The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has called for involvement of states government in mining and geophysical activities in states. The forum said this in a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom and read by its Chairman and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto on Monday. Tambuwal said the call was necessary not just to curtail harm to the environment but to further diversify the economy and complement oil as a foreign exchange earner for the country. He also advised the Federal Government to think outside the box and find solutions to challenges facing electricity…
Author: Editor
World Health Organisation (WHO) says the number of new cases of COVID-19 reported has now declined for seven weeks in a row globally, which is the longest sequence of weekly declines during the pandemic so far. WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus disclosed this at a news conference on Monday in Geneva. In his speech posted on WHO website, the director-general said while weekly cases were at their lowest since February, deaths were not falling as quickly. “The number of deaths reported last week was similar to the previous week and the global decline masks a worrying increase in cases and…
The PDP Governors’ Forum has advised revenue generating agencies in the country, to be more transparent in their operations as well as in their contributions to the federation account. The forum said this in a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, read by its Chairman and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto on Monday. Tambuwal faulted the decision of the NNPC not to make its statutory contributions to the federation account, “thereby starving the states and local governments and Nigerians of funds needed for employment, development and general wellbeing.” He said that under the 1999 constitution,…
The 36 state governors of the federation will, on Wednesday, hold a virtual meeting to further discuss the issue of financial autonomy to judicial and legislative arms in states. This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the forum, Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo on Monday in Abuja. Bello-Barkindo said efforts were already being made in all states to either constitute State Accounts Allocation Committees (SAAC) or inaugurate them. This, according to him, is preparatory to the granting of full autonomy to the two arms of government at the subnational level. The Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and the…
The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, says only a referendum for the Igbo people to exit Nigeria for Biafra could provide final guarantee for a peaceful nation. A statement by the spokesperson of the group, Abdulazeez Suleiman made available to ASHENEWS on Monday, opined that in spite of the “frantic efforts being made by some sections of the leadership of the Igbo to disown the current violent agitations for a separate state of Biafra, they cannot be believed.” According to CNG, the Igbo leaders quietude only confirms “that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Biafran insurrection, is in total control…
The federal government has distributed engagement letters and tablets to 300 independent monitors of the National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP) in Bauchi. Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, inaugurated the distribution in Bauchi, on Monday. Farouq said that the tablets were enabled with the Social Investment Management Information System (SIMIS), a mobile, web-based application that would be used to monitor the activities of the trained independent monitors. The Minister added that the application would also enable the ministry to see real time reports of activities of the monitors. “As you are all aware, the…
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has initiated a 600-million-Australian-dollar (USD$463.9-million) 5.5-year Kangaroo bond, marking its return to the Australian dollar bond market. A Kangaroo bond, also known as a matilda bond, is a foreign bond issued in the Australian market by non-Australian firms and is denominated in Australian currency. In a statement from AfDB on Monday, the bond is subject to the securities regulations of Australia. AfDB Treasurer, Hassatou N’sele, said that the transaction, announced on June 8, was led by Nomura and RBC Capital Markets. According to her, the bond is the bank’s first benchmark Kangaroo since early 2018,…
By Chiazam George and Blessing Onyeaka Mortars are said to be essentials in every kitchen, some say they are preferred to modern innovation. A cross section of women in the Federal Capital Territory said in Abuja that electronic kitchen gadgets were limited in functionality. Mrs Joyce Alabi, a civil servant in Katampe said that the electric blender was limited in its functions in spite of its efficiency; hence she could not do without the wooden mortar. “I cannot use the electric blender to prepare “banga soup” and that is one of the reasons that the mortar remains irreplaceable in my…
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, has appointed Mr Aminu Gamawa as the new Chief of Staff, Government House, Bauchi. He replaces Mr Ladan Salihu, sacked on June 9, alongside Secretary to the State Government, commissioners and other political appointees. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, on Monday in Bauchi. Gamawa, a legal practitioner, was the immediate past Commissioner, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. “Gamawa worked across a wide range of organisations, government agencies, educational institutions and non– profitable entities. “He is the Chairman,…
Israel’s new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett presented his new cabinet on Monday. The 27 ministers met in Jerusalem with President Reuven Rivlin for a traditional photo. The new coalition is made up of eight parties along the political spectrum, including an Arab party for the first time. On July 9, Rivlin himself is to be replaced by Isaac Herzog, who was elected as new president of Israel. The new government under Bennett was confirmed by parliament on Sunday with a majority of just one vote, ending the rule of right-wing conservative premier Benjamin Netanyahu, who had been in office since…