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Democracy By Sylvester Thompson Celebrating Nigeria's democracy, Dr Ifeanyi Nwafor, Nigerian business man, says government should improve the educational sector and facilitate training programs in order to build a highly educated workforce. Nwafor spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja. He said building a highly skilled and educated workforce was very important in a global community and would enable Nigeria compete favourably. He noted that companies in advanced countries such as the United States, Canada and Britain among others , outsource some of the Information Technology (IT) jobs in countries like Malaysia and India. "The reason why they're going there is because these countries have a highly educated workforce,which can be ...

By NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA The Presidency and the National Institute of Policies is to partner with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau to review and harmonies inter-sectoral policies to enhance effective service delivery. The partnership is in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and others. Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, the Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination to President Bola Tinubu stated this at the meeting of the Committee for the Review and Harmonisation of Sectoral Policies in Abuja. Bala-Usman, who is also the Chairman of the committee, said that the team comprised of representatives from NIPPS, Office of the Vice President, SGF and others. She noted that in view of the absence of inte...

By NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA Master Oma-Benedi Excel of the Government Science Secondary School, Piakasa in Maitama on Monday emerged the overall winner of the Abuja ‘I Beg to Differ’ student debate tournament. While Excel clinched the prize of N1 million and a phone tablet, the runner, Miss Cindy Paul, an SSII student of Roberto Schools in Wuse II, Abuja got the prize of N500,000 and a phone tablet respectively. The debate tournament was organised by the Nigeria Info and supported by 3Js Hotel and Apartment, PressPay Ng and Call to fly. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Excel and Paul would represent Abuja in Lagos where they would slog it out with other winners from Port Harcourt and Lagos in the ‘I beg to differ’ debate soon. Meanwhile, the 13 year-old Excel des...

The vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Wahab Egbewole, says the institution’s monthly electricity bill has jumped from N70 million to N230 million. Mr Egbewole, in an e-mail message sent to staff members and students of the university, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Monday in Ilorin, said the new monthly electricity bill was not sustainable. He said the recent hike in electricity tariffs by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) had seriously affected the institution’s budget. Mr Egbewole, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stressed the urgent need for a critical reassessment of the current electricity usage at the university. He appealed to both staff members and students to adopt more responsible electricity consumption habits an...

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has released over N10 billion to the chairs of the 34 local government areas of the state to build primary health centres.The governor said this during an interactive session with journalists on Monday in Katsina, saying three primary health centres would be constructed in each council area. He added, “When I became the governor, I talked about the World Health Organisation’s resolution on the need to have functional primary health centres in rural areas that can work 24 hours. “The aim is to reduce child and maternal mortality and other difficulties faced by rural people whenever they are sick.” According to him, there should also be accommodation for health workers, enough drugs, constant and potable water, and electricity supply, among oth...

The Super Eagles Monday evening slipped in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in Abidjan. The three-time African champions are winless in the qualifying series after four games. The Super Eagles went a goal up through KRC Genk midfielder Raphael Onyedika three minutes before the half hour mark. Onyedika fired home from the edge of the box after he was set up by Samuel Chukwueze. The lead lasted nine minutes before Jodel Doussou equalised for the hosts. A mistake from Calvin Bassey allowed the forward to race into Nigeria’s box and he fired the ball beyond Stanley Nwabali. Steve Mounie scored the winning goal for Cheetahs in first half added time. The Super Eagles toiled hard but failed to find the equalising goal afte...

The Organised Labour has rejected what it described as “starvation wage” minimum wage for workers of N62,000 proposed by the fovernment. Labour insisted on N250,000, being its latest demand at the last meeting of the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage on Friday. It said that is the living wage for an average Nigerian worker. Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, conformed this on .onday while fielding questions on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show. Onyeka said the one week to the Federal Government last Tuesday would expire by the midnight of Tuesday, June 11, 2024. He said should the Federal Government and National Assembly fail to act on the demands of workers by tomorrow (Tuesday), the organs of the NLC and the Trade ...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Monday, June 10, spoke tough against unethical practices from electoral officers. Yakubu said whoseover is caught would be made to face the full weight of the law. He spoke through the chairman of the Board of The Electoral Institute, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, at the annual lecture organized by the Electoral Institute TEI, with the theme: “Achieving Professionalism among Election Personnel through Effective Training in Preparation for Edo and Ondo off-cycle Governorship Elections.” He said it is important that personnel responsible for the conduct of these elections are knowledgeable, skilled, and well-equipped with relevant competencies to handle the complexities and challenges of the electoral proces...

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT), High Court , sitting in Maitama, Monday heard the case of alleged N2.6 billion fraud against former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika and three others. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged Sirika alongside his daughter, Fatima; Jalal Sule Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Limited, to court for abuse of office and contract fraud. They are standing trial before Justice Sylvanus Oriji on a six counts. At the hearing, Azubuike Okorie, a subpoenaed witness of the EFCC testified as the first witness, (PW1) He said he was a retired staff of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, director, Procurement and Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister, Projects(2022-2023) and Chairman, Project Implementation Committee. When led in evidence by ...

The Board and Management of Union Bank, Keystone Bank, and Polaris Bank have been dissolved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).The boards of the affected banks were dissolved on Monday 10 June 2024 after a meeting with the leadership of the CBN in Abuja. The dissolution was announced in a statement signed by Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the Apex Bank, Mrs. Sidi Ali Hakama. According to the statement, the action became necessary due to the non-compliance of the banks and their respective boards with the provisions of Section 12(c), (f), (g), and (h) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020. “The banks’ infractions vary from regulatory non-compliance, corporate governance failure, disregarding the conditions under which their licenses were granted...

