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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former gubernatorial aspirant, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has urged Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure the full implementation of the ₦80,000 minimum wage across all levels of civil service in the state. In a press release from his media office, Alao lamented that civil servants from Grade Level 6 and above have not fully benefited from the ₦80,000 minimum wage compared to lower-grade workers. "It is unfortunate that our Governor has created the impression that the ₦80,000 minimum wage applies to all civil servants. The reality is that those from Level 6 and above have not been adequately addressed." "Lower-grade workers in Oyo State are those who have benefited fully from the approved ₦80,000 minimum wage. The s...

By Victor Okoye The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) on Saturday organised a special golf kitty in partnership with the Defence Headquarters to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRDC) in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the golf tournament was part of activities lined up to celebrate the 2025 AFDRC. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is observed on Jan. 15 to commemorate the servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It also honours veterans of World War I and II as well as the Nigerian Civil War. No fewer than 200 golfers took part in the tournament held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) Golf Club, Abuja. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, along with other top military personnel and dignitaries, was on ground to perfor...

By Victor Okoye The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) on Saturday organised a special golf kitty in partnership with the Defence Headquarters to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRDC) in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the golf tournament was part of activities lined up to celebrate the 2025 AFDRC. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is observed on Jan. 15 to commemorate the servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It also honours veterans of World War I and II as well as the Nigerian Civil War. No fewer than 200 golfers took part in the tournament held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) Golf Club, Abuja. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, along with other top military personnel and dignitaries, was on ground to perfor...

By Victor Okoye The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) on Saturday organised a special golf kitty in partnership with the Defence Headquarters to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRDC) in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the golf tournament was part of activities lined-up to celebrate the 2025 AFDRC. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is observed on Jan. 15 to commemorate the servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It also honours veterans of the World War I and II as well as the Nigerian Civil War. No fewer than 200 golfers took part in the tournament held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) Golf Club, Abuja. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, along with other top military personnel and dignitaries were on ground to pe...

A hardline Sri Lankan monk who is a close ally of ousted former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for insulting Islam and inciting religious hatred.Galagodaatte Gnanasara was convicted on Thursday for the remarks, which date back to 2016.Sri Lanka rarely convicts Buddhist monks, but this marks the second time that Gnanasara, who has repeatedly been accused of hate crimes and anti-Muslim violence, has been jailed.The sentence, handed down by the Colombo Magistrate's Court, comes after a presidential pardon he received in 2019 for a six-year sentence related to intimidation and contempt of court.Gnanasara was arrested in December for remarks he made during a 2016 media conference, where he made several derogatory remarks against Islam.On Thursday, the...

In a bid to digitize health information management in Cross River, Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project, recently procured 196 laptops for onward distribution to personnel in the health records units, across the 196 wards Primary Health Centers in the state. The IMPACT Project which is funded by the World Bank aims at reducing maternal mortality, malaria, neonatal mortality, as well as infant and under-five mortality rates. Receiving the equipment Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, lauded the World Bank's contributions to the improvement of health services in the state, noting that the newly introduced IMPACT Project, would add to the already achieved feats in the health sector through the symbiotic relation...

Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade has emerged as the new Alaafin of Oyo after about three years.The stool has been vacant since the demise of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on April 22, 2022.Owoade’s emergence followed the approval of Governor Seyi Makinde.A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, stated that Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade, after thorough consultations and divinations, has been recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by the Governor of Oyo State.According to the Commissioner, a statement to this effect has been issued by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ademola Ojo, who stated that the announcement has put to rest all socio-legal disputes that have ensued since the demise of His I...

Prof. Stella Chiemeke, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delta, UNIDEL Agbor has raised alarm of the use of her name for the promoting of job opportunities and soliciting of funds. Distancing herself from such she said "I have recently discovered that some individuals with malicious intent are misusing my name and images to promote fake job opportunities and solicit funds from the public, particularly on Facebook. I want to clarify that these activities are not authorized by me, and I urge the public to be cautious to avoid being deceived by these criminals. Please do not send or accept any money from anyone impersonating me through social media" The general public should beware of such scam and the law enforcement agencies should be alert to arrest such unscrupulous people.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has dissolved his 25-member cabinet, effective Friday January 10 The formal announcement is scheduled to take place during a Valedictory Dinner at 7 PM in the Banquet Hall of Government House, Uyo. Rumors about the dissolution had been circulating in government circles since Wednesday, January 8, sparking widespread anticipation of the major restructuring. A political insider, speaking anonymously, confirmed the plans, stating, “All the Commissioners are going. He [Governor Umo Eno] will then appoint new people of his choice.” It was learned that some outgoing commissioners had already suspected the move, particularly in the latter part of 2024. Governor Eno had previously alluded to such a decision during a media briefing in September 20...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) command in Cross River says 274 suspected drug dealers were arrested in the state in 2024. The command said it also made a total seizure of 788.8kg of hard drugs within the period under review. The state commandant, Rachael Umebuali made the disclosure in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar on Friday Jan 10 She said that the command recorded success in some number of court cases filed within the period. The commandant explained that the Cross River command secured a total of 38 convictions in 2024, and had a Toyota Previa bus forfeited to the federal government. Speaking on the seized drugs, Umebuali said the figures were more than that recorded in 2023 and consisted of hemp, cocaine, meth, and heroin. She bemoaned the ri...

A new Alaafin of Oyo has been formally approved by Governor Seyi Makinde. A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said that Prince Abimbola Akeem Owoade after thorough consultations and divinations, has been recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by the Governor of Oyo State. According to the commissioner, a statement to this effect has been issued by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ademola Ojo, who said that the announcement has put to rest, all the socio and legal bickerings that have ensued since the demise of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on April 22, 2022. Hon. Ademola Ojo called on all citizens of Oyo State to join the Government in celebrating this...

