Author: straightnewsng.com

Provoked by Tuesday’s protest by National Assembly workers over non-payment of allowances and benefits, the House of Representatives yesterday resolved to invite the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, to appear before its Finance Committee to explain the reasons for the non-release of 2018 budgetary allocations to the legislature and the judiciary. The summon followed a motion sponsored by Edward Pwajok at the plenary yesterday. Moving the motion, Pwajok expressed worry that both arms of government were placed on first line charge, wondering why the Minister was yet to release the funds to enable the management pay staff. He said…

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has appointed new operational commanders to prosecute the war on terror. This is following the recent directive by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali, that Operation Lafiya Dole be reorganized for effective results. A statement by Brigadier General Sani Usman, Director of Army Public Relations, said: “In order to inject new hands in the fight against terrorism and other operations, the Nigerian Army today (yesterday) 6th December 2018, authorized the posting and appointments of some of its senior officers. “Those affected by the new posting and appointments include some Staff…

Nigerians have been asked to vote President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC out of power in the next year’s general elections. Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is the Director General of the Atiku/Obi Campaign Organisation leading the call Wednesday at the North Central zonal rally of Peoples Democratic Part, PDP, presidential campaign in Ilorin, Kwara state, lamented that the APC has failed to deliver on all its 2015 campaign promises. Saraki who is also the Senate President said the APC-led government has failed in all facets of governance, stressing the need to replace the All Progressives Congress, APC-led federal government as…

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Wednesday, condemned the strike threat issued by some oil marketers over the lingering fuel subsidy debts, describing it as an act of sabotage and an attempt to disrupt the relative peace in the downstream oil sector of the economy. In a statement in Abuja, Alhaji Danladi Pasali, National Secretary of IPMAN, described the seven-day ultimatum issued by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA, and the Independent Petroleum Products Importers, IPPIs, as an act of intimidation and an attempt to frustrate the effort by…

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…