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By Perpetua Onuegbu The leadership of Labour Party has demanded the release of its National Vice Chairman, South-East, Mr Ceekay Igara, arrested by the police allegedly on the order of Abia governor, Dr Alex Otti. The party made this demand in a statement by its Deputy National Chairman, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, on Saturday in Abuja. Olorunfemi said Igara was arrested in Aba while holding a meeting with some party leaders when they were surrounded by policemen and whisked away without any warrant of arrest. “Labour Party leadership is totally in shock over this development, particularly as it is coming on the orders of the party’s only state governor. “The party is worried that Dr Alex Otti, who it laboured for in the 2023 governorship election and defended his victory, has sudde...

Mr Ogidi Bara, Technical Assistant on General Duties to Governor Douye Diri, says the governor is focused on developing Bayelsa. Bara made this known on Saturday in a statement, while condemning allegations and false news on social media of Gov. Diri’s reckless spending on vehicles and gadgets. He debunked the misleading reports which said that the state government, under Diri’s leadership, earmarked N700 million to purchase only 50 torches and 100 walkie-talkies for personnel of local vigilante group, known as Bayelsa Community Safety Corps. “For the avoidance of doubt, the listed security items in the approved budget estimates of N700 million do not only cover the purchase of torchlights and walkie-talkie. “But included items as 2,000 heated bullet-proof vests, 500 units of ...

Frm L-R . Prof Francis Ayim UNILAG, Com.Adewale Adeyanju President Mwun, Com. Issa Aremu DG. MINILS,  Com.Joe Ajaero, President NLC, Representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr Segun Adekunle; author,Sharon Ijasan and her husband Prince Olasukanmi Ijasan,Com. Ayuba Wabba Frmr. ITUC/NLC President, Com, Lumumba Okugbawa Pengassan G.S. during the public presentation of The Tripartite in Abuja recently By Joan Nwagwu An Award winning journalist of Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting, Mrs Sharon Ijasan has called on the Federal Government and Organised Labour to protect the workers in the informal sector. Ijasan made the call at her book launch titled, The Future of Work: Is the Tripartite  Body in Africa ready  for Digital Economy  on Monday...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer  The African Biblical Leadership Initiative (ABLI) has concluded plans  to hold International Conference in Abuja from Monday 21st to Friday 25th of October 2024 at NAF Conference  Centre, Abuja.  The Chairman, National Planning Committee, ABLI,  Prof. Jerry Gana made this known during a media conference on Thursday in Abuja. Gana said the International delegation of ABLI leadership visited Nigeria between 21st and 26th of January 2024 for consultation with key leaders in government,  the Church, media and civil society. "The ABLI seeks to bring about quality transformalion of a naton through value-based leadership that is informed and inspired by biblical values. "ABLI aspires to achieve this missIon by becoming a non-parti...

By Emmanuella Anokam The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) says some delays in Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) Fund creation and implementation are caused by community members and litigations. The HOSTCOM said pending issues by host communities in choosing members and chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) delayed the implementation of the HCDT funds. Dr Benjamin Tamaranebi, National President, HOSTCOM, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja while making clarifications on recent claims on the Host Community Project Funding in Akwa Ibom. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that HCDTs are responsible for managing and distributing oil company funds to the host communities, ensuring that resources are used effectively for community d...

By Joan Nwagwu The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has appealed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to pay withheld salaries of its members. Dr Makolo Hassan, President of NASU, who made the appeal during a two-day National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on in Abuja, urged the minister to pay 50 per cent of the withheld salaries as directed by President Bola Tinubu. According to him, the Federal Government has yet to resolve the issue of the four months unpaid salaries of NASU members in the universities and inter-university centres. “This is in spite of the fact that we have been informed that President Bola Tinubu has directed that 50 per cent of the unpaid salary, that is the two months,...

By Vivian Emoni The IBILE Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC), has expressed commitment to ensuring that Lagos State is transited into gas economy for affordable, sustainable and secure energy sources. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IOGC, Mrs Doyin Akinyanju, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Thursday. Akinyanju said this was aimed at providing an alternative source of fuel and alleviating the effects of petrol subsidy removal on the people of the state.. “We have already done quite a lot of investments and this is the vision of our governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to transit the state into a gas economy as quickly as possible. “We have been doing so for the past four years. Today, we have over seven main plants where...

By Emmanuella Anokam The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) says the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) Fund is being implemented in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021). Dr Benjamin Tamaranebi, National President, HOSTCOM, said this at a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja. He said, contrary to claims that the implementation of the projects was slow, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) was executing 137 HCDT projects with over N200 billion disbursed. He said HOSTCOM’s attention was drawn to recent media publications regarding alleged delays in funding development projects in host communities in Akwa Ibom. He said the publications claimed that host communities in Akwa Ibom had expressed frustration over the ...

By Emmanuella Anokam The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) says the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) Fund is being implemented in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021). Dr Benjamin Tamaranebi, National President, HOSTCOM, said this at a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja. He said, contrary to claims that the implementation of the projects was slow, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) was executing 137 projects in Akwa Ibom with over N200 billion disbursed. He said HOSTCOM’s attention was drawn to recent media publications regarding alleged delays in funding development projects in host communities in Akwa Ibom. He said the publications claimed that host communities in Akwa Ibom had expressed frustration o...

