Nigeria
Rep Peller seeks reversal of hikes in petrol, power rates
A member of the Federal House of Representative representing Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola and Iwajowa federal constituency, Hon. Shina Peller has described the hike in fuel price and increase in electricity tariff as untimely. The lawmaker called on government to reverse the unpopular price increment, to avoid the wrath of the masses who were already burdened by the excruciating effects of Covid-19 pandemic. The federal lawmaker who spoke with newsmen at a two-day youth leadership training programme tagged: Get Involved Leadership Programme” held at Jogor Event Centre, Ibadan called on the people to resist the increase. The novel training programme which attracted over 160 youths across the state, according to the organisers, is committed to creating opportunities for over 40 million Nigerian...
FRSC sacks 18 officers, demotes others for bribery, other offences
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has sacked 18 officers from its workforce after they were found culpable for various crimes. A series of tweets by the agency on Saturday say, “Eight officers were dismissed, the appointments of 10 others were terminated, the ranks of five personnel were reduced, while the remaining five officers were demoted. The erring officers committed various offences of desertion, forgery, number plate racketeering, bribery, scandalous behaviour, driver’s license racketeering, and patrol misconduct, among others”, Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, explained that “the agency’s board on Friday approved the punishments, which were in accordance with the provisions of the FRSC Regulation on Discipline, as part of an organised effort to rid it of indisci...
Lagos by-elections: Babatunde Gbadamosi, Alebiosu Adekoya win PDP tickets
Babatunde Gbadamosi emerged candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State chapter, for the Lagos East senatoral district, on Saturday after defeating three other candidates. In the result announced by a representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tunde Oyebade, around 7:00 pm, Gbadamosi won a landslide victory with 529 votes to defeat Princess Saidat Odofin Fafowora 59 votes, Olanrewaju Moshood Babatunde scored 21 votes, and Princess Abiodun Oyefusi took the rear with seven votes. 14 votes were voided. Before voting began, the delegates were told not to write only Babatunde or Princess on their ballot paper as both male aspirants have Babatunde as their first name and the two femal candidates also go by the name Princess. Voting started around 12...
Presidential elections in Ghana, others top agenda at ECOWAS meeting
The 44th Ordinary Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States has called attention to the ongoing insurgency in Nigeria, Gambia and Guinea Bissau as well as the political crisis in Mali. The Council at its meeting in Niamey, Niger, on Friday, also focused on forthcoming presidential elections in Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger. The meeting was presided over by the Nigerien Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Mediation and Security Council, Kalla Ankourao. Ankourao recalled the challenges COVID-19 has brought upon the region coupled with the breakdown in democratic governance in Mali. He urged the ECOWAS body to take the necessary steps for the preparation and smooth conduct of the upcoming presidential electi...
Residents count losses as flood ravages Kaduna communities
Residents in some Kaduna communities have continued to count their losses as their homes were overtaken on Saturday over by flood. The constant rainfalls have made several communities in Kaduna metropolis and environs suffer damages following a heavy downpour that resulted in flooding which submerged some houses, farmlands and destroyed properties. Some of the affected communities include Abubakar Kigo road, Barnawa, Kudenda, Ungwar Dosa, Angwar Rimi, Malali areas among others. As a result of the flood and damages, many residents were assisted out of their homes through the intervention of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA). Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) intervention, came in handy for those whose houses were overtaken by the flood, while others wer...
VP Osinbajo: Virus vaccine distribution should be equitable
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has advised that the deployment of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine should be done in an equitable and affordable manner in order to effectively contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease across the globe. The Vice President stated this on Friday at the virtual 2020 EURAFRICA Forum themed “Towards a realistic Euro-African partnership during and beyond the COVID-19 era”. The summit featured presentations from notable global leaders including the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Mr. Ulisses Correia Silva, among other speakers. The EurAfrican Forum aims to foster stronger collaboration between Europe and Africa, and better promote a shared green and inclusive growth, a...
