Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

In a bid to ensure better service delivery in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, the National Council on Privatization (NCP) has set up an ad hoc committee to fast-track the restructuring and resuscitation of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA). The Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, who chaired the maiden meeting of the reconstituted NCP at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, emphasised the importance of the tasks before the new Council, particularly the rejuvenation of BOA, among others. Speaking after the presentation of the agenda and matters arising by the Director General of the Bureau of Public…

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday inaugurated nine out of the 10 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu after their clearance by the National Assembly. The swearing-in was held on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with RECs. However, the REC appointed from Akwa Ibom State, Etekamba Umoren, was not among those sworn in, as the INEC chairman said his would be done in January 2024 after the expiration of the tenure of incumbent. The INEC boss told the RECs, especially those newly appointed, that the conduct of elections was…

The Senate on Tuesday, December 12, read President Bola Tinubu’s letter seeking the confirmation of the nomination of 19 commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC). Additionally, the President requested that the red chamber approve the nominations of Babajide Fasina (South-West), Enorense Amadasu (South-South), and Bashir Indabawa (North-West) as NPC commissioners. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was given two weeks to provide a report on the nomination by the Senate, which was chaired by Senator Godswill Akpabio. The appointees are: 1. Emmanuel Eke (Abia) 2. Clifford Zirra (Adamawa) 3. Chidi Ezeoke (Anambra) 4. Isa Buratai (Borno) 5. Alex Ukam…

The Federal Government has disclosed plans to deploy drones for monitoring and protection of the country’s vast borders.  The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking at a press conference where she outlined the activities to mark this year’s International Migrants’ Day. She said the Federal Government was in discussion with a Chinese giant, Huawei, to deploy Artificial Intelligence to secure the borders. The CG allayed fears raised over the use of drones in security operations following the accidental bombing in Kaduna,  explaining that the gadgets would only monitor and…

Universities across the country may witness strikes in 2024 due to the small budget allotted to the education sector and poor remuneration, the Academic Staff Union of Universities has said. Prof. Emmanuel Oshodeke, explained that during the campaign and election earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu promised to increase the Education sector to at least 15 per cent or over. Similarly, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation also recommended for member states, a 26 per cent benchmark allocation for the education sector. He complained that Nigeria was the country with the least remuneration for professors, globally. Oshodeke, however,…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the commencement of the Fulako initiative in which the Federal Government will build houses, schools, hospitals, clinics, veterinary empowerment and solar energy as part of non-kinetic response to the problems of banditry and kidnapping in the North. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji  Mohammed Idris Malagi, stated this in his keynote address at the opening of 2033 Jamaatu Nasril Islam Central Council meeting held at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna, Niger State capital, on Monday. Idris Malagi explained that the Fulako initiative is a President Tinubu unique humanitarian response…

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, will commence his medical leave on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, as a follow-up to his medical treatment. During his medical leave, Governor Akeredolu will prioritise his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties. A formal letter regarding the medical leave and a notice formally transferring power in line with the Nigerian Constitution will be transmitted to the House of Assembly. In the absence of Governor Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, will assume the responsibilities of the Governor in acting capacity. Governor Akeredolu expresses his gratitude for the unwavering…

Popular Columbia singer, Shakira, has topped Google’s list of the world’s top-trending musicians for 2023. American singers, Jason Aldean, Joe Jonas, Smash Mouth, and Italian celebrity Peppino di Capri rank 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th, respectively, after Shakira. Gino Paoli, Tom Kaulitz, Kellie Pickler, José Luis Perales, and Anna Oxa complete the top ten in that order. In the meantime, an American singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift, is currently the songwriter with the highest search volume on Google. Also, the most searched-for performance of all time on Google is Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella set. Shakira made headlines twice in 2023. The first time was in January when her song…

The leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, said it is excited about Nigeria’s impressive performance at the ongoing International Telecommunications Union, ITU,’s World Radio Communications, WRC, Conference 2023. The event is holding in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and has already seen two Nigerians elected into leadership positions while some other delegates from the Commission were elected into Working Groups. Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, speaking on the sidelines of WRC 2023 in Dubai, announced that the Director of Spectrum Administration at NCC, Abraham Oshadami, has been elected the Vice Chairman of the ITU’s Radiocommunication…

The Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, is set to delist 91,843 companies for failing to file their annual returns with it. In a list published on its website, the commission listed 91,843 companies for delisting (2,738 less than the 94,581 it initially published in August). This is still less than the initial 100,000 companies that CAC said it would remove in an earlier announcement. In July, the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer, CAC, Garba Abubakar, revealed that the commission would delete 100,000 registered companies from its database for failing to file an annual return. He said, “CAC steps up enforcement of…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Monday said candidates for its Direct Entry examination would from 2024 undertake cognitive and verbal reasoning tests. The Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, reiterated this during a virtual meeting with Commissioners of Education of the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. A special bulletin published by the Board on Monday quoted Oloyede to have said that “As from 2024, JAMB will conduct Aptitude Test for all Direct Entry candidates to assess their academic potential or career suitability, as well as their mental or physical capacity.” The JAMB boss noted…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a new foreign policy targeted at taking advantage of its relationship with other countries. The Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, launched the “4D foreign policy” in Abuja on Monday in the presence of the diplomatic community. While speaking during the event, he said: “Our new foreign policy document provides a dynamic and new concept which is anchored on Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora. “Nigeria and indeed, Africa’s development depends increasingly on a new line of vision which has been well articulated in Mr President’s new foreign policy concept.” The Minister noted…