Author: darelasisi@gmail.com

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the dethronement of the erstwhile Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II as “sad and good”. In a letter he personally signed and dated March 9, 2020, Obasanjo writes: “I woke up this morning and after my morning exercise, devotion and my morning meeting with my staff, I heard the sad and the good news of your removal by the Executive Council of the Kano State Government. It is sad because it was underserved. It is good because you have paid the price. My prayer is that God should give you the fortitude and courage…

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has called on civil society organizations to be accurate when giving out data on out of school children in the country. Nwajiuba made the call while declaring open the 2020 National Education Conference, organized by the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CSACEFA), on Monday in Abuja. The two-day conference is organized in collaboration with the Nigeria Partnership for Education Project (NIPEP) and the World Bank. The conference has as theme ‘Strengthening Advocacy For Partnership, Engagements, Reforms, and Monitoring: A Panacea for Sustainable, Inclusive and Quality Education For All.”…

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Monday apologized to pensioners over the government’s inability to pay pension and gratuities arrears. Ortom, who spoke during the flag-off of the State Contributory Pension Scheme in Makurdi, also apologized on behalf of previous administrations, over the unpaid arrears. He said that he was saddened over the plight of pensioners in Benue, adding that with the commencement of the state contributory pension scheme, serving and retired workers would once again smile. He said that the non-payment of gratuities and delayed pension was not deliberate, declaring that his administration was doing everything possible to address…

Malam Nasiru Umar, a Director with Bauchi state Sharia Commission, has attributed the increase in crime rate in some parts of the country to unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy. Umar, who is the Director in charge of Da’awah and Islamic Propagation in the commission, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Bauchi. He described poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy as some of the social vices capable of retarding the socio-economic development of any nation, stressing the need to gear efforts towards job creation. He urged well-to-do in the society to focus on job creation…

The Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Sen. Michael Bamidele has said that the National Assembly would not falter in making laws for the advancement of Nigeria. Bamidele made the remarks in a Public hearing on the Protection from Internet Falsehood and manipulations and for Related Matters Bill, 2019 held on Monday at the National Assembly, Complex. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill, tagged Social Media Bill sponsored by Sen. Sani Musa (APC-Niger) passed the second reading in the Senate on Nov. 20, 2019. According to him, the national assembly as the…

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun has solicited support of the United States of America in the area of vocational education and mining. Oyetola made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the US Consul General, Claire Pierangelo and her team to his office on Monday in Osogbo. The governor said the state needed the US support in the area of technical and vocational education to enable the youths to be self-employed. Oyetola said the state placed more emphasis on vocational and technical education as conventional education did not give room for skills acquisition. “The conventional education does not give room…

The Chairman, Management, Staff and Players of Akwa United Football Club on Monday sympathized with the Management and players of Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia, over the untimely death of Chineme Martins. The condolence message is contained a statement signed by the Media Manager of the Akwa United Football Club, Mfon Patrick, and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Monday. Patrick described Martins’s death as a sad commentary and a big loss to the Nigerian professional football league. He said the player’s death underscores the need to improve medical structures related to match day demands. According to him,…

Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, Wife of Ondo State Governor, has tasked pregnant women across the state to embrace safe motherhood practices in order to reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the state. Anyanwu-Akeredolu stated this at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ebute in Okitipupa Local Government area during an interactive session and gifts presentation to pregnant women, as part of activities lined up for this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor’s wife was represented by Mrs Mary Adesanya, wife of Okitipupa Local Government Chairman, on Monday. In her goodwill message, she urged…

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele has warned of the dire consequences of continued food malnutrition presently ravaging millions of children in the African countries. Emefiele who spoke at the opening of a seminar for African Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Abuja on Monday said, “we must stop romanticizing food malnutrition in Africa because it is evident that malnourished children today will lead to malnourished economies tomorrow”. Represented by the CBN Director of Public Communications, Mr Isaac Okorafor, the governor pointed out that, “malnutrition is abnormal and affects millions of children in…

By Harry Awurumibe, State House, Abuja Apparently worried over the dwindling oil revenue occasioned by the novel Coronavirus, President Muhammadu Buhari has set up a committee to assess the impact of the raging Covid-19 on Nigeria’s 2020 Budget. The committee’s primary job is to assess how the crash of crude oil prices to $30 per barrel will affect the budget. The committee is chaired by the Minister of Finance /Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed. Other members are the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva; the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele; the Minister…