Kwara enrols 10,000 indigent residents in health insurance scheme
Kwara State government has enrolled no fewer than 10,000 indigent residents of the state in the government’s health insurance scheme. Speaking at the official launch of “Go alive” (Access to care) of the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency in Ilorin on Friday, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said that the scheme is 100 per cent free, adding that the state had fully paid for the premium of the beneficiaries. “The launching today of this health insurance scheme is a direct response of the administration to the goal three of the SGDs which is access to good health and well-being. “We are starting this scheme by onboarding at least 10,000 indigents as a test run. These indigents have had their premium fully paid. This means the health insurance is 100 per cent free for the indigents. We hope t...
Delta governor swears in three judges, says judiciary autonomy bill signed into law
Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Friday, swore in three new Customary Court of Appeal Judges for the state. The governor, who performed the function in Asaba, said that the bill for autonomy of the judiciary in the state had been signed into law. He charged the new customary court of appeal judges to ensure speedy dispensation of justice at all times. The new judges are,, Justices, Dele Okafor, Grace Abanre and Jessica Gberevbie. Okowa while congratulating the judges, said their appointments were based on their personal integrity and years of experience. He, however, urged them to bring their experiences to bear in the discharge of their duties. He thanked the Chief Judge, Justice Marshall Umukoro and the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Stella Oghene, for their efforts at ensur...
Governor Makinde gives account, lists community development projects in Oyo zone
In his bid to take the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the people at the grassroots, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has given an account of his administration’s developmental projects in the Oyo zone in the last one year. The governor, who spoke through his Special Assistant (Community Relations), Hon. Olufemi Josiah, at a Town Hall meeting held in Atiba Local Government, Oyo, said the present administration in the state will continue to give account of its stewardship to the people at the grassroots. He said: “Government, to us, is about efficient allocation of scarce resources. The resources we are talking about belong to the people. So. we must always engage them in whatever the present administration intends to do for the grassroots.” While speaking on the purpose of the To...
ASUU: Reopening of universities a pandora box to another wave of virus
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), Nsukka Zone on Friday warned that plans to reopen universities now are a Pandora box to the second wave of COVID-19. The Zonal Coordinator, Dr Igbana Ajir, who stated this during a press conference held at Chateau De Victoria Hotel, Makurdi also debunked the belief in some quarters that ASUU embarked on strike as a result of Integrated Payroll and Personal Information. Dr Ajir said that following the guidelines established by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, the government should address adequate hostel accommodation, availability of physical facilities to enable social distancing in large and crowded classrooms, running water, steady source of power, testing and isolation centres. The Zonal Coordinator noted that without addressing ...
Ogun governor approves productivity bonus for health workers
Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has approved the immediate payment of Special Productivity Bonus for all categories of health workers in the state public service. Mr Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said this in a statement on Friday, in Abeokuta. Somorin said the bonus, which was a one-time payment was applicable to all health workers in the state who were on active service as at the end of August. According to him, it is in recognition of the understanding, maturity, and dedication with which they continued to discharge their duties and responsibilities. “The bonus will be calculated as 10 per cent of the respective monthly gross pay of the beneficiaries. “We are proud that the vast majority of our health workers place service to the citizens over and above any other consi...
David Ugolor: Water Bill is elite looking for alternative to declining oil money
Executive Director, African Network for the Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, has said the controversial Water Resources Bill had nothing to do with tribe or religion. He alleged that the bill was the brainchild of the Nigerian elites that live on rent from crude oil money, but are now looking for an alternative cash cow since oil money was declining. According to Ugolor, “it will be wrong for people to continue to give tribal and religious colouration to every attempt by the Nigerian elite to continue to look for ways to sustain their access to rent collection. “Once you introduce tribal or religious or regional sentiments, you undermine the whole debate. What has happened with the water bill thing is not about the North or South or East or West. “It is about elit...
