G o od morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers 1. Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has revealed that the 2021 National budget would be presented to the joint session of the National Assembly next week. Giving a hint on what was discussed upon resumption of plenary after a two-months’ annual holiday, the Senate President explained that the 2020 implementation of Nigeria’s annual budget has been disrupted due to COVID-19 pandemic. 2. The House of Representatives has rescinded the passage of the controversial National Water resources bill over flaws in the procedure that led to its passage bill. Upon resumption yesterday, a member of the House, Ben Nzondo from Benue State moved a point of privilege and argued that the proper procedure was not followed on the bill. In his ruling, speaker, Gbajabiamila concluded that Nzondo had raised fundamental objections that must be looked into. 3. The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has warned the Peoples Democratic Party, P...

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has appealed to Nigerians not to lose faith in the organised labour. TUC Chairman in Lagos State, Gbenga Ekundayo, explained that the strike was halted to see what the government will come up with, in two weeks. To the chagrin of many citizens, TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, suspended the planned nationwide industrial action yesterday morning. This followed negotiations and agreements with the federal government. Ekundayo told journalists that the suspension would be reviewed afterwards “When labour leaders go into a negotiation, it is for a purpose, and when that purpose is not served, we press home the demands by withdrawing services of our members. “Our national leaders went into further negotiations last night, which lasted till the early hours of today. An understanding has been reached and the strike was called off,” he said.

The federal government has declared Thursday, October 1, a public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebration. Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made the announcement today. Nigeria is the leading black nation in the world, Africa’s pride and beacon of hope, he declared. Aregbesola congratulated citizens on the Diamond Jubilee and assured of the government’s commitment to socio-economic transformation. “Our warmth, welcoming spirit and love as well as the abundant wealth inherent in our human capital and the richness of our land, makes Nigeria unarguably the leading black nation in the world and Africa’s pride and beacon of hope if we can rally ourselves together to harness our potentials. “A country of about 200 million people whose natural talent, grit and passion glitter like the precious diamond that we are. Nigerians are sparkling like diamonds in the pack, whether in Academia, Business, Innovation, Music, Movie, Entertainment, Fashi...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has debunked speculations that its ongoing strike has been suspended. It made the clarification via its  Twitter handle   while reacting to #ASUUResumes trend on yesterday. According to the union, the report claiming that its members have resumed is false. “Contrary to speculations making the rounds in the social media that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has called off strike, nothing of such is true. “If we are going to call off our going strike, there is a process that will be followed and nothing of such has been done.” The President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, had vowed that the union would sustain its ongoing strike action until the Federal Government addresses all its demands. Ogunyemi said ASUU was asking the Federal Government to implement the 2012 universities’ needs assessment. He added that it was saddening that Nigerian university lecturers were still on the same salary scale of 2009, stressing that thi...

Former Kaduna lawmaker, Shehu Sani has condemned the attack on Governor of Borno State’s convoy by Boko Haram. Journalists reported that the governor’s convoy was ambushed yesterday, shortly after leaving Monguno by suspected Boko Haram fighters at Kekano village. According to reports, 12 policemen, 13 civilians and 5 soldiers were confirmed dead from the attack. The incident occurred around 2pm while the convoy was heading to Baga town ahead of government’s plan to return internally displaced persons, IDPs, from Maiduguri to Baga The terrorists also seized and carted away one police armoured car, one gun truck belonging to the military and six government vehicles. Reacting to the attack, Sani advised Governor Zulum to exercise great caution in areas still under control by Boko Haram and be well protected. He condoled with the families of security agents who died in the process. Sani on his Twitter page wrote: “The attacks on the convoy of Governor Zulum by the Insurgents again is ...

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has assured Nigerians of a better country. Obasanjo said he could see a new vision and observed Nigerians having a new understanding of the nation. The former President said this at 94th birthday of Pa Rueben Fasoranti, the Afenifere leader held in Akure, Ondo State capital yesterday, where his (Faaorant) autobiography entitled “My Life, My Legacy (Service with Integrity and Excellence)" was also unveiled. Pa Fasoranti had earlier expressed concern over the state of the country emphasizing that the issue of insecurity has continued to rear its ugly head in the country. But speaking, Obasanjo said, “Baba, I feel your sense of frustration. That you are saying this is not the Nigeria of my dream, the Nigeria I laboured for all my life or a seemingly hopeless Nigeria. “I want to assure you that I have a vision of a new Nigeria. I see a new understanding among Nigerians. New awareness among Nigerians, new realization among Nigerians. “As long as the...

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has boasted that he would spend 67 years more on the throne. The monarch stated this yesterday while speaking to his supporters at his place. Residents of the town thronged to his palace on a solidarity walk, in opposition to the petition by the 12 kingmakers urging the Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, to remove him from the throne over alleged misconduct. “I have 67 more years to spend on the throne. I am going to live for 120 years. Those who want me out and want to become Oluwo, should wait because this is my time. “With this crowd that engaged in this solidarity walk, it is obvious that I am in the good books of my people. That is why you are all standing in support of me. “If I had not been good my people, you would have stoned me today. In as much as I am being loved by my people, nobody can remove me from being the king,” Oba Akanbi said.

G o od morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers 1. The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has been suspended by the State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC. This was confirmed in a statement signed by eight members of the executive committee yesterday. They are: Senator Tony Adeniyi, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Congressman Bimbo Daramola, Hon Robinson Ajiboye, Hon Oye Ojo, Hon (Dr) Adewale Omirin and Hon Femi Adeleye. 2. Meanwhile, the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has denied the “suspension” of the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi. Reacting, the party in a statement by Yekini Nabena, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, said the actions are a nullity as the Party’s National Secretariat is yet to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported “suspensions”. 3. Similarly, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has reacted to his suspension by a faction of the...

