Author: straightnewsng.com

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has accused Akwa Ibom Government of hindering the prosecution of corrupt officials in the state. The State Commissioner of ICPC, Mr Shola Shodipo while fielding questions from newsmen during the World Anti-Corruption Day 2019 on the theme “United Against Corruption” in Uyo on Monday said the government dragged the Commission to court. Shodipo, who was represented by Mr Kalu Ugbo, Head of Legal Service, recalled that “The State Government took ICPC to court and we have been in the court for the parts four to five years now- from High Court,…

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has described the newly introduced charge licence and marriage certificate by Federal Government as an attempt to commercialise Christian marriage in the country. The PFN’s National President, Rev. (Dr.) Felix Omobude flayed the Ministry of Interior for imposing compulsory N30,000 charge licence on Churches wishing to conduct statutory marriages and N21,000 for each marriage certificate, describing it is an attempt to commercialise Christian marriages in the country. Omobude accused the Federal government of targeting churches by trying to implement the new marriage certificate law introduced by the Ministry of Interior. He said: “This is very unfair and…

A middle-aged woman from Ogboji community in Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State is to die by hanging for killing her co-wife and her seven step-children. Ebonyi State High Court sentenced Agnes Nwefuru to death by hanging for killing by setting ablaze Felicia Nwefuru and seven other persons in the family. The incident was said to have occurred after Mr. Sylvanus Nwefuru and Miss Ukamaka Nwefuru, one of Felicia’s daughters survived the 2017 fire incident which began at 3 a.m. and reportedly claimed eight members of the family. The Ebonyi State Government had in the suit no.HAW/13C/2017 alleged that…

By Akanimo Sampson Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation of parliaments has said that strong institutions require international collaboration and widespread political support. IPU made this known on its website while pointing out that it has been contributing to the discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly Goal 16 which recognizes the importance of strong institutions As the 21st century got underway, the world faced a formidable set of issues, including climate change, terrorism, and growing inequality. But global leaders began to rise to the challenge when they agreed on a set of goals, the Millennium Development Goals, and…

By Akanimo Sampson Iraq and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have sealed the first Iraq Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), as the country recovers from decades of conflict. The Programme will run from this 2019 through 2023. DWCP supports national initiatives to promote decent work and strengthen Iraq’s capacity to mainstream decent work in social and economic policies. It will be implemented through close partnerships between the ILO and employers’ and workers’ representatives in the country. The agreement was signed on December 5 by ILO Regional Director for the Arab States Ruba Jaradat, Director General of Labour and Vocational Training…

By Akanimo Sampson Côte d’Ivoire does not appear to be relenting with her economic reform drive which aims at making the country a more attractive destination to do business. The West African country is pushing ahead with reforms to boost Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which has been on the rise since 2012 but remains low in relative and absolute terms compared to other countries in the region. Also, FDI is highly concentrated in Abidjan and significant economic and social inequalities exist both between urban and rural areas and between the economic capital and the rest of the country. Chief of…

An Akwa Ibom son has emerged the 2019 Investigative Reporter in the annual Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR). Mr. Isine Ibanga, the managing editor with NEXT EDITION newspaper, Lagos, emerged a star winner in Investigative Journalism based on his publication entitled How Bribe-taking Security Operatives, gangs Force Nigerians to pay dearly for food (Part 1& 11) published on April 20 and May 1, 2019, in the NEXT EDITION. The event held at NECA Main Hall, A2 Hakeem Balogun Street, Ikeja Lagos had in attendance investigative reporters, news editors and other top dignitaries. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was billed…

As the Yuletide approaches, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is set for massive deployment of 26,000 regular marshals and 15,000 Special Marshals to stem accidents in the country. To enhance its visibility, the Corps will deploy more than 700 patrol vehicles, state-of-the-art ambulances for rescue services at strategic locations. The FRSC Corps Marshall, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, stated this during the inauguration of FRSC ultra-modern office complex, Akwa Ibom Sector Command, Idoro Road in Uyo local government area on Monday. Oyeyemi who said the inauguration of the office was part of a management strategy to ensure improved services to the…

The Federal Government has approved the appointment of a new chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) following the exit of the outgone one. President Muhammadu Buhari Monday named Mr. Muhammad M. Nami as the new FIRS Chairman. Babatunde Fowler whose term of office expired as FIRS Chairman on Monday, December 9 is expected to hand over to the most senior director on the board, pending the Senate confirmation of the new board. Fowler who was appointed as chairman in August 2015 generated N3 trillion in 2016, N4.03 trillion in 2017, N5.32 trillion in 2018 and targeted N8 trillion…

By Akanimo Sampson The lives of the largely forgotten hundreds of thousands of people affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine are at risk once again as temperatures have started plummeting in the area. In government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in settlements close to the contact line separating two conflicting sides, 70,000 people are effectively marooned. Over 40 percent of them are elderly, and 13 percent of the families residing in these areas have a member with a disability. Take 82-year-old Vira Semenivna. She, her son Ivan and great-grandson Yaroslav live in a village 70 kilometres from Donetsk.…