Author: Musa Bello

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says owners of landed properties owing the FCT Administration (FCTA) ground rents, amounting to N34 billion would be penalised. Wike stated this when members of the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee Investigating Failure of Mass Transportation in Nigeria, visited him in Abuja on Tuesday. He warned allottees owing the FCT Administration ground rents to either pay or have their property revoked and reallocated to those who could pay. “I have calculated the debt of nonpayment of ground rent, which is about N34 billion, and I am going to collect…

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC’) has attributed the power outage being experienced in its franchise areas to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) two-day warning strike. The management of AEDC made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday. ”We are aware of the general power outage being experienced across our franchise, this is due to enforcement of the two-day warning strike embarked upon by the labour union. ”We apologise for any inconvenience you may be experiencing as a result of this, as we continue our engagement with key stakeholders toward minimising the impact of the strike on our…

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Katsina State Government to construct an ultra-modern medical warehouse in the state. Dr Saudat Bashir, a health specialist with UNICEF, Kano field office disclosed this during the signing of the MoU for the proposed project in Katsina on Tuesday. She said that the warehouse, which would be provided with the state-of-the-art facilities, would be located at the premises of the state’s central medical store. According to her, the Katsina state government will provide 15 per cent of the total cost of the project, while UNICEF…

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi, on Tuesday ordered the immediate payment of annual leave grants to all categories of workers in the state. He gave the order while receiving the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kebbi chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House in Birnin Kebbi. Signing the order in the presence of the union leaders, the governor instructed that payment should commence on Wednesday, insisting that all categories of workers from State, Local Governments and LGEAs must be paid a uniform of 10 per cent of their annual pay. Idris lamented that as an…

The Kwara Fire Service on Tuesday recovered the remains of a 43-year-old man that got drowned in a well in Ilorin. The Head of Department, Media and Publicity of the service, Mr Hassan Hakeem-Adekunle, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ilorin and made available to newsmen. Hakeem-Adekunle stated that the incident occurred around 10.30am on Tuesday and the brigade was invited through a distress call by one David, who live in the neighbourhood. He explained that the deceased, identified as Abdulquadir Muritala and resident of Oko-Erin Area, Ilorin, allegedly fell into the well situated behind Global Primary and Secondary…

Professor Rufai Ahmed, the immediate past National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has left the party. Rufai, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said he decided to quit “after consulting widely”. Rufai’s action is considered by observers as a huge blow to the party that has been whacked by a major crisis that has torn the group into shreds. The former national chairman, who resigned from the top job on 31 March, said he had offered to step aside then, to give the group an opportunity to move ahead by injecting people with new ideas. “When…

In adherence to the two-day warning strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the National Electricity Workers Union (NUEW) on Tuesday, shut down the Kano Electricity Distribution Company’s (KEDCO) head office, situated on Post Office Road in Kano’s metropolis. The NLC’s National Executive Council had, after its meeting on August 31, 2023, resolved to initiate a two-day warning strike. This directive was extended to all affiliated members, scheduling the strike from Tuesday, September 5 to Wednesday, September 6, 2023. READ ALSO: Tinubu’s economic revival plan already yielding results- Shettima Sani Bala, the Head of Corporate Communications at KEDCO, confirmed…

The Borno Geograhic Information Service (BOGIS), has raised concern over the proliferation of illegal lottery houses in Maiduguri and environs. A statement by the Executive Secretary of the BOGIS, Adam Bababe, said there was noticeable increase in people leasing out thier lands in residential and commercial areas for such lottery or game house operators. “BOGIS wishes to inform the public that it has noticed the increase in leasing legally allocated spaces, whether for commercial or residential purposes, to lottery or game house operators which is strictly against the law. “The presence of these gaming/bet houses within our state has led…

Kaduna workers, banks, telecommunication outlets and polytechnic have joined the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) two-day warning strike. A check by newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna, revealed that the Judiciary Staff Union (JUSUN), among other MDAs in Kaduna, joined the two-day warning strike. A check round the state metropolis by newsmen to observe the situation, saw that all the ministries were closed with no sign of any worker on duty. However, marketers and commercial transporters engaged in their businesses uninterrupted. Academic institutions in the state, especially the Kaduna Polytechnic, was also shut down, while students were seen in mass returning to…

The Federal, state and the private sector workers as well as unions in Bauchi State on Tuesday, joined the two days nationwide warning strike called by the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC). It was however reported that the state was partially locked down. This is occasioned by the compliance by both the federal as well as state workers, banks and motor parks on the directive of the NLC national body. Mr Maikudi Ibrahim, Chairman Negotiation Council (JNC) of the NLC in the state, said workers had complied with the warning strike. “We monitored the strike in the state capital and it…

