Author: straightnewsng.com

By Straightnews The Federal Government said it will examine state laws on the conduct of local government polls, as well as scrutinise why some state governments have delayed the conduct of their local government elections. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, who stated this in Ekiti on Tuesday, said there was no going back on the Federal Government’s plan to implement the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy. Currently, no fewer than 164 local government councils in eight states are yet to conduct the elections. There have been reports President Bola Tinubu may…

The Akwa Ibom State government is the third state in Nigeria to pay a new Minimum Wage of N80,000 above the N70,000 approved by the Federal Government for its public servants.  The state Commissioner of Information, Mr Ini Ememobong, stated that the N80,000 minimum wage is a reflection that the government is  committed to the welfare of workers. Already, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on October 16, announced that his government plans to pay workers a minimum wage of N85,000, while Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on October 19, approved the payment of N85,000 as the new minimum wage for…

By Israel Umoh  The closure of the busy Calabar-Itu Federal Highway was to aid the reconstruction and halt the ravaging gully erosion menace from dividing a portion of Nwut Usiong community in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The looming gully that threatened the mouth of the highway was a source of concern to the road users and residents of the area. And the Akwa Ibom State Government, based on the advice of experts for the reconstruction of the deplorable portion, awarded contract that included excavation of popular Afaha Ube Itam Road, which is adjacent to the affected…

By Straightnews Apostle Johnson Suleman, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, has responded to Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar’s public apology for her defamatory comments, asserting that forgiveness does not equate to memory loss. In a terse statement on X.com on Wednesday, Suleman who is also the Senior Pastor of the church said, “You all stop calling my phone. Forgiveness is not memory loss! Status quo maintained!” The statement comes after Abubakar issued a public apology to Suleman for her defamatory remarks against him. Related news ‘I’m not angry at those insulting me on social media’ Apostle Suleman Apostle…

By Straightnews Despite the surging borrowing costs, Nigeria continues to maintain a strong presence in the global debt market, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  During a press briefing at the IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Washington DC, Tobias Adrian, the IMF’s Financial Counsellor, noted that Nigeria and other frontier markets have been active in the debt market throughout 2024, despite financing costs being significantly higher than pre-2021 levels. Recall that data from the external debt stock report of the Debt Management Office (DMO) shows that Nigeria owes the World Bank a total of $15.59 billion as of March 31, 2024.…

By Straightnews President Bola Tinubu has rejigged his cabinet, relieving five of their appointment and appointing seven ministers on Wednesday.  Tinubu re-assigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios and appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation. He appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, three months after his inauguration. The Senate immediately screened and confirmed the ministers. One of the ministers, Betta Edu, was suspended in January while another, Simon Lalong, moved to the Senate. In September, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the President would reshuffle his cabinet but didn’t give a time to the reorganisation. Related news 45 Nigerian ministers…

By Straightnews The need for National Assembly to consider carrying all the stakeholders along on the constitutional amendment of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in the country has been emphasised. Speaking exclusively with journalists in Uyo on Tuesday, October 21, the Executive Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak listed the stakeholders to include the Governors, Members of the state Houses of Assemblies, and State Independent Electoral Commissions, among others. This is as the National Assembly is considering amendment to the 1999 constitution to create room for the conduct of local government elections by…

By Straightnews The Nigerian Government has approved the ExxonMobil’s sale of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to Seplat Energy. However, the government has refused to grant approval for Shell’s $2.4 billion divestment of its onshore and shallow water assets to the local consortium, Renaissance. These assets include an estimated 6.73 billion barrels of crude oil and condensate, along with 56.27 trillion cubic feet of gas. Announcing the government’s decision, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, stated that while the government had processed five divestment applications, only four were approved. Related news Udoma acquires…

Nigeria supplies uninterrupted 24-hour electricity to neighbouring countries- Togo and Benin, but gives her citizens less than 20 hours at times blackout, the Managing Director and CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, revealed. Straightnews gathered that as at October 14, this year, Benin Republic and Togo owed Nigeria $5.79 million for the energy consumed in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said. The NERC said in its second quarter 2024 report that the international customers paid $9.81 million between April and June 2024, out of the $15.60m invoiced for the…

Akwa Ibom Government has formally awarded and mobilised contractor to the site for the dualisation of Uyo Village Road in the state capital. However, the government did not mention the cost of contract, and deadline for completion of the project. Straightnews had earlier reported the deplorable state of  Uyo Village Road and the hardships inflicted on road users due to a bad portion of the road coupled with refuse dumped on the road. Related news: Midnight at Uyo Village Road  Addressing a press conference at NUJ Press Centre on Sunday, the State Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno…