Author: Pius Kadon

The 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has charged those criticizing him to focus on alleviating the hardship being faced by Nigerians. Obi’s reaction is coming when President Bola Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga accused Obi of planning mayhem in Nigeria. Onanuga also painted Obi as a failed presidential candidate, emphasizing that he should be held responsible for whatever crisis that would emanate from the action. Responding, Obi said his attackers should use the energy against him to focus on making Nigeria a great place. In a tweet on his X, the former Anambra State…

The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has made an offer to sell the Dangote Refinery to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited. In an exclusive interview with Premium Times on Sunday, the businessman expressed his willingness to sell the refinery to address allegations of monopoly in the industry. He stated that if the NNPCL takes over the refinery, the allegations of monopoly would no longer hold water. “Let them (NNPCL) buy me out and run the refinery the best way they can. They have labelled me a monopolist. That’s an incorrect and unfair allegation, but it’s OK.…

A member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi, has reportedly gifted his daughter a brand new Lexus RX, a crossover SUV, to celebrate her graduation from secondary school and obtaining good grades in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME.  The daughter, Aisha Gadgi, graduated from Lead British International School Abuja, on Saturday 20th July. A Facebook user, Saminu Maigoro, shared photos of the teenager, together with her dad, showcasing the luxury vehicle. Rep. Gagdi represents Pankshin/ Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the National Assembly.

Reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and returned to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).  Shaibu defected during the APC Edo State inauguration of the National Working Committee of the Edo governorship election meeting held on Saturday, July 20. The 54-year-old declared his intention to jump ship to the APC and he was later received into the party by the National Organising Secretary. This development is coming after Shaibu alleged on Friday, July 19, that his principal, Godwin Obaseki, denied him entry into the state. He stated this during an interview…

Recently sacked Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has rejected his appointment as Chairman Senate Committee on Tourism. Recall that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had given Ndume the new position following his removal as chief whip of the 10th Senate. The leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had asked Akpabio to remove Ndume over his recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu. Reacting to his removal in a chat with newsmen in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Friday 19th July, Ndume, defended his action, saying he had no regret. The lawmaker went on to say; “On me being…

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dele Momodu, has stated that he will personally carry President Bola Tinubu on the head if he’s able to cut the reckless spending of his government and make palpable sacrifices. Momodu stated this in a post on his X handle on Friday July 19th, while criticising Doyin Okupe, ex-spokesman to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for supporting Tinubu’s government. He lamented that the Nigerian citizens have never had things so bad and instead thereof he is defending a profligate government with untenable economic ‘hocus pocus’. The media executive went on to say that…

Former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has called on President Bola Tinubu to address what he referred to as the “reckless and impetuous attitude” of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike. In a statement released by his media adviser, Ike Abonyi, on Friday July 19th, the former PDP chair also urged the president to direct a thorough investigation into the series of allegations of threats to lives that have been made against the former Rivers State governor. Secondus said this has become necessary following a series of allegations against the minister in…

The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philips Shaibu, on Friday declared himself an unofficial member of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Shaibu said he’s still in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, because he was yet to severe ties with the party. Speaking on Arise Tv’s Morning Show, the embattled deputy governor explained his support for the APC governorship candidate in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, by adding that he no longer aligns with the PDP. “In PDP now, everybody can support whoever they like. On the issue of supporting a candidate, the constitution guarantees that you can support who you…

Media executive Dele Momodu has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, addressing critical issues facing Nigeria and offered his advice. Momodu stressed the importance of truth, which, according to him, is often lost in the corridors of power. The renowned businessman expressed a duty to convey the unvarnished reality to the President, hoping that some of his close friends would read and interpret the message during a reflective moment. The letter entitled, Urgent message for President Tinubu, reads; Your Excellency, I have decided to write this open letter to you as a concerned friend and…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has agreed to implement a new minimum wage of N70,000. This was revealed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, following a meeting between government officials and organized labor. The meeting, attended by major Labour stakeholders, including Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero and Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo, commenced at 2:15 PM with the arrival of the labour delegation in a white 32-seater Coaster bus, which headed straight to the President’s first-floor office for discussions. Details Shortly…

