states before issuing the convention notice.

Justice Omotosho upheld their arguments, ruling that the PDP had indeed breached its constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines by neglecting to conduct proper state congresses and failing to provide the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC.

Consequently, the court ordered the suspension of the planned convention until all internal irregularities are corrected in accordance with the law.

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