The Take It Back Movement, a prominent rights advocacy organisation, has issued a warning of fresh nationwide protests following the recent introduction of a controversial bill in the House of Representatives. The bill, which has sparked widespread outrage, seeks to impose severe penalties on Nigerians who refuse to recite the national anthem. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, aims to penalise individuals with a fine of N5 million or a prison term of up to 10 years, or both, for refusing to recite the national anthem, pledge, or damaging national symbols. In a statement released on Wednesday, the…
Author: Editor Francis
Kano South Senator, Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, has disclosed that Nigerian senators receive N21 million monthly as running costs. In contrast, his monthly salary is just over N600,000 after deductions. Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday morning, Sumaila revealed that his gross monthly salary is less than N1 million, with the final take-home amounting to slightly over N600,000. “In the Senate, each senator gets N21 million every month as running costs,” the lawmaker stated. This revelation comes amidst criticism from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who recently accused National Assembly members of unlawfully awarding themselves excessive salaries…
Nigeria is experiencing substantial post-harvest losses in its agricultural sector, particularly in the rice, yam, and fruit and vegetable value chains, according to an investigation by Premium Times. These losses, estimated to be between 20 to 40 percent at harvest and market stages, not only contribute to food insecurity but also have significant environmental implications, including the emission of approximately 0.65 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere. Rice Post-Harvest Challenges In Ebonyi State, one of Nigeria’s largest rice-producing regions, poor infrastructure and limited market access are major contributors to post-harvest losses. Victoria Nwachukwu, a 53-year-old farmer from…
President Bola Tinubu has approved the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, a strategic move aimed at curbing the ongoing exodus of Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals to foreign countries. The policy, announced by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, on his X handle on Tuesday, seeks to address the challenges posed by the migration of Nigerian-trained doctors, particularly to the United Kingdom. Prof. Pate highlighted the significant impact of this migration, noting that 67 percent of Nigerian-trained doctors are currently practicing in the UK. He emphasised that the recruitment of Nigerian professionals by…
Bello Galadanchi, popularly known as Dan Bello, has voiced strong criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, claiming they are causing widespread hunger and suffering in Nigeria. The skitmaker made these remarks during an appearance on Trust TV’s *Daily Politics* on Tuesday. Dan Bello, who emphasised that he is not affiliated with any political party, challenged the government to take legal action against him if it disagrees with his critiques. He asserted that his work resonates with the people because it highlights the adverse effects of the current administration’s policies. “If what I am doing is not good for them,…
The National Council of State has expressed strong confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, following its meeting at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday. This marks the first Council of State meeting under President Tinubu’s administration. The meeting was presided over by President Tinubu and attended by prominent figures, including former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan. Former military leaders Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar participated virtually. However, notable absentees included former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida, with no reasons provided for their absence. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, announced the…
President Bola Tinubu has called for a crucial meeting of the Council of State, set to take place today, Tuesday. The gathering will bring together former Nigerian leaders and top government officials to discuss pressing national matters. According to a statement released by the Presidency, the meeting will be attended by former Presidents Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari. Also expected are former Chief Justices of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, all 36 State Governors, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the…
After decades of seeking a bigger voice in the United Nations ‘ most powerful body, Africa “cannot wait any longer,” Sierra Leone’s president told the Security Council on Monday. Chairing a meeting that his country convened, President Julius Maada Bio pressed a longstanding bid for African countries to get more council seats, including two permanent and potentially veto-wielding spots. “The time for half-measures and incremental progress is over. Africa must be heard, and its demands for justice and equity must be met,” Bio said, calling his continent the “unquestionable victim” of an imbalanced, outdated and unrepresentative Security Council structure. It…
The federal government has revealed that numerous African countries have begun procuring arms and ammunition from the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). This development follows the enactment of the new DICON Act 2023, which is expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s national development and security by increasing foreign exchange earnings. Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, made this announcement on Monday during a press briefing at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. The briefing was part of the lead-up to the 60th anniversary of DICON and the inaugural Africa Defence Industries conference. The conference, scheduled for August 14–15 at DICON…
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, disclosed on Monday that a foreign national, allegedly involved in the Sudan crisis, was among the organisers of the recent #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria. Egbetokun made these revelations during a Youth Summit held in Abuja, where he also clarified that the police did not raid the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) but targeted an office within the building used by the foreigner. Egbetokun emphasised that the raid was not directed at labour leaders but was a strategic operation to apprehend the foreign national who had been traced to an office at the…
Pastor Kayode Pitan has been officially appointed as the new Pastor of the City of David Parish, Lagos, under the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). This appointment follows the suspension of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, who was previously at the helm. Pastor Pitan’s appointment, confirmed during the RCCG’s recently concluded convention, sees him succeeding Pastor Charles Kpandei, who had been serving as the interim pastor since June. Kpandei took on this role following Iluyomade’s suspension amidst certain allegations, which have not been publicly detailed. Despite earlier reports suggesting that Pitan had already taken over the parish, it was Kpandei who…
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the results for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates. According to an announcement made by WAEC on their X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, August 12, 2024, candidates who participated in the examination can now access their results. “The West African Examinations Council is pleased to inform candidates who sat WASSCE for School Candidates, 2024 that the result has officially been released today,” the statement read. Candidates are advised to check the WAEC portal for their individual results.