Author: straightnewsng.com

Following the growing political tension in Akwa Ibom State arising from the lingering battle between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the main opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders of PDP are doubling efforts to ensure members of the party approach the 2019 polls as a united front. Thus, the PDP Integration and Harmonisation Committee, headed by former deputy governor of the state, Engr Patrick Ekpotu, has commenced the second phase of interactions with aggrieved stakeholders and other members of the party who have concerns over diverse issues in the party, which include what they refer to as “poor…

An Abuja High Court has directed the Nigeria Police Force to freeze seven accounts operated by Itsekiri Regional Development Council, IRDC, which contains N2.2 billion. The accounts were frozen after which a Delta State High Court sitting in Warri granted a similar order. Rights activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor has said that despite two court orders freezing seven accounts being operated by Itsekiri Regional Development Council, IRDC, members of the council have opened new accounts in two different banks, saying those behind the act have no regard for the law. She described the development as being contempt of court, saying she…

PAN-NIGER Delta Forum, PANDEF, the umbrella body of traditional rulers, elders, leaders and stakeholders of the coastal states of Niger Delta, has resolved to resist any attempt to make the people slaves in a country that has been built with their resources and sweat. PANDEF warned that the people of the region will “vehemently resist” any attempt to make use of “federal might” to subvert the will of the Niger Delta people in the 2019 general election. The group in a communiqué issued at the end of PANDEF/South-South Stakeholders Consultative meeting at Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, said it would resist…

The House of Representatives, Wednesday, requested President Muhammdu Buhari to transmit the Tripartite Agreement on new National Minimum Wage to the National Assembly for legislation. The Lower Chamber, which also expressed concern over ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, also resolved to set up a joint Senate/House ad-hoc committee to investigate the remote and immediate cause of Tuesday’s industrial action by members of the Parliamentary Staff Association, PASAN, of the National Assembly. At Wednesday’s plenary, the House equally passed a bill for act to amend the Public Procurement Act, PPA. The request to the President…

Striking lecturers in public universities in the country are enjoined to be ready for a long strike. Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, who gave the directive Wednesday in a bulletin sent to members of the union, said all ASUU members should be on the watch and prepare for a long drawn struggle to salvage the university system in the country. According to him, members should remain steadfast and resolute in the face of intimidation or antics employed by government through vice chancellors and governing councils to undermine the ongoing struggle. “Government is yet…

Auditors-general in the country have been tasked to contribute their quota to towards enthroning transparency and accountability in the public sector in a bid to deepen the fight against corruption. Speaking at the Conference of Auditors-General in Nigeria in Abuja, Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari said the fight against corruption in Nigeria was yet to attain the desired level being sought by government. Buhari, who was who was represented by Mrs.Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, said “At the inception of this administration, three cardinal goals were set: these are security, fight against corruption and revamping of…

The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has adopted Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as its sole candidate for February 19, 2019 presidential poll. Addressing a world press conference in Abuja Wednesday, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Convener of CUPP, said the former vice president met the criteria used in the choice of a presidential candidate for the coalition. Oyinlola noted that CUPP, an umbrella body of 45 registered political parties in the alliance, arrived at the decision, based on Atiku’s experience in administration, economic management and politics. He declared: “After a painstaking assessment of what we…

Nigeria is ranked 11 among the 20 countries in the world with highest prevalence of child marriage, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), said Wednesday. Mr Edward Kallon, UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, said this at the ongoing UN Women Conference 2018 in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four-day conference had the theme- Ending Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation in Africa: Dialogue with Traditional and Cultural Leaders. Kallon highlighted the top 20 countries with highest prevalence of child marriage according to UNICEF report titled `The State…

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has threatened to begin an indefinite strike from Wednesday, December 12 to press home the demands of its members. ASUP had, in November 2017, gone on strike, but had to call it off 15 days after the union and  the Federal government reached an agreement. National President of ASUP, Usman Dutse said on Tuesday the strike had become necessary because the Federal Government had failed to meet the demands of the polytechnic lecturers. Already, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is continuing strike for about one month, though negotiations between the union…

Nine Nigerian states have so far passed the local government autonomy bill into law, Bukola Saraki, Senate President lamented. Saraki who spoke at the 40th anniversary of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees ((NULGE) noted that the bill is still under consideration in the remaining 26 states, saying there is still hope because in this instance because delay does not constitute denial. He said, “We in the National Assembly fully appreciate the importance of governance at local government level. Yes, it strengthens local government administration, but more importantly it provides for governance that is accountable, which is a prerequisite…