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A former Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant, Dr Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, has said adoption of a parliamentary system of government is not the answer to the nation’s current socio-political and economic challenges. Parliamentary govt not solution to Nigeria’s socio-economic problems: Tafawa-BalewaMr Tafawa-Balewa stated that the country should be urgently restructured to allow for devolution of power from the centre to the federating zones. Mr Tafawa-Balewa stated this during an interview on Sunday in Lagos. The politician was reacting to calls for a shift from the presidential system of government to the parliamentary system to solve the country’s challenges. Nigeria practised the parliamentary system of government, modelled after the British Westminster system,...

The state visit of President Bola Tinubu to China will culminate in the strengthening of bilateral relations between China and Nigeria.Director, Economic, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bolaji Akinremi, made this known during an interview on Sunday. Mr Akinremi spoke against the backdrop of the arrival of Mr Tinubu in Beijing, China. He described the President’s visit as a significant milestone, which would mark a new chapter in the longstanding cooperation between Nigeria and China. According to him, the visit is a multi-sectoral one aimed at strengthening economic, political, and cultural ties between the two nations. “Essentially, Mr President is here on a state visit. The government of China is honouring Mr President with an official visit at this time....

The Federal Government has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle and other military chiefs to move to Sokoto State to rid the North-West of the menace of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. This is contained in a statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike. The directive, the government said, was part of an intensified effort to rid the North-West of the menace of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. The federal government expressed sadness over the activities of terrorists and bandits in the states and its environs, explaining that the strategic move underscored the unwavering commitment of government to restoring peace and security in the region. Mr Matawalle said that while in the North-West, they wo...

A Nigerian woman based in Canada, Amaka Sunnberger, is now a subject of probe for threatening to poison Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin extractions. This development was confirmed by a representative of the Toronto Police Service, Sergeant Bassey Osagie. This incident has been reported to the Toronto Police Service and is currently under investigation,” Osagie said, according to PUNCH. It would be recalled that the House of Representatives and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission had petitioned the Canadian authorities, demanding an investigation and prosecution of the woman. Sunnberger, who was noted as living in Ontario, Canada, said she would begin to poison the food and water of Nigerians immediately after she got to her place of work. Hours after the threat went viral, t...

The students’ union of the University of Ibadan has rejected a school fee hike approved by the institution’s governing council. To show their disapproval, the students staged an overnight protest from 10:20 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. The president of the union, Bolaji Aweda, vice-president Bolutife Aboderin and secretary Daniel Elemide, in a statement, said, “We reject the decision made by the council. We are embarking on a boycott of classes until our demands are fulfilled. “We demand a reversal of the increase. The students demand that the school fees portal should be shut down within 24 hours until our demands were met.” The union leaders urged students to make use of social media platforms to mobilise others on the #UIFEESMUSTFALL and #SAVEUITES until their demands are met. On T...

The National Union of Road Transport Workers in Ondo says it will work to ensure that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa continues as the governor of the state in the governorship election scheduled to be held on November 16. The NURTW chair in Ondo, Ademola Odudu, made the promise on Thursday at the union headquarters in Akure. Mr Odudu said that the union’s decision to support the governor followed his achievements on road infrastructure development and his dedication to addressing the concerns of transport workers. He urged all drivers in the state to continue to rally support for the governor’s election. “We have seen firsthand the positive impact of Gov. Aiyedatiwa’s leadership in our sector. His administration has not only improved our road networks but has also ensured the safet...

By Joan Nwagwu The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has called on the Federal Government to take proactive measures to cushion acute hardship and hunger in the country. Dr Kabiru Sani, President of the MHWUN said this at the 50th session of the Regular National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union on Friday in Abuja. Accordong to Sani, the Nigerian economy has continued to move against the headwinds of hyper- inflation, low wages, stagnancy, decline in productivity and the unmitigated consequences of mass unemployment and widespread poverty. “As a patriotic organisation, NEC called on government to double up on proactive measures to cushion the effect of acute hardship and hunger foisted on the masses of our country through different government policies. ...

By Aderogba George Prof. Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, says the ministry is committed to tackling the impact of climate change in Nigeria. Utsev gave the assurance at the unveiling of Nigerian Multi-Lateral Infrastructure and Climate Change Summit and Business Excellence on Friday in Abuja. The programme was organised by the Africa Infrastructure, Climate Change and Investment Summit (AICIS), 2025 –Nigeria. The summit was aimed at exploring over 12 trillion dollars investment opportunity in the infrastructure, green energy transition, climate change, space and digital/Artificial Intelligence technology drive for Africa. Utsev said that the ministry had taken deliberate steps to mitigate the impact of climate change on water resources and ass...

