The hottest and most trending news articles for this week in all categories are captured in one shot. Find articles ranging from News to Sports, to Politics, to Entertainment, to Economy, to Metro plus, and many other categories. See below the top news for the week:
NEWS
- Buhari Presents Record N20.51trn 2023 Budget Proposal To NASS
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday presented before the two chambers of the National Assembly, a record N20.51 trillion proposed budget for the 2023 financial year. The N20.51 trillion budget which is the highest so far in the nation’s history, is the last to be presented by the president before his tenure elapses.
According to the president, this 8th financial blueprint of his administration is tagged the budget of Fiscal Sustainability and transition. Buhari while addressing members of the parliament noted that the 2023 transition budget was designed to address critical issues and lay a solid foundation for the incoming administration.
The president said he believes that based Based on these fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally-collectible revenue is estimated at 16.87 trillion Naira in 2023. Further stated that the total federally distributable revenue is estimated at 11.09 trillion Naira in 2023, while total revenue available to fund the 2023 Federal Budget is estimated at 9.73 trillion Naira. This he said includes the revenues of 63 Government-Owned Enterprises.
The president also disclosed that oil revenue is projected at 1.92 trillion Naira, Non-oil taxes are estimated at 2.43 trillion Naira, FGN Independent revenues are projected to be 2.21 trillion Naira.
- One million barrels of crude stolen daily — Ahmad Lawan
The President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan says Nigeria loses one million barrels of crude oil daily to crude theft. He made the remarks at the presentation of the 2023 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Friday. Lawan said that the Nigerian economy was still challenged by a dearth of revenues and the situation was worsened recently, culminating in the loss of one million barrels of crude per day.
He said: “Translated into monetary terms, our loss is monumental. The large scale and massive stealing of our oil are concerning as this reduces drastically, the revenues available to the government. With conflicting figures, projections have put our losses from this malaise at between 700, 000 to 900, 000 barrels of crude oil per day, leading to about 29 to 35 per cent loss in oil revenue in the first quarter of 2022.”
The senate president also said that the figure represented an estimated total revenue fall from N1.1 trillion recorded in the last quarter of 2021 to N790 billion in the first quarter of this year. “I consider the oil thieves the worst enemies of our country. The thieves have declared war on our country and our people. I strongly feel that if we do not take the necessary measures to stop the thieves immediately, our economy will be devastated, as efforts to provide infrastructure and diversify the economy will be thwarted.
He said the situation had become more worrisome if factored in, an estimated budget deficit of N7 trillion with its grim prospect of increasing to about N11.30 trillion, as presented in the 2023 – 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP). The senate president, however, said that the budget deficit could be reduced by stopping the theft.
- Eid-el-Maulud: FG declares Monday public holiday
The Federal Government has declared Monday public holiday to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Mawlud celebration in commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad. Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who made this declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Muslims both at home and in the Diaspora for witnessing this year’s occasion.
Aregbesola, in a statement signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shuaib Belgore, on Thursday, admonished Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, patience, tolerance and perseverance which are deep spiritual virtues and which Prophet Muhammad exemplified, adding that doing so would guarantee peace, security and harmony in the country.
He urged Nigerians to be security conscious, asking them to report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agency and through the N-Alert application on Android and IOS, saying “when you see something do N-Alert, as this would elicit prompt response from security agents.”
- IG inaugurates modern police stations, barracks
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has announced the completion of 198 projects, including 120 modern police stations, barracks, and other vital police buildings across the country. In a statement on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, noted that these were part of the efforts of Baba’s administration to fight crimes and criminality via improved morale-boosting welfare packages and anti-crime psychology of officers, as well as offer policing services in conformity with international best practices.
“Consequently, the IG shall commence a duty tour of some of the states where these projects have been completed for inauguration starting from Tuesday, October 4 to Sunday, October 9, 2022, starting with the inauguration of the newly-constructed Kurudu Divisional Headquarters, Abuja.
“The states and territory to be visited in no particular order include the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Yobe, and Borno states, while other projects across the six geopolitical zones will be commissioned as soon as possible,” Adejobi said. He noted that Baba reiterated his commitment to ensuring that modern policing realities are emulated and deeply entrenched through modern policing facilities and equipment aimed at improving the professionalism of the Nigeria Police Force, as well as growing a citizen-led and citizen-focused policing system for the nation.
- Manpower, threat to credible polls — Arase, Yakubu
Former Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday identified insecurity and insufficient manpower as some of the challenges threatening the 2023 general polls and urged synergy among all stakeholders to overcome them.
However, Professor Mahmood Yakubu vowed to deliver free, fair and credible elections, boasting that the electoral commission has mapped out anti-rigging measures that will ensure voters determined the outcome of the elections. The duo spoke at the sixth annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, in Lagos themed: “2023 Elections: Managing the Process for Credible Outcome.”
Recently, Yakubu raised the alarm that the current security situation in the country could pose a serious threat to the successful conduct of next year’s general elections.
Yakubu expressed the commission’s concerns at the opening ceremony of election security management training organised by the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja. He lamented that the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of voters, election personnel and materials, candidates, party agents, and observers, among others, is becoming challenging, especially as hoodlums and terrorists target the commission’s facilities in some states.
- How fake news threatens 2023 elections – Group
The Centre for Democracy and Development on Wednesday raised fears that the current nature of campaigning by political parties and candidates in the country was a cause for serious concern. While stating that the period had been dominated by a proliferation of electoral disinformation, misinformation and the weaponisation of fake news, the organisation observed that the trend posses biggest threat to the 2023 poll.
