NIGERIAN NOTCH

Ahead of the 2023 general elec­tions, there are fresh intrigues threatening to tear the Independent National Electoral Commis­sion (INEC) apart and completely erode its independence as a body that should serve the interest of all political parties, Daily Independent has gath­ered. This followed the formal handover by its National Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, last week, pending the Senate’s confirmation for the renewal of his tenure as chairman of the commission. Also, there are strong indications that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is going through a re­gime of crisis as a result of intense power play among key players within the party’s leadership cadre who have constituted themselves into strong power blocks within the context of who holds which sphere of influence, preparatory to the 2023 general elections. In this mix of power play is also a minister from the North-West geo-political zone who is angling to seek the governorship of his state in 2023. One of the signs ...

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has been notified by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) about the new platform it developed in collaboration with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), to avoid having the same issues with the Federal government as ASUU is having today on IPPIS. The new payment platform will serve as an alternative to the controversial Integrated Payroll and Payment Information System. Nigerian Notch however gathered that the new platform is named University General Peculiar Payroll Payment System (UGPPPS). The minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the government would look into it and must have a “handshake with IPPIS and other payment systems in use by the Federal Government.” The new president of the union, Mohammed Ibrahim, who was accompanied by the immediate past President, Samson Ugwoke during a thank-you visit and presentation of his successor to Ngige at the weekend, explained that the u...

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi is set to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) this week, although it had not been made official. A source said the governor confirmed his defection during a meeting with stakeholders in his Uburu Ohaozara Local Government Area country home on Sunday. The meeting was attended by bigwigs including the lawmaker representing Ezra South/Ikwo federal constituency Chinedu Ogah, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission Elias Mbam, State Chairman Senator Julius Ucha, Nwachukwu Eze and Senator Anthony Agbo, among others. It was however gathered that the minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu did not attend the meeting, for reasons that has not been ascertained as at the time of filling this report. Though details of the meeting were still sketchy as at last night, a source at the meeting said the governor also promised to reshuffle his executive council in December to accommodate members of the APC. “He did not give us...

Willie Obiano is the governor of Anambra state currently serving his second and final term in Office due to expire in January, 2022. In fact, he practically has fourteen months left to complete his tenure as governor of the state. A gubernatorial election is billed for the state in a year’s  time and registered political parties are expected to be active participants in the election. Governor Willie Obiano belongs to one of the prominent parties in Nigeria which used to be the party of choice in the state. The party APGA earned this status because of the iconic stature of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who during his life time was seen as the soul and leader of the party. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was loved and adored by Igbo people particularly the people of his home state, Anambra state. This love was transferred to APGA which was viewed as the Igbo Party.  Senator Ifeanyi Ubah  was a young and successful businessman in the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian...

........ Describes Him as a Competent Public Servant, Trailblazer Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People's Democratic Party (nPDP) and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has joined people of goodwill to felicitate with the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Prof. Henry Ugboma, as he marked his birthday yesterday.  In a short statement made available to Nigerian Notch, Chief Eze said Ugboma has distinguished himself as a personification of competence whose track record of achievements in the health profession has restored confidence in public health institutions especially, the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), where he holds sway as Chief Medical Medical Director. He described him as a great son of Rivers State that ought to be well celebrated and a public servant extraordinary, the party Chieftain said Prof. Ugboma has carved a niche for himself ...

 ............celebrates his one-year of returning to APC The Abuja, Aso-Villa residence of the Chief Whip of the 9th Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on Saturday played host to the Chieftain and prominent founding member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Osita Izunaso.  The host Senator Orji Uzor Kalu revealed that the reason for the special reception in honour of Senator Osita was to celebrate his one year of "returning" to the party.  Recall that Senator Izunaso was the pioneer interim National Organising Secretary of the APC, and the first elected and substantive National Organizing Secretary. The reception had the presence of other political dignitaries who gathered at the residence of Senator Kalu to mark the anniversary of Senator Osita Izunaso's return to the APC. Speaking in the presence of the guests Senator Kalu narrated how Sen. Osita persuaded  him to join the APC back in 2016. He described Senator Osita as a noble politician and also be...

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has retracted their earlier letter dated November 4, 2020 which the government of Chief  Willie Obiano has held firm and was circulating on social media claiming that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah did not obtain approval before embarking on maintenance of federal roads in Nnewi and its environs. In an official letter, made available to Nigerian Notch today, November 13, 2020 and signed by the Federal Controller of Works, federal ministry of works and housing, however explained why it issued the first letter, which it stated, that it was as a result of communication gap between the ministry and  contractor handling  repair works in the said roads.  Governor Obiano some weeks ago had attempted to stop  Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah from rehabilitating  federal roads in Nnewi and its environs, with claims, that approvals were not sought. The government in the state regrettable went so low to state that approvals from the stat...

The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Mr Chiji Collins, has been impeached by the Assembly. According to Channels TV, Collins was removed from office by the lawmakers on Friday during a plenary at the legislative chamber of the Assembly complex in Owerri, the state capital.   It’s been reported that the former speaker’s impeachment was backed by a move which was supported by 19 out of the 27 members of the House.   Collins was impeached over allegations of, financial impropriety, high handedness, gross misconduct among others. Following his impeachment, the lawmakers elected Mr Paul Emeziem from Onuimo Local Government Area as the new Speaker of the House.

Contrary to news making the rounds that the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District is somehow involved in the skirmishes amongst his former workers that occurred in the premises of the company last week. It is imperative to set the records straight in order to avoid falling into the hands of political detractors who are hellbent on misleading the public. The former workers of the company in the past few months has been involved in negotiations with the management of the company to find closure to their situation since the illegal actions by Amcon that affected their work , remuneration and welfare for some years. In line with it’s resolution to pay off the workers, the company had several meetings with its workers and reached an agreement with them on a six months severance package and has commenced making the payments to the workers that signed the resolution, while this was going on seamlessly , some junior workers started illegal collection of fees (6k each) amongst ...

The Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Chief Dr. George Moghalu has felicitated with the former first and only female Governor in Nigeria, Dame Virgy Etiaba (Mama Anambra ) on her 78th birthday celebration. Moghalu described the Dame Virgy Etiaba as a woman of excellence, great motivator, seasoned Educationist, and a detribalised role model to Nigerian women, who has used her God given talent in human and national development, which has benefited a lot of Nigerians home and abroad. “Mrs. Etiaba is a core educationist and a reputable scholar who stands out as a role model to many students and colleagues who have come in contact with her. Her motherly disposition towards her state earned her the appellation of ‘Mama Anambra” “Her excellency historical elevation and position in Nigeria political history is a proof that there are possibilities that women can do well in leadership positions,” the NIWA boss added. While praying God to continue to strengthen Dame...

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the trial of the fifth generation mobile network, showed that there was no health hazard associated with the use of the technology. The commission stated this in a draft consultation document on Deployment of Fifth Generation Mobile Technology in Nigeria, adding that the trial was conducted in six cities – Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Kano and Calabar. The regulatory body said the tests were conducted in accordance with the 1998 International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines for general public exposure to varying electromagnetic fields, which were in force at the time of the trials. It said the results of EMF radiation indicated that the highest radiation at 26 GHz millimeter wave at 5m away from source was 4.3 per cent and at 30m from the source was 0.14 per cent. According to NCC, the highest radiation at 3.5 GHz at 5m away from the source was 11.4 per cent and at 30m away from the source was 1.9 per cent ...