By Aderogba George The Association of Rural Electrification Contractors of Nigeria (ARECON) has commended the Managing Director, Rural Electricity Agency (REA), Mr Abba Aliyu, for enhancing transparency and efficiency the agency’s service delivery. The National Public Relation Officer of ARECON, Mr Rotimi Raheem, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja. According to him, it is only unpatriotic individuals that will always want to bring down REA and its management team. “It is worthy to note that malicious and complete falsehood going on in the social media concerning Rural Electrification Agency will not help the electricity sector. “ARECON has therefore aligned itself with the lofty ideas of Aliyu in moving the Agency ...

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) says it will embark on advocacy to ensure that more employers of labour in all sectors key into the employee compensation scheme. Mrs Mojisolaoluwa Ali-Macaulay, the new Executive Director, Operations of NSTIF said this during a working visit to the FCT and Mararaba branches in the Abuja region,. Ali-Macaulay said that the new executive management of the fund was ready to hit the ground running to re-position the agency in line with the directive of the President Bola Tinubu. According to her, we have saddled ourselves with the onerous task of making sure that this is fully achieved by unleashing the potentials of the Fund. “This is through stakeholders advocacy to get more employers of labour in all sectors to ...

By Joan Nwagwu The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has called on women to be more involved and aspire to leadership positions in union activities. Mrs Agnes Nti, the National Coordinator of SSANU said this at the 8th National Women Conference 2024, on Thursday in Abuja. The theme of the conference is: “Mainstreaming Women into Union Activism”. Nti said that the era where women takes backseat roles had gone, adding that it was time for them to drive for greater leadership roles. According to her, there is the need for women to move beyond supporting roles within the union. “That is why they have to prepare themselves for the leadership positions, including the office of the national president. “Also, that is why as the women national coordina...

An Ogun Special Cultism Court sitting in Abeokuta on Wednesday sentenced a 30-year-old man, Tope Mutairu, to seven years in prison for belonging to a secret cult. The Magistrate, O.L. Oke held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and the defendant was guilty as charged. Mr Oke also said the evidence presented by prosecution was tenable, ordering that Mr Mutairu should serve out his term without an option of fine. Mr Mutairu had faced a two-count charge of conspiracy and belonging to an unlawful society. Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Olaide Rawlings, had told the court that the defendant committed the offences on September 3, 2023 at Olodo Junction in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun. Rawlings said the police received information that ...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says achieving Nigeria’s projected 3.1 per cent economic growth outlook for 2024 depends on the implementation of stronger reforms. Christian Ebeke, the IMF resident representative, said this at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) International Business Conference and Expo 2024 with the theme: “Invest Nigeria” on Tuesday in Lagos. Mr Ebeke said that further governance and business regulations reforms were needed for the country to grow slightly from the 2.9 per cent rate of 2023. He said such reforms would transform its growth momentum into something more durable. However, he said the country had recorded progress in its credit market and financial and external sectors. “Insecurity, tight financial conditions, multiple taxes,...

The Plateau command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has detained five suspects over the alleged diversion of two trucks loaded with 70 metric tonnes of Indorama fertilisers. Police spokeswoman ASC Ruth Rimvyok disclosed this to journalists on Monday in Jos. Ms Rimvyok explained that suspects were arrested around the Mararaban Jama’a area of Jos South LGA following an intelligence report. She explained that the allocation papers indicated that the fertilisers meant for Lagos and Oyo were diverted to Bauchi instead. ”Acting swiftly on intelligence reports from our headquarters and office of the National Security Adviser, our personnel apprehended these five suspects on August 21 and 23, respectively. ”The suspects were arrested alongside two trucks loa...

Major stakeholders in the Olugbesan Family of Oke-Agbeni, Ibadan, have asserted that legitimate family members apologized to Prince Gbolagade Adeyemi, CEO of MICH Royal Company Nigeria Limited, for wrongfully accusing him of selling their family land at Olugbesan Village. While responding to a claim by Mr. Hazeem Gbolarunmi that no apology was issued, the stakeholders clarified that an investigation by the family confirmed that Adeyemi remitted funds from the sales of the land to Mr Hazeem Gbolarunmi. "No amount of lies or deceit from Mr. Gbolarunmi can cover the truth. We are in possession of valid payment documents regarding transactions carried out over the sales of the land." It would be recalled that the family had previously issued a letter of apology to Prince Adeyemi, ack...