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JUST IN: Abba Kyari sues FG, seeks freedom from detention

Posted in Corruption, National IssueLeave a comment

Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, is praying the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the NDLEA to grant him bail on health grounds, pending the hearing and determination of his fundamental right enforcement application.

Kyari through his lawyer, Cynthia Ikena, claimed to be suffering from diabetes and hypertension and asked the court to order the NDLEA to release him.

But Justice Inyang Ekwo noted that the suit contained some averments that would require the response of the Federal Government.

“Upon studying the process of the Applicant and averments in support thereon, I am of the opinion that the respondent should be put on notice,” the judge held.

Justice Ekwo ordered that all the relevant processes should be served on FG which was cited as the sole respondent and adjourned the case till February 24 for hearing.

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JUST IN: 90% of intending police officers failed recruitment exams — PSC

Posted in National Issue, SecurityLeave a comment

The Commissioner representing the Mass Media and the South-south Zone in the Police Service Commission (PSC), Austin Braimoh made the revelation at a one-day town hall meeting organised by the Commission and the Edo State Police Command.

Braimoh said, “The Commission has the responsibility of familiarizing the public with the current recruitment exercise and improving citizen relationship with the police for effective policing.

“From now, you do not need to go to the National Human Rights Commission if your right is violated by a serving police officer, you go straight to the Police Service Commission, you do not need a third party.

“One of the challenges the Commission is facing today is that for a long time those who are applying for recruitment into the force are most times academically challenged as over 90 per cent do not score up to 30 per cent in the recruitment examinations.

“So with this kind of situation you can imagine the kind of policemen that will be presented to the public”.

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Nigeria needs more ‘rebels’, says Obasanjo

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A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, while unveiling the autobiography of the Babanla Adinni of Egbaland, Chief Tayo Sowunmi, titled “Footprints Of A Rebel.”

Obasanjo said “Looking at the title of the book, I ask myself, why would someone call himself a rebel. But it is good.

“But the truth is that if you have to leave a life of honesty and integrity, you have to become a rebel. There would be some time you would be asked have to do something, but you would say no, this is not right. And when you say that you will become a rebel. You may even become a persona non grata.

“Our country, there is no country that we can call our own except Nigeria. Our country, Nigeria, needs more rebels. Those who would look at things straight in the face and say ‘this is not right, this, I will not be part of, this is not good for Nigeria.”

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[JUST IN] Doping: Blessing Okagbare banned for 10 years

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Nigeria’s 2008 long jump silver medalist Blessing Okagbare has been banned for 10 years for doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit announced on Friday.

The 33-year-old, who is also a sprinter, was expelled from the Tokyo Olympics last year before the women’s 100m semi-finals after testing positive for human growth hormone at an out-of-competition test in Slovakia on July 19.

“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years,” read an AIU statement.

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Insecurity: Oyo govt to hold peace talks with ‘area boys’, cult groups -Commissioner

Posted in National Issue, SecurityLeave a comment

The Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun said this, after a closed-door meeting with representatives of the militant groups, including Agbekoya, Odua People’s Congress, Vigilante Group of Nigeria among others in Ibadan.

“The time to end the bloodshed in the state is now,” he said in the statement.

He said, “The State Executive Council is aware of the activities of cultists and cult groups in the State. We hope to hold a meeting with them”.

“Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde is determined to put a stop to this clash among cult groups and area boys. To this end, we in collaboration with all the Militant groups in the State, are taking the message of peace to the den of these cultists.

“We will try to convince them to be disarmed and return to their homes peacefully. Afterward, there will be a clampdown on activities of area boys and cult groups who fail to cooperate with us,” he said.

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Fuel Scarcity: TUC begins consultation, threatens strike

Posted in Fuel, National IssueLeave a comment

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the National President, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Quadri Olaleye, vowed that the union might be forced to take an “emergency decision” if the situation persists after the union’s consultation.

According to him, the union might proceed on industrial action or lead a protest over the matter.

He said, “At the moment, we are watching, we are monitoring and doing some engagements for us to be able to make emergency decisions. When labour takes an emergency decision, you know what it means? It is either strike or protest.

“You can see that even what they are using to investigate the man-made problem is part of the funds made for the Nigerian workers. So we are monitoring and when it is time to take a decision we would. ”

Olaleye said, “Having assessed our political trajectory as a country and the pains occasioned by policies of government at various levels, abuse and neglect of the country’s human and natural resources, threatening unemployment, insecurity, almost N40tn debt, devaluation of the naira, subsidy brouhaha, we have decided to play an active role in the 2023 General Elections.

