Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The National Assembly is set to receive the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill next week, covering costs for the presidential jet and proposed minimum wage, expected around N6.6 trillion, though unofficial. This will result in four budgets for 2024. The 2023 budget and its supplement were extended to December 31, 2024. The bill includes the national minimum wage, with public hearings planned for review. Speculation about a N70,000 minimum wage is unconfirmed. The Senate may approve the presidential jet if justified and non-detrimental to other budget needs. The budget will also fund projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, and Sokoto-Badagry Road, ongoing railway projects, dams, irrigation schemes, and support for CNG and LNG projects. Funding will come partly from the N50 billion Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund and a proposed $2.5 billion World Bank loan.
2. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to unite against regional insecurity. Speaking at the 52nd session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, he revealed that between January and May 2024, over 7,000 people died in more than 800 terrorist incidents, especially in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. He highlighted ECOWAS’ ongoing peace support operations and plans for a stabilization mission in Sierra Leone, calling for unity and commitment to peace and democracy. ECOWAS President Omar Touray also expressed concern over the ongoing standoff with the Alliance of Sahelian States, which affects regional integration. Tuggar called for collective action, effective intelligence sharing, and robust funding for counter-terrorism efforts.
3. Clerics, rights activists, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria are outraged by the federal government’s decision to sign the controversial Samoa Agreement. The agreement, signed on November 15, 2023, in Samoa, reportedly includes clauses compelling support for LGBT rights in exchange for financial aid from developed nations. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, confirmed Nigeria’s ratification on July 1, though his media assistant insisted the agreement was strictly for economic development and did not mention LGBT issues.
4. British voters are heading to the polls Thursday for a general election seen as a referendum on 14 years of Conservative rule. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the snap vote earlier than necessary, surprising his party. The opposition Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, aims to recover from its worst defeat since 1935. The six-week campaign focused on the economy, cost of living, public services, and immigration, with little mention of Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU. The UK has had three Conservative prime ministers since the 2019 election, which Boris Johnson won by a landslide. Johnson was succeeded by Liz Truss and then Sunak. About 46.5 million Brits are eligible to vote across 650 constituencies, with 326 seats needed for a majority government. Exit polls will be released at 10 p.m. local time, with counting continuing into Friday morning.
5. The Lagos State Emergency Agency has advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to heavy rainfall and flash floods. The advisory follows significant rainfall starting at 3:00 am on Wednesday, causing widespread disruption. The heavy rainfall has led to severe traffic disruptions, especially around the Third Mainland Bridge. So far, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicted heavy rainfall for 13 states at the end of June, warning of potential flash floods affecting roads, bridges, and low-lying areas. States expected to witness heavy rainfall include Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ekiti, and Osun. Light to heavy rains are also expected in Lagos, Edo, Kano, Borno, Zamfara, Gombe, Adamawa, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Enugu, and Ebonyi.
6. Former Super Eagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh resigned as coach in February 2016 due to a lack of support from his employers, players, and the media. Despite his dedication and hard work, Oliseh faced significant challenges, including being unpaid for four months, his assistants being unpaid for six months, and receiving no support during his illness, which led him to spend thousands of dollars on treatment. Oliseh’s decision to resign came while Nigeria was still in contention to qualify for the 2017 Nations Cup.
