Author: straightnewsng.com

The Federal Government’s plan to borrow N2 trillion from the current N10 trillion pension funds to finance its infrastructure in the country has attracted flaks from the beneficiaries. The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, which he presided over recently announced that the government had concluded plans to borrow the amount for infrastructure. The United Labour Congress (ULC) unambiguously submitted that the future of Nigerian workers cannot be guaranteed “if a large chunk of pension funds are controlled by crass, profligate and often insensitive politicians famous for their careless handling of public funds.” The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),…

By: Israel Umoh The news hit the airwaves like a thunderstorm. The story blasted the eardrums like a tornado. The picture of the dead whistleblower doctor in the social media headlined: “Death of whistleblower doctor of Coronavirus” was heart-rending. Yet, “We can repress everything but not sorrow” struck an emotional chord. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist, posted his story on Weibo from a hospital bed a month after sending out his initial warning. The 34-year-old Chinese, while working at Wuhan Central Hospital, had noticed seven cases of a virus that he thought looked like Sars – the virus that led to…

Kenya Marathoner, David Bamasai Tumo has won the Access Bank 2020 Lagos City Marathon. The 42 kilometres race kicked off from National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos and ended at Eko Atlantic, Lagos. The grand prize of the 42 kilometres race is $50,000. David Tumo finished the race in two hours, 10 minutes 22 seconds. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Sharon Cherop has become the first female athlete to finish the 42km race at the 2020 Lagos City Marathon. The 35-year-old won in the women’s category by setting a new record of 2:31:38, two minutes later than she made a similar race in Eldoret Kenya…

By Akanimo Sampson Access to Seeds Index has said that improving access to seeds for farmers in regions that are currently considered food insecure is key to meeting their future food demands. Hunger is a daily reality for almost one billion people around the world. The global population is expected to grow by a further two billion in the coming decades, precisely in those regions that are food insecure. According to World Vision, a group that is concerned with pulling up the roots of poverty and planting the seeds of change, hunger appears to be on the rise after a…

By Akanimo Sampson Apparently shaken by the worrisome unemployment situation in Nigeria, the Osun State Government in South-West Region is currently setting its eyes on the agriculture sector for a solution. The state is assiduously pushing to raise agribusiness tigers that will be its new massive job providers in the state. To this end, the government is collaborating with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) through the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) and Start Them Early Programme (STEP) platforms, to raise agribusiness ambassadors in Osun. Education Commissioner, Folarunsho Oladoyin, has already visited IITA Ibadan campus with his Assistant, Bukola Elufisan and the Special Adviser…

By: Israel Umoh For the first time, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Akwa Ibom have not spoken with one voice on some issues in the recent agreement signed between the state government and the organised labour for the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage for public servants in the state. The NLC leadership led by Comrade Sunny James argued that N30,000 was not negotiable for Grade Levels 01-06 but that negotiation on Consequential Adjustments for workers on Grade Level 07-14 was the key issue and is inconclusive…

By Akanimo Sampson After the House of Representatives under the watch of its Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, un-tactically called for the resignation of the service chiefs, the speaker in seeming about-face is now appealing to the security chiefs the National Assembly wants to be thrown out of their jobs, to redouble efforts at shoring up internal security. Gbajabiamila told the service chiefs that Nigerians are on the necks of their representatives in the House over the security situation in the country, claiming that the anxiety among the citizenry was enough reason for the military commanders to redouble their efforts, challenging them…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has de-registered 74 political parties. The commission took the decision after reviewing the performance of the parties following the 2019 General elections. The electoral umpire said 18 political parties fulfilled the constitutional requirements for existence. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the declaration at a news conference Thursday in Abuja. Yakubu said the decision of the commission was in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). Meanwhile, INEC has fixed September 19 for Edo and October 10 for the Ondo State governorship…

The US Senate, Wednesday, acquitted President Donald Trump of abuse of power.  The Senate did not find President Donald Trump guilty of abusing his powers, as had been charged by the House of Representatives. In the first of two impeachment votes, the Republican-controlled Senate cleared the Republican president of Democrats’ accusations that he acted improperly in withholding U.S. security aid to Ukraine. The Senate vote was 52-48. Then the second vote was on obstruction of Congress was backed by 53-47 Republican Mitt Romney broke party ranks to vote to convict Trump on abuse of power. The Senate impeachment trial of…

By Akanimo Sampson Final Investment Decisions (FID) on some key offshore oil projects in Nigeria have been delayed because of the failure of the Legislative arm of the Federal Government to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which has been in the works for at least 15 years. The offshore projects are expected to create an additional production capacity of 875,000 b/d and hopefully attract around $100 billion in new investments. The projects include: Shell’s Bonga and Southwest Aparo which is expected to add 225,000 b/d; and Bonga North (100,000 b/d); Eni’s Zabazaba-Etan (120,000 b/d); Chevron’s Nsiko (100,000b/d); ExxonMobil’s Bosi (140,000 b/d); Satellite Field…