Author: straightnewsng.com

Governors of Nigerian southern states want state governments in the country to collect Value Added Tax (VAT). Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State stated this while reading a communique at the end of a meeting of the governors in Enugu on Thursday. Mr Akeredolu said the governors resolved and affirmed the position that the collection of VAT fell within the powers of state governments. “We resolved to support the position that the collection of VAT falls within the powers of the state. “The meeting reaffirmed its earlier commitments to fiscal federalism and emphasised the need to pursue its inclusion in…

A mother and daughter, who refused to take COVID-19 vaccine, have died weeks apart in same hospital’s ward after contracting the virus. A 32-year-old mother of four, Sammie-Jo Forde died in Ulster Hospital, on the outskirts of east Belfast, Ireland on Saturday, September 11, after her 55-year-old mother Heather Maddern died on August 31, just two beds away from her. The woman and daughter, who lived together, also worked alongside each other as care assistants. Both contracted COVID-19 and were admitted to hospital. Ms Forde’s dad, Kevin McAllister who commented on the death of his daughter and his former partner said, “I’ve lost my daughter,…

The Super Eagles have maintained 34th position in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking that was released on Thursday, Straightnews reports. The ranking was published on the world football governing body’s official website. In Africa, the three-time African champions maintain their number five position. Senegal are Africa’s highest ranked team as they are in 20th place, Tunisia are in 25th, AFCON champions Algeria are 30th and Morocco in 33rd. Among the Eagles’ 2021 AFCON group opponents, it was only Guinea-Bissau that moved up as they climbed to 105th. While for Egypt and Sudan, they dropped to 48th and 127th spots respectively. And…

Nigeria’s public debt stock stood at N35.465 trillion as at June 30, Director-General of the Debt Management Office, DMO, Ms. Patience Oniha, stated Wednesday. Total Public Debt comprises the domestic and external debt of the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Nigeria’s total public debt stock was N33.107 trillion or USD87.239 billion, as at March 31, 2021. This indicated a N2.358 trillion rise in the debt stock from the end of the first quarter of the year to the end of the second quarter. A breakdown of the public debt figure under review indicated…

Nine people died one day after drowning in choppy Mediterranean seas in the south of France, say authorities. The victims were all swept out to sea while they were swimming in waters which had been stirred up by a combination of storms and high winds. The incidents occurred at five beaches in Hérault, two beaches in the Bouches-du-Rhône area, in the south west of France and at two beaches in the Aude region. Five persons, in their 60s and 70s, died at Hérault, while two men aged 58 and 71 drowned in Bouches-du-Rhône. Another two men between 65 and 80 drowned…

After months of rumour and denials, Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, has finally bid farewell to Peoples Democratic Party by joining All Progressives Congress. FFK who has been a strong critic of the ruling APC had vowed in the past that he would rather die than join APC or bow to President Buhari. Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, on Tuesday, February 10, 2021 claimed that Fani-Kayode had crossed over to the APC. Addressing reporters after revalidating his APC membership in Okene then, Bello said Fani-Kayode is now a member of the ruling party. However in a swift reaction, FFK…

Public servants who retired from Akwa Ibom government are yawning as hope of collecting their gratuity before the expiration of Governor Udom Emmanuel administration is bleak. This is as the state government had, Monday, September 13, begun payment of April 2016 to retired public servants comprising civil servants and teaching and non-teaching staffers in secondary schools in the state. Majority are yet to collect their gratuity as backlogs pile up from May 2016 to August 2021. Straightnews team visited Office of the state Accountant-General, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo on Tuesday, September 14, and discovered that two flexes detailing 255 names…

The Presidency has berated Yoruba Nation for associating with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing their “cooperation” as a “shocking” and “worrying development.” Agitators under the umbrella of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) had stormed the United Nations (UN) headquarters, New York in US on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 14-15 to protest against President Muhammadu Buhari government. The agitators urged the world leaders to facilitate the conduct of a referendum in Nigeria. In a statement released by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu on Wednesday, Presidency maintained that IPOB is a designated terrorist organisation which has now publicly revealed a “50,000 strong paramilitary…

Nigerian Air Force, Thursday, made a U-turn, admitting that one of its fighter jets on a mission against terrorists “unfortunately” bombed civilians in Yobe State on Wednesday. NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet, stated this in a statement made available to journalists Thursday, adding that investigation had commenced into the incident. Air Force spokesman had, Wednesday, denied reports linking one of its fighter jets to the bombing. Gabkwet had explained that the mission last conducted by NAF in Yobe was earlier in the month. “NAF last conducted a mission into Yobe State (not Yunusari LGA) on 5…

Some relations and  former staffers of Data Sciences have extolled the sterling virtues of Atuekong Don Etiebet, a former Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, on his 77th birthday anniversary. Born on September 15, 1944 in Ikot Ekpuk, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, Etiebet is a scientist, businessman, and politician. Aniekan Etiebet, the managing Director of Data Sciences, Lagos, speaking with Straightnews, thanked God for sparing the life of his uncle. ”We thank God for who He is in the life of mu uncle. Despite of all odds especially his ill-health, God’s mercy is sufficient unto…