Author: straightnewsng.com

The Federal Government through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has released N163 billion to the universities, but the striking lecturers are not ready to call off their strike. Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said this while addressing newsmen after a closed door reconciliatory meeting with leaders of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday in Abuja. A meeting between the Federal Government and ASUU on Tuesday ended in a deadlock. Recall that the striking lecturers embarked on strike on November 5, 2018, to press home their demands. ASUU demands included some areas of understanding in the…

Farmers and investors in the cashew industry in Kogi State faced a major glut and poor turn-over due to poor quality control resulting in heavy losses put at N50 billion in the 2018 farming season. Kogi is the highest cashew producing state in Nigeria, exporting about 100 metric tonnes out of the 220 metric tonnes of cashew nuts exported by the entire country annually. However, the glut that hit the cashew industry in Kogi State is giving farmers and other dealers’ worries. A big-time cashew farmer in the state and first Vice President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria…

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Monday, said there was no law which compelled President Muhammadu Buhari to attend the debate. Buhari, who is presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, was absent at the debate held on Saturday. Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had withdrawn from the exercise, citing Buhari’s absence. Adesina, who spoke on Channels Television programme, Sunrise, said Buhari is never committed to attending the presidential debate. “I am not sure he also gave a commitment that he was going to be there. If he gave a firm…

Jamiu Abiola, a son to late MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential elections, has slammed former President Olusegun Obasanjo for benefitting on his father’s blood but failing to recognise his contribution to the nation’s democracy. MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled election, died fighting for his mandate, while Obasanjo was elected President in 1999 on the country’s return to democracy. Jamiu spoke on Sunday in Abuja at an event tagged “Testimonies of Change”, designed to showcase the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, organised by…

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court Monday restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from arresting the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and spokesman of Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Chief Yinka Odumakin, for allegedly peddling false news on social media. EFCC had threatened to move against the duo for allegedly originating a false post that its operatives raided the Abuja home of the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen. In a counter move, both Fani-Kayode and Odumakin approached the high court for protection, alleging plot by security agencies to infringe on their fundamental…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it has uncovered plans by some politicians to deploy food vendors in and around polling units for purposes of vote buying. Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the revelation Monday in Abuja when he received in audience the European Union Chief Observer, Mrs Maria Arena. In what, however, appeared a subtle response to attacks by some partisans on the commitment of the commission to conduct free, fair and credible election, Yakubu said he was too focused on preparing for the polls to engage in a fatuous debate. “With 25 days to…

The court urger warmed the crowd and announced the players to centre court at Rod Laver Arena. “Ladies and gentlemen welcome world number one …. (wait for it) … Simona Halep”. As the words were uttered Serena Williams strode purposefully from the tunnel onto court, white headphones on, large red racquet bag on her shoulder. Three steps out of the tunnel came the realisation. Oops, that’s not me. Williams, wheeled on her heels and retreated to the tunnel. Awkward. Halep walked out literally in Williams’ wake, as figuratively and literally where her career has been. World number one? Pfft. What…

The current N1.1 trillion demand by the Nigerian university lecturers has sparked a row as the Federal Government may probe past expenditure of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who stated this at the weekend during an interactive session with editors in Lagos, noted that the move was necessary against the backdrop that earlier releases were for development of infrastructure in the university system. Already, N20 billion was said to have been disbursed last year for same purpose, just as same sum had been approved by the president for the striking university…

The Presidency has described the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari administration as a desperate plot using subterfuge to arm-twist the President politically. Reacting to latest attacks on the administration of Obasanjo, the Presidency said, “You are sick, get well soon”. It further added that Mr Obasanjo needs a good doctor for good treatment. A statement by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, noted that the former president’s allegation that President Buhari had plotted with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the presidential poll existed only in his…

The Federal Government has indicated that its budgets require extensive deficit funding through borrowings to spend its way out of recession. The government also indicated that the streak of borrowings would continue in the short-to-medium term. Nigeria’s total debt stood at about N22.4 trillion as at last year and the federal government’s 2019 budget plans to borrow additional N2.1 trillion to finance its budget deficit during the fiscal year. Finance Minister, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, who gave these indications in Lagos last weekend acknowledged that debt profile of the country and the continued borrowings are of concern to many Nigerians, explained…