President Bola Tinubu has mourned the passing of Etop Essien, deputy comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in charge of revenue.

Essien died on Tuesday at the national assembly while answering questions from members of the house of representatives committee on public account.

The official was taken to the national assembly clinic after he slumped — and was confirmed dead minutes later.

The NCS had said Essien was a “diligent and exceptional” officer who was dedicated to his duties.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, Tinubu said he received Essien’s death with “profound sadness”.

The president said the death of the customs officer while performing his duty is “most distressing”.

“President Tinubu extends his heartfelt condolences to the family of Deputy Comptroller Essien, and describes his passing while on an official assignment as most distressing,” the statement reads.

The cost of a new presidential jet will be included in the 2024 supplementary budget.

According to TheCable, sources disclosed that the proposal will be sent to the national assembly soon.

In April, President Bola Tinubu resorted to a commercial aircraft on his way to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh after the aircraft he travelled with to The Netherlands developed a fault.

Around the same time, Vice-President Kashim Shettima was seen arriving in Ogun state in a chartered aircraft.

The vice-president would later abort his trip to the US mid-air after the aircraft transporting him developed an engine fault.

On the heels of these developments, the federal government has put three ageing presidential jets up for sale.

The current fleet, maintained by the presidential air fleet (PAF), an arm of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), include Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), a Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7x and one Challenger CL605.

Two committees of the national assembly have recommended that two aircraft be bought for the use of the president and vice-president.

However, a source at the national assembly said only the cost of one presidential jet would be included in the supplementary budget.

In early June, Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning, said the supplementary budget would be funded with the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).

The fund is currently domiciled in the National Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority (NSWIA).

The spending bill would also provide funding for the Lagos-Calabar coastal road and rail projects across the country.

Members of the organised labour comprising both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, have convened an emergency meeting over the decision of the Federal Executive Council to step down the memo on the minimum wage.

The meeting, according to a top official at the NLC headquarters, will be held at Labour House at 10:00am on Wednesday.

The official said it is meant for discussion on the decision of FEC to step down the memo on minimum wage.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said all 39 items on the agenda of the meeting were all taken except the memo on the minimum wage.

Idris had disclosed that there was a report by the Tripartite committee which comprises of local government, States , NLC/ TUC and the federal government, adding that the committee submitted its report, and there was a memo to that effect.

The minister, however, said Council could not take a decision on it because it involves Local Government, states, FG, Organized Private Sector and Labour unions.

He, therefore, said the memo on the new minimum wage was stepped down so that the President, Bola Tinubu could consult widely before a final submission is made to the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the NLC official, who spoke to Daily Trust Tuesday night said the entire leadership of the two labour centres would meet and take a unanimous position before the President takes consultation to them.

“Even though we had a position already, we will meet tomorrow morning, (Wednesday) to fine-tune our position before we’re consulted. It is important for us,” the top official said anonymously because he wasn’t authorised to speak to the media.

Members of the organised labour had earlier this month paralysed economic activities of the country with its indefinite strike that lasted only two days which declared to press home their demands on minimum wage.