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Adamawa cuts 2020 budget by 24 per cent
The Adamawa State Executive Council has approved a downward review of the 2020 budget by 24 per cent, affecting only the capital expenditure and overhead costs. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Umar Pella, disclosed this shortly after an Extraordinary meeting of the council presided over by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri in Yola on Tuesday. The decision was reached after the council considered and approved a review of the 2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper in line with the extant laws of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission 2018. Newsmen report that the state House of Assembly in December 2019, approved the 2020 proposed budget estimate of N183.3 billion presented by the governor. Pella explained that the measure was taken by the council after a holisti...
Akwa Ibom takes delivery of fourth aircraft for Ibom Air
The Akwa Ibom State Government, on Tuesday, took delivery of the fourth aircraft in the fleet of Ibom Air. Speaking during the delivery of a Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft, Governor Udom Emmanuel said the aircraft was still within warranty of planes in domestic aviation. Emmanuel said the arrival of the plane was in fulfillment of the business case and operational timetable that had been set by the government. “This is the latest in the addition to this fleet. I don’t want to be boastful, but check the domestic flights in Africa. “I want to believe when you have an airplane that is still within warranty in domestic aviation, you can hit your chest and praise yourself, even if no one does that. “We had a dream and I shared that dream with just one man; we held our hands and started the documen...
Zamfara denies recording 10 new coronavirus cases
Zamfara Government on Tuesday said the figure of 10 new COVID-19 cases in the state announced on Monday by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) was wrong, as the state had only recorded two new cases. Alhaji Yahaya Kanoma, the state Commissioner of Health told newsmen in Gusau that the state government had alerted the NCDC of the error and demanded that it be rectified. “We were shocked and bewildered by this latest figure from the NCDC which said 10 new cases were confirmed when we know it was only two. “Our records have shown that when results from the center returned, we had a total of 76 cases made up of 45 discharged persons, 26 in isolation and five dead, so we didn’t know where NCDC got the additional eight. “We approached the center which could not give a convincing explan...
TCN managing director sacked
The Federal Government has removed the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Usman Gur Mohammed, from office. The Minister of Power, Mohammed Sale, approved of Mohammed’s sack on Tuesday. This was contained in a press statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Office of the Minister of Power, Aaron Artimas. Artimas also confirmed the authenticity of the statement and appointment of Sule Abdulaziz in acting capacity to newsmen on the telephone. The statement, titled ‘Reorganisastion/new appointment at the Transmission Company of Nigeria’, read, in part, “As part of continuing measures to reposition and improve the performance of the power sector in the country, the Honorable Minister of Power Engr. Sale Mamman hereby announces major changes at the Tran...
Speaker Gbajabiamila inaugurates coronavirus committee, to interface with government
The House of Representatives on Tuesday inaugurated the 18 man ad-hoc Committee on Coronavirus pandemic. The committee has the task of working in tandem with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and by extension, the entire relevant machinery of the federal government to find a solution to the challenges posed by the epidemic. Performing the ritual at the national assembly complex, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila charged the members to give utmost attention to the welfare of frontline workers. He said: “The 18 man Committee we have come to inaugurate reflects the intention of the House of Representative to engage the executive arm of government in a partnership that serves the best interests of the Nigerian people as we join hands to confront and conquer the most severe chal...
Four arrested in Abeokuta for riding bike from Minna
Operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested four Northern Youths who sneaked into the State from Niger State despite an inter-state travel ban by the Federal Government. Parading the youths in Abeokuta, the State Commandant of the Corps, Mr. Hammed Abodurin, said they were intercepted at Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta at about 10:30 Tuesday for violating the State lockdown rules and for being in the public without using face masks and riding unregistered motorcycles. Abodurin said, “further interrogation showed that the youths who are from Niger State with their motorcycles. They claimed to have boarded a truck conveying foodstuff from Kotangora to Lagos, alighted at Ogere and continued the journey with their motorbikes to Abeokuta where they were arrested”. The ...
TUC tackles TCN chief over sack of labour leader
File Photo Following the sack of a labour leader, Comrade Chris Okwonkwo, by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has condemned the sack, describing it as an embarrassment to labour community. Comrade Chris Okonkwo was the General Manager, Special Duties, Transmission Company of Nigeria and he is also the President General of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC). His appointment was terminated allegedly by the Managing Director of TCN, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, in a letter dated April 24, 2020. In a letter condemning the act and sent to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, TUC stated that the sack was in futility due to the fact that the originating matter is yet to be addressed by the minister. “The crisis ...
Senator Lawan: Why privatisation of power sector must be reviewed now
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has called for the immediate review of the privatization exercise of the power sector by previous administrations. Lawan gave the charge in his concluding remarks on a motion considered on the floor during plenary on Tuesday. The motion titled: “Power Sector Recovery Plan and the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic” was sponsored by Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP – Benue North East). The Senate President, who bemoaned what he described as the “inefficiency of Power Generating and Distribution companies” in the country, called for a review or eventual reversal of the terms of privatization. According to Lawan, parties involved in the shared purchase agreement with the federal government can only seek the intervention of the latter when sufficiently justified. “The...
House of Reps queries health minister on whereabouts of Chinese doctors
Lawmakers at the House of Representatives have questioned the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, demanding activities and whereabouts of the Chinese doctors. The lawmakers at their plenary on Tuesday said they are not satisfied with the statement of the Minister that the Chinese doctors are not guests of the Federal Ministry of Health but that of a Chinese firm in Abuja. The resolution of the House stems from a motion of urgent public importance raised by Representative Dachung Bagos. The House, in a separate motion, also resolved to investigate the status of medical and pharmaceutical research in the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria. They expressed worry that Nigerian scientists and researchers have not been given the necessary support and funding for medical research. The Minister o...
Nasarawa lifts ban on worship centres for two weeks
The Nasarawa State Government Tuesday lifted the ban it placed on worship centres in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world. This was even as the state equally lifted the ban on operations of tricycles in the state but with a condition that each tricycle operator must not take more than two passengers. The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dogo Shammah, announced the lifting of the bans on worship centres and tricycle operations in the state at a press briefing at the Government House, Lafia. However, Shammah added that the lift on both bans would last for two weeks, thereafter it would either be sustained or reversed based on the compliance of worshipers to the rules of safety. He said: “Clergies in the state are therefore directed to ensure the compul...
House of Reps urges speedy production of local coronavirus vaccines in Nigeria
The House of Representatives has stressed the need for speedy production of local vaccines for the treatment of COVID-19 in Nigeria. The House also mandated its standing Committees on Healthcare Services, Health Institutions and Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria to invite the Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Health, the Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Executive Director, May and Baker Nigeria PLC to brief the Committees and deliberate on possible ways of getting the needed legislative support to fast track the production of vaccines in Nigeria and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action The resolutioms followed the adoption of a motion on notice, moved by Rep. J...
PDP raps SGF Mustapha, President Buhari over coronavirus broadcast
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for not announcing the extension of gradual lockdown ease himself. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, had yesterday announced the extension in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States. The president was expected to address Nigerians on Monday as the cases of coronavirus surged sharply since the gradual easing of the lockdown kicked off on May 4. Aliyu Sani, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 announced on Sunday that the president will address the nation. It was expected to be the president’s third broadcast since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic but the Presidency stated that none was planned. Special...
