The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has urgently appealed for an exemption from the ongoing nationwide strike organized by labor unions, to ensure the smooth conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), which started on April 30 and is scheduled to end on June 24, 2024. Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, emphasized the importance of allowing students to complete their exams, highlighting the global disadvantage they would face if unable to do so. He acknowledged the severe economic challenges and the justified demands of Nigerian workers for a minimum wage…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
After being found guilty in his hush money case, Donald Trump launched a series of attacks on the U.S. criminal justice system, labeling the trial “rigged” and echoing sentiments from the Kremlin. This rhetoric, analysts argue, could significantly benefit autocrats such as Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fiona Hill, a former senior White House national security adviser, suggested that Putin likely found Trump’s comments advantageous, potentially using them to reinforce his own power and influence. Trump’s remarks that the trial’s outcome could happen to anyone align with Kremlin narratives, helping autocrats like Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who called…
The African National Congress (ANC) has lost its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid system, a shift in South Africa’s political history. With more than 99% of votes counted from Wednesday’s parliamentary election, the ANC garnered just over 40%, falling short of the majority it has held since 1994 when Nelson Mandela became president. The final results, to be formally declared by the Independent Electoral Commission on Sunday, confirm the ANC’s inability to surpass 50%, ushering in an era of coalition government for South Africa. This marks a turning point for the nation, as the ANC…
In a recent address, President Joe Biden announced a three-phase cease-fire plan between Israel and Hamas, aimed at achieving a lasting peace. Despite this effort, the proposal is encountering significant resistance from various factions. Biden emphasized that Israel’s military actions had significantly weakened Hamas, suggesting it was time to pursue peace. “It’s time for this war to end, for the day after to begin,” Biden declared, unveiling what he described as a comprehensive plan authored by Israel. However, he acknowledged the plan’s potential lack of support within Israel, including from members of its government coalition. The proposal’s first phase includes…
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Bola Tinubu-led administration to heed the demands of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for an increase in the national minimum wage. Pedro Obi, the president of NANS, issued a statement over the weekend stating that the current economic conditions, characterized by rampant inflation, the rising cost of living, and the continuous devaluation of the naira, have severely impacted the purchasing power of Nigerian workers. “We urge the Federal Government to respond promptly and favorably to the legitimate demands of Nigerian workers,”…
The Lagos State Government on Saturday handed over a police station it constructed to the Marine Division of the force in Epe. The News Agency of Nigeria reports the old police station is to be demolished by the state government to pave the way for a road project in the local government area. Speaking at the handing-over ceremony, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, said the planned demolition of the old station and construction of a new one was to enable government promptly deliver the expansion of Awolowo Way-Ita Marina road project. Daramola, represented by Permanent…
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that a war with China is “neither imminent nor unavoidable.” This statement came during the Shangri-La Dialogue, a premier security summit in Singapore, following Austin’s first in-person meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun. Austin stated the Biden administration’s commitment to cooling tensions despite recent military frictions around Taiwan and the South China Sea. He highlighted the importance of direct communication channels between the U.S. and China to prevent any unnecessary escalation. “Our goal is to make sure that we don’t allow things to spiral out of control unnecessarily,” Austin said, reinforcing that…
Former President Donald Trump and his allies are navigating the aftermath of a historic 34-count guilty verdict delivered by a Manhattan jury last Thursday. This unprecedented criminal conviction of a former president has sent shockwaves through the American political history, raising numerous uncertainties as the 2024 election approaches. In his first public appearance post-verdict, Trump delivered a defiant 33-minute speech at Trump Tower, touching on familiar campaign themes before lashing out at those he blames for his legal troubles. He labeled Judge Juan Merchan as a “devil” and dismissed the prosecution’s key witness, former lawyer Michael Cohen, as a “sleaze…
On Saturday, 70,608 candidates participated in the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), conducted nationwide, a slight decrease compared to over 72,000 candidates who registered for the exam in 2023. The Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, revealed these statistics during an inspection of examination centers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Senator Lawal Adamu Usman, and other top officials. Prof. Wushishi noted that this…
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has announced a leadership change, appointing Engineer Francis Agoha as the new Acting Managing Director, effective from May 31. This decision follows the board’s choice not to renew the contract of the outgoing Managing Director, Engineer Kingsley Achife. In an internal memo dated May 31, the board stated “Dear colleagues, the Board of Directors of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company wishes to inform the staff that it has decided not to renew the contract of the current Managing Director, Engineer Kingsley Achife. The Board expresses its deepest gratitude to Engineer Kingsley Achife for his…
Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka announced he might apply for the restoration of his US Permanent Residence, commonly known as a Green Card, following the recent conviction of former United States President Donald Trump. In a statement released on Friday, Soyinka reflected on the broader implications of Trump’s conviction, describing it as a moment of renewed hope for democracy. “For millions in anguished parts of the world, certainly for us in vast swathes of the African continent, this is daybreak on a new democratic promise,” he stated. The statement, titled “The Trump Verdict, reads: “For millions in anguished parts of…
In a move against Russian influence in Africa, the United States has imposed sanctions on two Central African Republic (CAR) entities, Mining Industries SARLU and Logistique Economique Etrangere SARLU, for their roles in supporting the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group. These companies have been instrumental in facilitating Wagner Group’s security operations and illicit mining activities within CAR. The Wagner Group, known for its widespread human rights abuses and exploitation of natural resources, operates as a proxy military force for the Kremlin. The group’s activities span multiple African countries and include significant involvement in Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Matthew Miller, the Department…