Author: Vardiafrica

The second tranche of the outstanding ₦35,000 wage award arrears to federal civil servants has been paid, the Federal Government said on Friday. The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) in a statement in Abuja, said the government had earlier paid one month out of the initial five months outstanding arrears. In the statement signed by the Director (Press and Public Relations), Bawa Mokwa, it added that with the payment of the second tranche, there remain three tranches to be exhausted to settle the wage award arrears. The OAGF stated that contrary to insinuations in some quarters,…

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday warned members of the party expressing support for President Bola Tinubu to retrace their steps or face stiffer sanctions. It criticised errant members for their actions, describing them as anti-party and against the opposition party’s constitution. “In the light of the foregoing and the instancy of protecting and preserving the existence of our Party and its electoral fortune, the NWC, pursuant to the provisions of Section 59 (1) of the PDP Constitution hereby issues a strong reprimand against such anti-party activities and cautions those involved to retrace…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced intentions to seek civil, administrative, or criminal penalties against organizations identified as having breached foreign exchange regulations after a forensic audit into unfulfilled forward contracts This was revealed in a document titled Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Settlement of Undelivered Forward Contracts, published on the Bank’s website on Thursday. According to the CBN, “The Central Bank of Nigeria is reviewing appropriate legal action against parties found to have violated applicable rules and regulations, based on the findings of the forensic audit. The Bank will collaborate with law enforcement and regulatory agencies to…

The Federal Government has inaugurated a multi-agency task force to fight the growing threat of fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods across the country. The Federal and Zonal Task Force, unveiled in Abuja, is part of efforts to safeguard public health and restore public confidence in the nation’s healthcare system. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the rise in fake medicines and unsafe food products as a “national emergency” that demands swift, united action. “Counterfeit drugs and unsafe foods are not just threats to our health; they are threats to our economy, our future,…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the repeated arrest and detention of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, warning that such actions could signal a return to dictatorship where dissent is suppressed. In a statement signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the union described Sowore as a “moral compass” whose harassment reflects a slide toward authoritarianism. “We strongly condemn the frequent arrest and long spells in detention of Sowore, a renowned civil rights activist. It is all the more unacceptable if he was injured in the course of his arrest, as it is being alleged,” Ajaero said. He warned that…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is working with the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) on the voting right of inmates. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Friday while receiving the Comptroller General of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja. Yakubu affirmed the judgement of the Appeal Court, granting inmates the right to register and vote in any elections. “We are aware that the right to vote is a human right which cannot be taken away from a citizen on account of time being served in a correctional facility. In many parts of the world,…

The Trump administration is now offering a $50 million reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The announcement came directly from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who accused Maduro of conspiring with multiple gangs to bring guns and illegal drugs into the United States. ‘Maduro uses foreign terrorist organizations like [Tren de Aragua], Sinaloa, and Cartel of the Suns to bring deadly drugs and violence into our country,’ she said. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has so far seized 30 tons of cocaine that were subsequently linked to Maduro and his associates,…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi; and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; to prosecute Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, over his unruly behaviour at the Abuja airport on Tuesday. NCAA spokesman Michael Achimugu said Ayinde’s attempt to block a moving ValueJet aircraft violated Nigeria’s civil aviation regulations. In its letter to the AGF and the IGP, the NCAA called for a “comprehensive criminal investigation and the initiation of appropriate prosecution in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation regulations (Nig. CARs)…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commended Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, Westfield Energy Resources Limited, and their manpower development facilitators, Hommaston Limited, for their dedication to human capital development (HCD), particularly, the exceptional professionalism and technical depth of their training programmes. Speaking on Tuesday at the close-out ceremony of Westfield Energy Resources Limited – SAGS CEIP Tunu Transmission Node HCD Training at Woji, Port Harcourt, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, noted that the programme spanned different competencies and skill sets, notably, civil and structural engineering designs, electrical and instrumentation engineering designs, onshore…

Two senior officials of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director, Corporate Services, and Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager, Corporate Communications, on Saturday bagged  Doctorate degrees at the 35th Combined Convocation of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The milestone event was attended by the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the newly appointed Director of Finance and Personnel Management (DFPM), Mr. Uchenna Ossaowa Andrew, and immediate past chairman of Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) and member of NCDMB Governing Council, Mazi Sam Azoka Onyechi. Other industry colleagues, friends,…