Author: Vardiafrica

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has blamed the finance ministry for the ongoing strike that has disrupted the resumption of academic activities on campuses. On October 28, non-teaching staff unions in federal universities began an indefinite nationwide strike over withheld salaries. The federal government, under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, had withheld the salaries of university staff who participated in an eight-month strike in 2022. In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four months of the withheld salaries of public university teaching staff. Left out, non-teaching staff unions including SSANU and NASU accused the government of unfair treatment…

Ghana could buy petroleum products from Nigeria’s Dangote Oil Refinery once the facility is operating at full capacity, cutting more expensive exports from Europe, the head of the country’s oil regulator said on Monday. This could end monthly fuel imports from Europe of $400 million, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, chairman of the National Petroleum Authority, Ghana said at the OTL Africa Downstream oil conference in Lagos. “If the refinery reaches 650,000 bpd a day capacity, all that volume cannot be consumed by Nigeria alone, so instead of us importing as we do right now from Rotterdam, it will be much easier for…

In a bid to reposition the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) for greater efficiency and effectiveness, President Bola Tinubu, has unveiled a comprehensive 4-year strategic plan aimed at transforming the National Lottery Trust Fund operations and maximizing impact on GOOD CAUSES across Nigeria. The event, held at the Aso Villa Banquet Hall in Abuja, marked a significant milestone in NLTF’s history. Speaking on behalf of President, Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, expressed confidence in the strategic document being unveiled, emphasizing its potential to enhance the federal government’s outreach to marginalized communities “This move is…

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has emerged the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or award, beating competition from Real Madrid trio of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal. The Spanish international becomes the second Premier League Player to win the coveted award in 16 years since Cristiano Ronaldo won it in 2008. It was a trophy-laden season for Rodri, lifting the Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with City, as well as Euro 2024 with Spain. Since Luka Modric won the award in 2018, Rodri is the first midfielder to win it. Lionel Messi has…

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has summoned judges involved in conflicting rulings on political cases in Rivers State A panel of the national judicial council will probe the judges, just as the CJN has ordered that the report be submitted this week. The panel will be headed by a former court of appeal justice and two heads of courts. The CJN has also summoned the chief judge of the federal high court for questioning on Tuesday This summon comes after formal complaints were filed with the council. The Chief Judge of the Rivers State High Court will also…

President Bola Tinubu has expressed concern over the prolonged blackout in northern Nigeria. In a statement on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Tinubu met with Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power, and Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA) over the blackout. On October 22, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported power outage in the north-east, north-west and parts of north-central after 330-kilovolt (kV) Ugwaji–Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2 tripped. Also, TCN said the Shiroro-Kaduna line was vandalised, leading to a reduction of bulk electricity to Kaduna, Kano and other major…

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has been ranked number 14 in the 2023 Ballon d’Or award which is holding in Paris, France.  The Atalanta forward narrowly missed out in joining Victor Osimhen to become the only Nigerians to have made the top 10 in the Ballon d’Or award. Osimhen was ranked in the 8th position last year. Lookman is however the only African player that made the award nomination list this year Lookman was in scintillating form as Atalanta won its first-ever European trophy last season, with the Nigerian scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen. He scored…

New winners have emerged in the three categories sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the 2024 edition of the Bayelsa Media Awards (BMA) held on Thursday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The three winners of the NCDMB categories are Mr. Joseph Kunde of TV Continental who won NCDMB Prize for Niger Delta Region Oil & Gas Broadcast Reporter of the Year, Mr. Datonye Fred Alambo of Radio Nigeria, who won the NCDMB Prize for Niger Delta Region Economy Reporter of the year and Mr. Bassey Willie of the Daily Trust Newspaper who won the NCDMB Prize for…

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a lawmaker for assaulting a driver in the nation’s capital. Police spokesperson for the Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed that Alex Mascot Ikwechegh “is at the Maitama Police Station undergoing questioning”. In a statement on Monday, the Command said the Bolt driver Stephen Abuwatseya reported the matter to the Command. In a now-viral video, the House of Representatives member was seen slapping the Bolt driver. Ikwechegh represents Aba North & South Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). A furious Ikwechegh was captured in the…

Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag following the club’s lacklustre start to the season, the fallen Premier League giants announced Monday. United dropped to a lowly 14th in the table after suffering their fourth defeat in nine league games at West Ham on Sunday and have won only one of their last eight games in all competitions. “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager,” said a club statement. “Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup…