Sunday, March 9

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NLC To Embark On Nationwide Strike Over Naira Scarcity 
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NLC To Embark On Nationwide Strike Over Naira Scarcity 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed public sector workers in the country to embark on strike. The strike is billed to commence on Wednesday next week. Joe Ajaero, the NLC president, gave the directive at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. He also directed that affiliate unions constituting the NLC should be on standby for picketing exercises across all branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) nationwide. Last week, the NLC issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to end the petrol and cash scarcity being experienced in the country. Speaking with journalists, Ajaero said the industrial action became the last resolve of the NLC following the expiration of the ultimatum. He said the decision to picket CBN branches became necessary as the f...
Election Petition: Obi, Atiku Have No Case-Tinubu Will Be Cleared Of All Allegations – Keyamo
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Election Petition: Obi, Atiku Have No Case-Tinubu Will Be Cleared Of All Allegations – Keyamo

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has reacted to the petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, calling for the annulment of the February 25 Presidential Election won by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu. Obi had previously challenged the outcome of the election and had also sought the court requesting to have access to all the sensitive materials Independent National Electoral Commission deployed for the election. On Tuesday, the LP candidate filed another suit at the election tribunal challenging the declaration of Tinubu by INEC who he said “was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election.” The former Anambra State governor claimed th...
U.S To Sanction Those Found Culpable Of Undermining 2023 Polls
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U.S To Sanction Those Found Culpable Of Undermining 2023 Polls

The United States mission in Nigeria says it will consider “all available actions” against those who undermined the just-concluded elections in the country. In a statement on Tuesday, the US said “it is deeply disturbed” by cases of voter intimidation and use of ethnically charged rhetoric during the gubernatorial and house of assembly elections held on March 18. It also called on the federal government and other relevant agencies to ensure those that aided voter suppression are brought to book. “The United States is deeply troubled by the disturbing acts of violent voter intimidation and suppression that took place during those polls in Lagos, Kano, and other states,” the statement reads. Members of the U.S. diplomatic mission observed the elections in Lagos and elsewhere and...
Oyo Traditional Religion Worshippers Rejoice With Makinde On Re-election
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Oyo Traditional Religion Worshippers Rejoice With Makinde On Re-election

Heads of traditional religion worshippers in Oyo state have congratulated Engineer Seyi Makinde on his re-election as the Governor of Oyo State for another four years term. The traditional religion worshippers in a press statement signed by Araba Oluisese Isese of Ibadanland and Chairman Heads of Traditional Religion in Oyo State, Chief Ifálérè Odegbemi Odegbola II, congratulated the governor on his second term victory as the governor of the Pacesetter state. According to him, the governor has once again broken the jinx after late Ajimobi that another Governor can rule Oyo State twice. "On behalf of heads of traditional religion and the entire traditional religion worshippers who joined others to cast their votes for you in Oyo state gubernatorial election, we want to congratulat...
FG pledges to support market access for trade in services
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FG pledges to support market access for trade in services

By Ikenna Uwadileke The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja pledged to support market access for trade in services under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum made the pledge at the validation workshop for the report of the study on supporting market access for trade in services under AfCFTA for Nigeria. The validation workshop was organised by the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) and Overseas Development Institute (ODI) of the Department of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (OFCDO), United Kingdom. Represented by her Technical Assistant, Mr Aminu Dogondaji, the minister described trade as an engine of economic growth with potential to create jobs, reduce povert...
Group petitions Anambra Catholic priests over alleged involvement in partisan politics
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Group petitions Anambra Catholic priests over alleged involvement in partisan politics

The Patriotic Front of Nigeria, a civil society group, has petitioned Catholic Priests in Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province over alleged involvement in the 2023 Presidential and State House of Assembly elections in Anambra. The group based in Awka accused the Catholic priests of canvassing for their favourite candidates to their congregation. In a letter addressed to The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, the group named some Catholic Priests involved in the melee for political power thus deviating from primary responsibility of preaching the gospel. According to the letter signed by the Anambra State Chapter Coordinator of the group ,Chris Obi Okpala on Tuesday, the actions of the orthodox church pastors has implanted infighting between Gov. Chukwuma ...
Now That Elections Are Over-Healing Process Must Begin- President-elect Tinubu
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Now That Elections Are Over-Healing Process Must Begin- President-elect Tinubu

