President Muhamamdu Buhari has defended the federal government’s decision to keep paying fuel subsidies. In a response to Bloomberg, the President said the effects of removing fuel subsidies would have been too harsh on the Nigerian people. He said the government is working on boosting local capacity in order to stem the inflationary pressures that are likely to be triggered by a removal of subsidies. “Most western countries are today implementing fuel subsidies. Why would we remove ours now?” What is good for the goose is good for the gander!” The President said. “What our western allies are learning the hard…
Author: Newsdesk
Salubata Technologies, a Nigerian start-up has emerged as one of the top four winners of Kigali Startup Festival 2022 at the Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) in Kigali, Rwanda. Yewande Adebowale, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Salubata, which transforms plastic wastes into customised shoes, received a prize of 10,000 dollars at the closing ceremony of the Forum. The Youth Forum is one of the four that took place ahead of the main Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM). According to the organisers, no fewer than 400 entries were received for the startup awards which are in four categories: green innovation,…
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) said it disbursed N533.7 billion to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory between 2005 and 2021 for basic education. This is contained in a statement by UBEC Head of Public Relations, Mr David Apeh, on Tuesday in Abuja. Reacting to insinuations that N110 billion accessed by states as intervention funds has not been utilised, the commission said N30.8 billion was not accessed as of June 6, 2022. The commission noted that only 17 states had accessed up to the fourth quarter of 2021. The states, the commission said are Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue,…
The United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has departed New York for Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). According to UN Spokesperson, Mr Stephane Dujarric, Mohammed left New York on Tuesday evening to attend the meeting, holding between June 20 and June 26. The theme for CHOGM 2022 is, “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.” Dujarric said Mohammed would also be meeting with UN officials and other stakeholders in Rwanda. The spokesperson said after CHOGM, the UN deputy chief would proceed to Paris on Monday, to participate in the Transforming…
The Delta governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Sheriff Oborevwori has picked Mr Monday Onyeme, as his running mate for the 2023 general elections. The PDP said this in a statement by the state Publicity Secretary, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza in Asaba. Onyeme, a Chartered Accountant, is the current Executive Chairman of the Delta Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR). “Delta PDP hereby announces Mr Monday Onyeme, as the deputy governorship candidate and running mate of our party. “Onyeme was the bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria, a position he held for over nine years before being…
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over virtual weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The Ministries of Power; Works and Housing; Trade, Industry and Investment; Health as well as Finance are expected to make presentations at the meeting. Those physically present at the meeting include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, (represented by a Permanent Secretary in the SGF office, Habiba Lawal), Head of the Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.…
Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman is expected in Turkey on Wednesday, hoping to normalise relations strained after the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate. Talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan come amid efforts by the oil-rich kingdom’s de facto ruler to repair his image and Erdoğan’s search for financial and diplomatic gains to help mend an ailing economy ahead of next year’s elections. According to the Turkish presidential office, Erdoğan will receive the crown prince in an official ceremony at the presidential palace later on Wednesday, followed by a dinner in…
Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu has approved the payment of N3 billion as gratuity and death benefits to 1,172 verified beneficiaries for 2021. The approval is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Birnin-Kebbi by the Acting Head of the Civil Service, Safiyanu Garba-Bena. “The payment is to cover 1,172 beneficiaries of state, local governments and Local Governments Education Authority,’’ he stated. The state government has given cumulative approval of more than N30 billion since 2015 for payment of gratuities and death benefits. It approved N20 billion to cover 2015 to 2018 and another N10 billion representing the balances for 2017…
Women Affairs Minister Pauline Tallen has solicited the support of UN Member States to elect Mrs Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia into the UN Committee on Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women’s rights from around the world. Tallen made the call at a hybrid roundtable event on” Expanding Gender Responsive Investment Initiatives for Economic Recovery and Sustainability,’’ hosted by the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the…
A Japanese court ruled Monday that the country’s ban on same-sex marriage does not violate the constitution, and rejected demands for compensation by three couples who said their right to free union and equality has been violated. The Osaka District Court ruling is the second decision on the issue, and disagrees with a ruling last year by a Sapporo court that found the ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional. It underscores how divisive the issue remains in Japan, the only member of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations that does not recognize same-sex unions. In its ruling, the Osaka court…