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Friday, 10 February 2017 03:54

CAN, JNI call for prayers for Buhari

Two main religious coalitions in Nigeria have called for prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari. Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and Jama’atul Nasril Islam, JNI, made the calls in separate statements on Thursday. In its statement, signed by Kwamkur Samuel, Director of Legal and Public Affairs, CAN said it “is deeply concerned about the ongoing national conversation on the absence of the President due to ill- health.” “We wish to call on all Nigerians to join hands in prayers for the quick and full recovery of Mr. President and his safe return to Nigeria instead of dwelling on the needless rumour…

Friday, 10 February 2017 03:43

FG blames police, army, customs for high cost of food

Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, yesterday blamed officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Army and the Nigeria Customs Service at road blocks in the country for the skyrocketing prices of food items. The Minister, who stated this while appearing before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, said unbearable extortion from truck drivers conveying farm produce to various urban centres in the country was responsible for the unending hike in food prices. He, however, noted that farmers, who were beneficiaries of the scandalous price increases across the country, kicked against moves by the Federal Government…

Thursday, 09 February 2017 17:22

Tinubu, Akande visit Buhari in London

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with a former Interim National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande; and the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. According to photographs released by the Presidency, the meeting took place inside the Abuja House, London, United Kingdom. The photographs were posted on the Presidency’s official Twitter handle, NGRPresident. Tinubu Akande were decked in a navy blue kaftan while Buhari was dressed in a brown robe. While the three of them were seen seated and discussing in one of the photographs, Buhari was captured while seeing his guests off in the…

Thursday, 09 February 2017 17:15

NLC, TUC protest rising cost of living

Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday staged a protest at the National Assembly complex, Abuja over the rising cost of living in Nigeria. NLC Chairman, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said that the groups were protesting delay in the upward review of minimum wage amidst increasing the cost of items in the country. “We are here to demand good governance and express our support in the fight against corruption. “More importantly, we demand respect for rule of law, greater accountability and transparency in governance", Wabba said. He expressed worry that Nigerian workers had been the major victims…

Thursday, 09 February 2017 11:11

While Nigeria’s minimum wage stands at $60, South Africa introduces $260 minimum wage

South Africa will introduce a national minimum wage of 3,500 rand ($261) per month in 2018, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday, according to a Reuters report. The announcement follows protracted negotiations between the government and labour unions. Nigeria’s current minimum wage is N18,000 ($60) with organised labour asking it be increased to at least N50,000, despite several state and local governments defaulting on the existing amount. The federal government has not acceded to labour’s request amidst a biting recession that has crippled Africa’s largest economy. Workers have meanwhile complained the N18,000 is way below a living wage and…

Thursday, 09 February 2017 02:54

Sanusi meets Osinbajo in Aso Rock Villa

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, yesterday visited Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. Sanusi and Osinbajo held closed-door meeting at the Vice President’s Wing of the State House. The emir declined comments when approached by State House correspondents on his mission to the Villa. He said: “You can just report that I came to the villa.” Sanusi had last August advised President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to reverse its economic policies in order to avoid former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration’s pitfall. Also last December, the emir condemned plans by President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow $29.96…

Thursday, 09 February 2017 02:52

I speak with Buhari daily, says elder sister Hajiya Rakiya

Hajiya Rakiya, the only surviving elder sister of President Muhammad Buhari, has appealed to Nigerians to continue to pray for the well being of the President, instead of spreading rumours about his health. In an interview with a correspondent of the News agency of Nigeria in Daura, Katsina state, the 84-year-old said the president needed the prayers of every Nigerian for him to succeed in the task of addressing the problems facing the nation. She said President Buhari being a mortal is bound to fall ill or even die “at any time his Creator wishes’’. She said she speaks with…