The Director of CDD, Idayat Hassan, in a statement, said fake news and disinformation has the potential to further fragment the country and skew the electoral outcome.
According to her, the development could play a part in affecting the legitimacy of the elections and the leaders who emerge from the process.
Hassan maintained that politicians must consider Nigeria first, far and above their personal aspirations. She stressed that the spread and impact of disinformation is a global concern and a threat to the sustainability of democracy globally.
She expressed optimism that that the participation of all 18 registered political parties in the signing of the National Peace Accord shows a commitment by politicians to commit to addressing this issue.
- 2023: Arrest, prosecute hate campaigners, CAN urges security agencies
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Youth Wing, yesterday urged the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute individuals and groups engaging in hate speech, ahead of the 2023 elections.
The religious organisation, in a statement by its National Chairman, Belusochukwu Enwere, said the call became imperative in order to ensure the sustenance of peace in the country and check the activities of mischief makers bent on inciting pre-election violence.
“Election must not be won with violence. Every political party in Nigeria has right to campaign in a state, zone or region of their choice without restriction. Nigeria can not afford to enter into any war because of selfish individuals and groups that earn their livelihood through violence. 2023 election is a litmus test for Nigeria’s unity and we can not trade it for anything. Nigerians must be allowed to choose who they want to lead them without intimidation and harassment.
- Customs impound pump action rifle, local guns, cartridges, others
The Federal Operations Unit, FOU Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, said yesterday it recovered one pump action rifle, two locally made guns, 35 live cartridges from smugglers after a gun battle around Idiroko, Ogun State. The unit also disclosed that it recovered N107.8 million as duty underpayment from goods cleared from the seaports and border post.
Disclosing this at a briefing in Lagos yesterday, Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Unit, Hussein Ejibunu, said goods with Duty Paid Value, DPV, worth N633.4 million were also seized last month. Ejibunu explained that the impounded items include 7,328 50 kilograms bags of foreign parboiled rice, 121,550 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, 68 cartons of frozen poultry and 37 crates of eggs used to conceal rice.
According to him, other items include 150 kilograms of Indian hemp, 10 pieces of military camouflage bags, 1,955 bales of used clothing and six units of used cars all in the month of September. The Customs boss said: “The unit made series of seizures with total Duty Paid Value, DPV of N622.4 million. In our efforts to prevent losses to government, we also recovered the sum of N107.8 million.
- Nigerians living in abject poverty, CAN laments
The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern states and Abuja, on Thursday, said Nigerians are living in hell as a result of the weak economy under the current administration of the All Progressives Congress. According to the association, the weak economy has thrown millions of Nigerians into abject poverty and hunger such that Nigerians can hardly afford a square meal per day.
All these, the Northern CAN noted, remain a recipe for “criminality and crime” which negatively affect education as well as the quality of healthcare. The religious body expressed concern that those who mismanaged the economy were using hunger as a weapon as the 2023 general elections approach.
Against this background, the Northern CAN called on Nigerians to ensure that the 2023 general elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace, noting that “election is not war” as “no politician is worth dying for.” This was according to a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day National Executive Council meeting of Northern CAN in Kaduna.
- INSECURITY: Allow states’ security outfits bear arms, Ondo monarch tells Buhari
The Chairman of the traditional rulers in Ondo state and the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, yesterday, urged the Federal government not to entertain any fear by approving state security outfits to bear arms to defend their people against rampaging criminals. Oba Aladelusi, said this at the 2022 annual Ulefunta public lecture, titled ‘Curbing Electoral Violence and Associated Crimes in Contemporary Nigeria: Roles of Traditional Institutions in Perspective.’
The monarch, in his remarks, said: “The Federal government has nothing to fear, Amotekun and other security outfits in states should be allowed to bear arms to defend their people. Also speaking, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, represented by his deputy, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, insisted that his administration would equip the state security outfit codenamed Amotekun legally.
- FG review rails security, Buhari meets freed hostages
The Federal Government has set up a committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring adequate safety measures in securing train and other railway infrastructure, newsmen have learnt. Terrorists, on March 28, 2022, attacked the AK-9 Abuja-Kaduna train and abducted its passengers. This led to the suspension of train services on the corridor with the Federal Government saying services will only resume after all the abducted passengers must have been released.
The abductors released the hostages in batches with the last set of 23 released on Wednesday. When asked on Thursday about the efforts being made to secure the trains and their passengers ahead of the possible resumption of services, the Ministry of Transportation’s spokeperson, Yakubu Mahmood, said a committee has been set up for the purpose. According to Mahmood, the committee is chaired by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani.
- Insecurity evolved, assumed other dimensions — Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented that though his administration has recorded successes in the war against insecurity, challenges have evolved and assumed other dimensions in some areas, and instructed service chiefs to replicate the successes recorded in the fight against terrorism in the northeast in other parts of the country. The president spoke at the passing out parade of 68 Regular Courses of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, in Kaduna yesterday,
He also declared that no group of terrorists could threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called on all Nigerians to continue to support the Armed Forces and security agencies in the fight against criminality in the country.
Buhari, who spoke against the backdrop of the release of the remaining 23 hostages abducted by terrorists in the aftermath of the Kaduna-Abuja train attack on March 28, 2022, said his administration had invested heavily in infrastructure, with the rail, roads, seaports, airports, and power sector revitalised through strategic rehabilitation and reconstruction.
POLITICS
- Nigeria not failed state – Tinubu
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Thursday night urged Nigerians to avoid buying into the narrative that the country is a failed state. This is even as the APC presidential flagbearer affirmed that he felt better after enjoying his 11 days vacation in London, United Kingdom. Tinubu made the statement in Abuja shortly after he alighted from his private jet amid wild jubilation from his supporters and some members of his Presidential Campaign Council.