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State says there are alleged plans by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to compromise the Ondo governorship election. Wike made the allegation in a post on his Twitter page this morning. The Governor accused the All Progressive Congress, APC, of putting pressure on INEC to rig the election following their defeat in Edo State last Saturday. Recall that incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki defeated his closest challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the election. His tweet read: “After the defeat of @OfficialAPCNg in Edo State there is enormous pressure on @inecnigeria to compromise the Ondo election for @OfficialAPCNg. “I am concerned INEC would cave in to the pressure.” The Ondo State governoship election is expected to hold on Oct. 10, 2020.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Yoruba One Voice (YOV) have reiterated their resolve to achieve Biafra and Oduduwa Nations. Warning of an implosion in Nigeria, they told the federal government to between now and October 1, 2021, conduct a referendum to allow citizens choose whether to leave or remain in the country. This was contained in a joint release made available to journalists today. It was signed by Sina Okanlomo, YOV General Secretary and Chika Edoziem, Head, IPOB Directorate of State. The statement said Southern people were enduring life “with others, who do not share our own values, whose ways of life, mannerisms, ideology, are untoward, inimical, alien, hostile to our people.” The bodies noted that it is time to boldly jettison the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), “which was not a product of the collective will of the people.” They said the constitution was decreed into existence by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar administrat...

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others to investigate former Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari. The State government recently alleged the diversion of N10.8billion meant for the state’s university project. The money was allegedly stolen from the N37.4billion refund from the federal government for reconstruction and rehabilitation of 14 federal roads in Zamfara. On Friday, Tola Oresanwo, CACOL Director of Administration and Programmes, in a statement, warned that the allegation must not be ignored. Oresanwo said it was despicable that some governors run the affairs of their states with flagrant abuse of the confidence reposed in them by the electorate. “The amount in question can conveniently and comfortably provide basic amenities for the people. It can be used to advance literacy as the state is one of the educationally less developed in Nigeria. If judiciously utilized, the money ...

G o od morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers 1.  President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, has insisted that Nigeria is not building a rail line into Niger Republic. In a series of tweets yesterday, Shehu clarified the rail line will stop at the designated border point, saying that this was part of an agreement reached between both nations in 2015 and coordinated by the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation. 2.  The National Industrial Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, from embarking on a nationwide strike. Yesterday, Justice Ibrahim Galadima said the order was pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. 3. The Kogi State Government has declared two days of mourning for the 23 victims of Wednesday’s tanker explosion in Felele, Lokoja. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, who made the announcement in a stat...

Some lawmakers in the United Kingdom parliament have reported President Muhammadu Buhari to the Secretary-General of Commonwealth over the unabating spate of killings in the country. The British lawmakers wrote the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland QC, over widespread violence in Nigeria. These lawmakers include Caroline Cox, David Alton, Jin Shannon and Helena Kennedy. According to them, thousands of civilians in Nigeria had been killed and elements of the Nigerian Government may be complicit in the violence. Others, who signed the letter, are Lord Williams, Lord Carey, Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Phillip Mounstephen, Lord Stoddart, Lord Anderson, Lord Cormack. Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, Ayo Adedoin, Ewelina Ochab, Mervyn Thomas, Dr Khataza Gondwe, Nevile Kyrte-Smith, Dr John Eibiner and Ann Buwalda. The lawyer sought intervention on the killings in Nigeria, highlighting the helplessness of the current administration.

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers 1. The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has insisted that it would proceed with its planned nationwide protest with effect from Sept. 28 over Federal Government refusal to reverse the hikes in electricity tariff and fuel pump price. According to Wabba, the NEC after its extensive deliberations resolved to reject the hike in electricity tariff by almost 100 percent and also reject the fuel price increase in the name of deregulation. 2. The federal government has insisted there is no going back on the passage of the National Water Resources Bill. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who stated this during a press conference yesterday, said those criticizing the Bill, were either ill-informed or have not read it or do not understand its provisions. 3. The Aslem Ojezua-led faction of the Edo All Progressives Congress, APC, has dispelled rumour that plans are underway to expel Adams Oshiomhole, a former Nation...

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers 1. The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, has said Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram are taking advantage of poverty in North-East Nigeria to recruit new members. Akufo-Addo, who stated this yesterday, while on a working visit to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, said the insurgents were also making inroads in the Lake Chad Basin, Mali and the Greater Sahel. 2. The reelected Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki,  yesterday , said the lions and tigers of the State have been caged. Obaseki said his victory at the Saturday’s governorship election was an indication that the tigers and the lions in Edo State politics have been permanently caged. 3. An observer group in the just concluded Edo State Governorship election, Intercontinental Leadership Initiative, has faulted the integrity of the September 19 poll. Mr Stafford Bisong, the Country Head of the organization, who disclosed that ...

The 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination, known as Junior WAEC, has been approved to start on Monday, September 21, 2020, in Ebonyi State. The decision was part of the resolutions reached after a stakeholders’ meeting with the state Commissioner for Education, Onyebuchi Chima on Monday. Onyebuchi, however, told stakeholders that the state government had directed that the questions for the examination should be written on the chalkboards instead of the usual printed question papers by the ministry. According to Chima, conventional answer booklets will also not be made available, as principals and proprietors of schools will have to collect ordinary foolscap sheets with ink markers and chalks from their various local education authorities for the exercise. The commissioner said every school would collect only one question paper in each of the subjects for replication manually on boards for the pupils, while there would be no room for practical or alternative to practical. Part of...