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State says it is unfortunate that his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje, did not do much to provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning in public schools in the state. Mr Yusuf, while declaring a state of emergency on education on Saturday, said such action left 4.7 million students sitting on bare floors in primary schools across the state. “Over 4.7 million pupils are forced to sit on bare floors to learn, while 400 schools have only one teacher for all classes and subjects,” he said. The governor said basic teaching tools were lacking, resources were inadequate, and teachers and students struggled with outdated equipment. “Teachers struggle with outdated and insufficient basic learning equipment, while clean water and sanitation are la...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup imported from India. NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said in Abuja on Sunday that the seizure was made on Friday during a joint examination by the agency, customs and other security agencies. He said the seizure was coming barely a week after the agency seized a shipment of 175,000 bottles of the same substance at the Port Harcourt Port complex in Onne, Rivers state. Mr Babafemi said the two seizures followed earlier intelligence, which made the agency request a 100 per cent examination of the shipment. He also said the latest seizure of 875 cartons of codeine-containing 175,000 bottles was weighing 26,250kg. In a related development, Mr Babafemi said offic...

The Amotekun Corps commander in Osun, Brig.-Gen. Bashir Adewunmbi (rtd) has called for the outfit’s upgrade to a state policing system across the country’s South-West region.Mr Adewunmbi said in an interview on Sunday in Osogbo that such development will further strengthen the region’s security architecture and ensure the safety of lives and property. The corps commander said upgrading Amotekun to state a police outfit would enhance effective community policing in the South-West. “It will foster closer ties between the people and security agencies and enhance intelligence sharing for a more effective fight against crime,” he said. Mr Adewunmbi further said such upgrading should grant the outfit access to sophisticated arms and ammunition for optimal performance. “It will also ...

The councillor representing Achika ward in Wudil Local Government Area of Kano State, Bashir Aliyu, has sponsored 120 out-of-school children to further their studies in various secondary schools in the state.The councillor representing Achika ward in Wudil Local Government Area of Kano State, Bashir Aliyu, has sponsored 120 out-of-school children to further their studies in various secondary schools in the state. While presenting the educational materials to the beneficiaries at Achika on Sunday, Mr Aliyu disclosed that all of them were orphans. He said the gesture was meant to improve their educational standard and, in turn, secure their future. Mr Aliyu said the beneficiaries would be enrolled at the Government Junior Secondary School, Achika, and Government Arabic Junior Secon...

The June 12 Pro-Democracy Movement of Nigeria has advised President Bola Tinubu to facilitate a process of national dialogue and consultation that will give birth to a democratic people’s constitution. The convener of the movement, Wale Okunniyi, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Sunday, ahead of the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of June 12. Mr Okunniyi spoke on how Mr Tinubu could gladden the hearts of June 12 activists during his tenure as President of Nigeria. According to him, if the President can show commitment to national dialogue that will lead to a true federal constitution in his administration, it will go down in history and become memorable. Mr Okunniyi said that the President, by so doing, would be actualising the hope the late MKO Abiola,...

They are in a good medical condition, Israeli authorities said. The hostages, who were captured by Hamas from the Nova music festival in October, were named as Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40. In a joint statement, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces), ISA (Israel Securities Authority) and Israel Police said: "The hostages were rescued by the IDF, ISA and 'Yamam' forces from two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat. "They are in good medical condition and have been transferred to the 'Sheba' Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre for further medical examinations. "The security forces will continue to make every effort to bring the hostages home." Credit : Sky News

The Executive Director and Founder of CEE-HOPE Nigeria, Betty Abah, made this call at a One-day Seminar on the Rights of Domestic Workers/their Labour Rights on Friday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign focuses on upholding domestic workers` human and labour rights. This is in line with the provisions of the International Labour Organisation Convention 189 of 2011 which deals with the rights of domestic workers. Abah said the working condition of domestic workers in Nigeria was pathetic, adding that many of them lost their lives while other were maimed for life in the discharge of their duties “So we are spotlighting the issue and much more than spotlighting it, working at the unionisation of domestic workers in Nigeria. “This is not new in...

By Victor Okoye The President, Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, OON has commended Nigeria's Female golf sensation, Georgia Oboh on her recent victory at the John Shippen Women's Invitational in Michigan, U.S. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 23-year-old Oboh on Wednesday captured the 2024 John Shippen Women's Invitational and earned exemptions to compete in two LPGA tournaments – the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and the Dow Championship. Oboh will tee it up alongside the world’s best female golfers at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give starting June 13, after shooting 69-70—139 on the same course Tuesday and Wednesday to earn a three-stroke victory at the SHIPPEN event. Runsewe, who gave the commendation in a statement on Saturda...

Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Bwari Division in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has donated cash gifts to three police officers that were shot and injured by Kidnappers. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officers include, ASP Mohammed Audu, Retired DSP Suleiman Yahaya and Insp. Audu Ochineh Presenting the undisclosed cash gift to them on Saturday in Bwari, the Chairman of Bwari PCRC, DCN John Owens said the gift is the committee 's support to the gallant officers. Owens who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Dr Mohammed Kabir Mohammed said the three officers sustained various Injuries inflicted by kidnappers in the line of that duty in Bwari Area Council of the FCT. "We are proud of these men. They were gallant in the fight against Kidnappers ...