The former Lagos State governor was warmly received by his running mate, Kashim Shettima; Director General of the PCC, Simon Lalong; his deputy, Adams Oshiomhole, and other party chieftains. Addressing journalists amid shouts of ‘Jagaban’ and ‘City Boy’, Tinubu expressed his readiness for the political campaign, saying he felt better.
- We’ll build on Osun, Ekiti polls success — INEC
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said on Tuesday that the commission would consolidate on the success of the governorship elections held in Osun and Ekiti States in the delivery of election materials. He spoke during an expert review meeting on election logistics for the 2023 general election organised by ActionAid Nigeria and the Ford Foundation in Lagos on Tuesday. He also assured that the commission would improve on its processes and procedures to give Nigerians a pleasant experience at the forthcoming polls.
He said, “In 2018, the Commission organised a similar meeting for critical stakeholders ahead of the 2019 general elections. The focus of the meeting was to review the perennial challenges associated with electoral logistics and how to address them. Since then, the commission has improved on the delivery of logistics in particular and the election administration in general.
“The commission is determined to build on the successes recorded in the recent elections in Ekiti and Osun states to improve the delivery of election materials. In this regard, we welcome the collaboration of Action Aid Nigeria for building these stakeholders together to deliberate on a very critical issue. The commission is determined to continuously improve the processes and procedures to give Nigerians a pleasant experience on Election Day. In achieving this cause, we need the support and partnership of all stakeholders.
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, assured that the police force would provide security for all persons and properties that would be involved in the entire process of the 2023 polls.
- Hoodlums attack APC rally in Ibadan, supporters injured
Some supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State were reportedly injured in Ibadan during a campaign rally by the party on Tuesday when some hoodlums in some vehicles allegedly launched an attack on the crowd. The opposition party in the state had staged a rally from their secretariat at Oke Ado area of Ibadan and were moving towards Oje area.
The APC had organised the rally to drum support for the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; the Oyo State governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin and other candidates in the state. Some of the supporters were said to have been injured during the attack which loyalists of the APC blamed on the Chairman, Park Management System, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, aka Auxiliary, and his boys.
Folarin, in a statement after the incident, alleged that Governor Seyi Makinde and Auxiliary were behind the attack. He said Auxiliary attacked the procession from behind when he was aware that the candidates of the party who were also among the crowd were at the front.
However, Auxiliary, when contacted through the Public Relations Officer of the Park Management System, Emiola Jelili, debunked the allegation. The PMS said the allegation was aimed at tarnishing the image of their chairman.
- 2023: Governors Contribute To Election Violence – Oshiomhole
Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has blamed governors for electoral violence that has been experienced in past elections, saying they contribute to chaos by funding thugs Oshiomhole stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during a citizens’ election dialogue on the theme, “What makes a good election in Nigeria,” asking political leaders to support the efforts of security operatives in ensuring the 2023 elections are violence-free.
The APC chieftain equally called for synergy between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political leaders, and security agencies. Noting that the weapons used by disruptors cannot be easily obtained, the ex-governor commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in tackling the nation’s security challenges.
Oshiomhole equally praised Buhari for telling the world leaders during the last United National General Assembly in New York of his administration’s commitment in conduct a free and fair election in 2023.
- 2023 elections: 837 gov candidates to slug it out in 28 states; 10,240 vie for 993 Assembly seats
No fewer than 837 candidates would be participating in the March 11, 2023 governorship election in 28 states, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclosed. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who announced this at an expert roundtable on election logistics for the 2023 general election in Lagos yesterday, said 10,240 candidates would also vie for 993 State Assembly seats.
The final particulars of the candidates which was published later yesterday in all INEC state offices was in compliance with Section 32 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), which stipulated that the list of candidates be published at least 150 days before the election. Two other governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states would be conducted later that year after the exercise in the 28 states.
The development came as INEC assured Nigerians of its commitment to improve on election logistics and general administration to ensure early commencement of the 2023 polls.
Speaking at the expert roundtable, Prof. Yakubu said the aim of the meeting was to review the perennial challenges associated with electoral logistics and how to address them. He noted that so far, the commission had successfully implemented 9 out of 14 activities listed in the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election.
ECONOMY
- Petrol Subsidy Is Unsustainable, Says Buhari In Last Budget Presentation
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday pushed for the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, saying that the policy is not sustainable considering current economic realities. He shared the position while presenting a N20.51 trillion 2023 budget proposal to the National Assembly.
He said, “Petrol subsidy has been a recurring and controversial public policy issue in our country since the early eighties. However, its current fiscal impact has clearly shown that the policy is unsustainable. As a country, we must now confront this issue taking cognizance of the need to provide safety nets to cushion the attendant effects on some segments of society.”
According to the President, discontinuing the policy is necessary for the country to manage limited resources. The President, however, hinted that provisions would be made to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.
- We’ll borrow, sell national assets to fund N10.78trn 2023 budget deficit — Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the 2023 budget deficit of N10.78 trillion would be funded by borrowing, sales of national assets and project-specific loans.
Buhari made the revelation, on Friday, while presenting the Appropriation Bill of N20.51 trillion for 2023 to the Senate and the House of Representatives at a joint session of the National Assembly.
The budget includes N2.42 trillion spending by government-owned enterprises. It is also about N3 trillion higher than the 2022 budget.
