The Anambra State Government has declared Monday, November 16, a work-free day in honour of Nigeria’s first president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was born on November 16, 1904, in Zungeru in today’s Niger State. All government offices, except those which provide essential services, will not open for business, just like the organized private sector and open markets in the state. This is the second time Anambra State will observe Dr Azikiwe’s birthday as a work-free day since Governor Willie Obiano announced the annual observance in January, 2019. Governor Obiano has, meanwhile, reiterated his call on the Federal Government to declare…
Author: Michael Jegede
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YSEG Hotels and Suites in Ibadan, Oyo State, Hon. Olayinka Oladimeji Segelu, has joined his voice to the call for the adoption of electronic voting system in Nigeria’s electoral process. Segelu, a stakeholder in Oyo politics, who aspired for House of Reps in 2015, said the plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence electronic voting with Anambra State governorship election next year was a good move. “Honestly, the only way we can ensure transparency and reliability in the conduct of elections in Nigeria is to embrace electronic voting as it is…
Former Senate Leader and ex-Chairman Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has congratulated Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on his resounding victory in the governorship election that held last week. Ndoma-Egba noted that Akeredolu triumph was as a result of his pragmatic leadership that has endeared him to the people of Ondo State. He enjoined the governor to strive hard to do greater things for Ondo people in his second term. His words: “I congratulate His Excellency Arakunrin Odunayo Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN on his outstanding victory at the Ondo State Governorship polls held on October 10, 2020. “Your victory is…
The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro, has decried the insufficient allocation for education and some other sectors in the 2021 budget proposal presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari last week. Speaking at the plenary on the floor of the Senate, Senator Moro said the budgetary allocations to the education, security and works sectors were inadequate, while also lamenting the poor state of the Otukpo township road in Benue State, which he described as a ‘death trap’. According to a press release by his media aide, Ameh Comrade Godwin, the Senator said, “As…
Hon. Bouras DJAMEL, Acting President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is currently on a working visit to the Parliament’s headquarters in Midrand, South Africa to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the personnel and work of the institution. The visit also aims to finalise preparations for the meetings of the Permanent Committees of the PAP scheduled to take place in mid-November. In this regard, the Acting President is set to hold various engagements including a meeting of the Bureau as well as meetings with the Clerk of Parliament, Senior Management and the PAP Staff Association. “Following lockdown restrictions…
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has described the neglect of Colleges of Education by the government as a dangerous trend in teacher education. The union, through its President, Nuhu Ogirima, stated this at the formal declaration of a trade dispute with the Federal Government (FG) and some State Governments. Addressing a world press conference, Ogirima said COEASU has made various efforts to get the government to resolve the lingering issues affecting the Colleges of Education to no avail, noting that the only option left for the union is to embark on industrial action. “Letters were written to…
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YSEG Hotels and Suites, Ibadan, Oyo State, Hon. Olayinka Oladimeji Segelu, has strongly condemned the physical attack on Chief Dare Adeleke at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday. Adeleke who is an appointee of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, was assaulted by some members of the party when he went to the secretariat to pick up his letter of appointment as the Secretary of the screening committee for the senatorial bye-election in Cross River State. Reacting to the incident, Segelu, a staunch member of the PDP in Oyo…
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has given the Federal Government an additional 14 days to accede to its demands at the end of the earlier 21-day ultimatum issued. In a letter signed by the General Secretary, Taiwo A Olayanju, the union said it would have no option other than to embark on a nationwide strike, if upon the expiration of the two-week extension, the government failed to address the issues under contention. The letter dated 17th August, 2020 and directed to the Honourable Minister of Education reads: “Please, recall that our Union, following the decision of…
As the 21-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) expires at the weekend, President of the academic body, Mr. Nuhu Ogirima, reveals that no step has been taken by the authorities to meet their demands. Ogirima, a senior lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State, expressed disappointment that the Federal Ministry of Education has continued to show reluctance in tackling the lingering issues raised by COEASU. “The ultimatum is expiring this weekend. They haven’t called us for any dialogue or meeting of any sort. It’s only the House…
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic affects African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)’s ability to function at full capacity, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa have reiterated their determination to work with ACBF to support African countries in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath. The commitment to support African countries which are member states and beneficiaries of both banks was communicated during the ACBF’s virtual High-Level Brainstorming Session. At least half of African countries are reportedly members of the IsDB. Senior Regional Coordinator of Technical Cooperation in Africa, Mr.…
