Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian Government is set to pay the outstanding five months arrears of ₦35,000 wage award to federal government workers, according to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF). In a statement issued on Monday, the OAGF explained that the Nigerian Government had earlier paid five months’ wage award to federal government employees in instalments, adding that the outstanding arrears would be paid in instalments of ₦35,000 per month for five months. The first instalment of the outstanding wage award arrears would be paid after the April 2025 salary. “The wage award arrears would not be paid…

Spain and Portugal experienced a widespread power outage on Monday, leaving millions without electricity in a snap blackout. In Portugal, official sources told domestic media that the outage, which hit around late morning local time, was nationwide, while similar reports emerged from Spain. Madrid’s Barajas International Airport and Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado were closed after being left without power, and telecommunications have also been affected, with residents across the two countries saying they have no access to mobile networks. Meanwhile, other airports have come to a standstill throughout the Iberian Peninsula, and flights from Brussels and other European cities to Spain…

Catholic cardinals will meet on May 7 to start voting for a new pope, the Vatican announced on Monday, a week after the death of Pope Francis. So-called “Princes of the Church” under the age of 80 will meet in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new religious leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The date was decided at meeting of cardinals of all ages early Monday, two days after the funeral of Francis, who died on April 21 aged 88. The Church’s 252 cardinals were called back to Rome after the Argentine’s death, although only 135 are eligible to…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has said the ceasefire will run from the morning of 8 May until the 11 May – which coincides with victory celebrations to mark the end of World War Two. In a statement it said Putin declared the ceasefire “based on humanitarian considerations”. Ukraine has not yet responded A translation of the statement said: “Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example. “In the event of violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will…

The suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Sunday night, sent a a sarcastic apology to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, via her social media platforms. In the post, Natasha who is in a running battle with Akpabio, whom she has accused of s3xual harassment, said in her letter that he should please forgive this ‘’stubborn woman’ who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was ‘’earned through elections, not erections”Her ‘’apology” which has left many Nigerians reeling with laughter online, read;‘’SATIRICAL APOLOGY LETTERFrom the Desk of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio,It is with…

The United States government has fingered corruption as the major stumbling block to trade and investment in Nigeria. Speaking in the latest 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the Office of the United States Trade Representative said corruption and lack of transparency in tender processes are major concerns to U.S. companies. “U.S. firms experience difficulties in day-to-day operations as a result of inappropriate demands from officials for ‘facilitative’ payments. “Efforts to strengthen anticorruption measures have been hampered by inter-ministerial infighting and partisan politics. “Questions also remain regarding the Nigerian justice system’s capacity to achieve convictions and appropriate…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived Asaba, the Delta State Capital. He is in the State for a grand reception for Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who recently defected to the All Progresses Congress (APC). The presidential jet that conveyed the Vice President touched down at Asaba international airport at 10:32 GMT. He was received by the Delta State Governor, Sherrif Oborevwori. National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma and some State Governors had arrived Asaba on Sunday evening for the historical event. The main opposition party in…

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commenced payment of N46.6 billion as the first tranche of liquidation dividends to depositors of the defunct Heritage Bank, whose funds exceeded the maximum insured limit of N5 million. The corporation announced the development in a statement issued on Sunday by its acting Head of Communication and Public Affairs, Hawwau Gambo. The Central Bank of Nigeria revoked the banking license of Heritage Bank on June 3, 2024, citing regulatory infractions. Shortly after the revocation, the NDIC had commenced the payment of insured deposits, promptly reimbursing depositors up to the N5m insured threshold. According…

Members of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the National Assembly have declared their support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027. The Rivers NASS caucus made the declaration in a statement they all signed, which was read to newsmen on their behalf by Senator Barry Mpigi in Port Harcourt on Saturday. The caucus, comprising two Senators and seven members of the House of Representatives, said their position is based on the visible successes of Tinubu’s agenda, which they described as “working and on course.” The nine Rivers caucus members are Senator Barry Mpigi, Senator…

The messaging platform, WhatsApp, has announced plans to urgently apply for a stay of execution and appeal the ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) that upheld a $220 million penalty imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). WhatsApp disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, expressing strong disagreement with the tribunal’s decision In addition to the penalty, the tribunal ordered WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta Platforms Incorporated, to pay an extra $35,000 to the FCCPC, intended to cover the commission’s investigative costs…