At least three persons sustained injuries after a CNG-powered vehicle exploded at NIPCO filling station in Benin, City, Edo State. It was gathered the incident happened Thursday morning at the NIPCO gas station located in Aduwawa on the Benin-Auchi road in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state. The explosion was said to have been as a result of the fake conversion kits and substandard cylinder used in the installation and conversion of the fuel to gas. The explosion was said to have been as a result of the fake conversion kits and substandard cylinder used in the installation and conversion of the fuel to gas. In a 25 seconds viral video of the incident, a damaged vehicle was seen while a voice was heard saying this is gas explosion at the NIPCO station. It was gath...

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu has said that the State is ready to pay N85,000 as minimum wage. The Governor who stated this while appearing on Channel's TV personality program, said that the state is ready to pay N85,000 as minimum wage to workers in the State. According to him, the State is even planning to pay more as minimum wage to workers in few years. Details later….

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The National Orientation Agency  (NOA) in the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT)  Directorate has urged Nigerians to learn, recite, internalise the National Anthem and embody national values in their daily life. Mrs Joy Ijeoma Agbanusi, Director of NOA in FCT made the call at a media conference to the mark the commencement of a nationwide campaign on the National Anthem and National Value Charter (NVC) on Tuesday in Abuja. According to her, NOA is taking a positive step to call for renewing the minds of Nigerians to collectively build a better society for us all. “NOA is also spearheading this campaign to ensure that all Nigerians in every corner of the country come together under the shared principles outlined in our National Anthem and NVC. ...

Mr Sule Abdulaziz, Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says the anti-corruption unit will enhance transparency within the company's operations. Abdulaziz, who was represented by Mrs Abiodun Afolabi, Executive Director, Human Resources and Corporate Services, spoke at the inauguration of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the TCN. He said that the company would identify potential risks and vulnerabilicorruptis in the system. He said that the inaguration of the ACTU would not only prevent corruption but will also allow TCN to address inefficiencies that may be hindering its ability to meet the growing demands of the power sector. According to him, the ACTU will serve as a strategic tool in fostering that trust, ensuring that operations remaa...

A petrol tanker has exploded along the Kano-Hadejia expressway, in Taura LGA of Jigawa state, resulting in numerous casualties. Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reported that the incident began late Tuesday night at around 11:45pm and continued until 3:15am on Wednesday. The publication added that the explosion triggered a massive fire, claiming many lives and leaving at least 300 people severely injured. Videos of the inferno have been circulating on social media.

By NAN  The  African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly has created awareness on the dangers of mental health in the Federal Capital Territory,  Abuja. The Assembly created the awareness through a Mental Health Walk that took participants from Marjanatu House in Maitama to the Unity Fountain on Saturday in Abuja. They held placards with inscription such as "Lets fight depression together", "Break the Silence", "Stop the Stigma", "Seek Help", "Stop discrimination",  and many others. Meanwhile,  the Chairman of thr Governing Board of the Assembly, Prof. Tunji Asaolu said the Walk is a contribution by the Assembly to promote mental health in the country. "In supporting the celebration of the World Mental Health Day, the Social Affairs and He...

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to expedite action on modalities for the coverage of the new natonal minimum wage. Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this during a book launch titled, “The Future of Work: Is the Tripartite Body in Africa Ready for Digital Economy?” on Monday in Abuja. The book was written by Mrs Sharon Ijasan, a TVC’s Labour Correspondent. It would be recalled that on July 24, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had said during a plenary session that the N70,000 new national minimum wage applied to all workers, including maids and other domestic staff. According to Ajaero, there is need for the National Assembly to come out clean on the area of coverage to the new minimum wage. “There is need...

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Nigerian leaders to judiciously use the country’s abundant resources to develop the nation. The Methodist Church has significantly contributed to our nation’s development through social justice, education, and humanitarian efforts, transforming lives nationwide.” Mr Tinubu commended the church’s peace and unity promotion, urging continued dedication. “As leaders, we acknowledge our responsibilities and commitment to overcoming obstacles. I call upon you to persist in your compassionate mission, as united efforts are crucial to addressing our national challenges.” In his message, “Our Appreciation and Gratitude to God,” Methodist Church Prelate Dr Oliver Aba, emphasised the importance of appreciating God amidst challenges. Cit...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Thailand returnee, Simon Oguejiofor, for importing 13.30 kilogrammes of heroin worth more than N3.192 billion at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos. Mr Babafemi said the combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to N22.7 billion. He said the illicit consignments were seized from containers watch listed by NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for a 100 per cent joint examination. Mr Babafemi said this was with the help of men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between Monday, October 7 and Friday, October 11. In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Anambra on Saturday, October 12, arrested a suspect, Okelue Chidera, 29, with 50,000 tablets o...

The federal government has announced a strategic plan to overhaul Nigeria’s health sector. It is to be used to equip healthcare centres with solar energy solutions and other climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly in rural areas,” he said. He said that the NHSRII recognised the crucial role of the private sector in strengthening the healthcare system. According to him, private sector actors are expected to help expand digital health services, improve data reporting, and bolster the local production of pharmaceuticals. The national coordinator said the blueprint also included plans to expand health insurance coverage, aiming to provide financial protection for the most vulnerable through innovative mechanisms like Third-Party Administrators (TPAs). He said the Health ...