Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

The Senate on Tuesday threatened the complete privatisation of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) if the agency continues operating at a loss. Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, issued the warning during the continuation of the 2024-2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) public hearing in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Quizzing the Post-Master General of the Federation (PMG), Omotola Odeyemi, the Chairman berated the lack of functionality of NIPOST offices across the country and the abysmal revenue generation, particularly from stamp duties. The committee therefore directed the PMG to provide the names of all staff of the organisation,…

WORKERS in several states have joined the strike action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) which kicked off today, shutting down activities at several government-owned facilities. The Edo State chapter of the NLC downed tools at government offices in compliance with the nationwide industrial action declared by the national body. At the Civil Service Secretariat in Benin City, the Edo State capital, union leaders, including the state NLC chairman, Mr Odion Olaye, locked out civil servants who had come to work. The same scenario played out at the State High Court and…

THE Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Simon Lalong, has convened a meeting with labour leaders as the nationwide strike begins. Our correspondent learnt that leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress are expected at the meeting holding on Tuesday (today). A source familiar with the matter disclosed this to our correspondent on Monday night. “The minister has convened a meeting with the Labour leaders for Tuesday,” the source simply said. The labour unions had, on Monday, ordered their affiliates to withdraw their services nationwide from midnight on November 14, 2023. TUC President, Festus Osifo, disclosed this…

THE Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (TUC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shelve their planned nationwide strike. Both unions had earlier in the day called on workers across the country to down tools at midnight as their standoff with the Imo State government takes a national undertone. But in a statement late Monday, Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Special Assistant Communication & Publicity to the AGF & Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, reminded the unions about a court order barring them from going on strike. “We wish to remind the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress…

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it is investigating the cancellation of visas of all the 264 passengers, who were airlifted to Jeddah from Lagos and Kano on Sunday, by the Saudi Arabian Authorities. News Point Nigeria reported that there was panic and shock when the Saudi Arabian Authorities cancelled the visa of all the 264 passengers airlifted to Jeddah from Lagos and Kano on Sunday. The authorities insisted that the airline should return the passengers back to Nigeria. The flight took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos via the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano…

THE House of Representatives on Monday issued the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) a 48-hour ultimatum to give an explanation on missing funds of up to N3 billion. The Chairman of the Committee on Finance, James Faleke, gave the ruling during the continued hearing on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) when the agency was unable to explain how the funds were utilised. Similarly, the committee directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to explain within 72 hours why a company was licensed to provide metres. The company is said to have received N39 billion from the Ministry…

THE uploading of results from polling units for Saturday’s governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo is in progress. This newspaper reports that as at 5:55pm, 1,417 polling units results for Bayelsa, representing 63.15 per cent of the 2,244 expected polling units results, had been uploaded by INEC. This newspaper also reports that the results were uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) designated portal. For Imo, 2,899 out of 4,720 expected polling units results, representing 60.93 per cent, were so far uploaded. Also, 1,914 out of 3,508 polling units results, representing 54.56 per cent of the governorship election…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told investors from Saudi Arabia that all bottlenecks will be crushed and their funds will come in and go out without hindrance. The president spoke on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as he began his deliberation with the captains of Saudi Arabian Industry at the Nigeria-Saudi Investment Roundtable. He made it clear that with his team in place, every negative perception or notion about what Nigeria had represented in the past with respect to the ease of doing business, monetary policy, and trade cooperation were no longer applicable now and in the future of Africa’s…

THE time has come for the people of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states to decide on their choice of governors for new four-year terms. On Saturday, they would head to the polls to cast their ballot for who will marshall their affairs up until 2028. Ahead of the exercise, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its readiness for the conduct of credible polls in the three states. “We will continue to ensure free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections but INEC cannot do it alone,” the commission’s chief Mahmood Yakubu said in an address to stakeholders, dispelling fears about…

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, on Friday ordered a thorough probe into the allegation of assault on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero. On November 1, Ajaero was picked up at the NLC secretariat in Owerri by heavily armed policemen. At the time of his arrest, he was leading a statewide protest and strike in the Imo State capital over what the Congress described as a lack of respect for workers, unpaid salaries and pensions, amongst others. More than a week after the incident, the IGP said the investigation is to ascertain…