- NNPCL grows profit by 134% to N674bn
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, yesterday, declared a profit after tax of N674 billion for the 2021 financial year, a growth of 134.8 per cent compared to N287 billion declared in 2020. The company’s total assets also grew from N15.86 trillion in 2020 to N16.27 trillion in 2022, while total liabilities fell by 8.3 per cent to N13.46 in 2021 from N14.68 trillion in 2020.
Also, the shareholders fund grew to N2.81 trillion, representing 144 per cent from the previous year. Before turning profitable in 2020, NNPC had recorded losses of N803 billion in 2018 and N1.7 billion in 2019.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, NNPCL Group CEO, Mele Kyari, said the growth in profit was driven by its upstream operation and its businesses in gas and power. Kyari explained that the “performance would have been greater if the operations in the year under review were free from incessant vandalism, crude oil and product theft among other. On oil theft and vandalism, Kyari disclosed that all major oil trunk lines had been shut down due to the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals.
- Reps to probe incessant collapse of national grid
The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Power to conduct an investigation into the root causes of incessant national grid collapse in the country. The committee will also look at the capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, to address the ugly trend with the aim of forestalling future occurrences and protecting socio-economic environment.
The investigation was sequel to the consideration of a motion of urgent public importance moved at plenary by Sani Bala. Presenting the motion, Bala noted that the national grid collapse occurred when there were system disturbances along the transmission lines connecting a number of generating stations.
- Ezekwesili seeks policies, leadership to boost economy
The School of Politics, Policy and Governance has urged Africans on the need to urgently fix the gaps experienced in the areas of policy analysis, especially as Africa is in dire need of disruptive leadership for economic progress. A statement said the Convener/Chair of FixPolitics and Founder SPPG, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, noted that the world needs Africa and Africa needs the world.
“The existing multilateral order is broken and must be urgently fixed so that our world can make critical decisions and take the right actions on issues that affect us all,” she said.
Ezekwesili advocated for Africa to be at the center of the conversations on global governance, economic growth, poverty and inequality, climate change, disruptive technologies and related issues of human and social development. She said, “The world will do better with Africa actively at the table of the redesign of today’s global architecture for a future that provides equal opportunity for everyone anywhere to excel.
BUSINESS
- Twitter Trading Suspended On Possible Musk Buyout Deal
Elon Musk has offered to push through with his buyout of Twitter at the original agreed price, reports said Tuesday, prompting a surge in the share price of the social network that triggered a suspension of trading.
US media said the world’s richest man had sent a letter to Twitter vowing to honor the original buyout price of $54.20 a share -– a U-turn on his effort to terminate the deal that saw Twitter take Musk to court in a case due to be heard later this month. Shares were halted soon after the Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources near midday.
The latest twist in the ongoing saga comes less than two weeks before the start of a high-stakes trial in a suit by the tech firm to hold the Tesla chief to a $44 billion buyout deal he signed in April.
Musk himself has been slated to be deposed by Twitter attorneys later this week in preparation for a trial. A serial entrepreneur made rich through his success with Tesla, Musk originally sealed a deal to acquire the social media company in April, but soon after began to step back from the transaction.
Musk, the world’s richest man, said in a letter in July that he was canceling the deal because he was misled by Twitter concerning the number of bot accounts on its platform, allegations rejected by the company.
HEALTH
- Over 67% of women in Nigeria’re anaemic —UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, yesterday said over 67 percent of women in Nigeria are anaemic. UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs Ngozi Onuora who made the disclosure during a five day ‘Community of Practice workshop on Building Capacity to Mainstream Nutrition into the Investment Agenda, lamented the effect of malnutrition on the overall health and wellbeing of the mother and child.
While speaking on the objective of the workshop and the ‘Effective Management of First 1,000 days Window of Opportunity for Every Child – Strategic Preventive Option’, Mrs Onuora noted that the issue of malnutrition is multi-layered, emphasising that the nutrition of the mother and child in the first 1,000 days of the baby’s life starting from the first nine months in the womb and two years after birth remains critical to the well being of the mother and child.
While also lamenting the rate of child malnutrition in the country, Mrs. Onuora said Nigeria had been rated first in Africa and second in the global malnutrition burden with 17 million undernourished children which poses a huge threat to the general well being of the country.
She observed that the investments in the nutrition of infants, children and mothers would boost growth stressing that nutrition from the womb, infancy and early child was essential for child survival, growth, quality physical development and productivity.
- Nigeria conducts virus risk assessment as Ebola resurfaces in Uganda
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says it has conducted a rapid risk assessment to guide the country’s preparedness in case of an outbreak of Ebola in the country.
The NCDC said this risk assessment was conducted following the recent detection of the Ebola virus in Uganda. This was contained in a press release signed by the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa.
In the press releases, NCDC described the overall risk of the importation of the Ebola virus into Nigeria and its impact on the health of Nigerians as ‘high.’ However, the agency assured Nigerians that there has been no case of Ebola virus detected in the country, noting that other relevant agencies are prepared to tackle it.
The ongoing outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Uganda is caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus declared on 20th September 2022. The outbreak has also been confirmed by the World Health Organisation. The Sudan strain of the Ebola virus is the known cause of EVD having caused previous outbreaks in Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It was reported that the Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed the virus in samples collected from a 24-year-old male who exhibited symptoms of the disease and later died as a result in Mubende District in the Central Region about 175km from the capital, Kampala. As of 29th September 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health has reported 54 cases (35 confirmed and 19 probable) and 25 deaths (7 confirmed and 18 probable), NCDC said.
EDUCAION
- Go back to classrooms immediately, court orders ASUU
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its strike. The court gave the order after dismissing the union’s application for a stay of execution of an earlier ruling of the National Industrial Court directing the university lecturers to resume work.