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has given the approval for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Nigerian tertiary institutions across the country to admit candidates from the age of 16. This development comes after objections and pleas by heads of tertiary institutions present at the policy meeting on the 2024 admission organised by JAMB and held in Abuja on Thursday July 18th. The policy meeting is a forum designed for critical stakeholders in the admission processes into tertiary institutions in the country, including university vice-chancellors and registrars, rectors and registrars of polytechnics, provosts and registrars of colleges…

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives have agreed to cut down their salaries by 50 percent for six months as part of their solidarity and sacrifice to help cushion the impact of the prevailing economic hardship and hunger on Nigerians. This development followed the adoption of an amendment to a motion’s prayer moved by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on the need for lawmakers to sacrifice 50% of their N600,000 monthly salaries to support Nigerians in view of the hardship in the land. Kalu’s amended prayer was to a motion by Rep Isiaka Ayokunle urging proponents…

The President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Francis Meshioye has faulted the economic policies initiated by President Bola Tinubu. Meshioye who made this known on Thursday in an interview with Channels Television, stressed that the president’s policies in the last twelve months have made manufacturing businesses unattractive in Nigeria. According to him, manufacturers are worse hit by fuel subsidy removal, Naira devaluation, recent electricity tariff hikes, and interest rate hikes in Nigeria. While noting that the growth of manufacturing was not put on the front burner in Tinubu’s administration, Meshioye explained that the country’s rising headline and food…

Nigerian afrobeat star David Adeleke, famously known as Davido, has arrived in Osun State with the car he and his wife, Chioma, received as a gift during their traditional wedding a month ago. Recall that the couple was gifted a brand new SUV during their wedding in June, which many assumed was a present from Davido to Chioma. Videos circulating online show Davido with the new GN8 MVP car at an event in Osun State. Video footages capture the singer’s arrival in his hometown with heavy security, while others show him with his billionaire father, Deji Adeleke, his uncle, Osun…

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that tertiary institution students who have successfully applied for the Federal Government’s loan scheme and are starting new academic sessions will begin to receiving credit alerts by next week. Speaking on Channels TV on Wednesday, NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, noted that applicants who are going to first receive alerts as early as next week are the ones who are about to start a new session in the institution they are in. He added that other successful applicants would not receive credit alerts until the commencement of academic sessions in…

State governors elected on the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, 17th July, expressed concern over the delay in new minimum wage negotiations between the organized labour union and the federal government. The governors, however, called on the federal government and the leadership of Organised Labour to ensure that any agreement reached must be backed up by stakeholders’ ability to pay. They also threw their weight behind the recent Supreme Court judgement granting financial autonomy to the local government system and pledged continuous support to the third tier of government. At a meeting of the Forum held at…

The bill seeking to alter the 1999 constitution to allow for a single term of six years for the Offices of the President, State Governors and Local Government Areas Chairmen passed first reading on Wednesday, July 17. The private member bill, sponsored by the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere and 50 other lawmakers, seeks to address wastages occasioned by four years periodic elections. The proposed bill seeks to amend Sections 7, 135, 137, 180 and 182 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Clause 2 seeks to amend Section 7 of the…

Nigerian singer, Cynthia Ikponmwenosa Morgan, popularly known as Cynthia Morgan has chided Mavin Records over Rema’s smoking habit, while also slamming Ayra Starr for her choice of outfit when she met with American actor, Will Smith. Taking to her Instagram Story, the 32-year-old dancehall artist told Ayra that there’s more to life than music and stage performances. The pop star who is now known as Madrina then threatened to storm Mavin Records office if anything happens to Rema over his smoking habit. “Meeting will smith dressed up like that? There is more to life than music and stage…

A former governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, is presently having a closed-door session with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and several chieftains of Anambra APC in Abuja. The meeting, which holds at Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, also has Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye; Anambra chairman of the party, Chief Basil Ejidike and Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru in attendance. The gathering comes two days after the ruling party announced that it has intensified efforts in its mission to take over Abia and Enugu States at the 2027…

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday 17th July, launched the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) in the council chamber of state House, Abuja. Present at the inauguration is the leadership of the National Assembly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, some ministers, heads of agencies, and members of the board and management team of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund chaired by the board chairman, Jim Ovia. After launching the portal, the President handed out  cheques to students and some institutions. On his part, the MD/CEO of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the portal has received over…

