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A Professor of Geography, Prof. Rhoda Mundi,  has called on the Federal Government to adequately fund the conduct of the forthcoming national population and housing census to guarantee good governance. Mundi, who specialises in population and development,  made the call on Friday at the 41st Inaugural Lecture of the University of Abuja. She said there was the need for all stakeholders to be involved in the implementation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Population for Sustainable Development. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the Inaugural Lecture was: “The Paradox of Population Growth in National Development.” She said that a successful implementation of the policy would ensure the production of a healthy and quality population needed as...

Australia’s industrial relations tribunal has granted a 5.75 per cent increase in the national minimum wage. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) on Friday announced that the adjustments would take effect on July 1. The increase fell between the seven per cent rise advocated by the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the about four per cent sought by employer groups. Announcing the decision, the FWC said the current combination of economic circumstances, namely low unemployment, falling real wages and high inflation, “is very unusual and presents a particular challenge in this year’s Review.” The commission said in the announcement statement a further challenge would be the expected sharp slowdown in economic growth over the next year. “In our consideration, we have placed sig...

President Bola Tinubu has held meeting with members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) in the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President is being joined by Vice President Kashim Shettima, with Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the first time since his inauguration Tuesday this week. Governors present at the meeting are: Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe). Others are: Uba Sani (Kaduna); Dikko Radda (Katsina); Father Hyacinth Alia (Benue); AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Umar Bago (Niger); Aliyu Ahmed (Sokoto); Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) and Bassey Otu (Cros...

The Police, on Friday, arraigned a 53-year-old businessman, King Dauda, before a Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing the sum of N92,300 from a sex worker. The police charged Dauda, of EFAB Global Estate, Life Camp, Abuja, with theft. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Prosecution Counsel, Stanley Nwafoaku, told the court that on May 26, at about 9:05 a.m., Ms Bolaji Olufumi, of Prosper Road Area 3, Abuja, reported the matter at Life Camp Police Station. Nwafoaku said that on May 20, the defendant invited the complainant to his residence, located at EFAB Estate, and after having carnal knowledge of her, took her purse containing N92,300. He said that all efforts by Olufumi to recover the purse and her money from the defendant pro...

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has appointed speaker of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his chief of staff. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former deputy governor of Jigawa state, has been named deputy chief of staff. During a meeting with the progressives governors forum (PGF) in Abuja today, the president also named former governor of Benue state and immediate past minister of special duties, George Akume as secretary to the government of the federation (SGF). It is the president’s first set of appointments since he was sworn in on May 29. Akume is the immediate past minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs. He served as minority leader of the senate from June 2011 to June 2015. He served as governor of Benue from 1999 till 2007 — the same ...

Evolving Women in Politics (EWIP) a Non-Governmental Women Group, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his ascension as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Hon. Chief Hadizat Kolo, the FCT Coordinator, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, during the celebration of the Inauguration of the Presidency and Grand Patron Chief Mrs Folashade Mujidat Tinibu-Ojo in Abuja. The Coordinator, while giving her congratulatry message call on the new administration for adequate participation of women in governance to ensure gender equality, sustainability and for the development democracy in the country. However, Hon. Chief Hadizat also called on all Nigerians to be patient with the suden removal of oil subsidy, which accordi...

The Adamawa State office of the Nigeria Midstream and Down Stream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has warned Independent Petroleum Marketers against hoarding or diverting the product. Bashir Kafur, the Coordinator incharge of the regulatory agency in the state, gave the warning while on intensive routine patrol across some petroleum stations in Yola on Thursday. He said that the agency would not spare erring marketers who used the fuel subsidy removal to cause unnecessary hardship to consumers, saying, “we would not hesitate to sanction violators”. According to him, the price of a liter of petroleum would be determined by the market forces of demand and supply, while assuring that the situation would normalise itself. “We would not tolerate sharp practices, especially ...

By Bridget Ikyado Chief Mrs Regina Akume, the elected member of the House of Representatives for Gboko/Tarkaa Federal Constituency has expressed confidence in the ability of President Bola Tinubu to transform Nigeria. Mrs Akume, former First lady of Benue said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Makurdi. According to her, Tinubu’s antecedents while governor of Lagos state will guide him in changing the face of the country. “It’s a new dawn and a new hope. The APC has produced a government that will address untold hardship, untold hatred and unite all Nigerians. “We pray for God to give His favour on this new government. God will give him knowledge, wisdom and vision to succeed”. She also urged Nigerians to support the administration ...

Different transport union groups that had been at loggerheads for years in Oyo State, on Thursday, resolved to collaborate to reposition the state’s Park Management System (PMS) for the purpose of ensuring peace and sustainable development in the state. Oyo State government had convened the town hall meeting to find ways of improving the operation of PMS with the aim of tweaking it to serve the people better. The meeting came following the dissolution of the Disciplinary Committee of the PMS headed by Mr Mukaila Lamidi. The meeting which was held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Agodi, Secretariat, Ibadan, had in attendance various stakeholders, including the factions of Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (Tokyo), Alhaji Abideen Ejiogbe, Olowo Geesi, Abass Amolese, Tirimisiyu Olo...

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has berated the legal team of the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for failing to properly organise its schedule of documents for seamless tendering as exhibits. Obi and his party filed a petition challenging the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election. At the resumed hearing of the petition, the court frowned at the team's inability to present its schedule of documents in a manner that was easy for the court to comprehend. This led to the court having to abruptly step down hearing in the petition for some minutes to enable the lawyers, led by Prof. Awa Kalu, SAN, to put its house in order. This was on account of poor scheduling of documents the petitioners sought to tender, to prove their allegation o...