Barely few hours after London based Premiership Club West Ham Utd sacked its manager, Everton, have dismissed its manager Sean Dyche after less than two years at the helm of Goodison Park. The 53-year-old’s departure comes just hours before Everton’s FA Cup third-round fixture against League One side Peterborough. The club announced on Thursday that under-18s head coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman will step in to manage the team for the match. Four members of Dyche’s coaching staff—Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard, and Billy Mercer—have also left their roles. In a short statement, the Merseyside outfit wrote: “Everton Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as Senior Men’s First Team Manager with immediate effect. “Ian...

The political feud in Rivers State will continue exxept the Supreme Court intervene, as in a demonstration of legislative power, the Pro- Wike led Rivers Assembly has overriden Governor Siminalayi Fubara refusal to assent to three critcal bills. The contested bills which were presented to Gov Fubara over a month ago are: 'The Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) (Amendment) Bill, The Rivers Electricity Market Bill, and The Rivers State Commissions of Inquiry Bill, 2024—have now been enacted into law through the legislature’s invocation of Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). This constitutional provision empowers the Assembly to bypass the Governor’s assent if withheld. During the 94th Legislative Sitting, Speaker Amaewhule condemned Governor Fubara’s alleg...

President Bola Tinubu, Thursday in Abuja, urged the Government of the People’s Republic of China to increase the $2 billion currency swap between Nigeria and China.This is to enhance trade between the two countries.He also called for an upward review of the $50 billion aid package for Africa, which China’s President Xi Jinping announced last year.China and Nigeria recently renewed their currency swap agreement, valued at 15 billion yuan (approximately $2 billion), to enhance trade and investment.Receiving the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Wang Yi, at the State House, the President said increasing the level of currency swaps will speed up the infrastructural development in Nigeria and deepen the strategic bilateral relations.“We still demand more in the area of currency swap. The l...

The Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, has launched the third phase of disbursement of outstanding retirement and death benefits with N5billion. Since assuming office, Yusuf's administration has settled N11billion out of the unpaid backlog of N43billion outstanding pension benefits through two phases. The governor said the welfare of civil servants is a top priority in his administration as he considers it a system driver. "One of the major interventions we made immediately after assuming the mantle of leadership was injecting the sum of N69,704,82.33k to settle the backlog of pensioners' benefits. "We subsequently made an additional major intervention by releasing N5billion again to pay another 2,216 pensioners. "As part of our unshakable commitment to honouring the s...

Benin forces have suffered heavy losses in an attack near the border with insurgency-hit Niger and Burkina Faso, authorities have said.Colonel Faizou Gomina, the national guard's chief of staff, said one of Benin's most well-equipped military positions had been hit in the north on Wednesday evening."We've been dealt a very hard blow," Col Gomina added.It is not clear yet who is behind the attack but the country has in recent years witnessed increasing attacks in the northern region blamed on jihadist groups based in neighbouring countries.More than 120 Beninese military officers were killed between 2021 and December 2024, a diplomatic source told the AFP news agency.Last month, gunmen killed three soldiers and wounded four others who were guarding an oil pipeline in the north-east.Col Gom...

In what political observers believe is a systematic move to wittle down the influence of Nyesom Wike in his local government of Obio-Akpor, Chijioke Ihunwo the Chairman of the Local government , has appointed 130 special assistants, to mark his second round of appointments within six months. Ihunwo announced the appointment on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter). Ihunwo is a known ally of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. His actions have occasionally stirred controversy, including the removal of Nyesom Wike’s name from the administrative block of the council secretariat in October. Among the newly appointed are Helen Nyekwere, Josephine Wogu, Daisy Worgu, Wagwu Hilda, Ogbonna Stella, Goodness Ogbonna, and Grace Amadi. “I congratulate them, and call on them to ...

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has approved the appointment of Collins Edomaruse as his Special Adviser, International Development Partners. Before his appointment, Edomaruse, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE) is also a founding member of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers of Nigeria (GOCOP). As Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of METROWATCH, he held several senior Editorial positions in THISDAY, including Group News Editor, Group Politics Editor, Deputy Editor (Daily, Saturday and Sunday titles), and Editor, Nation's Capital/Abuja Bureau. Popularly known as 'General' because of his mastery of the Defence Beat.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council Council, has strongly condemned the assault on a member of the council, Mr. Ndubuisi Orji, at the PDP Party secretariat. Mr. Orji, who is a correspondent with THE SUN Newspaper, was assaulted by one Emmanuel Okoronkwo, a member of staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The ugly incident occurred on Monday, January 5,2025 at the PDP National Secretariat Wadata Plaza Wuse Zone 5 Abuja when Mr. Orji was about to enter the press center located within the secretariat to carry out his lawful duty. In a statement released by the secretary of council, Jide Oyekunle, the union demands an unreserved apology from the party within 48 hours and has vowed to take up the matter with the relevant security authorities. The statement rea...

The Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi Thursday said his visit to Nigeria is to discuss on how to deliver on the understandings reached at the September 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Wang stated this during his meeting with his Nigerian counterpart, Yusuf Tuggar in Abuja. The Foreign Minister who is also visiting other African countries said his visit is to keep to the tradition of visiting Africa as the first overseas in the new year. He maintained that the essence of the visit is to discuss on how to deliver on the ten partnership actions reached at the FOCAC Beijing meeting. He was optimistic that the meeting will produce new common understandings between both countries. Wang said: “My visit this time is to further the tradition of the ...