Author: straightnewsng.com

Following frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen, Ukanafun Local Government Council in Akwa Ibom has stopped indiscriminate movement of livestock aimed at destroying crops in farmlands in the area. A press release by the Chairman of the Transition Committee of Ukanafun Local Government Council, Elder Godwin Sunday Ekpe, July 12, 2024 said it was a decisive move to enhance public safety and curb criminal activities. The release explained that the Chairman prohibited the indiscriminate movement of livestock on farmlands, which has been causing significant destruction to farm crops, saying ‘‘This step is crucial to preserving the agricultural integrity and food…

Akwa Savings and Loans Limited, an Akwa Ibom State government-owned mortgage bank, has recorded significant milestones since 2021 following the current management’s effort in wriggling it out of insolvency. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the bank, Mr Akwere Essien, stating this at the July edition of the Management Performance Review (MPR) held at the bank’s corporate headquarters, Uyo, highlighted some of the milestones recorded by the current management and board of the bank. Among them include first-ever sustained audited profits, 607 per cent growth in revenue, 40 per cent growth in deposit and 97 per cent growth in balance…

By: Agency report No fewer than 17 students died and more than 200 others were trapped after a school building collapsed in Nigeria’s central Plateau state, local officials say. The Saints Academy, a secondary school in Jos, collapsed on Friday, while students were writing their third term examination. Trapped pupils were calling for help from under the rubble, AFP reported, with parents frantically searching for their children. The Plateau Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, has confirmed that about 200 students were trapped in the Jos school building that collapsed in Jos. Also read: 25 soldiers face death in…

The organised labour consisting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has maintained that its N250,000 demand and the N62,000 figure submitted by the tripartite committee for new minimum wage remain until after discussions with President Bola Tinubu. While labour insists on N250,000 as a new minimum wage, the committee had pegged it at N62,000. But during a Thursday meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, the organised labour led by the NLC President Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart Festus Osifo said nothing has changed about the demands. Ajaero said the meeting…

President Bola Tinubu has hailed the Supreme Court’s judgment affirming the constitutional rights of local governments, emphasizing its critical role in advancing effective governance at the grassroots level. In a statement released on Thursday, Tinubu highlighted the importance of the judgment, describing it as a reaffirmation of the Constitution. The statement was signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. He noted that ineffective local government administration has been a significant obstacle to national progress, with governance at the grassroots level nearly non-existent. Read also: Supreme Court ruling precludes AGF from releasing Funds to Transition Committees- Lawyer…

The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, Wednesday, ruled that the Federal Republic of Nigeria violated the human rights of Obianuju Udeh and two others. The court found Nigeria in breach of Articles 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, specifically on the right to life, security of person, freedom of expression, assembly and association, prohibition of torture, the duty of the state to investigate, and the right to effective remedy. The applicants, Obianuju Udeh, Perpetual Kamsi and Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, alleged that these violations occurred during the peaceful protests at the Lekki…

The Federal Government and crude oil producers in Nigeria have agreed to work toward a sustainable supply of crude oil to local refineries under a market-determined pricing system. The aim is to ensure that while the operators do business optimally, the refineries are not starved of feedstock. The producers under the umbrella of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), at a meeting called by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), agreed to concede to a framework that would be mutually beneficial with the aim of ensuring that local refineries are…

A Nigerian legal practitioner, Ekemini Udim says that the judgement by Supreme Court precludes Accountant-General of the Federation from releasing monthly allocations to Caretaker or Transitions or any other contraption in the country. The Apex Court’s judgement led by Justice Emmanuel Agim on Thursday ruled that it is unconstitutional for state governors to tamper with the funds of the local government councils. Already, about 17 states in the country including Akwa Ibom State have reconstituted and inaugurated Caretaker, Transition Committees or Major. Reacting to the Supreme Court’s judgement of Thursday in a telephone interview with Straightnews publisher, Mr. Udim who…

By Agency Report The Supreme Court has upset the state governments’ apple cart, declaring that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold onto funds meant for Local Government administration in the country. In a lead judgement, Justice Emmanuel Agim held that refusal of the state government on financial autonomy for local government councils has gone on for over two decades. The apex court observed that local governments have since stopped receiving the money meant for them from the state governors who act in their stead. Justice Agim noted that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage…

Ollie Watkins struck a stunning injury-time winner as England beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday to set up a Euro 2024 final showdown with Spain in Berlin. It was an incredible finish to an evening that began badly for England, as Xavi Simons gave the Netherlands an early lead in the semi-final in Dortmund. However, England were soon level through a Harry Kane penalty following a contentions VAR call by German referee Felix Zwayer, and the match looked set to drift towards extra time until Watkins struck. On for Harry Kane, Watkins received a pass from fellow substitute Cole Palmer…