Author: darelasisi@gmail.com

The Not Too Young To Run movement has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to promote political inclusion of youth, women and People With Disabilities (PWDs), for transformative politics and purposeful leadership, while reflecting on the movement’s successes and future prospects going into the next phase of Nigeria’s political dispensation. Having successfully reduced the age of running for the Presidency, the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly from 40 to 35 years and from 35 to 25 years respectively, the leadership of the movement has vowed to mitigate any hindrance to increase youth representation in elective offices. Rising from…

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said the Ninth National Assembly will do things differently to break the jinx with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) next year. The upper chamber, according to Lawan, will as a matter of urgency prioritize the consideration of the Petroleum Industry Bill alongside reforms of the Electoral Act when it returns from the Christmas break in January. The Senate President made this disclosure at a media briefing of Editors, Bureau Chiefs and members of the Senate Press Corps on Monday in Abuja. “The Petroleum Industry Bill was first introduced in the…

Organized labour in Ogun on Monday threatened to begin a two-day warning strike if its demand for a negotiation committee on the minimum wage was not met by the state government. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) issued the threat on Monday in a statement. The statement was signed by Emmanuel Bankole (NLC), Olubunmi Fajobi (TUC) and Olanrewaju Folorunso, all leaders of the unions, at an emergency congress in Abeokuta. The labour unions alleged that the state government had deliberately refused to…

The National Security Adviser NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno has urged stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the 2019 National Security Strategy (NSS) to address contemporary and emerging security threats in the country. Monguno made the call on Monday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop for the Sensitisation Session of the NSS organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Represented by Mr Aminu Lawal, the Director of Policy and Strategy, ONSA, Monguno said that the NSS document was recently launched by President Muhammadu Buhari. He said that the sensitization session would avail the participants the opportunity to…

AFEX Commodities Exchange Ltd (AFEX), a leading market commodity exchange in Nigeria has secured an investment for an undisclosed amount from Consonance Investment Managers. Mr Ayodeji Balogun, AFEX Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement in Lagos the funds would be used to increase liquidity of the commodity markets. Balogun added that the investment would strengthen the company’s operations and technology systems. “AFEX will ease the access of retail and institutional investors to the commodity markets in Nigeria by deploying its established infrastructure to securitize agricultural products, ensuring efficient and transparent clearing and settlement. “With more participation in the sector,…

The Group Managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has called on members of the Board of Director of the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company Limited to resolve issues of gas supply, technical capability and funding confronting the company and come up with viable bankable options that could help drive the project to fruition. Kyari made the call Friday while inaugurating the Board of the company at the NNPC Towers in Abuja. He said the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical project, when completed, would lead to sustainable prosperity for Nigeria. “I know that this project is important…

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has distributed 141 new vehicles of different brands to top government functionaries in the State with a view to ensuring smooth running of government. Handing out the vehicle keys in Ado Ekiti on Friday, the governor stated that the dearth of necessary working tools for the public officials was too obvious to be ignored by any responsible government; stressing that mobility is highly essential to enhance performance. Dr Fayemi explained that the procurement of the vehicles was aimed at solving part of the challenges faced by elected, appointed and career public officials in the…

MINNA – Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB, is alive and bubbling, says his spokesman,  Kassim Afegbua. Dismissing the report as ‘fake news’, Afegbua says the General is “full of life and in his characteristic bubbling mood.” The statement reads in full: “It has become consistent fake news for quite some time now wishing our own IBB, the one we easily refer to as “the last don” of Nigeria politics, dead. The “fake news bill” would be a suitable response to this category of fake news carrier. IBB is very much alive and bubbling. He just started attending to…

There is prospect Nigerians keen on knowing details of spending of the $460 million loan obtained in 2010 from China to fund the apparently failed Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project, the names of contractors who collected money, and why Nigeria is re-paying the loan, may soon have some answers, as Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has won the latest round in the legal battle to compel the Federal Government to disclose these details. Justice Anwuri Ichegbuo Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja last week granted leave clearing the way for SERAP to advance its case to compel Mrs…

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Sunday inaugurated micro facilities valued at N500 million under the World Bank Community and Social Development Project (CSDP). The projects are situated across the three senatorial districts of the state. Bello commended the projects’ inauguration with a completed cottage hospital and two motorized boreholes at Anyava and Agassa Uvette communities in Okene Local Government Area. He also performed a foundation laying ceremony of a Skills Acquisition centre at Okene Community Secondary School (OCSS) in Anyava. Represented by Director-General, Government House Administration, Alhaji Shaibu Oricha, the governor lauded the partnership between the world bank and…