Northern Elders Forum condemns arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf by EFCC, demands for his immediate release

Northern Elders' Forum endorse3

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has strongly condemned the arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a renowned academic and hematology-oncology expert by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as politically-motivated. According to a press statement released by the NEF, Professor Yusuf was taken into custody at his Abuja residence on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, around 4:30 p.m. On Thursday, January 30, 2025, the Professor was arraigned before the Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), presided over by Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu. However, the…

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Northern politicians ask Tinubu to reconsider tax reform Bills

Northern politicians

Some northern politicians have advised President Bola Tinubu to respect the position of the National Economic Council on the controversial tax reform Bills. Recall that President Tinubu declared last Monday that the tax reforms had come to stay, ruling out the possibility of withdrawing them from the 10th National Assembly as the governors had demanded. However, Northern members of the 10th NASS, the League of Northern Democrats, (LND), and the Northern Elders’ Forum, (NEF), have expressed dismay with President’s insistence that there will be no reversal on the controversial tax…

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Northern Elders again reject Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bill

Northern Elders' Forum endorse

Back 19 Govs., monarchs on withdrawal The Northern Elders’ Forum, (NEF), has endorsed the stand taken by the Northern Governors’ Forum, (NGF), in conjunction with the Northern Nigeria Council of Traditional Rulers, about the proposed Tax Reform Bill by President Bola Tinubu. Recall that the 19 State governors in the Northern region had aired their strong displeasure on the recent Tax Reform Bill the Federal Government submitted to the National Assembly for approval. The governors particularly rejected the proposed shift to a Derivation-based Model for Value-Added Tax (VAT) distribution. The…

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Northern groups, Atiku slam Tinubu over alleged lopsided appointments

Atiku Arewa slams Asiwaju

Some Northern groups have criticised President Bola Tinubu for the recent appointments of heads of security agencies, alleging that the Southwest dominates the positions. In the same vein, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who ran against Tinubu during the 2023 election, also criticised the appointments, stating that they abuse the provisions of the constitution and promote separatism. Recall that last week, Tinubu approved the appointment of new Directors-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS). The new appointments follow the resignation of the previous…

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Northern Elders decry onslaught against ?angote Refinery

Northern Elders Forum decry

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says it is watching with sustained interest, the unfolding drama being orchestrated by some powerful vested interests to frustrate the good example which the nations leading investor and entrepreneur, Aliko ?angote, represents by defying all formidable odds to build a private-owned petroleum refinery in Nigeria. In an issued statement in Abuja yesterday, signed by the NEF convener, Professor Ango Abdullahi, the NEF noted that ?angote Refinery, which is reputed to be the biggest single-train refinery in the world, is a technological marble that showcases the…

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Criticism mounts over electricity hike, as NEF, CNG,Reps’ caucus urgeFG to rescind decision

Criticism has heightened across the nation’s landscape, as various stakeholders have rejected the recent decision by the Federal Government to increase electricity tariffs by about 300% amidst the current challenging economic realities caused by fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira. Expressing its concern and disappointment on the recent decision by President Bola Tinubus administration over the electricity tariff increase, the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), described the hike as a reckless move and a complete disregard for the well-being and welfare of the Nigerian people. In an issued statement…

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“Relocation of CBNs departments will weaken North, other regions” Northern Elders Forum

The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has stated that the planned relocation of key Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) departments to Lagos will only serve to further strengthen the already dominant position of Lagos, while potentially weakening the significance and role of Abuja. Recall that the apex bank had announced its plan to transfer some of its departments to the nations commercial nerve centre, Lagos State. However, the Forum, in an issued statement, signed by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy/Spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, asserted that the movement would involve increased costs,…

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Kaduna Bomb Attack: ACF, NEF, JNl, calls for investigation

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), and Jama’atul Nasiru Islam (JNI) have called for an immediate probe of the inadvertent military drone attack that killed over 80 people in Tudun-Biri community, Afaka Ward, near Rigasa, in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna State, on Sunday evening, In separate press statements, both the three organisations expressed their sadness over the attack, which left many innocent civilians dead as well as several others with serious injuries. ACF, in a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Prof. Tukur Muhammad…

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Buhari failed woefully; Tinubu cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians Baba-Ahmed

The Spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has said the immediate-past President, Muhammadu Buhari was a woeful disappointment. Speaking in a published interview yesterday, Baba-Ahmed said, “Buhari failed the nation; he failed the North. He failed the electorates that trooped out to give him the kind of votes that no other President has ever had. He raised a lot of expectations but left the country a lot worse than he met it”. The NEF spokesman, however, expressed hope that Tinubu will be able to bring in some…

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‘Nigerias next president must convene National Conference’ Spokesperson, Northern Elders Forum

A Nigerian politician and spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, says Nigerias next president should convene a National Conference within his first year in office to address fundamental issues affecting the country. Baba-Ahmed stated yesterday while featuring on a television programme. Recall that the past administrations of President Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan had convened National Conferences between 2005 and 2014 respectively. The recommendations of both conferences were not implemented. Baba-Ahmed, a former Secretary to Kaduna State Government said previous conferences did not solve Nigerias problems and…

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