Author: straightnewsng.com

As Nigerians marked Democracy Day on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu has dashed workers’ hope of getting new national Minimum Wage, telling them of his intention to send an executive bill to the National Assembly for debate and passage into law. This was as Organised Labour had embarked on nationwide strike last week with a promise to resume from Tuesday night in case Federal Government fails to implement their demand of new Minimum Wage. Though Federal Government wants to pay N62,000 as recommended by the committee seu, members of organized labour adamant for N450,000 rejecting anything less. The last is not…

Amid wailings, parents and colleagues of a slain student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic (AkwaPoly), Ikot Osurua, in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area watched helplessly as his remains were lowered into grave on Sunday in his village in Ika Local Government Area of the state. The bereaved, a final-year National Diploma (ND2) student of the Department of Electrical Electronics, Comrade Udeme Saviour Solomon, was shot dead by unidentified robbers, who also made away with his smart phone. The victim was shot dead in the head at about 8 p.m, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, when he tried dragging his cellphone…

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 12 as a Public Holiday to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day celebration. Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Nigerians on the occasion. The Minister in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry and released on Tuesday, Dr Aishetu Gogo Ndayako said; “As we mark another Democracy day in the history of our dear country, let us all reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains a united, secured, peaceful and indivisible entity”. He urged…

The Cheetahs of Benin Republic have pulled off a major shock by defeating Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Abidjan on Monday.  The Nigerians drew their earlier three games in the group and remain fifth in the six-team group, four points behind group leaders Benin, with six games still left to play.  The Super Eagles came into the game needing a win after drawing South Africa some days back. While the game started on a good note for the Nigerians, they had to wait 25 minutes before taking the lead. Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge gave…

The Organised Labour said the one-week suspended strike grace period given to the Federal Government last Tuesday, June 4, 2024, would expire by the midnight of Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Labour said should the Federal Government and National Assembly fail to act on the demands of workers by Tuesday, the organs of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) would meet to decide on the resumption of the nationwide industrial action relaxed last week. Chris Onyeka, an Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, stated this on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show on Monday. He said Labour won’t accept any ₦62,000…

In an effort to shed off loads inherited from the previous Udom Emmanuel administration, the Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno on Monday relieved the State Commissioner for Special Duties. Eno did not state the offence the commissioner committed, but a statement signed by the secretary to the state government, Prince Enobong Uwah, noted that his duties would, from now, be undertaken by the SSG. Dr. Bassey Bassey Okon who was the Commissioner for Special Duties and Deep Seaport under ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel is a fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers (FNSE). An indigene of Itu Local Government Area, he…

A woman has been found dead inside the belly of a snake after it swallowed her whole in central Indonesia, a local official said Saturday, marking at least the fifth person to be devoured by a python in the country since 2017. The husband of 45-year-old Farida and residents of Kalempang village in South Sulawesi province discovered her on Friday inside the reticulated python, which measured around five meters (16 feet). The mother-of-four had gone missing Thursday night and failed to return home, forcing a search effort, village head Suardi Rosi told AFP. Her husband “found her belongings… which made…

Aniefiok Christopher  Participants at Friday’s Town Hall meeting in Uyo affirmed that Nigerian leaders are insincere about the development of the country, despite practising democracy for 24 years.  This position was reached at the 15th Town Hall meeting organised by the Open Forum Care For Humanity Foundation graced by the political class, erudite scholars and royal fathers including Sen. Emmanuel Ibok Essien of Ritman University and Prof Akpan Ekpo, a renowned economist, as the Guest Speaker. Presenting a paper on the theme: Deepening Democracy In Nigeria: The Struggle Between Politics And Governance, the guest speaker, Prof Akpan Ekpo said the struggle…

Israel Umoh After the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria for 24 years, Professor Akpan H. Ekpo, Nigeria’s scholar and famous economist, was full of uncertainty over Nigeria’s ability to deepen democracy. Describing Nigeria’s democracy as dictatorship of the elites, he said the country practised Neo-Colonial/ Capitalist as economic system, civilian/democracy regime and Neo-Liberalism as its economic policy at independence in 1960 now still adopts Capitalist economic system, and Neo-liberalism as its economic policy under President Bola Tinubu. Ekpo, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, speaking at the 15th Open Forum Town Hall in Uyo, saw bleak future…

MultiChoice Nigeria said that it would appeal Friday’s ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja, which awarded a N150m fine against it for challenging the court’s jurisdiction. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the tribunal had fined MultiChoice Nigeria the sum of N150 million for disobeying its order. The order had restrained the pay-TV company from increasing its monthly subscription pending the determination of the suit brought before it by an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade. The tribunal also ordered the pay-TV company to provide its Nigerian customers with a one-month free subscription to its DStv and…