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Chief Samuel Ayodele Adebanjo, a renowned nationalist and elder statesman, has passed away at the age of 96. He died peacefully on Friday morning, February 14, 2025, at his residence in Lekki, Lagos State, according to a statement from his family. “He died peacefully this morning, Friday, February 14, 2025, at his Lekki, Lagos Nigeria home at the age of 96,” the statement read. “We will forever cherish his commitment to truth, equity, and justice. His unwavering belief in and fight for a truly independent and progressive Nigeria continued until his last breath.” Adebanjo was a distinguished lawyer, former organising secretary of the Action Group, and the national leader of Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group. He is survived by his 94-year-old wife, Chief Christy Ayo-...

By Gami Tadanyigbe Barr. David Ebosetale Aigbefoh has called on the Federal Government to tap into grassroot sports development especially in schools for National unity, development and integration of the country. Aigbefoh made the call at the 11th Inter-House Sports Competition at Junior Secondary School Tungan-Maje Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja. According to him, there is still significant work ahead for the Nigeria to elevate the country’s sports to its rightful place on the country and globally. However, he attributed Nigeria’s commendable performance in the area of school's sports to collective efforts and determination of all stakeholders involved in Nigeria. Chief Aigbefoh underscored the importance of developing local sports particularly focusing on enhancing the N...

L-R Dr. Vanessa Phala-Moyo, Country Director of the ILO Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Senator Diket Plang, Chairman , Senate Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, Mni, OFR, President, NECA, HE Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director General, International Labour Organisation, Hon. Justice Benedict B. Kanyip, OFR President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director General, NECA and Mallam Ahmad Ladin Gobir, President, CIPM. By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have called for a robust and efficient labour adjudication system in the country. Dr Ifeanyi Okoye, NECA President and Mr Gilbert Houngbo, the ILO Director-G...

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of members of the organised labour, inclusive economic policies, and wage reforms. Shettima gave assurance at a meeting with a delegation led by Mr Gilbert Houngbo, the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday. The Vice-President commended the role of the organised labour in national development. According to Shettima, President Bola Tinubu is committed to a thriving workforce and an efficient labour ecosystem. “We have a very vibrant labour movement, led by a competent and patriotic Nigerian. “President Tinubu is deeply passionate about the welfare of Nigerian workers. We raised the minimum wage, and most states ...

The police on Wednesday arraigned four men before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged stealing and malicious damage. The defendants: Ojediran Tosin, 25; Idowu Oluwafemi, 21; Alex Oluwafemi, 20; and Sunday Oluwafemi, 22, are facing a three-count charge of stealing, malicious damage and possession of Indian hemp. The Prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on February 3 at about 2am in Oye-Ekiti. Mr Oriyomi alleged that the defendants, who were students in higher institutions, stole a motorcycle valued at N1.3 million belonging to one Adebayo Bukola, who was also a student. He said, “The complainant parked his motorcycle in the hostel, then Ojediran Tosin asked him for his motorcycle key to lock his padlock...

The Nigeria Customs Service, Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi Area Command, said it generated N50.8 billion as revenue in 2024. Comptroller in charge of the command, Comfort Ukpanah, disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu. Mrs Ukpanah said that the feat was achieved by the area command through the motivation and implementation of the vision and policy guidelines of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi. She said that working with the three policy guidelines of the CG of Customs, which include consultation, innovation and consolidation, enabled the command to achieve the milestone. According to her, sticking to the CG of Customs practical vision and guidelines, the Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi Command for the first time, was able to meet and surpass its revenue target for 2024. She s...

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered and sealed a warehouse of six flats containing expired foreign drugs and supplements in Aba, Abia State. NAFDAC seals six flats housing repackaged expired drugs in Abia, arrests fleeing suspect’s wifeNews Agency of Nigeria • February 12, 2025NAFDACNAFDACThe National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered and sealed a warehouse of six flats containing expired foreign drugs and supplements in Aba, Abia State. PlayMuteFullscreen The building is located in the serene village setting of Umummeje, Umuocheala in the Osisioma Local Government Area of the state. The South East Zonal Coordinator of NAFDAC, Martins Iluyomade, confirmed the discovery after taking jou...

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal Government to take over Nok University, Kachia, Kaduna State, and transform it into a Federal University. Sharpedgenews.com reports that the President's directive is coming after a Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the final forfeiture of the privately-owned NOK University to the Federal Government. The private institution is now named Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State in fulfillment of a promise made to the people of Southern Kaduna by President Tinubu. The institution’s property and assets was hand over to the Federal Government by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. In his remark, Vice-President Kashim Shettima said the event signifies the adminis...

By Okon Okon The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says its upcoming Annual Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum will address the nation’s labour crisis and promote industrial harmony. Its Director-General, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said this on Tuesday at a news conference on its forthcoming forum scheduled to be held on Feb. 13 in Abuja. Oyerinde stated that the forum would feature the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr Gilbert Houngbo, and focus on key issues affecting industrial relations between employers and workers in Nigeria. “Without industrial peace, discussions about Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and national development become irrelevant. This forum will provide a platform for discussions on labour, indu...

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday solicited for the support of security agencies in tackling the twin menace of vote and delegate buying in the country's electoral system.INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu made the appeal at the first regular meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, for the year 2025.The INEC boss stressed that attention must be paid to the menace of vote-buying.He said: “ There is of course a lot of work to do, especially in combating vote buying.“ The Commission is happy with our collaboration with the law enforcement agencies, particularly the anti-graft agencies. Beyond the arrest of vote buyers on Election Day, our active partnership has so far resulted in the successful prosecution of some offenders in t...

By NAN The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), has trained over 20 rice farmers in Abuja, from Badeggi community of Niger State on a two-days capacity building workshop on community rice seed production to help promote food security in the country. In his keynote address, the Acting DG of NASC, Dr. Ishiak Othman Khalid, said the workshop is aimed at promoting aimed at empowering local community Based seed producers in ensuring  sustainable agriculture, food/nutritional security, and environmental conservation. Dr. Khalid, reiterated that the Departments initiative also seeks to address the pressing need to improve farmers’ access to quality seeds, knowledge, and other resources for small-scale farme...

By NAN The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), on Monday Feb. 10-11, 2025, held a two-days capacity building workshop on community rice seed production among Rice farmers for Badeggi community and environs of Niger State to help promote food security in the country. In his keynote address, the Acting DG of NASC, Dr. Ishiak Othman Khalid, said the workshop is aimed at promoting aimed at empowering local community Based seed producers in ensuring  sustainable agriculture, food/nutritional security, and environmental conservation. Dr. Khalid, reiterated that the Departments initiative also seeks to address the pressing need to improve farmers’ access to quality seeds, knowledge, and other resources for...

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts on Monday directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to invite two former Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa, over a financial infraction amounting to N3,201,583,662.65 during their tenure.The committee expressed dissatisfaction with the increasing disregard by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for parliamentary summons, as many have failed to respond to audit queries from the Auditor General for the Federation.The Committee Chairman, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun), revealed that the ministry had ignored seven letters inviting it to appear before the committee without offerin...

No fewer than six CBT officials have been blacklisted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board.The six officials were alleged to have engaged in blank registration in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration.JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this on Monday while speaking with Journalists after monitoring some CBT centres in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.Oloyede said, “Six CBT individuals engaged by JAMB from various institutions in the country have been blacklisted for life from participating in jamb-conducted examinations.“The people were caught in alleged examination malpractice, adding that we have their particulars and we will be monitoring them wherever they go even if they become professors and are to be appointed as Vice Chancellors.“One senior...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has declared four individuals wanted for their alleged roles in a drug trafficking syndicate linked to Lagos drug kingpin, Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu, also known as Barryshine.Barryshine was arrested on August 26, 2024, two years after coming under the radar of the anti-narcotics agency.A statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, on Monday, said the suspect, who is the Managing Director/CEO of Barryshine Suleiman Nigeria Ltd., came under the agency’s watchlist over his alleged role in four foiled attempts to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, between 2022 and 2024.Babafemi stated that many of Barryshine’s drug mules had been arrested by the NDLEA, prosecuted, and convicted...

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has forbidden police operatives in multi from carrying guns.Egbetokun directed that henceforth, “No operative should be seen carrying assault arms (rifles) while dressed in civilian attire (mufti).”He also issued a stern warning to all officers regarding serious breaches of human rights, emphasizing the duty of the Force to uphold these rights.Speaking during a virtual meeting he convened with strategic police managers, Monday, Egbetokun frowned at such acts, having received various complaints regarding human rights violations through the Force’s complaint channels.A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, yesterday, said the meeting was in a bid to reinforce operational integrity and ensure effective manageme...

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), has called for strategic interventions in Small and Medium Enterprises (MSEs), skill development to address the nation’s unemployment crisis. Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director General of NECA made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. Oyerinde said that job creation cannot happen by chance but through deliberate policies that foster business growth and skills development. He stressed that government must provide the enabling environment for the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to thrive and encourage skills acquisition among the youths. “The country needs an environment where skills development can take the centre stage. Also, government must con...

After days of power outage, the Kaduna Electric Distribution Company Friday announced that power has been restored to its franchise area of Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states. The Kaduna State government convened a meeting with the management of the Kaduna Electric Distribution Company and the two in-house labour unions at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, where it was resolved that power be restored immediately. A statement issued after the meeting indicated that the parties had agreed to review past actions and work together to find an amicable settlement. A source said Governor Uba Sani acted as a guarantor and promised to ensure fairness to both sides. He also praised the unions for their understanding and the unions commended the management of Kaduna Electric, led by Dr. Um...

By Marian Okpe--'Abuja The Senate Committee on Aviation has applauded H. E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Captain Chris Ona Onajomo as Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation,.NCAA This was confirmed on Wednesday 5' February at the National Assembly Complex where members of the Senate Committee on Aviation sat to screen the man of the moment, Captain Chris Ona Onajomo. Few of the senators present at the event were. Sen. Agadaga Friday, from Bayelsa, Sen. Okechukwo Eze representing Enugu East, Sen.Wasiu Sanni, representing Lagos Central, Sen. Samaila Dogowa Kaula, Representing Bauchi North, and very importantly, Sen. Ireti Kingibe, representing FCT. The event was chaired by Sen. Fatai Buhari, representing Oyo North respectively. The senators described the appointmen...