NIGERIAN NOTCH

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has been suspended by members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.  The Executive Council of Ganduje Ward led by Haruna Gwanjo disclosed this during a press briefing in Kano on Monday. Gwanjo said that the former governor has to clear his name of corruption allegations regarding his long-standing dollar case. A viral video had captured Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollar notes as a bribe from a man said to be a contractor and stuffing them in the pockets of his flowing gown. The video, which garnered widespread attention in 2017, has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Ganduje had denied the content of the video when it first surfaced and maintained his innocence but years after, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)’s administration of Governor Abba Yusuf revisited the case, vowing the prosecute the ex-governor. The Kano High Court

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State has formally admitted her new students into the institution.  The 26th matriculation ceremony which was held at the college matriculation arena at the weekend, was an opportunity for the new students to listen to scholarly advise from the Provost of the college Dr. Obodagu Tonica Owan, the chairperson of the occasion, Dr. Nkechi Ojiagu, fellow of Institute of Cooperative Professionals of Nigeria and Head of Department of Cooperative Economics and Management Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, the Guest Lecturer Prof. Andrew Chikodi Iheanacho of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu and a host of other academic giants who took turns to remind the new students of the dire need to take advantage of the vast opportunities at the Federal Cooperative College Oji River to build themselves into wealth creat

  The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) today informed it's customers of a total system collapse. In a press release made available by Emeka Ezeh, Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC said that the organization "wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a total system collapse which occurred at 2:41am today, 15th April, 2024." "This resulted in the loss of supply to all our interface TCN stations. Consequently, we were unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra,  Ebonyi,  Enugu, and Imo States." He said that the situation is gradually being resolved as they received supply at Awada TCN station, Onitsha, at 7:30am. "We are in constant communication with the relevant authorities awaiting full restoration of supply by the National Control Centre, NCC, Oshogbo." 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has faulted suspended Humanitarian Minister, Betta Edu, her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and the Coordinator of the National Social Insurance Programmes Agency, Halima Shehu, while revealing that a combined total of N32.7bn and $445,000 has been recovered so far from ministry. The commission made the development known on Sunday via its official X handle in response to rumours concerning the progress of its mobile investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. The statement signed by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has noticed the rising tide of commentaries, opinions, assumptions and insinuations concerning its progressive investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social De

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is investigating several celebrities suspected of involvement in Naira abuse. This is according to a statement released by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Sunday. Oyewale disclosed that the commission has summoned several celebrities for questioning, and they have provided valuable information during the interrogation process. The EFCC emphasized its awareness of viral videos circulating online, depicting individuals engaging in acts of naira abuse. The anti-graft agency commended the public for their vigilance in protecting the sanctity of the national currency, signaling a collective effort in combating financial misconduct. “On the issue of the works of the commission against Naira abuse, dollarization of the economy, and the enforcement of all extant laws relating to them, the EFCC appreciates the avalanche of public awakening, support, and involvement demonstrated so far,” the statement reads in part. “Incre

Organised Labour has demanded N615,000 as the new minimum wage for workers to cope with the many economic realities and high cost of living in Nigeria. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) confirmed the development to Channels Television on Sunday. The new wage of N615,000 monthly was reached after consultations between the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). [ The labour unions said the current minimum wage of N30,000 can no longer cater for the wellbeing of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which will expire by April, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act is to be reviewed every five years to meet up with contemporary economic demands of workers. The NLC and the TUC have at various times called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to hasten the upward review of wage awards. Earlier in January, the Federal Government inau

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the over N1 trillion that would be saved from the withdrawal of electricity subsidy will be reinvested in improving power supply and the provision of social services for the country. Idris stated this in Kaduna on Saturday as a guest of the popular Hausa audience participatory programme of Radio Nigeria Kaduna called “Hannu Da Yawa.” He said the disproportionate amount of electricity subsidy, approximately 40%, is benefiting only about 15% of the electricity consumer population, comprising affluent individuals and industrial clusters, who enjoy about 20 hours of electricity. “It is essential to emphasize that the funds to be saved from the withdrawal of electricity subsidy will be reinvested in enhancing power supply across the country and improving other vital social services such as health and education,” he said. Idris emphasized that 85% of the population who falls under the different catego

  President Bola Tinubu-led federal government maybe struggling to navigate the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prescription for the removal of subsidies on petrol and power, which will move the economy towards a path of sustainable growth. While financial experts have commended the government’s efforts in halting the slide of the Naira without resorting to international creditors, they believe the government is adopting policies recommended by the IMF, which could prove politically difficult to fully implement. So far, the government has only succeeded in implementing partial removals of the subsidies in both the oil and power sectors, a far cry from the recommendations of international creditors. At least one analyst is of the view that the government is failing to adopt simple solutions that could help the country save billions in foreign currency by cutting down on the importation of petroleum products. Founder and chief executive officer of the Centre for the Promoti

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has cautioned that shanty dwellers and caravan owners along the shorelines of the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar coastal road project won’t be compensated by the federal government. He noted that only those with permanent structures will be compensated during the course of demolition for the road project. Umahi disclosed this while addressing a stakeholders meeting on Lagos-Calabar highway project alongside with property owners seeking for compensation on the planned demolition of houses along the coastal highway project. The Minister also stressed that he inherited over 2,600 projects from the past administration, adding that the incumbent government in its efforts to bolster infrastructure milestones appropriated funds for the projects in the 2024 budget towards completion. He added that the Ministry of Works has a funding gap of N2.7 trillion while maintaining that the president was committed to closing the gaps with the prudency to drive

NIPCO GAS is about to promote the use of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, as alternative to Premium Motor Spirit, PMS also called petrol in the commercial city of Lagos after it has announced completion of four CNG stations in Lagos. The facilities would be opened for commercial operations by end of April to become the first of its kind in the state which is now contending with long queues at filling stations. The managing director ,NIPCO Gas Ltd ,Nagendra Verma, briefing the media on the development at the weekend, said the firm has been involved in AutoCNG development and expansion since 2009. Verma, who assured sustainability of supply after commissioning said presently, for Cars, Taxis and Keke’s; AutoCNG is being sold at NGN200/standard cubic feet scm against the petrol price of NGN610 per litre, in Lagos and NGN230/scm against the PMS price of NGN670/ltr in Abuja. The managing director, further informed that similarly for heavy commercial vehicles; AutoCNG is being sold a