Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

THE meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to avert an imminent strike action ended on Monday without a concrete resolution to the union’s demands. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong; and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, met with the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and other leaders in Abuja in an effort to stop organised labour from embarking on another industrial action. The meeting is expected to continue at a later date. However, the minister is also expected to hold a meeting with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress…

THE Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong says that past industrial actions by labour unions have had adverse effects on the country’s economy. The Minister stated this in Abuja on Monday as a scheduled meeting with the leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) commenced in an effort to stop organised labour from embarking on another industrial action. He promised to partner with labour to address the demands of the labour unions in a just and balanced way. He appealed to the labour leaders to be realistic and frank in the discussions. The minister also expressed optimism that the…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has arrived at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York to attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The President, who arrived some minutes before 7 pm local time, was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande and other government officials. The theme of this year’s UNGA is: “Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards Peace, Prosperity, Progress and Sustainability for All”. President Tinubu is scheduled to deliver his…

NIGERIA spent N2.34 trillion on debt service within six months, according to a new report by the Debt Management Office (DMO). Nigeria’s debt servicing spending in the second quarter of 2023 saw a slowdown, amounting to N849.58 billion. This marked a 43.04% decline from the N1.49 trillion spent on debt servicing in the first quarter of 2023. Data from the DMO reveals that in the first quarter of 2023, Nigeria allocated N874.13 billion for servicing domestic debt and $801.36 million (equivalent to N617.35 billion) for external debt servicing, totalling N1.24 trillion. Servicing expenses amounted to N565.88 billion, while external debt…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed Kingsley Stanley Nkwocha, a former General Manager and Daily Editor of LEADERSHIP Newspaper, as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Communications in the Presidency. Nkwocha was appointed alongside several others who will work in the Office of the Vice President. Tinubu also appointed Tope Fasua, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Analytics Consulting, as the Special Adviser on Economic Affairs in the VP’s office. According to the list, others appointed to the VP’s office include Sadiq S Jambo as Special Adviser Economy, Dr. Muhammad Bulama, as Senior Special Assistant Special Duty, Mahmud Muhammad…

THE Federal Government has invited the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the union’s plan to go on indefinite strike. News point Nigeria reports that While the NLC is planning a nationwide shutdown owing to the removal of fuel subsidy and the hardship in the country, Labour and Employment Minister Simon Lalong has invited them for discussions. “The Minister of Labour and Employment Simon Bako Lalong has again invited the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC for another meeting over its planned indefinite strike,” the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations Olajide Oshundun said in a Sunday statement. “The Minister who directed…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed two new ministers in charge of the Ministry of Youth – Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim and Mr. Ayodele Olawande. While Ibrahim will serve as the Minister of Youth, Olawande will be the new Minister of State For Youth, a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate, presidential spokesman stated. “The President has further approved the nomination of Mr. Ayodele Olawande to serve as the Minister of State for Youth, pending his confirmation by the Senate of the Federal…

THE Federal Government is considering the termination of some abandoned projects worth over N6 trillion inherited from previous successive governments that have no clear source of funding. News Point Nigeria reports that the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this while briefing state house correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Umahi also disclosed that the President had approved some road construction projects and plans to toll some roads in the country. More details shortly…

THE Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul-Samad Rabiu, says the company is set to reduce the price of cement in Nigeria. He disclosed this on Friday while speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu. Rabiu said to support the efforts of the government to crash the price of the product, the company would add two new plants at the end of the year or early next year. According to him, the plants to be commissioned by Tinubu, would bring BUA Cement’s total capacity to 17 million metric tons. This, he said will enable the company to reduce…

THE Chicago State University, CSU, on Friday, said President Bola Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Administration. In a statement published by CBS News (CBS Broadcasting Inc.), the institution said it was confident in the veracity and integrity of their records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate. However, it noted, United States’ federal law prevents “us from providing any further information about Tinubu’s record, without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.” The controversies over Tinubu’s academic records took a fresh turn when the presidential…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso to serve as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for a term of five (5) years at the first instance, pending his confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. According to a statement by the Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the President, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Friday, this directive is in conformity with Section 8 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which vests in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the authority to appoint the Governor and Four (4) Deputy Governors…

