The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, unveiled the Federal Government’s ambitious plan to create five million jobs for youths within a five-year period through the N-Power scheme. This initiative comes on the heels of the temporary suspension of the program, as announced by Edu last week. Edu emphasised that the government’s strategy involves the creation of one million jobs annually, with the primary goal of rejuvenating the N-Power programme. The suspension was prompted by the identification of certain irregularities within the scheme. Consequently, an investigation has been launched to scrutinise the expenditure of funds since the…
Author: Editor Francis
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following men and women to serve in the Office of the President under the Media & Publicity Directorate with full respect for the tenets of Nigeria’s federal character principle and the supremacy of merit: (1) Mr. Fela Durotoye (Senior Special Assistant to the President — National Values & Social Justice) (2) Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement) (3) Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications) (4) Mr. Aliyu Audu (Special Assistant to the President — Public Affairs) (5) Mr.…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has addressed recent reports that have caused concerns regarding the nation’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), the eNaira, and its potential threat to financial stability. Isa AbdulMumin, Director of Corporate Communications, issued this statement on October 9, 2023. In response to the reports, the CBN noted a lack of understanding in certain portions of their recently released publication, “Economics of Digital Currencies: A Book of Readings.” The book, according to the CBN, emphasises the interest of regulatory bodies like the CBN in cryptocurrencies’ role as speculative investments and their potential risks to financial stability.…
Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, has expressed deep concern regarding the current outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Palestine These hostilities are having severe repercussions on the lives of civilians in both Israeli and Palestinian communities and are posing a significant threat to regional peace. In the communique released, Mahamat emphasises the critical importance of recognizing the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to an independent and sovereign state. He identifies this denial as the primary cause of the enduring tensions between Israel and Palestine. Urgently, he calls upon both parties to…
Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos State, has shed light on the ongoing controversy surrounding the payment of a N8,100 tax levy as school fees for pupils and students for the academic year 2023/2024 This clarification comes in response to criticism from parents and guardians. Jamiu emphasised that taxation serves as a crucial source of internally generated revenue for the government, enabling it to meet the demands of the public and contribute to developmental initiatives aimed at providing essential services to citizens. It’s essential to note that Lagos State Government’s free education policy remains in…
Recall that there is a news circulating around about the The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to have said that there is a need for its personnel to bear firearms in discharging their duties, considering the level of security challenges across the country. The Corps Marshal, Mr Dauda Biu, made this known on Saturday while inaugurating 1,762 personnel of the corps who just concluded their four-month basic course at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, Niger. Biu, who was represented by Shehu Zaki, a Deputy Corps Marshal, said that the measure would ensure adequate protection for the personnel who…
The Lagos State government has taken action against noise pollution by sealing off the well-known nightclub, Silk Club, situated at 190 Awolowo Road in Ikoyi. This decision was communicated through a statement released on Saturday night by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab. The commissioner disclosed that the nightclub was closed by officials from the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) following a nighttime enforcement operation in the vicinity. The action was taken in line with efforts to address noise pollution issues in the area. “As I directed, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency @LasepaOfficial conducted a…
A senior lawyer, Paul Erokoro, SAN, has said that tendering additional evidence at the Supreme Court is an uphill task that requires a great deal of effort. According to him, the rules admitting fresh evidence at the Supreme Court are very stringent. Erokoro stated this on Sunday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. He said the general rule is that additional evidence is not encouraged at the apex court. “The general rule is that additional evidence at the Supreme Court or any Court of Appeal is not encouraged at all, but that doesn’t mean that…
Former Minister of Education, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has drawn attention to the persistent issue of bad leadership as a significant obstacle to the economic development of Africa. She emphasized that unless urgent steps are taken to bring about structural changes in African politics, the continent will continue to struggle with the problem of inadequate leadership. Ezekwesili made these remarks during the graduation ceremony of the 2023 School of Politics, Policy, and Governance. She expressed her concern that without intervention from leaders across various sectors, including government, the private sector, and civil society, Africa would remain deprived of good leadership. The…
The member of parliament, owner of a strategic mining company, was sentenced to death on Friday in Kinshasa by the military justice system on charges including “participation in the M23 insurrectionary movement” and “treason”, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. African News reports The death penalty is often pronounced in the DRC, but has not been applied for 20 years and is systematically commuted to life imprisonment. In August, the prosecution had requested life imprisonment for Édouard Mwangachuchu, 70, elected representative of Masisi, in the troubled province of North Kivu (eastern DRC). The High Military Court did not grant any…
Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, the Governor of Ekiti State, issued a public apology to the state’s contingent who participated in the recently concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State. The governor expressed regret over the contingent’s subpar appearance during the opening ceremony of the games. During a meeting with the athletes, who had performed commendably by securing two gold, two silver, and three bronze medals, Governor Oyebanji praised them for representing Ekiti State with distinction. He stated, “I apologize for the inappropriate behavior of the officials of the council. As a government, we tried to provide for you, but the…
Troops of the Nigerian Army have made a significant recovery during clearance operations in suspected hideouts linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Imo State. Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, issued a statement on Friday, shedding light on these operations carried out by the Joint Task Force South-East Operation, known as ‘Operation UDO KA II.’ These clearance operations occurred simultaneously on Thursday, October 5, 2023, in two council areas: Ihioma-Ihittenansa communities in Orsu Local Government Area and Okigwe-Umulolo communities…