On August 8, 2020, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, clocked 65 years. Obiano, a chartered accountant and seasoned banker turned politician, is believed to have contributed greatly to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria and made a significant impact on the lives of Anambrarians. When he joined the governorship race on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2013, he was regarded as a tenderfoot in politics. That was, however, never an issue to the Anambrarians as they saw him as the right man for the job. He easily won the election and was inaugurated…
A former General Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Barrister Afam Osigwe, has called on all members of the bar to rally round the new leadership of the body, so as to move the association forward and enhance its growth and development. Osigwe who made the call in Abuja in an interview said what should be paramount in the minds of the lawyers now ought to be how to come up with ideas to assist the new leaders to pursue the cause of the legal profession in the country. Last week, Barrister Olumide Akpata, a non Senior Advocate of…
A Lokoja-based businessman and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Jimoh Fancy Tiamiyu, has described the recent victory of Senator Smart Adeyemi at the Appeal Court as a welcome development. The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had during the week affirmed APC’s Adeyemi, as the validly elected Senator for Kogi West Senatorial District. The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of Justices, dismissed as lacking in merit, the appeal lodged by Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to challenge Adeyemi’s victory in the November 16, 2019, Kogi West senatorial election.…
Former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has announced the funeral arrangements for his late mother, Madam Regina Achi Nentui, who died on July 1, 2020, at age 90. According to a statement signed by the ex-Senate Leader, Madam Nentui will be buried on August 4, 2020 in Ikom, Cross River State. The statement reads: “The Ndoma-Egba/Nentui Families of Akparabong and Ikom, Cross River State announce the burial arrangements of their mother, grandmother and great grandmother Madam REGINA ACHI NENTUI who died on 1st July 2020 at the age of 90 years. “MADAM NENTUI will be buried in a very…
The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Abba Moro, has felicitated with Muslim faithful in Benue South and Nigeria at large on the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Kabir. In a statement issued by his media aide, Ameh Godwin, Senator Moro urges them to use the occasion to pray for peace, security, stability, unity and victory of the nation over the COVID-19 pandemic, which has crippled the economy, and insecurity threatening the peace of the country. The Comrade-Senator implores Muslims in the country to remain steadfast and committed to the cause of One, Peaceful and United Nigeria and tasks them…
Last week, the Oyo State Government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde announced the approval of the issuance of N100bn private bond tagged “Oyo Prosperity Bond” meant to facilitate the execution of priority projects in a bid to boost the state’s economic growth and development. Addressing newsmen in Ibadan after last week’s State Executive Council Meeting where the decision was taken, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, said the fund would be raised in two tranches of N50bn each. Some of the projects to be financed with the bond, according to Olatubosun, include the construction…
The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Abba Moro, has congratulated Her Excellency, Mrs Eunice Ortom, Benue State First Lady, and son over their Covid-19 test results that have come out negative. According to Moro’s media aide, Ameh Godwin, the First Lady, her son and some of her staff had tested positive to the dreaded virus on 3rd July, 2020, and had since been in isolation receiving treatment. Senator Moro expressed delight over her recovery while rejoicing with Benue’s first family. He wished all those receiving treatment in isolation centres in the state and across the country quick healing.…
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 20-member Selection Committee for the Special Public Works (SPW) programme, a presidential initiative packaged to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been officially inaugurated. The inauguration ceremony took place at the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Skill Centre Bwari, Abuja. It was presided over by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Galadima Abdullahi, alongside the Vice Chairman, Michael Ogbodo and the Secretary, Mrs. Noami Nyada. The trio of Abdullahi, Ogbodo and Nyada had earlier been inaugurated by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, as the executive members of…
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has given the Federal Government (FG) a 21-day ultimatum to address all lingering issues with the Union, or else it would be forced to embark on a nationwide industrial action. President of the Union, Comrade Nuhu Ogirima, made the declaration on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja, while lamenting the total neglect of the Colleges of Education by the government. “The Union, COEASU, is again compelled by circumstances to bring to the fore the prevailing rapid and awful condition of both staff and infrastructure in public Colleges of Education (COE).…
The Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has condemned the planned reopening of schools by the federal government amidst the spike in the cases of the deadly Coronavirus disease. The President of COEASU, Nuhu Ogirima who gave the condemnation in an interview, said it was not a well-thought-out decision. Ogirima insisted that the government has not done enough in the area of testing for COVID-19 to guarantee the resumption of students. “How do you ask students to resume for God’s sake? Even the US that has eased lockdown are contemplating going back. They are contemplating another lockdown. I can’t…