THE National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, assures residents of Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states of security preparedness during the off-cycle elections coming up Saturday (tomorrow). According to a signed statement by the Head, Strategic Communication, Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari U. Mijinyawa, Friday, the NSA warns against violence by political actors and charges security agencies to adhere to professional code of ethics during the conduct of the exercise. The NSA assures that in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies have made adequate preparations to ensure safe, secure and transparent elections on Saturday, 11…

THE Federal Government’s recently agreed wage with the Labour Congress, salaries to federal workers, and other non-debt recurrent costs are expected to gulp N7.76tn in 2023. This is based on data from the initial 2023 budget and recently signed 2023 supplementary budget. The country’s central government recently approved a N2.18tn budget to augment new expenses, including an agreed wage reward for workers due to the removal of fuel subsidy. When the budget was announced, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, noted that N605bn has been earmarked for national defense, while N210bn will cover the payment of wage…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Abba Isa to serve as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Thursday. The statement read in full: PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS PRESIDENTIAL AIDE ON DISABILITY MATTERS In his determination to ensure that every segment of society is sufficiently catered to within the ambit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Abba Isa to serve as the Senior Special…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu alongside eight Ministers and heads of agencies will, on Thursday, depart Abuja for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend the first Saudi-Africa Summit scheduled to take place in Riyadh on November 10, 2023. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he signed on Wednesday titled ‘President Tinubu set to attend Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.’ According to Ngelale, the President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr.…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of twenty (20) qualified Nigerians to serve as Federal Commissioners in the National Population Commission (NPC) with nine current Federal Commissioners being appointed to a second term in office. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Wednesday. The statement read in full: PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS TWENTY FEDERAL COMMISSIONERS OF THE NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION (NPC) President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of twenty (20) qualified Nigerians to serve as Federal Commissioners in the National Population Commission (NPC) with nine current Federal Commissioners…

JUSTICE Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, bail. The judge ordered that Emefiele be released immediately to his lawyers, who were charged with the responsibility of producing him in court for his arraignment next week or at any other day. According to the judge, the ex-bank chief must also deposit his travel documents before the chief registrar of the court, pending his arraignment. The judge also pointed out that there must be an end to detention, without trial. The court must also not overlook…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has assured the National Population Commission (NPC) of the Federal Government’s support to conduct the botched census in the country soon. The President gave the assurance on Wednesday, at the launch of the National Geospatial Data Repository, Digital CRVS System and inauguration of the National Coordination Committee for CRVS at the Presidential Villa Abuja. The initiative is aimed at a complete departure from traditional paper-based recording of vital events to a state-of-the-art digital solution that conforms to international best practices. During the launch, President Tinubu said the population remains the greatest asset of the nation in the…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has finally bowed to the order of the court by producing the former Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, in court for the hearing of his bail application. Emefiele who has been in the custody of Security agencies for over 149 days, was ordered by Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, to be released unconditionally or be brought to hear his application for bail. Dressed in a yellow Kaftan and a cap and flanked by operatives of the EFCC, the former CBN Governor arrived at the courtroom at…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Tuesday approved the appointment of three new Executive Commissioners to serve in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the redeployment of one current Executive Commissioner, pending their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu appoints three new NUPRC executive commissioners.’ According to Ngelale, the President approved the reshuffling and replacement based on “his deeply informed assessment of all factors concerning the sector to establish a regulatory framework and culture that comprehensively disincentivises errant behaviour and incentivises diligence and…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abdu Mukhtar to serve as the National Coordinator of the Presidential ‘Unlocking Healthcare Value-Chain’ Initiative, which is domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Tuesday. The statement read in full: PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF PRESIDENTIAL UNLOCKING HEALTHCARE VALUE-CHAIN INITIATIVE President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abdu Mukhtar to serve as the National Coordinator of the Presidential ‘Unlocking Healthcare Value-Chain’ Initiative, which is domiciled under the…