The United States government has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of more support and collaboration in different areas of its strategic operations to enhance its capabilities against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. The assurance was given by Dr. Mark Hove of the Africa and Middle East Office, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, US State Department, on Wednesday when he led another top official of the Bureau, Craig Nixon on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. This comes on the heels of a recent official letter by the Bureau announcing the U.S. project grant to the NDLEA following requests by Marwa during series ...

The police said its operatives killed two terrorists and arms smugglers on the wanted list in Katsina. This is contained in a statement by the police spokesman in Katsina, Abubakar Aliyu, on Thursday. “On May 29, at about 0300hrs, terrorists/bandits in their numbers, armed with AK47 rifles, attacked the residence of one Yahaya Usman of Tani village, Bindawa local government area of the state,” the police statement said. “They inflicted a deep knife cut to his head in an attempt to kidnap him.” The police said the Katsina command’s operatives attached to the Bindawa divisional headquarters led by the DPO “engaged the suspected terrorists in a fierce gun duel and successfully foiled the kidnap attempt and rescued the victim.” The police said two corpses of the suspected terroris...

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has held the first Talk-To-The Regulator (TTTR) Forum for 2023. The Forum was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The Talk-To-The Regulator Forum is a platform for non-discriminatory interaction between licensees and the regulator. The two-day event brought together stakeholders and licensees in the telecommunications sector to discuss critical industry issues and emerging trends. The forum gives room for active engagement and dialogue on industry-related issues of national interest. The objective was to enhance development, regulations and improve service delivery. Originally slated for 2022, the Forum was postponed due to a devastating flood disaster that affected Bayelsa State and other regions.The telecommunications industry ha...

By Victor Okoye The Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioners United Kingdom (CIEPUK) is set to partnerthe Higher Institute for Professional Development and Training (HIPDET) to provide no fewer than 1,000 scholarships to students in Nigeria. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that HIPDET is a private, independent, non-profit vocational and higher education provider incorporated in Bamenda, Cameroon. HIPDET offers vocational and higher education programs leading to the award of Vocational qualifications Diploma, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor degree, Postgraduate Diploma, Master Degree, MBA, DBA and PhD. Prof. Marcel Ezenwoye, the National President of CIEPUK in Nigeria, told NAN on Thursday in Abuja that plans have been concluded by the institute to partner an...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has debunked a report by a national daily that it has devalued the naira to N631 per dollar at the importers’ and exporters’ (I&E) window. The apex bank said this in a tweet on Thursday. A newspaper reported that the regulator devalued the naira, trading N631 to the dollar on the official window. The report said the devaluation occurred 48 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the plans of the federal government to unify the country’s exchange rate to stimulate the economy. The publication caused a stir in the country on Thursday morning. Speaking on the matter, CBN said it “did not devalue the naira”. “We wish to state categorically that this news report, which in the imagination of the newspaper is exclusive, is replete...

By Gami Tadanyigbe, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) On Saturday, April 15, residents of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, woke up to a deadly fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict, which has since spilt to other towns and cities, has led to the deaths of more than 750 people and left over 5,1000 injured. According to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), over one million people have been displaced, in addition to a number of rescue workers killed in the crossfire. Since its former dictator, Omar al-Bashir was ousted in a military coup in October 2021, Sudan has been governed by an interim council of military heads. Following deep-rooted mutual suspicion and rivalry, SAF and RSF disagreed over an attempt to integrate...

The Nigerian Communications Commission's executive vice chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, will receive the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) award. The honour, which recognises exceptional leadership, innovation and dedication in recipients' respective fields, highlight Danbatta's contributions to developing the country's telecommunications industry. The NPOM Award is a prestigious recognition that celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to productivity, innovation, and national development. Danbatta’s well-deserved recognition further solidifies his reputation as a transformative leader and industry trailblazer. Under his guidance, the NCC has implemented initiatives that have transformed the sector and achieved noteworthy milestones. Under Da...

A significant gathering of key stakeholders was held by the Public Complaints Commission to deliberate upon the implementation and compliance with the recently introduced civil service reforms.  The event, titled "Stakeholders Audience on Compliance to Civil Service Reforms," brought together government officials, civil servants, union representatives, and experts in a bid to foster understanding, address concerns, and enhance collaboration among all parties involved. The engaging discussions focused on the overarching goal of the civil service reforms, which aim to modernize and streamline governmental operations, promote transparency, meritocracy, and efficiency, while strengthening accountability within the civil service. Participants enthusiastically exchanged ideas, sha...

The Public Complaints Commission organized a highly anticipated event, the "Stakeholders Audience on Compliance to Whistleblower Policy," aimed at facilitating a robust discussion and fostering understanding about the importance of whistleblower protection and its effective implementation.  The gathering brought together government representatives, legal experts, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens to deliberate on strategies to enhance compliance with the whistleblower policy. The discussions centered on the significance of whistleblowing in combating corruption, promoting transparency, and safeguarding public interest.  Government officials highlighted the role of the whistleblower policy in encouraging individuals to come forward with vital informatio...

The Public Complaint Commission recently organized a crucial event titled "Stakeholders Audience on Compliance to Financial Sector Reforms. The gathering is aimed to bring together stakeholders from the financial sector, regulatory bodies, consumer advocacy groups, and concerned citizens to discuss and enhance compliance with the ongoing financial sector reforms. The event highlighted the significance of these reforms in strengthening the financial sector, ensuring stability, and fostering consumer protection.  Government officials provided an overview of the reform initiatives, emphasizing their objectives, benefits, and the need for collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve successful implementation. Discussions revolved around key aspects of the reforms, includin...