The Federal Government has approved a significant increase in the monthly allowance for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), raising it to N77,000 effective from July 2024. This development was confirmed in a statement issued by Caroline Embu, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations for NYSC. The increase aligns with the recently enacted National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024. The decision was communicated through a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated September 25, 2024, and signed by its chairman, Ekpo Nta. This followed advocacy efforts led by Brigadier General Y.D. Ahmed, the…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Imo State chapter has announced its decision to challenge the outcome of the recently concluded local government elections held across the 27 local council areas and 305 wards in the state. The party expressed its dissatisfaction with the election process, accusing the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) of undermining the election guidelines to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration. In a petition sent to ISIEC and made available to the media in Owerri, the SDP State Chairman, Ifeanyi Henry Eluwa, strongly criticised the manner in which the election was conducted. He claimed that…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), labelling him a “serial complainer” who refuses to accept election results that do not favour him or his supported candidates. Felix Morka, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, made the statement during an interview with Arise TV. He dismissed Obi’s concerns regarding the recently concluded Edo State governorship election, asserting that his opinions on the matter were irrelevant. Morka said, “Peter Obi is a serial complainer who will not accept the result of any election that is not in his favour or the…
At least 28 people have died, and 19 others were seriously injured after a bus swerved off the road and plunged into a river in southern Ethiopia on Wednesday, local authorities have confirmed. The tragic accident took place in the Wolaita region, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) south of the capital, Addis Ababa. According to local officials, the bus, which veered down a steep slope, was severely damaged, with its roof ripped off due to the impact of the crash. Rescue and search operations are ongoing, as authorities have yet to determine the exact number of passengers on board at…
The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced its decision to boycott the upcoming local government elections scheduled for October 5. The party cited an ongoing legal case, initiated by a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Tony Okocha, as a significant reason for its withdrawal from the election. State PDP Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, disclosed the party’s stance during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Chukwuemeka, who is reportedly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, explained that the legal proceedings…
The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) has officially presented Certificates of Return to the winners of the local government chairmanship election held last Saturday. The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a sweeping victory, winning all 27 chairmanship and 305 councillorship positions across the state. ISIEC Chairman, Charles Ejiogu, presided over the presentation ceremony on Tuesday. He explained that the issuance of the certificates was in accordance with legal requirements, adding that certificates for the vice chairmen and councillors would be distributed in the coming days. Speaking at the event, Ejiogu emphasised the significance of the election and the peaceful…
A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 24, 2024, for the hearing of a contempt charge filed by the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, against Marvellous Godwins Omobayo for allegedly refusing to comply with a court ruling. The court date was set by Justice James Omotosho after Shaibu’s legal counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, informed the court that a motion had been filed seeking the committal of Omobayo, who had taken over as the deputy governor, to prison. Egwuaba argued that Omobayo failed to honour a valid court order that reinstated Shaibu to his position. Justice Omotosho…
The Adamawa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the official results of the recently concluded governorship election in Edo State, describing it as “daylight robbery.” During a press briefing in Yola on Tuesday, the party called on its national leadership in Abuja and Edo State to swiftly seek legal redress to challenge the outcome of the election. Ahmed Shehu, the Adamawa State PDP Chairman, who addressed the media at the party’s secretariat, expressed the chapter’s alignment with the stance of the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and PDP governors, who have all claimed that the election…
The Zamfara State Sector Command of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) has called for collaboration with the State Fire Service to enhance the efficiency of rescue operations, particularly during road crashes involving fire outbreaks. The appeal was made by the state FRSC Sector Commandant, Umar Massaudu, during a courtesy visit to the Director of the Zamfara State Fire Service Board, Abdullahi Jibbo, in Gusau, the state capital. Commandant Massaudu highlighted the need for joint efforts between the FRSC and the State Fire Service, particularly in the areas of training and retraining FRSC personnel on firefighting techniques. He emphasised that…
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has directed the Department of Development Control (DDC) of the FCTA to commence the demolition of structures obstructing roadways at the Kugbo International Market. The directive was issued during an inspection tour on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, as Wike assessed the ongoing construction of the market and a new structure proposed to house the Ministry of Livestock Development in the Central Business District. The Kugbo International Market is a public-private partnership project between the Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL), an FCT agency, and Mesotho Group Limited, a private organisation. Wike…