Nigeria's President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has urged all elected political office holders to begin what he called a "healing process" now that the elections are over. Tinubu in a first press statement after the gubernatorial and state assembly elections said that politicians must take urgent steps to unite the people. "Those who voted for us and those who did not. We must champion the healing process by embracing the opponents and their supporters. As I have stated previously, the time for politicking is gone. This is time for nation building, a task beyond one individual or a section of the society. We need every hand from wherever it may come to be on deck." Read the full statement: With the conclusion of the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, I congrat...
Lagos Civil Servants Get 20% Salary Increment
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Lagos Civil Servants Get 20% Salary Increment

The governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved a 20 percent salary increment for civil servants in the state. Gbenga Akosile, spokesperson to Sanwo-Olu, said the governor approved the remuneration increment on Monday. Akosile said the salary review would affect workers in “mainstream public service, local government areas & local council dev. areas as well as SUBEB” and the execution would be backdated to January 1, 2023. “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, today, approves a 20 percent increase in the salaries of civil servants in the mainstream public service, Local Government Areas & Local Council Dev Areas as well as SUBEB,” he wrote on Twitter. The new salary structure takes effect from January 1, 2023.” The salary increment comes a few hours after the I...
78 Million Children Risk Water-related Crisis In Nigeria, Says UNICEF
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78 Million Children Risk Water-related Crisis In Nigeria, Says UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says 78 million children in Nigeria are at risk of three water-related threats. UNICEF listed the threats as inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene-related diseases and climate hazards. This is contained in a statement signed by UNICEF Nigeria chief of WASH, Jane Bevan, on Monday. “In Nigeria, one-third of children do not have access to at least basic water at home, and two-thirds do not have basic sanitation services. Hand hygiene is also limited, with three-quarters of children unable to wash their hands due to lack of water and soap at home,” said the statement. UNICEF added, “As a result, Nigeria is one of the 10 countries that carry the heaviest burden of child deaths from diseases caused by inadequate WASH, such as diarrhoea...
Olubadan Congratulates Makinde On Re-election, Urges Him To Address Criticisms
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Olubadan Congratulates Makinde On Re-election, Urges Him To Address Criticisms

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has congratulated Governor Seyi Makinde on his reelection, urging him to keep delivering dividends of democracy to the people. In a statement on Monday in Ibadan, Mr Balogun advised the Ibadan governor to work harder on behalf of the people. In a statement on Monday in Ibadan, Mr Balogun advised the Ibadan governor to work harder on behalf of the people. According to him, the election result was a verdict of the people’s confidence in Mr Makinde. “There is always the tendency for a second timer to be lethargic because there’s nothing to aspire for again, at least at the state level. In your inner recess, I implore you to cast your mind back to some of the issues raised as criticisms by your opponents during the electioneering and ...
AMAC Chairman promises urgent reconstruction of Tungan-Madaki collapsed bridge
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AMAC Chairman promises urgent reconstruction of Tungan-Madaki collapsed bridge

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has assured residents of Tungan-Madaki community, along the airport road, of his readiness to reconstruct the community's collapsed bridge. He said this when he led some council officials to inspect the collapsed bridge in Abuja. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Kingsley Madaki, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the chairman, on Sunday. The council boss who spoke with the community leaders and youths said the team embarked on the inspection to have a correct assessment of the bridge and identify alternative routes pending its reconstruction. Maikalangu said that scores of commuters, business owners as well as farmers, who usually transport their farm products to the neig...
Umo Eno Wins Akwa Ibom Governorship Election
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Umo Eno Wins Akwa Ibom Governorship Election

The Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno has won 29 local government areas while the Young Progressives Party YPP Senator Bassey Akpan won his own local government area, IBIONO Ibom and Ikono LGAs. Meanwhile, stakeholders are waiting for the official declaration by INEC. Total results from 31 Local government areas of Akwa Ibom announced on Sunday.
APC Sweeps Governorship Elections In Ogun, Kwara, Lagos, Others
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APC Sweeps Governorship Elections In Ogun, Kwara, Lagos, Others

OGUN STATE Abiodun Wins Ogun Governorship Election The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has been declared winner of the Ogun State governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday declared the Abiodun winner of the governorship election held on Saturday after polling 276,298 votes. Abiodun defeated the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state, Oladipupo Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes and 12 other candidates. Abiodun defeated Adebutu with 13,915 votes. The returning officer of the governorship election in the state, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, declared Abiodun at the collation centre of the commission in the state. Adebowale said a total of 2,688,305 was the total registered voters while accredited voters were 666,406 ...
Abuja natives demand gubernatorial, house of assembly positions
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Abuja natives demand gubernatorial, house of assembly positions