The three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led by Hamma Barka granted the union permission to appeal the ruling of the industrial court but ruled that it must first resume work to be allowed to file the appeal. It said should ASUU fail to re-open the universities, the permission it gave the union to appeal against the interlocutory injunction of the National Industrial Court “will be automatically vacated.” It gave the university lecturers’ union seven days within which to file its notice of appeal against the order of the National Industrial Court.
The National Industrial Court had on 21 September ordered ASUU to call off the strike. The court granted the motion on notice filed by the federal government, directing the lecturers to return to classrooms.
Ruling on the interlocutory injunction, the trial judge, Polycarp Hamman, restrained ASUU from continuing with the industrial action pending the determination of the suit filed against ASUU by the FG. Displeased by the ruling, the union headed to the appeal court to appeal the ruling.
It also filed a stay of execution of the ruling of the industrial court.
The Court of Appeal ordered the striking lecturers to “immediately” call off the eight months strike, having struck out ASUU’s application for a stay of execution of the lower court’s order.
- Teachers’ Day: Pay salary arrears, NUT tells governors
The Nigeria Union of Teachers on Tuesday called on state governors that owe teachers salary arrears to use their remaining months in office to pay off the arrears. The union’s Secretary-General, Dr Mike Ike-Ene, made the call in an interview with newsmen. World Teachers Day is celebrated on October 5 every year to appreciate teachers. This year’s celebration has ‘Teachers at the heart of education recovery’ as its theme.
Ike-Ene said many state governors owe primary school teachers and secondary schools months of salary arrears. “Many of these teachers have lamented over the inability and irregularities of the state to pay their salaries as and when due following the current economic situation in the country. Some state governments owe primary school teachers a backlog of salaries ranging from four to 18 months,” he said.
He, however, commended state governors who had been committed to paying teachers’ salaries as and when due. On the new salary scale for teachers, the secretary general said the union and the Federal Government were still working towards its implementation. Ike-Ene said the new teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years and 35 to 40 years of service had attained 90 per cent implementation.
- Corruption undermining govt’s investment in education – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, said corruption in the education sector was undermining the Federal Government’s investments. Buhari spoke at the Fourth National Summit on Diminishing Corruption in the Public Sector held at the State House, Abuja.
This came about eight months after members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, on February 14, started their ongoing strike.
Buhari said, “Incessant strikes, especially by unions in tertiary education, often imply that the government is grossly underfunding education but I must say that corruption in the education system from the basic level to the tertiary level has been undermining our investment in the sector, and those who go on prolonged strikes on flimsy reasons are no less complicit.
The President argued that allocation to education in the federal budget should not be considered via allocation to the Federal Ministry of Education and also academic institutions alone but should include an allocation to the Universal Basic Education Fund, transfers to TETFUND and refunds from the Education Tax Pool Account to TETFUND among others.
The President also noted the need for closer scrutiny of funds used by tertiary institutions, decrying what he called an “over-bloated payroll” in many schools. He added, “The government will continue to fund education within realistically available revenue.
- ASUU knocks Ngige over factional groups’ registration
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, on Tuesday, knocked the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, over the Federal Government’s decision to register rival groups, the Congress of University Academics, and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics as trade unions.
Reports have it that Ngige presented certificates of registration to CONUA and NAMDA in Abuja. The minister said the two trade unions would exist side-by-side with ASUU.
CONUA is led by its National Coordinator, ‘Niyi Sunmonu, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The presentation of the certificate came amidst the lingering strike by ASUU which had led to a closure of federal and state universities in the country.
Ngige said the two unions were entitled to all rights and privileges existing in the university. He said, “CONUA applied for registration in 2018 and cited irreconcilable differences as it does not believe in recurring strikes as the solution to every welfare agitation. “It also accused the ASUU executive of non-rendition of accounts of incomes and expenditure for years.
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview with newsmen, described the development as a “plan by the Minister of Labour.” “For us, it (the registration) is inconsequential, let them go ahead and open the universities. Ngige is just like a child. That is our response. We have nothing to say to them,” Osodeke added.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, in an earlier interview with Nigerian journalists had noted that the Federal Government delayed in registering CONUA so as not to be seen as causing division among the university lecturers.
- What we will do differently – ASUU faction, CONUA
The Congress of Nigerian University Academics, a breakaway faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, has stated what the new union of lecturers will do differently in resolving the imbroglio rocking Nigerian universities, particularly on recurring strike actions.
CONUA’s National Coordinator, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, emphasised the need to democratise the university setting, saying this was what the academics should be after, adding that academics must look at issues from different perspectives. Sunmonu said there should not be a fixed perspective to issues, noting that it should not be a thing of “only this way or the highway.”
Sunmonu, while speaking on a television intervew, said the use of strike action to press home demands in the country had been on for well over 40 years, saying, “in that period of 40 years, we’ve had different kinds of governments, the military dictators, the democracy that we all enjoy; we’ve had one response and that response is put pen to paper on agreement and renege on the agreement later.
- Strike: Court recommends out-of-court settlement for FG, ASUU
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday challenged the Federal Government and the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities to resolve their dispute amicably out of court. The Appellate Court suggested twenty-four hours for the two parties to have a rethink, sit down and come out with a resolution that would make Nigerians happy.
Justice Georgewill Biobele Abraham threw the challenge when the Federal Government and ASUU appear before for a hearing in the appeal instituted by ASUU against the judgment of the National Industrial Court.
Specifically, Justice Georgewill tasked counsel to the Federal Government, James Igwe (SAN) and that of ASUU, Femi Falana (SAN), to first sit down as lawyers, take a patriotic position and convey the position to their clients. The judge said, “There is time for everything, time for war, and time for peace. As Ministers in the temple of justice, we want to see the two of you as senior lawyers encourage and explore amicable settlement of this dispute.