The Yobe State House of Assembly has expedited consideration of a bill mandating compulsory tests for sickle cell disease and hepatitis prior to marriage in the state. The bill, sponsored by five legislators, received its second reading on Wednesday, marking a significant step towards its passage into law. The bill is being spearheaded by Kachalla Ajiya Maina (Machina constituency), Mohammed Isa Bello (Mamudo), Nasiru Hassan Yusuf (Damaturu Central), Buba Ibrahim Kalallawa (Damaturu 2), and Sanda Kara Bade (Bade West constituencies). Its aim is to prevent the spread of sickle cell disease and hepatitis, raise public awareness, and enhance access to…
The Federal Government has declared that it will not intervene in the ongoing dispute over petrol pump prices between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery. According to the government, both parties are free to determine their own market prices for petrol, commonly known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). This position was made clear by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, during a press briefing at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday. Onanuga explained that since the deregulation of the petroleum sector, both NNPCL and Dangote Refinery, as key players in…
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has officially passed a bill aimed at prohibiting the stigmatization and discrimination against individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The bill also seeks to regulate the practice of HIV counselling and testing across the state. This landmark decision followed the presentation of a detailed report by the House Committee on Health, which highlighted the importance of safeguarding the constitutional rights of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. According to the committee, the bill will play a crucial role in enhancing early detection of the virus and in reinforcing government-led public health awareness initiatives. The Speaker of the…
The Lagos State Government has sealed the Celestial Church of Christ, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and seven other companies and hotels in Ikeja, Mushin, Gbagada, and Maryland areas for violating environmental regulations. The crackdown was confirmed by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement shared on his X account on Wednesday. Wahab noted that the enforcement, led by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), was part of efforts to tackle noise pollution and other environmental infractions across the state. The sealed establishments include Vital Products Limited, A & P Nigeria Limited, Polite…
Police in Anambra State have arrested a man accused of supplying food and gunpowder to armed criminal groups operating in various forested areas of the state. The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, was apprehended while transporting three bags of cassava flakes, locally known as garri, with gunpowder concealed within. The arrest took place in Nanka, Aguata Local Government Area. Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest in a press release, stating that the suspect was intercepted by a joint police-led security force during a routine patrol in the Pillar Pole area on September 22, 2024.…
A 19-year-old, Julius Francis, was arraigned before a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for allegedly stealing cables valued at N475,000. The defendant, a resident of Barnawa, Kaduna, faced a one-count charge of theft. According to the prosecutor, Inspector Chidi Leo, the alleged offence took place on September 21 at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna. Leo stated that the defendant was accused of stealing 150 metres of 1.5mm cables belonging to Williams Investment Ltd. The stolen cables were valued at N475,000. The prosecutor further explained that the defendant was apprehended by a security guard before he could escape with the stolen cables…
The newly confirmed Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has issued a stern warning to judicial officers, cautioning that corruption, frivolous ex-parte orders, and interim injunctions will not be tolerated under her leadership. Speaking before the Senate during her confirmation screening at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Kekere-Ekun emphasised her commitment to upholding the rule of law and preserving the integrity of the judiciary. She stated, “Integrity and zero tolerance for corruption are some of the things I’m known for. Under my leadership, the judiciary will not be associated with corruption, nor with the granting of frivolous…
South-South leader and elder statesman, Edwin Clark, has urged the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to resist any attempts by powerful politicians to take control of state judiciaries and local governments. Clark issued this warning in a statement released on Wednesday, raising concerns over what he described as a regrouping of anti-democratic forces within the National Assembly. The leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum cautioned Akpabio to be vigilant against political figures attempting to hijack state assemblies and stifle public debates. He stressed the need for the Senate President to halt any such attempts, noting that…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the recently concluded Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed that his aspiration was never about gaining power but stemmed from a genuine desire to serve the people of Edo State. Ighodalo made this statement in a heartfelt message of appreciation to the people of the state on Monday, following the election results. In his address, Ighodalo expressed deep gratitude to the electorate, stressing that his vision was focused on creating prosperity and a brighter future for all residents of Edo. “My good people of Edo State, in all things, we must…
Labour Party (LP) candidate in the Edo State governorship election, Olumide Akpata, has stated that he has no sympathy for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over their complaints following their defeat in the election. Akpata made this declaration during a press conference held in Benin City on Monday, where he addressed the outcome of the election, in which he placed third with 22,763 votes. In his statement, titled “Unbowed, Unbent, and Unbroken: Statement on the 2024 Edo State Gubernatorial Election Results,” Akpata criticised the PDP for lamenting their loss, accusing them of being complicit in the electoral malpractices they now…