The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Management Agency, (NBMA), Dr Rufus Ebegba, has said that the issue of the adoption of safe modern Biotechnology products to ensure food security and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic is key to the development of the country. The Director-General said this during a round table webinar series on “COVID-19: Effects on food security and the use of Genetically Modified products toward food sustainability” held on Friday 19th June 2020. In a statement issued by Gloria Ogbaki, NBMA’s Head of Press Unit, Dr Ebegba said: “with the advent of COVID-19, there has…
Erstwhile Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, and former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his official recognition of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day. Wabara and Ndoma-Egba in separate interviews opined that June 12 is of greater significance to Nigeria’s polity than May 29 which has been observed as Democracy Day after the country’s return to democracy in 1999. The ex-Senate President said June 12 was an eye-opener in Nigeria’s democratic history. He noted that there was a need for the country to learn from past mistakes made with regards to June 12 to enhance democratic governance…
The Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Unity Forum, last month, announced the adoption of Olusola Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, as its consensus candidate for the October 10, 2020 governorship election in the state. The Unity Forum is a formidable group in Ondo APC, made up of prominent members of the party in the state vehemently opposed to the second term ambition of the incumbent Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN. The members bent on ensuring that Akeredolu does not get the APC ticket for the second term, believed the easiest way that could be achieved was for the…
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is shocked by the brutal murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota (United States of America). Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, African Americans as well as all other world citizens affected by his demise. The continental Parliament supports the statement issued by H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, on behalf of the African Union, condemning the murder and rejecting the unending discriminatory practices against black citizens in the United States of America. The Pan-African Parliament stands in solidarity against injustice, racism, discrimination, and violence of any…
The National President of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, Comrade Nuhu Ogirima, has described the performance of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari in the area of education as a total failure. Speaking on Buhari’s five years in office, Ogirima, expressed disappointment in his government for failing to make a significant effort, at tackling the multitude of problems facing the education sector since he came into power in 2015. The academic union leader, wondered why the retired Army General turned politician, has not considered it necessary for him to do something meaningful, that will immensely turn around the fortunes of…
The Bureau of Pan-African Parliament (PAP) held a virtual meeting with chairpersons of the regional and thematic caucuses to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the continent and engage on the way forward. Specifically, the meeting delved into the revised activity calendar of the PAP in the context of Covid-19; updates from chairpersons of caucuses on the pandemic situation in their respective regions; and concrete steps to be undertaken by Pan-African Parliamentarians to complement continental efforts in the fight against the novel Coronavirus. The meeting reached a consensus on the necessity for PAP, which is the legislative organ…
Daniel Alabrah is the acting Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Diri Douye of Bayelsa State. Diri, a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was sworn in as the governor of Bayelsa State on February 14, 2020, after he got a favourable judgement at the Supreme Court, against the original winner of the last Bayelsa guber poll, David Lyon of All Progressives Congress (APC). Alabrah, in this interview with journalists, said in hundred days, Gov. Diri has demonstrated strong determination to make a difference in the governance of Bayelsa State, despite coming into office at a time COVID-19 had started…
Adopted in February 2019 by the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the African Medicines Agency (AMA) is set to provide regulatory leadership on access to safe, effective, good quality and affordable essential medicines and health technologies through coordination of on-going regulatory systems. AMA will also strengthen and harmonize efforts by the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Health Organizations and the Member States while providing them with regulatory guidance among others. According to the Pan African Parliament (PAP), the Republic of Gabon has become the latest country to heed the call for the ratification…
The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Abba Moro, has hailed the efforts of Governor Samuel Ortom and the Benue State COVID-19 Committee in stemming the tide of COVID-19 in the state, as Nigeria contends with the challenge posed by the global pandemic. According to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on New Media, Emmanuel Eche-Ofun John, Senator Moro lauded Governor Ortom for sending preventive items to the twenty-three Local Government Areas across the state to combat the deadly virus. Benue State has only one confirmed case of the Coronavirus disease which was announced on March 28, 2020.…
The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Abba Moro, has felicitated with Christian faithful in his constituency and Nigeria at large, on the celebration of Easter. Moro asked Nigerians, particularly Christians, to use the occasion, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to show love and tolerance for each other despite the global COVID-19 pandemic. According to a statement by his Special Assistant on media, Ameh Comrade Godwin, the parliamentarian also enjoined Christians to use the Easter celebration to cry to God to take away the deadly Coronavirus ravaging the world. The Senator implored leaders at…