“In fact, we expect to return to this court on Thursday with the good news that the dispute has been thrashed out and all the appreciation of Nigerians will go to you. So, talk to your clients to take the interest of the nation into consideration for the sake of our children. As you leave here, go and sit down and talk and resolve the matter.”
Counsel to the Federal Government, James Igwe thanked the Justices for the admonitions and promised to look into the counseling with his colleague. Falana said that he had initiated something similar and would be happy to do more on the way out of the strike. He, however, restated that an amicable resolution of the matter would involve give and take from the two parties.
- Teachers Day: NUT seeks better deal, knocks govs
The National Union of Teachers, on Wednesday, decried the non-implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage by some state governments. The union’s National President, Titus Amba, spoke at an event to mark the 2022 World Teachers Day in Abuja. Amba also decried the failure of the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to implement the new teacher’s special salary scale.
He said, “The basic and secondary education sub-sectors are faced with serious challenges. These include non-implementation of the N30, 000.00 minimum wage for teachers in some states, shortage of teachers, poor infrastructure, lack of instructional materials, insecurity in schools, inadequate funding and poor conditions of service in general. It is regrettable that this deplorable state of education and poor working conditions of teachers adversely affect education service delivery, especially in the public sector.”
Meanwhile, the FG through the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, hailed teachers for not embarking on strike despite what it tagged as “unfavourable and intolerable policies.” Adamu noted, “our teachers, especially at the basic and secondary levels have been at the receiving end of some of the most unfavourable and sometimes intolerable policies, practices and experiences.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo urged teachers nationwide to commit to continuing engagement in cutting-edge research, learning and personal development. The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, honoured teachers, both the living and the dead, to commemorate the day. Members observed one-minute silence in honour of teachers who have died, while they chorused “thank you” and gave a standing ovation for those still alive.
- Nigeria’s future heavily dependent on education —Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday Nigeria’s future relied heavily on education, noting that no society could grow beyond its educational attainments. The President said it was in consideration of such development that his government was determined to return teachers, teaching and the teaching profession to their rightful places.
Buhari, who spoke at the commemoration of the 2022 World Teachers’ Day in Abuja, noted that one of the major differences between healthy, well functioning and prosperous and poorer societies was education. “We owe so much of our well-being as a nation to our educators at every level,” said Bihari, who was represented by the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
He explained that his government was fully implementing the professional teaching and teacher qualification framework standards that would invariably impact on education outcome and teachers’ performance at the pre-school, basic, secondary and tertiary levels.
WORLD
- World Food Prices Fall For Sixth Straight Month – UN
World food prices have fallen for a sixth month in a row in September, UN data showed Friday, as they continued to decline since a record reached following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Food and Agriculture Organization said its price index, which tracks the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities, averaged 136.3 points in September, a 1.1 percent drop from August. The index, however, was 5.5 percent higher than in September 2021.
The monthly decline was driven by a “sharp fall” in the prices of vegetable oils, the United Nations agency said. There were also moderate decreases in the prices of sugar, meat and dairy products. The declines more than offset a rebound in cereal prices.
The FAO said wheat prices jumped due to “heightened uncertainty” about the continuation beyond November of a UN-brokered deal that has allowed Ukraine to ship its grains via the Black Sea. The deal lifted a Russian blockade that has raised fears of triggering a famine in nations reliant on grains from Ukraine, one of the world’s breadbaskets. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Dry conditions in Argentina and the United States have also contributed to the increase in global cereal prices.
The FAO lowered its world cereal production forecast for this year again, with a decline of 1.7 percent expected. The UN warned in September that more than one million people are at risk of famine and death without humanitarian aid.
- North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Over Japan
North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in five years Tuesday, prompting Tokyo to activate its missile alert system and issue a rare warning for people to take shelter. The latest launch comes in a record year of sanctions-busting weapons tests by North Korea, which recently revised its laws to declare itself an “irreversible” nuclear power.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres condemned the test as “clearly an escalation”, while US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decried it “in the strongest terms”. The launch was “destabilizing to the region, and a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions,” Biden and Kishida said in a joint statement.
Biden also reiterated the United States’ “ironclad commitment to Japan’s defense”.
The last time Pyongyang fired a missile over Japan was in 2017, at the height of a period of “fire and fury” when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traded insults with then US president Donald Trump.
South Korea said the intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) flew some 4,500 kilometres (2,800 miles) — possibly a new distance record for North Korean tests, which are usually conducted on a lofted trajectory to avoid flying over neighbouring countries. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the launch a “provocation”, and vowed a “stern response”.
- Elon Musk In Row With Zelensky Over Russia ‘Peace Plan’
US billionaire Elon Musk was embroiled in a social media spat with Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday over his ideas on ending Russia’s invasion. Musk sparked the controversy on Twitter by proposing a peace deal involving re-running under UN supervision annexation referendums in Moscow-occupied Ukrainian regions, acknowledging Russian sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula and giving Ukraine a neutral status. The Tesla and SpaceX founder created a poll to let his more than 107 million followers vote on the idea.
Zelensky responded with a Twitter poll of his own, asking: “Which @elonmusk do you like more?” with the options “One who supports Ukraine” and “One who supports Russia”. Kyiv’s ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk replied bluntly: “My very diplomatic response (to Musk) is to get lost.” Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak suggested a “better peace plan” under which Ukraine took back its territories including Crimea, Russia was demilitarised and denuclearised and “war criminals” faced an international tribunal.