Thursday, 09 February 2017 02:45

NJC re-nominates Onnoghen acting CJN, pending Senate confirmation

National Judicial Council (NJC) has written to acting President Yemi Osinbajo asking him to re-appoint the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen in an acting capacity, pending his screening and confirmation by the Senate as the substantive CJN. The decision to resend Justice Onnoghen’s name confirmed THISDAY’s exclusive report yesterday that the NJC would at its emergency meeting recommend his re-appointment in an acting capacity, pending his confirmation by the Senate. THISDAY had also exclusively reported that Osinbajo on Tuesday transmitted Justice Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive CJN. The need for the…

Thursday, 09 February 2017 02:42

Again, Appeal Court strikes out move by Lagos govt to stop hijab in schools

Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit, has hailed the striking out of a motion seeking an injunction to stop hijab usage in the state by the Court of Appeal. Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Tuesday heard the motion – stay of execution – filed by the Lagos State Government and struck it out. The case, CA/L/135/15, is between Lagos State Government, Asiyat AbdulKareem (through her father), Moriam Oyeniyi and Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria. The struck out motion was asking the court to stop the use of hijab in public primary and secondary schools…

Thursday, 09 February 2017 02:38

Boko Haram is broke, UN envoy tells Security Council

Boko Haram is currently plagued by financial difficulties, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr Jeffrey Feltman, has said. Feltman stated this while briefing the Security Council on the UN Secretary-General’s Fourth Report on the threat the group poses to international peace and security efforts to “check and roll it back” on Tuesday. The UN envoy also noted that Boko Haram was under intense military pressure, but warned against undermining its capacity to launch fatal attacks. “ISIL-affiliate Boko Haram is attempting to spread its influence and commit terrorist acts beyond Nigeria. “And Boko Haram remains a serious threat, with several…

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Thursday, 09 February 2017 02:34

El-Rufai bars FRSC from Kaduna

Kaduna State Government has barred personnel of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) from erecting checkpoints in Kaduna and other urban centres in the state. The directive is contained in a statement issued in Kaduna on Wednesday by Mr Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i on Media and Publicity. It said that the decision was taken by the state Security Council after a meeting in which it reviewed complaints from the general public against the road marshals. “The council acted following complaints that FRSC officials were acting in ways reminiscent of the VIO that was dissolved by the state…

Wednesday, 08 February 2017 18:15

Buhari is 'well, hale and hearty', FG insists

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has reiterated the federal government’s stance that President Muhammadu Buhari is not sick, despite seeking an extended medical vacation. Mr. Mohammed stated this while briefing journalists at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting. He said the fact that all the ministers were working optimally was an indication that the president was “hale and hearty.” “Do you think we will be conducting our business like this if Mr. President is ill?” the minister asked rhetorically. “He (pointing to Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola) was in Anambra last week, I was in…

Wednesday, 08 February 2017 18:14

Osinbajo sends Onnoghen’s name to Senate for confirmation as CJN

With just two days left to the expiration of the tenure of the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, acting President Yemi Osinbajo Tuesday transmitted his name to the Senate for confirmation as the substantive CJN. Confirming this, a source close to the Office of the Senate President, said Senate President Bukola Saraki received the letter yesterday, requesting the upper chamber to screen and confirm Justice Onnoghen, a Cross River State indigene, as the substantive CJN. Also, a ranking senator speaking on the condition of anonymity, said he was aware that the acting president had transmitted Justice…

Wednesday, 08 February 2017 18:08

Major airlines reject re-routes during Abuja airport closure

Nigeria’s aviation ministry has said the planned six weeks of resurfacing work were needed because the runway. International airlines are refusing to fly to an alternative hub when the only airport serving Nigeria’s capital shuts down, forcing travellers to make lengthy detours at extra cost. Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja closes completely for runway repairs on March 8. Domestic and international flights will be diverted to Kaduna, 170 kilometres (105 miles) away. Nigeria’s aviation ministry has said the planned six weeks of resurfacing work were needed because the runway, which was built in 1982 with a 20-year lifespan, was…

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