THE acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday, said collaborative efforts were ongoing to secure the “swift” release of eight National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members kidnapped in Zamfara State about four weeks ago. IGP Egbetokun stated this while delivering his remarks at the meeting with strategic police managers and media briefing highlighting policies, breakthroughs, and achievements of the Nigeria Police Force in the last five weeks. The police boss stated that the safety and well-being of all citizens, particularly young NYSC members, remained of utmost importance to the Force. “We are firm in our commitment to intensify…

TROOPS of Operation Hadin Kai has arrested 12 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe State in its counterinsurgency operations in the North-East. Also recovered from the terrorists were 50 jerrycans of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol and the Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) known as diesel as well as ₦3.1 million. The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who on Thursday, gave a report on the ongoing military operations by the armed forces across the nation. “Arrest of Suspected Terrorist Logistics Suppliers/Collaborator Between 4 to 8 September 2023, following intelligence reports, troops conducted operations in…

POWER supply has been restored after the national electricity grid collapsed on Thursday. The grid collapse resulted in a massive loss of supply to power distributors nationwide. But hours after this, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko Electric), said power supply has been restored from the grid. “Dear Valued Customer,” the company wrote on its X account, “kindly be informed that power supply has been restored from the grid. Thank you for your patience.” The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had earlier confirmed the collapse of the national grid but assured that efforts are in top gear to fix the…

THERE is a significant power outage across Nigeria after the national electricity grid reportedly collapsed early Thursday morning. The grid collapse has resulted in a massive loss of supply to power distributors nationwide. Some electricity distribution companies confirmed the development with a statement on Thursday morning. In a notice issued on its X account (formerly Twitter) this morning by its Head of Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc said it is on standby awaiting detailed information on the collapse and restoration of supply from the National Control Centre (NCC), Osogbo. “The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC…

THE federal government has moved the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to the Ministry of Interior as part of efforts to resolve issues around passport processing in the country. On assumption of office, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, promised to work towards having the NIMC in the ministry for proper coordination of identity data of Nigerians. This process is now being accelerated in line with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s directive to remove all impediments and bottlenecks from obtaining passports. The National Identity Number (NIN), domiciled in NIMC, is one of the major conditions for obtaining of International Passports. The…

A PUBLIC Affairs Analyst, Durojaiye Ogunsanya, has identified President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as his classmate at the Chicago State University (CSU). Speaking on a TVC programme, Ogunsanya said he and Nigeria’s president graduated from the Department of Accounting and Business Administration in 1979. President Tinubu’s academic record has been a subject of controversy as some of his political opponents have said the Tinubu who attended CSU is a female. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, one of Tinubu’s main challenger in the 2023 Presidential election, has filed a suit in an American court, seeking that CSU produces Tinubu’s academic record. But speaking…

THE Vice President, Kashim Shettima will depart Abuja on Wednesday (today) to represent President Bola Tinubu at the G77+China Leaders’ Summit in Havana, Cuba from 15th to 17th September, 2023. This was disclosed by Director of Information, Office of the Vice President, Olusola Abiola in a statement made available to the media. He said the Vice President will be joining other world leaders, including the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres at the Summit to deliberate on development issues facing members mostly from the global south. The Summit will equally explore proactive ways of addressing challenges facing the development of the…

BARELY one week after leading a two-day nationwide warning strike, the organised labour on Tuesday threatened to begin an indefinite strike should the Federal Government fail to meet its demands at the end of a 21-day ultimatum which will expire in approximately one week’s time. The workers union said the proposed strike was necessary following the failure of the Federal Government to provide palliatives to assuage the Nigerians hardships as a result of the fuel subsidy removal. The Nigeria Labour Congress said the industrial action which may commence any day from next week would lead to an indefinite shutdown of…

THE Nigerian Presidency has warned that the lifting of the visa ban on Nigerians by the United Arab Emirates doesn’t mean that things will go back as they used to, especially as it concerns UAE visa applications and processing. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria, moments after the deal between President Bola Tinubu and his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan public, Media aide to the President, Ajuri Ngelale said things will be done differently to address some loopholes that caused the visa ban. “Every agreement comes with mutual responsibility. There is…