Musk later said Moscow could announce a full mobilisation, leading to a “full war” where “death on both sides will be devastating” given Russia’s far larger population.
“Victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace,” he wrote on Twitter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Ukraine to cease hostilities and negotiate after ordering a partial mobilisation to bolster his forces and threatening to use nuclear weapons. Zelensky has said he will never negotiate with Russia as long as Putin remained its leader.
ENTERTAINMENT
- Kanye West under attack over wearing ‘White Lives Matter’ t-shirt
American rapper and fashion icon, Kanye West is currently facing online backlash and criticism after wearing a shirt emblazoned with “White Lives Matter” during his Yeezy SZN 9 presentation in Paris. The rapper also claimed that black life is a scam.
The 45-year-old rapper staged a surprise during the Yeezy fashion show in Paris Fashion Week. The father of four took to the stage in an all-black outfit to give a speech, before the live-streamed show began.
However, what caught the attention of people was the long-sleeved black shirt the entrepreneur was rocking. Not only did it feature an image of the pope on the front but had the words “White Lives Matter,” in bold white at the back.
Kanye went ahead to let people know that he was above everything and unmanageable. “I am Ye, and everyone here knows that I am the leader. You can’t manage me.” Said the Yeezy CEO. He also posted via his Instagram page, claiming black lives was a scam.
He wrote, “Everyone knows that Black Lives Matter is a scam, now it’s over you are welcome” he wrote.
- Country music queen, Loretta Lynn dies at 90
Loretta Lynn, country music star has died aged 90. Lynn died at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee on October 4, according to her family. The singer recorded 60 studio albums, topped the US national charts 16 times and was nominated for the Grammy awards 18 times in what can be described a legendary career.
She married Oliver Lynn at the age of 15 to 21 year old, and they stayed together for 48 years despite Oliver’s frequent infidelity and struggle with alcoholism. Oliver, however, died in 1996.
They had six children together, three of them before Lynn clocked 30. Lynn’s rise to the top is regarded as one of the most inspiring success stories in the US as she came from a poor background, born to a coal miner, to being one of the most celebrated stars in the US.
- Tems wins prestigious ‘Impact Prize’ at London BMI Awards
Afrobeats sensational singer/songwriter, Temilade Openiyi ‘Tems’ added to her record-breaking year as she took home one of the biggest awards at the annual BMI London Awards. She won the Impact Prize which spotlights and honours leading songwriters, composers, and music publishers in the UK and Europe.
The BMI Film & TV Awards are awards presented annually by UK-based performance rights organization, Broadcast Music, Inc.(BMI) honoring songwriters, composers, and music publishers in various genres.
Tems joins British singer/songwriter, RAYE and British- Nigerian singer/songwriter, Arlo Parks as artists who have won the award. The BMI Impact Award is given to a songwriter/producer/composer for their artistry, creative vision, and impact on the future of music.
Tems met and took a photo with the BMI President’s Award recipient, English singer-songwriter, Elle Goulding. She also got a BMI certificate alongside Wizkid and his producer, P2J for the huge success of Essence which was awarded for songwriting in the Pop Category.
- Actress Ngozi Ezeonu receives international appointment
Veteran Nollywood actress, Ngozi Ezeonu has bagged an international appointment. The actress took to her Instagram page to confirm her latest achievement. She said she has been appointed as an International Peace Ambassador and expressed appreciation to God. Celebrating her new appointment, Ezeonu said it is another feather to her cap.
SPORTS
- FA fines Man City £260,000 for pitch invasion
Manchester City have been fined £260,000 ($293,000) and given a warning over the pitch invasion which followed their Premier League title win in May. Fans flooded onto the pitch after City dramatically fought back from 2-0 down against Aston Villa to win 3-2 and pip Liverpool to the title by a point.
Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen was assaulted during the disorder, while the crossbar at one end collapsed under the weight of supporters. City admitted a Football Association charge that they “failed to ensure spectators… conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from using threatening and violent behaviour while encroaching onto the pitch after the final whistle”.
The final weeks of the 2021/22 season were marred by a series of pitch invasions at Premier League and English Football League grounds. Last month Everton were fined £300,000 as fans came onto the pitch at the end of their match against Crystal Palace when the Toffees secured their Premier League status.
Sheffield United forward Billy Sharp was headbutted by a pitch-invading supporter during his side’s playoff semi-final defeat at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground. Data released by the British Home Office last month showed there were 441 pitch encroachments at matches in England and Wales last season, an increase of 127 per cent compared to 2018-19, the last complete season unaffected by Covid-19 restrictions.
- Abiodun welcomes Amusan with multi-million naira house, N5m
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday announced a cash reward of N5m and a house to world, Commonwealth and African 100m hurdles champion Oluwatobi Amusan. The Governor also named Amusan an Ogun State Sports Ambassador. In her remarks, Amusan, while acknowledging the support of Abiodun towards her success, called on the Federal Government to do more for athletes.
Abiodun, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, stated: “So, you (Amusan) will be our Sports Ambassador; I am happy that you said you are not from any other state. You are from Ogun and not from Lagos and you want to come back home. We also want to ensure that you come back home. We want to assure you that as you come back home, you have a home here in the state. So, in view of that, we are also going to be presenting to you a home in Ijebu-Ode. On top of that, we will be giving you a small token, we will be donating to you the sum of N5m.”
Abiodun noted that his administration was on course to giving the Ijebu-Ode Stadium the necessary facelift it needed. He added that the call by Amusan, the women’s 100m hurdles world record holder, to train at the stadium whenever she was in the country, would further prompt his administration to fast track the renovation of the stadium.