The Zamfara State Executive Council, led by Governor Dauda Lawal, has approved the recruitment of 4,200 members to bolster the ranks of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), aiming to complement the efforts of security agencies in addressing the ongoing security challenges in the state. The decision to recruit civilian JTF members was a key topic discussed during the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, as revealed in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris. Additionally, the meeting granted approval for the construction of new classrooms and the renovation and furnishing of existing ones. The statement reads,…

A driver lost his life during a clash between tanker drivers and a group of hoodlums in the Mile 2 area of Lagos. While police said they investigating the incident, multiple sources suggest that at least four individuals may have lost their lives, with several others sustaining injuries during the altercation that occurred on Tuesday. The clash is believed to have been triggered by the numerous extortion points along the access roads to the Tin-Can Island Port, where hoodlums often demand money from passing vehicles. Trouble began when some of these hoodlums demanded N2,000 from a tanker driver before allowing…

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), in partnership with National Population Commission (NPC), targets to commence birth registration of 395, 382 children in Niger. Malam Bala Musa, Deputy Director Programmes in NOA and UNICEF Focal Person in the agency, disclosed this during an advocacy visit to Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Faruq and Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area, Aminu Ladan in Minna. He said the birth registration was being supported by UNICEF, adding it would be carried out, using digitalised application. “Birth registration is vital and birth certificate is a vital document because it helps our children in so many…

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa on Tuesday urged employers to stop rejecting corps members posted to their establishments for primary assignments. Fintiri made the remark while declaring the 2023 Batch ’B’ Stream 2 orientation programme closed at Damare orientation camp, Girei Local Government. The governor, represented by his Deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, described the situation as an ‘’ugly trend,’’ saying that the state government seriously frowns at it. “Rather, you are to accept them and accord priority to their welfare, and provide the enabling environment for them to develop their potentials,” he said. Fintiri called on Local Government Council Chairmen,…

The National Executive Committee of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has expelled Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, following his alleged refusal to appear before the party’s Disciplinary Committee. Recall that Kwankwaso, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of NNPP, had been earlier suspended by the party’s leadership at the National Convention on Aug. 29 in Lagos. Recall that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NNPP set up a Disciplinary Committee and directed it to invite Kwankwaso to defend allegations of gross anti party activities and mismanagement of party/campaign funds within five days. The NEC had warned that, failure to appear before the…

Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State, experienced significant flooding on Monday after nearly 12 hours of continuous rainfall. The heavy downpour, which began as a light shower around 10 pm on Sunday, intensified around 4 am on Monday, persisting until approximately 10 am. This extended rainfall led to flooding in various areas, including Wurukum, Achusa, and parts of Gboko Road. Among those affected were students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, formerly known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, who found themselves stranded due to the inaccessible road leading to the university campus. READ ALSO: IGP establishes panel to…

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has established a seven-member Panel of Inquiry to investigate circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a police cadet, Sulaiman Jika, at the Nigeria Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State.  The panel, headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, includes the Assistant Inspector-General, Training and Development, Oyeyemi Oyediran; Force Medical Officer, CP Garba Nzukwen; CP Homicide FCID, Fom-Pam Joseph, CP Training POLAC, CP Patrick Edung; a representative of the CP Legal as the secretary, and the Principal Staff Officer II to the IG, ACP Idris…

The House of Representatives ad-hoc Committee probing N2.3 trillion expended by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) says the fund has spent over N40 billion on projects in six institutions in Borno. The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Edem Unyime, made this known on Monday in Maiduguri during a courtesy call on Gov. Babagana Zulum. Unyime said the committee was in the state to visit the benefitting institutions to verify the claim. “Your state has benefitted from TetFund to the tune of over N40 billion. “Because of the petition that we have against TetFund on how N2.3 trillion was allegedly…

The Bauchi government says it has earmarked N2 billion for procurement of 88,889 bags of rice for distribution to vulnerable persons in the state.  The state government also approved N800 million for payment of gratuities to retirees. Hajiya Hajara Wanka, the Commissioner for Bumanitarian and Disaster Management, stated this at a news conference on Monday in Bauchi. She said that N2 billion has been provided to purchase 88,889 bags of rice as part palliative to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal. Wanka said the state recieved N2 billion out of the N5 billion approved by the Federal Government. “Gov.…

Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin have been scheduled to file out against Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure on Wednesday at the Main-Bowl of the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin, beginning from 4 p.m. The match is part of the preparations for both teams ahead of the commencement of the 2023-2024 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), and for Kwara United, it is more than just the game. The team last played inside the 18,000 capacity facility constructed in 1977 in the 2021/2022 season, and on a synthetic surface. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also confirmed that the team will…