The original inhabitants of the FCT, have called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to establish Gubernatorial and State Assembly positions in the Federal Capital Territory. This is contained in a statement by the chairman, Abuja Socio Cultural and Advocates for Social Development Society for the Natives, ATTACHI, Mr Bitrus Laurence Garki. According to the statement it was a sober occasion for the residents of the FCT especially the indigenous people who are disenfranchised in a day when people in other states in the federation have the privilege to exercise their franchise by casting their votes to elect their Governors and State legislators. The statement said that the event was given consideration for a number of reasons which the Youths consider very necessar...
Water engineers, Rotary Club sensitise students on water management
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Water engineers, Rotary Club sensitise students on water management

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The FCT chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers (NIWE) and the Rotary Club of Abuja, Asokoro Diamond, under District 1925 on Saturday sensitised secondary students on the management and benefit of water to hygiene. President of the chapter, Dr Marvin Paul Agwoko in his address said the programme was held preparatory to the celebration of the 2023 World Water Day (WWD) on March 22. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Accelerating Change’’. “The 2023 WWD celebration is anchored on accelerating change to solve water and sanitation crises across the world. “It is very significant for us because in accelerating change, we must also enhance our capacity; and for the change to be sustainable, we need to pass it on to the younger genera...
Breaking: INEC Announces Makinde Winner Of Oyo Governorship Election
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Breaking: INEC Announces Makinde Winner Of Oyo Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Seyi Makinde, as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state. The state Resident Electoral Commission, Tella Adeniran, declared the Peoples Democratic Party candidate winner of the poll on Sunday. Makinde defeated Teslim Folarin of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bayo Adelabu of Accord Party (AP).
Group lauds priority voting for physically challenged, elderly
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Group lauds priority voting for physically challenged, elderly

By Diana Omueza Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons with Disabilities (EVA4PWD), an NGO, has lauded the priority accorded physically challenged persons and the elderly during governorship and Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday. Mr David Anyaele, the Executive Director of the group, said this in a preliminary statement on Sunday in Abuja. Anyaele said the group was accredited to observe the elections so it deployed, received and reviewed reports from its observers across the six geo-political zones of the country. According to him, the key objective of the observation was to ensure that provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for PWDs participation were met. “EVA4PWD observers deployed nationwide reported that majority of the polling...
Asiwaju a True Lover of Igbo Race, Says Group
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Asiwaju a True Lover of Igbo Race, Says Group

By Kayode Fasua A socio-political political organisation, Social Rehabilitation Gruppe (SRG), has debunked a raging insinuation that the Igbo community in Lagos is endangered. In a statement on Saturday, the Convener/National Coordinator of the group, Dr. Marindoti Oludare, described rumours that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would victimise the Igbo population in Lagos for voting against him as "sheer bunkum and attempt to stigmatise a detrabilised President-elect ". According to him, Tinubu is a firm believer in democratic governance and power of the electorate. "Tinubu believes in persuasion, not intimidation; that is why he joined progressive forces to battle the military into relinquishing power to civilians, especially in the hectic period of trying to ensure...
INEC: Why We Postponed Election In Lagos Community
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INEC: Why We Postponed Election In Lagos Community

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it postponed Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections in 10 polling units situated in Victoria Garden City for security reason. INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Segun Agbaje, stated this while speaking with journalists on Saturday at the Estate. According to him, corps members deployed as ad hoc staff on Saturday were unwilling to enter the VGC estate having claimed that they were held hostage during the 25 February presidential and National Assembly elections. Mr Agbaje said the commission’s ad hoc staff set up voting materials in front of the estate on Saturday but the estate residents claimed that hoodlums might disrupt the process, so they did not feel secure and could not cast their votes out...
<em>Akere Market Fire: traders count loses, blame political thugs</em>
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Akere Market Fire: traders count loses, blame political thugs

Traders at the Akere Spare Parts Market, located in the Ajeromi Ifelodun area of Lagos, woke up to a devastating sight as the market was engulfed in flames early on Wednesday morning of March 8. The market, which is predominantly occupied by Igbo traders, suffered extensive damage in the fire while the cause of the fire is yet to be officially determined. However, many of the affected traders suspect foul play, suggesting that politically sponsored thugs may be responsible for the incident. The traders who claimed the incident caught them unawares, described the situation as worrisome and disheartening to them as business owners. While the traders were counting their losses, the incident seems to have provided succour for scavengers who are seen picking some of the remains fro...