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Tag: Femi Gbajabiamila

  • AGF: PFIPC Has No CBN Account, Received No Government Funds

    The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has clarified that the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) does not operate any account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and has not received government funds.

    The clarification comes as investigations continue into the activities of the council, which the Presidency has repeatedly described as a non-existent government agency.

    OAGF addresses funding claims

    In a statement, the OAGF said the PFIPC “has no operational account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)” and “received no funds.”

    The clarification follows growing public scrutiny over how the council reportedly operated from an office within the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, employed staff and carried out official activities despite being disowned by the Presidency.

    Presidency disowned council

    The controversy began after the Presidency announced that the PFIPC was not a recognised government institution.

    Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had alleged that Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely claimed to have been appointed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, using forged documents.

    Adeyemi was subsequently arrested and charged with forgery and impersonation before being granted bail. He has denied the allegations and insists his appointment was genuine.

    Budget allocation raises questions

    The controversy deepened after reports revealed that the PFIPC appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budget allocation exceeding ₦1.3 billion for personnel, overhead and capital projects.

    The revelation has triggered calls for investigations into how the agency was included in the national budget despite the Presidency’s position that it does not exist.

    Civil society organisations and political groups have also demanded greater transparency over the approval process and possible involvement of public officials.

    Questions remain

    While the OAGF maintains that no government funds were released to the PFIPC through the CBN, questions remain over how the council allegedly financed its operations, maintained offices and conducted official activities.

    The matter is expected to remain under investigation as legal proceedings against Adeyemi continue.

  • FG to Review ₦70,000 Minimum Wage as Cost of Living Rises, Says Gbajabiamila

    The Federal Government has announced plans to review the ₦70,000 national minimum wage as rising living costs continue to put pressure on Nigerian workers, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said.

    Gbajabiamila made the announcement on Thursday at the Good Governance Summit 2026 organised by Working People United (WoPU) in Abuja, saying the Tinubu administration is committed to ensuring workers earn wages that reflect current economic realities.

    Government Promises Wage Review

    He recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the ₦70,000 minimum wage into law in July 2024, replacing the previous ₦30,000 benchmark.

    According to him, the President also reduced the wage review cycle from five years to three years to ensure workers’ salaries can be adjusted more frequently in response to changing economic conditions.

    Gbajabiamila said while the ₦70,000 minimum wage was a significant milestone when it was introduced, the government recognises the need for another review as the cost of living continues to increase.

    He assured workers that the review process would be carried out in collaboration with organised labour.

    “We will engage labour as partners, not as adversaries, to arrive at a fair outcome for Nigerian workers,” he said.

    Labour Minister Calls for Better Worker Welfare

    Also speaking at the summit, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, said the true measure of any government lies in how its policies improve the lives of workers.

    He said governance should deliver tangible benefits, including higher living standards, decent jobs, stronger social protection, improved productivity and wider economic opportunities.

    The planned review comes as labour unions and workers continue to express concerns over the impact of inflation and rising prices on household incomes.

     

  • Gbajabiamila Reveals How Desmond Elliot Nearly Cost Him Chief of Staff Position Amid Obasa Crisis

    Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed that he almost lost his position during the political crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly over the speakership tussle involving Mudashiru Obasa.

    Gbajabiamila made the disclosure on Thursday during a constituency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos while addressing the controversy surrounding actor-turned-lawmaker Desmond Elliot.

    Tinubu Confronted Me Over Desmond Elliot

    According to Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu personally summoned him to Abuja during the peak of the Assembly crisis over allegations linking Desmond Elliot to moves aimed at destabilising the Lagos Assembly leadership.

    “I almost lost my job because of Desmond Elliot last year. You can go and verify,” he said.

    He explained that the President questioned him directly because of his close political relationship with the Surulere lawmaker.

    “Mr President called me to his study in Abuja and said, ‘I hear this Desmond is your boy.’ I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He then said Desmond was among those causing problems in the Lagos State House of Assembly,” Gbajabiamila stated.

    I Defended Him Before Tinubu

    The Chief of Staff said he immediately defended Elliot before the President, insisting that the lawmaker was not among those allegedly involved in attempts to destabilise the Assembly leadership.

    “I told the President that Desmond was not part of them, but the President insisted and told me to call him to order,” he added.

    Gbajabiamila disclosed that after the meeting, he reached out to Elliot and warned him to avoid being linked to the crisis in any way.

    “Three days later, the Director-General called me and said there was a serious issue, that my name was everywhere as the person supporting Desmond to push for impeachment,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila Says Elliot Ignored Advice

    The former Speaker of the House of Representatives further claimed he instructed Elliot to publicly deny involvement in the alleged impeachment plot, but the lawmaker failed to do so.

    “I told Desmond to go and make a public statement that he was not part of them, but till today he has not done that,” he stated.

    Gbajabiamila added that his long-standing relationship with President Tinubu eventually helped him survive the controversy.

    “If not for the kind of relationship I have with the President today, I probably would not still be here as Chief of Staff,” he said.

    Fresh Political Battle Looms

    The revelation comes amid reports that Gbajabiamila is backing Barakat Odunuga-Bakare against Desmond Elliot ahead of the next political contest for the Surulere constituency seat under the ruling APC.

    The Lagos Assembly crisis surrounding Mudashiru Obasa generated widespread political tension within the APC and sparked debates over power struggles within the party structure in the state.

     

  • “Stay There, Fight Them, Scatter ADC” — Gbajabiamila Tells Abejide Amid Party Crisis

    Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged ADC lawmaker Leke Abejide to remain in the African Democratic Congress and intensify internal battles within the party amid its ongoing leadership crisis.

    He made the remarks at a birthday event in Abuja, where a video of his comments later surfaced online.

    What happened

    In the viral clip, Gbajabiamila openly encouraged Abejide to stay in the ADC and resist rival factions.

    “I know you to be a committed party man… Stay in that same ADC. Fight them. Scatter them. Hold on to your party,” he said.

    He added that Abejide should ignore opposing voices and continue his political efforts within the party.

    “We like what you are doing. Continue… Nobody can come and take your party away from you,” Gbajabiamila stated.

    ADC crisis deepens

    The ADC has been engulfed in a leadership tussle, with multiple factions battling for control, including a group linked to former Senate President David Mark.

    Abejide is aligned with the Nafiu Bala faction, which is contesting the legitimacy of the rival leadership bloc.

    Abejide’s stance

    The Kogi lawmaker has maintained support for President Tinubu despite remaining in the ADC.

    Speaking on Channels Television, he said his political loyalty cuts across both APC and ADC.

    “My heart is in the APC, and in the ADC… Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and it’s not about party,” he said when asked about his 2027 presidential choice.

    Protest at INEC

    Last week, Abejide and other supporters staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, rejecting the Mark-led faction.

    They accused the group of attempting to hijack the party’s leadership in violation of its constitution.

    “We are here to urge INEC to do the right thing… These people are hijackers,” Abejide said.

    What this means

    The development highlights growing tensions within the ADC as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the 2027 elections.

    The party’s internal crisis is expected to shape its strength as a potential opposition platform.