The Vice Chancellor of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, has expressed discontent over the continued exclusion of private universities from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) . The ABUAD management deemed this exclusion as unfair and unacceptable, asserting that private institutions play a vital role in providing alternative and complementary education to the public sector. Prof. Olarinde highlighted the significant contributions of private universities in increasing accessibility and enhancing the quality of education. She emphasized that despite their important role, private universities receive no financial support from TETFund. The Vice Chancellor pointed out the contradiction…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Lagos State Government has issued a stern two-week ultimatum for the removal of illegal building extensions across the state. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, announced the enforcement during a press conference held in Alausa on Wednesday. Expressing concern over the growing trend of unlawfully converted residential spaces and unauthorized building attachments, Dr. Olumide emphasized the need for immediate action to uphold sanity in the state. The Commissioner pinpointed commercial centers such as Lagos Island, Ikeja, and Iyana-Ipaja as hotspots for these illicit practices, where shops have been extended with sheds and steel…
Governor Sanwo-Olu has directed the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) to align its fees with the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Law of 2018. This directive, conveyed by MVAA’s General Manager, Mr. Rasheed Muri-Okunola, comes into effect from March 1, 2024. The adjustment in fees impacts Motor Vehicle Dealers and Motor Spare Parts Dealers within the state, with specific amounts outlined in the Transport Law 2018. Motor Vehicle Dealers registered as limited liability companies will now pay N150,000, while individual and business name vehicle dealers will contribute N100,000. For Motor Vehicle Spare Parts Dealers, the fees…
President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to expedite the resolution of the prolonged legal battle surrounding the $1.3bn deepwater OML 245 oil block located in the southern Niger Delta. The order involves the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, and several government agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The Malabu OML 245 saga dates back to 1998 when Malabu Oil and Gas, linked to former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum, Dan Etete, acquired the block for…
The Accountant General of the Federation has announced that federal workers can expect to receive their January salaries from Thursday evening, addressing a delay caused by a glitch in the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) platform. Bawa Mokwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General, assured that the issue has been successfully rectified, paving the way for the commencement of salary payments today. The glitch in the GIFMIS platform was identified as the root cause of the delay, impacting the timely processing of payroll for federal employees. However, Mokwa emphasized…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a clarification on the recent remarks made by its Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, regarding alleged money laundering involving religious sect leaders in Nigeria. This comes in response to misleading reports, particularly from Arise News, and commentaries circulating in the media. During a public engagement on Youth, Religion, and the Fight Against Corruption in Abuja on January 31, 2024, Olukoyede expressed concern about the involvement of some religious sect leaders in a pyramid scheme that fleeced over N30 billion from Nigerians. He mentioned tracing over N7 billion to a specific…
The House passed a $79 billion tax cut package on Wednesday, garnering support for enhanced child tax credits and business tax breaks. The legislation garnered support from a broad spectrum of lawmakers, with a vote of 357-70, signaling a potential breakthrough for a Congress that has struggled to push significant bills forward. The tax cut package includes notable enhancements to the child tax credit, benefiting millions of lower-income families. Additionally, it provides three tax breaks for businesses, presenting a balanced approach that secured support from lawmakers on both sides. The fate of the bill remains uncertain as it…
Professor Lami Nnamonu, a senior lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi, Benue State, expressed regret over the increasing rejection of Nigerian agricultural products in European and American countries. The primary reason behind this alarming trend is attributed to the improper use of chemicals by local farmers. Speaking at a one-day Capacity Building and Empowerment event organized by the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON) and the National Assembly in Port Harcourt, Prof Nnamonu emphasized the failure of regulatory agencies to enforce chemical use laws. The repercussions of this lax oversight are not only tarnishing the…
The community of Ugboju in Agatu Local Government Area, Benue State, was targeted in a fresh attack, resulting in the loss of several lives. While conflicting reports on casualties circulate, a source disclosed that nine people succumbed to the violence believed to be orchestrated by suspected herdsmen. Former deputy chairman of Agatu Local Government, John Ikwulono, reported that armed herdsmen launched the assault on Ogboju community on Wednesday night, with the death toll reaching nine as confirmed by recovered corpses. The Benue State Government and police authorities are yet to officially confirm the attack. The Agatu Local Government…
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has recently announced the appointment of four accomplished individuals as Permanent Secretaries in the state’s Public Service. The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries are Engr. Lateef Ayodele Somide, Engr. Mahmood Olakunle Adegbite, Mr. Fatai Audu Emmanuel, and Mrs. Lyla Morenike Oki. Their diverse expertise spans public works, drainage services, fisheries, and administration, showcasing a strategic alignment with the needs of various government sectors. The Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, emphasized the selection process’s rigor, emphasizing diligence, commitment, intellectual capacity, and dedication to effective service delivery. The appointments, set to take effect from…
Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, In a recent tour of government-managed power plants mentioned the issues crippling Nigeria’s power generation capabilities. Unpaid debts and a shortage of gas supply have been identified as major contributors to the power plants’ inability to operate at full capacity. During his visit to the Olorunsogo Power Plant in Ogun State and the Omotosho Power Plant in Ondo State, the Minister expressed his concern over the under-utilization of these facilities, operating at less than 25% capacity. This comes at a time when the nation is grappling with low power generation, exacerbating the energy crisis.…
President William Ruto announced a partnership with Oracle Corporation to establish a global data center in Nairobi. This initiative marks Oracle’s second data center in Africa, following the establishment of one in South Africa. During discussions in Italy, President Ruto, accompanied by ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo and Principal Secretary John Tanui, emphasized that this collaboration aligns with the government’s strategy to attract international IT companies to Kenya. “The planned public cloud region in Nairobi underscores Oracle’s commitment to Africa and is aimed at driving the digital transformation of government, public institutions, businesses, and start-ups in Kenya,”…