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ABUJA – In a major move towards complying with the Executive Order 003, which directs all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to grant preference to local content in their procurement of goods and services, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, facilitated the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MOU) among stakeholders in the country’s Cotton, Textiles and Garments (CTG) sector. The first MOU signed was between the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) and Ginning Companies, to guarantee steady off-take and processing of cotton lint and cotton seeds; while the second was between the Nigerian…

The leadership of the Senate on Monday waded into the raging dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, alongside some members of the Senate, met with ASUU leaders at the National Assembly to better understand the crux of the matter between the varsity teachers and the Federal Government over the payroll syste ASUU President,  Biodun Ogunyemi who led his team, presented the union’s position and argued that the IPPIS should not be run within the university system in the country because…

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), on Monday said that the consequential increments in the implementation of the N30,000 Minimum Wage Law would depend on the capacity of each state government. The chairman of the forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, stated this while briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting of the forum held in Abuja. Fayemi reading the meeting’s communique said that the forum made the resolution when it met and reviewed current progress in the implementation of the minimum wage law. Clarifying on the forum’s position and Federal Economic Council (FEC)’s decision, Fayemi said…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly using foreign media organisations against Supreme Court Justices ahead of the hearing of the 2019 presidential election petition. The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who said this on Monday at a news conference in Abuja, described the act as unpatriotic agenda, urging Nigerians to rise against it. “Ahead of the hearing of the Supreme Court on the 2019 presidential election petition, APC alerts Nigerians on a new and sinister plot by PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to malign Supreme Court Justices…

The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) says it plans to engage sign language interpreters to educate the deaf and dumb voters on electoral procedures during the Nov. 16 governorship election in Kogi. Mrs Dorothy Bello, the commission’s Head of Civil Society Organisations Division, announced this on Tuesday in Lokoja at the opening of a one -day sensitisation workshop organised by the INEC for signs language interpreters. Bello said that the interpreters who would work as volunteers were being engaged to help hearing impaired to understand what “is being said in a variety of situations on election day’’. According to…

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), says it will deploy no fewer than 300 observers to monitor the Nov. 16 Governorship Election in Kogi. Mr Ausitn Aigbe, CDD’s Senior Programme Officer, disclosed this in Lokoja on Monday, at a seminar on fake news organised in collaboration with the Kogi Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Aigbe said there was need for adequate monitoring of all stages of the election to ensure credibility. He said that the interest of the centre in the electoral process was to check manipulation and other forms of irregularities. “Our interest is to ensure…

The Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) said it would be saving over N290 million for combining the Kogi West Senatorial District and the governorship election on Nov. 16. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja, on Tuesday. Yakubu said that the senatorial election would now coat less than N10 million instead of the N300 million if conducted as a standalone election. “In the case of Kogi West, it is a whole senatorial district that the Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal had nullified the election conducted…

PHOTO: Gbajabiamila in gallery Gbajabiamila seeks deeper parliamentary cooperation with Egypt The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has emphasised the need for deeper parliamentary cooperation between Nigeria and Egypt. The Speaker said though both countries have been enjoying great relationships since the 1960s, the time has come for the Parliaments of both countries to explore other areas that would be of mutual benefits to them. Gbajabiamila spoke while receiving the Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aly Abdel Sayed Ahmed in his office where he sought to know how Egypt was able to…

Imo State Deputy Governor, Gerald Irona says the present administration in the state, under the leadership of Emeka Ihedioha is building stronger institutions in the state. The Deputy Governor who disclosed this while receiving a delegation of the Public Interest and Development Law, a section of the Nigerian Bar Association-NBA in his office Tuesday afternoon, assured that the administration is committed to the promotion of rule of law in the state. “This administration is committed to rule of law. To have good governance, rule of law must be our guide. We are taking steps towards building stronger institutions, than strong…

President Muhammad Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of the first wife of late Prime Minister, Hajiya Jummai Abubakar Tafewa-Balewa, who died on Oct. 27 at the age of 85. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hajiya Jummai died in a Lagos Hospital after a protracted illness. The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu on Tuesday led a high powered delegation of the President to condole with the family in Bauchi. Among the delegations include Gov. Bala Mohammmed of Bauchi, Alhaji Mohammmed Abdullahi, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Abubakar Aliyu, Minister of state for Works and Housing and Maryam…