“The fact that it is the political ruling class that take decisions affecting the socio-economic wellbeing of labour membership/workers is enough justification for the organised labour to get involved in politics. This is because there are very strong linkages between democracy, good governance and workers’ economic wellbeing.”

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JUST IN: Burkina Faso junta chief sworn in as president

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Burkina Faso strongman Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was inaugurated as president, just over three weeks after he led a coup to topple elected head of state Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

In a televised ceremony, Damiba swore an oath before the country’s top constitutional body to “preserve, respect, uphold and defend the Constitution”, the nation’s laws and a “fundamental act” of key decisions approved by the junta.

Burkina Faso is one of the world’s poorest countries and one of the most volatile in Africa.

The landlocked Sahel state has experienced repeated coups since gaining independence from France in 1960.

Since the first jihadist attacks in 2015, more than 2,000 people have died, according to an AFP tally, while the country’s emergencies agency says more than 1.5 million people have fled their homes.

AFP

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JUST IN: 2022 early spots of rain expected in April — NiMet

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The Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has urged Nigerians to expect early rainfall in April and May this year in Central states and within June to July in the Northern states.

This is even as the agency advised farmers to commence planting crops from February 28 in the coastal states further predicting that the dry spell could set in from May to August with different levels of severity.

Minister of Aviation Sen. Hadi Sirika made the disclosure in his address during the public presentation of the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction, SCP, titled “Strengthening Climate Actions through Timely and Impact-based Climate Prediction for Economic Recovery” at Nigerian Air Force, Conference Centre, Abuja.

In a summary of the 2022 weather forecast, Sirika said, “The earliest onset of the planting season (beginning of planting activities) is expected about 28th February 2022 in the coastal parts of the country while the onset of rainfall is expected to occur between April and May in the central States and eventually within June to July in the Northern states. The onset of the planting season is predicted to be normal over most parts of Nigeria with a few areas having it earlier while some areas having it delayed.

“Rainfall cessation dates across most parts of the country in 2022 is predicted to be near the long term average conditions. The window between the inset and cessation dates can be regarded as safe periods for the planting of various crops in accordance with their cropping calendar. The growing season is predicted to last between 250-300 days in Southern parts of the country and 100 to 200 days in the North”.

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JUST IN: COEASU threatens strike, says FG has no respect for peaceful resolution

Posted in Education, National IssueLeave a comment

Twenty-four hours after the declaration of industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union has threatened to take action if the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) failed to implement the agreement signed between the Federal Government and the union.

The union said it has observed that the Federal Government has over time shown preference for crises and has no respect for peaceful resolution.

A statement signed by the president of the union, Smart Olugbeko, and made available to our correspondent in Abuja expressed the dissatisfaction of the union towards the steps being taken by the government towards the implementation of the 2009 agreement.

The statement partly read, “The National Officers’ Council of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union has observed with utter dismay the attitude of the Federal Government to the Colleges of Education sub-sector.

“The Union in its characteristic disposition to peaceful resolution of issues has between August and December 2021 met with the Minister, the Permanent Secretary, Directors, and other officials of government that have roles in addressing the lingering issues between the Union and the government several times.

“The issues of Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, the crises being created by the imposition of IPPIS and the release of the N15 billion Revitalisation Fund are critical to development of Colleges of Education in Nigeria and the Union has put these among others in the front burner for government to quickly resolve them.

“The Union is therefore calling on the Federal Government to quickly commence the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the Union.

“The Union will in the next few weeks call the National Executive Council meeting to take necessary actions as permissible by the Trade Union Act if the government fails to do the needful.”

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JUST IN: Public hearing for NYSC Trust Fund Bill holds Feb 24

Posted in National Issue, NYSCLeave a comment

The Director-General of NYSC, Shuaibu Ibrahim stated these during the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Pre-Orientation Workshop in Abuja.

Ibrahim said, “When the NYSC Trust Fund becomes operational, the number of corps entrepreneurs will increase drastically, and they will in turn help to provide jobs for millions of other youths of the country. This will equally help reduce the issue of security challenges faced in the country.

“I, therefore, appeal to all friends of the scheme, including influential public figures, civil society organizations, students’ bodies, members of the academia and media practitioners, to send memoranda to the House Committee on Youth and Sports as well as make physical appearance at the public hearing to drum support for the establishment of the Trust Fund.”

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