Member States of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have made significant progress on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex, a key component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement aimed at strengthening global preparedness and response to future pandemics. In a statement on Friday, the organisation said members agreed that more time was needed to finalise the framework for a more effective and equitable global response. “Countries on Friday concluded the resumed session of the sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) in Geneva, focused on the PABS system. The outcomes will be presented to the World Health Assembly,”…
Author: Newsdesk
The immediate past Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has called for sustained commitment and continuity in ongoing reforms in the power sector to ensure policy consistency. Adelabu made the call in a statement issued by his Senior Special Advisor on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Mr Bolaji Tunji, in Abuja. He spoke on Thursday during the formal handover of the ministry to the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mamudah Mamman. Adelabu said that while some of the reforms may appear unpopular, they were necessary to guarantee stable, efficient, and affordable electricity supply for Nigerians. He noted that years of inadequate attention by…
The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that the inclusion of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship in the 2026 national budget does not mean the reinstatement of new foreign scholarship awards under the programme. Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, disclosed this in a statement issued by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, on Friday in Abuja. Alausa said the clarification became necessary following public concerns and online reports suggesting a contradiction between the government’s earlier decision to discontinue the scheme and its appearance in the 2026 budget. He explained that the allocation…
Organised labour has called on the Federal Government to urgently resolve issues affecting non-teaching staff in tertiary institutions to avert an impending nationwide strike in public universities. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) made the call in a message to mark the 2026 May Day celebration on Friday in Abuja. The two labour centres demanded immediate government intervention to prevent escalation of industrial tensions in the education sector. The theme of the 2026 May Day celebration is “Insecurity, Poverty: Bane of Decent Work.” The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff…
The naira posted a modest week-on-week decline against the US dollar, closing at N1,374/$ on Thursday, underscoring sustained volatility in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed the currency moved unevenly خلال the week, settling at N1,370.5/$ on Wednesday, N1,383/$ on Tuesday, and N1,369/$ on Monday. Markets were closed on Friday in observance of Workers’ Day. The latest performance marks a slight depreciation compared to N1,361.5/$ recorded the previous Friday and N1,355/$ the preceding Thursday, with trading largely confined within a band of N1,369/$ to N1,383/$. External reserves also trended downward, falling to $48.36…
Samsung Electronics has reported a 43 per cent rise in first-quarter revenue to 133.9 trillion Korean won, marking its highest quarterly performance despite weak demand in its display and telecommunications segments. The company disclosed this in its first-quarter 2026 financial results released on Friday, highlighting robust overall growth across key business units. Operating profit also rose to 57.2 trillion won for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, underscoring strong earnings momentum despite broader market challenges. Samsung noted that some business units faced pressure from weak demand, seasonal slowdowns, rising tariffs, and increasing operational costs during the period. Samsung Display Corporation…
The Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) has spent N94.7 million on staff welfare from 2021 to date. The Director-General of MINILS, Mr Issa Aremu, made this known on the sidelines of the May Day lecture organized by the institute in Ilorin. The lecture was titled: “Re-inventing Labour Management Resources in MINILS.” Aremu said staff of the institute receive a 10 per cent cost-of-living allowance, while buses have been provided to cushion the effects of high transportation costs. READ ALSO: Tinubu named chief host of 2026 PR forum According to him, May Day is set aside to celebrate…
The Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, says the state will commence the distribution of two million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) to households across all Local Government Areas (LGAs). El-Imam stated this at a news conference held on Friday in Ilorin as part of activities to commemorate World Malaria Day 2026. The theme for the day is: “Driven to End Malaria; Now We Can, Now We Must.” She explained that the day serves as a clarion call for urgent action and the effective use of new tools and innovations to save lives. She emphasized the need for Nigeria…
The Risk Management Society of Nigeria (RIMSON) says it is intensifying efforts to integrate risk management principles across all sectors of the economy to drive national growth. The President of RIMSON, Dr Abbas Idriss, said this in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the society’s annual conference on Friday in Abuja. Idriss noted that despite significant changes in the industry, many critical sectors still lack robust risk management frameworks—a gap the society is determined to bridge. “We are not yet reaching other sectors of the economy. Ensuring that risk management principles are properly applied is a serious issue.…
Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida has paid tribute to the late veteran journalist Yakubu Mohammed, describing him as a symbol of integrity, humility, and professionalism in Nigeria’s media landscape. Babangida made the tribute on Thursday in Lagos at the unveiling of the Newswatch 5 Lecture Series/Tribute Session for Mohammed. His speech was read at the event by veteran journalist Malam Mohammed Haruna. Mohammed passed away on January 13. The late Dele Giwa, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed, Ray Ekpu, and Soji Akinrinade were the founding Newswatch journalists. The event was organized by the Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation. Janet Afolabi, wife of…