Justices Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday, July 16, dismissed a suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Malcom Omirhobo, challenging the use of Arabic inscriptions on Naira notes. The judge stated further; “the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is empowered by Section 53 (1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) to print, design and issue the currency and compels the need to establish bad faith before an action can be brought to challenge the act or omission of the Federal Government or the apex court.” The court also held that the…

The leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has backed the upcoming nationwide protest against the prevailing economic hardship in the country, describing it as timely and in the interest of the Nigerian masses. Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday 17th July, the National Chairman of the opposition party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, urged citizens to protest peacefully to avoid any hijacking of the movement. While expressing total support for the protest, Alhaji Gabam, appealed to security agencies to be civil in responding to the yearnings of Nigerians, adding that the struggle for a better Nigeria is the responsibility of…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday 17th July, nullified the impeachment of the former Deputy Governor of Edo state, Philip Shaibu.  Delivering the judgment, Justice James Omotosho, ordered the reinstatement of Shaibu to office on the grounds that the Edo State House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in the impeachment. Responding while addressing journalists at the Court’s premises, Shaibu said the development was a product of prayers offered by Nigerians. The embattled Deputy Governor dedicated his victory to God, maitaining that it wouldn’t have been possible without the prayers of concerned Nigerians. “I want…

President Bola Tinubu has asked the national assembly to increase the 2024 appropriation act by N6.2 trillion. The president’s request was contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday July 17th. This increases the 2024 budget to N34.9 trillion from an initial N28. 7 trillion budget Tinubu signed into law on January 1. President Tinubu is seeking an amendment to the budget to provide for N3.2 trillion for infrastructure projects and N3 trillion for recurrent expenditure.  “Pursuant to section 58 (2) of the constitution of the federal republic…

The Nigerian Senate has sacked Mohamed Ali Ndume (Borno South) as Chief Whip of the the red chambers.  The decision was backed by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate Caucus through a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the plenary session on Wednesday 17th July. Meanwhile, Tahir Mungono (Borno North) has been appointed as Ndume’s replacement. This development is coming days after Ndume’s recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Reacting, the APC’s national leadership, represented by national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, urged Ndume in a letter addressed to the Senate…

The Federal Government has disowned news report about its purported decision to hand over public universities to private investors. Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated this on Tuesday 16th July at the Quarterly Engagement of Education Ministers with Directors, Heads of Agencies and Parastatals under the Ministry of Education held in Abuja. Recall that the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) had raised the alarm over claims that the Federal Government was planning to cede public universities to private investors, warning that the move will not be in the interest of the country. Reacting to this, the Minister of Education…

The 2024 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) results for admissions into JSS1 of the Federal Unity Colleges have been released. The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, announced this during a press briefing at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. He revealed that a substantial number of 71,291 students actively took part in the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), which was held in 599 centers on Saturday, June 1, 2024. NECO data indicated that Lagos State had the highest number of candidates, with 17,751 students. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) followed with 10,209 candidates, and Anambra State came third…

Reactions have continued to trail the appointment of Alhaji Umar Bush as SA on Entertainment to the Senior Special Assistant to the President On Special Needs and Equal Opportunities. A letter dated 13th July 2024, showed the approval of the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Special Needs and Equal opportunities for Musa’s appointment as the special assistant on Entertainment. The popular northern skit maker who is neither a musician nor an actor, became an Internet sensation with his hilarious angry videos where he is usually seen chasing after a young boy in a bid to hit him. According to the…

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, on Monday 15th July, gave a justification for spending N1.5m to fuel six vehicles in her convoy on a trip to Anambra State. The minister stated this when she featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today. This development is coming five days after her heated argument with members of the House of Representatives, which wanted to know how her ministry appropriated unrelated expenditures, including N45 million for a New Year party, N20 million for sanitary pads and N1.5 million for petrol. Speaking during the interview, Kennedy-Ohanenye expressed surprise that the lawmakers…

Popularly Nigerian singer, David Adeleke also known as Davido, has spoken on the global rise of the afrobeats genre. Speaking during an interview with Hiptv panel discussion with the United States Advisory council on Africa Diaspora Engagement and Leaders In Nigeria’s Creative Industries, Davido stated that afrobeats artistes were now selling the same tickets as pop and hip-hop stars like Drake. The singer claimed that the earnings from an afrobeats single can translate to generational wealth. “Afrobeats Artists are selling the same tickets as Drake. Now one song as an afrobeat artist can change your generation,” he added. Davido urged…