Abiodun also said his administration considered the role of women very important in all spheres of human endeavour, adding that the passing of a law to ensure the full emancipation of women in the state, would usher in an era where women would get more responsibilities.
The Governor stressed that his administration viewed Amusan as a point of contact for other youths in the country that had lost faith in hard work, persistence and diligence. He noted that the Ogun-born athlete’s story would educate those who still viewed the combination of sports and education as a waste of time.
- Super Falcons Suffer Fifth Straight Defeat After Loss To Japan
The Super Falcons fell to their Japanese counterparts at the Noevir Stadium courtesy of two second-half goals from Mina Tanaka.This will be a fifth straight defeat for Randy Waldrum’s side.
Thursday’s friendly match was part of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup taking place in Australia and New Zealand. Asides from a fourth-place finish at the African women’s tourney, the Super Falcons stumbled to a 2-1 defeat against the United States of America in September.The match against the former world champions saw Nigeria out-possessed and dwarfed in shots on target, barely registering a single shot on goal. A notable absentee from the Falcons’ line-up was the reigning African Women Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, who did not join the squad headed for Kobe
No reason was given for her no-show. However, she was spotted training with the Blaugrana on Wednesday.
METRO PLUS
- Nigeria Air: FG raises alarm, warns Nigerians against fake recruitment websites
Management of Nigeria Air Limited has raised alarm over fake websites and links used for advertisement and recruitment of unsuspecting members of the public.
Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to the Minister of Aviation, James Odaudu, in a statement yesterday, advised Nigerians to dismiss such notifications or invitations as nothing of such is currently ongoing.
He, however, advised those who applied for the earlier officially advertised positions to get authenticated information from the official website, which is www.nigeriaair.world.
- Viral Video Of Soldiers Flogging People Sparks Outrage, Umahi Distances Self
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has denied in its entirety that he instructed men of Nigerian Army to flog some persons said to be civil servants. A video that is now in circulation has scenes showing men of the Nigerian Army using horsewhips to flog some persons.
The footage has since attracted outrage as Nigerians took to their social media accounts to condemn the treatment of the persons. However, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, in a statement described the video as “doctored”.
- Seven workers allegedly shot as Kogi seals Dangote Factory at Obajana
Kogi State Government, on Wednesday, sealed Dangote Cement Factory, Obajana, following agitation by Kogi indigenes over what they termed questionable circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the company. The Kogi State House of Assembly had ordered the closure of the company after its investigation revealed that the cement factory allegedly had no valid acquisition for the company.
Jubilant youths, who had trooped to the company on hearing the news of the closure, chased workers away but were stopped by Kogi officials, who promptly waded in to avoid damage. The youths claimed that the Company had neglected the community while making billions, despite the fact that residents are dying from illness as a result of pollution.
The State House of Assembly alleged that Dangote, upon invitation by the Assembly, requested for more time but did not appear at the House to show any evidence to the contrary. The Commissioner for Information in the state, Kingsley Fanwo, told newsmen that: “Pursuant to the Constitutional authorities of the Kogi State House of Assembly, and upon petition by the people of Kogi State, an investigation was carried out on the acquisition of Obajana Cement Company by Dangote Company.
“It was found that no valid acquisition took place, as Dangote could not show evidence of what was paid as consideration for the acquisition. The Legislators invited the Chairman of the Company, Aliko Dangote, before the House for explanations but he failed to appear before the state Assembly, giving excuses. The House of Assembly therefore ordered the closure of the company pending when they are able to present it with credible evidence of a valid acquisition.”
- Kogi claims Obajana plant ownership, Dangote, MAN kick
The Kogi State Government has said that it will be ready to enter into negotiations once Dangote Group is ready to admit that Obajana cement plant does not belong to it. Governor Yahaya Bello stated this on Thursday while presenting documents to back the state’s claim to the ownership of the plant.
The documents are from the report of the Specialised Technical Committee on the Evaluation of the Legality of the Alleged Acquisition of Obajana Cement Company Plc by Dangote Cement Company Limited. The detailed report, which was submitted to Governor Yahaya Bello last month, was presented to the public by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. (Mrs) Folashade Ayoade. According to her, the claimed transfer of Obajana to Dangote Industries Limited was “invalid, null and void.”
Ayoade said in the report that three certificates of occupancy for Obajana Cement Company Plc, which was solely owned by the Kogi State Government at the time, were used to obtain a loan of N63bn by Dangote. She said the committee, in view of its findings, had recommended that Kogi State take steps to recover the Obajana Cement Company from the Dangote Group.
The committee, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, also recommended that, “Kogi State Government should take steps to recover all accrued dividends from profits made over the years, including accrued interest on the same.
- Flood alert: Relocate to safe grounds, Lagos tells residents
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday, alerted residents of the state, especially those residing on the banks of Ogun River to relocate upland. The state government also directed property owners and developers to desist from embarking on any form of physical development without adherence to processes and procedures outlined by the government to provide habitable structures across the state.
On the Ogun River Banks, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, who issued the red alert, stressed the need for residents to be vigilant. Bello said the situation might also be worsened by the release of water from Oyan Dam by the managers, the Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority which has increased the level of water in the lagoon.
He listed areas likely to be affected to include: Ketu, Alapere, Agric, Owode Onirin, Ajegunle, Alagbole, Kara, Isheri Olowora, Araromi Otun Orisha community, Agiliti, Maidan, Mile 12, Odo Ogun, Owode Elede, Agboyi 1, Agboyi II, Agboyi III. He said: “The state government is also working in collaboration with the Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority to ensure that water releases from the dam have a minimal negative impact on the residents.”
