Author: Vardiafrica

President Kais Saied, the incumbent independent, has been officially re-elected for another five-year term to be the eighth President of Tunisia, securing more than 90% of votes, announced Farouk Bouasker, head of Tunisia’s independent commission for elections (ISIE), in a press conference held on October 7 in Tunis. An exit poll broadcast on public television after the end of voting had projected that the 66-year-old Saied was set to win with 89.2% support, but from a turnout of less than 28%, according to the country’s election body. The third presidential election held after the Tunisian revolution took place in an…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) announced on Monday that it had eliminated middlemen from the oil and gas industry value chain and contributed to shortening the oil industry contracting cycle to six months, courtesy of the three Presidential Directives on Local Content operations issued by President Bola Tinubu in March 2024.The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe stated this in Lagos while speaking at a breakfast meeting with some media executives. He confirmed that NCDMB had complied fully with the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements, 2024 (EO 41), which sought to ensure that…

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Police to protect local government secretariats in Rivers State from attacks by arsonists and vandals. The Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga announced this in a statement on Monday, following incidents where angry individuals, upset with the results of Saturday’s local government elections, set fire to several council secretariats in the oil-rich state. The statement explained that the President was worried over the reports of arson and explosions in the state, urging all political leaders to help calm the situation and to discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive acts. It noted that President…

Manchester United are reportedly interested in replacing Erik ten Hag with former Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel. Ten Hag’s future at United is in doubt with the Dutch manager facing the sack after their worst-ever start to a Premier League season United’s senior hierarchy, including part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will hold a long-standing meeting on Tuesday with the Dutchman’s position expected to be among the key topics. According to Manchester Evening News,  the club are lining up Tuchel, 51, just seven games into the new Premier League campaign. Other candidates for the role are admired by the United hierarchy but the MEN reports Tuchel’s availability makes him the prime contender if…

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has officially approved a minimum wage of seventy-two thousand five hundred Naira for Kogi Civil Servants, effective immediately. In addition, the Governor has suspended the tax burden on this approved sum for a period of one year. Governor Ododo announced this significant development during the unveiling of the new minimum wage, following the signing of the agreement. He emphasized the importance of implementing the new wage promptly to help civil servants cope with the current economic challenges facing the country. Furthermore, Governor Ododo expressed his commitment to ensuring that the new minimum wage is not only…

In a brazen disregard for the rule of law, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to comply with a court order secured by Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State. The order, granted by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, directed INEC to allow PDP lawyers and forensic experts to inspect critical election materials used in the controversial September 21, 2024 governorship election.The court, presided over by Hon. Justice W.I. Kpochi, had on September 29, 2024, issued the ruling after reviewing the motion filed by PDP’s legal team. The order granted unfettered…

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has assured the agencies saddled with the responsibility of tackling corruption in the country, namely the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) of the continuous support of the Judiciary in the fight against corruption in Nigeria She stated this at a 2-day capacity building workshop organised by the EFCC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) for Justices and judges in Nigeria aimed at fostering collaboration between the Judiciary and the anti-graft agency towards enhancing the…

The newly built council secretariat at Isiokpo in the Ikwerre Local Government area has been set ablaze. A resident in the area confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Monday even as videos circulating on social media show the administrative building on fire. Police authorities have not commented on the incident and the extent of damage is still unclear. This followed the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats by the commissioner of police. The Emohua Local Government Council secretariat has also been set ablaze. Some youths blocked the entrance chanting songs in solidarity with the FCT…

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is unable to carry out investigations in 10 states in Nigeria, as a result of court orders restraining it. Olukoyede disclosed this at the ongoing 6th EFCC-NJI Capacity Building Workshop For Justices and Judges held at the Conference Hall of the National Judicial Institute in Abuja. The EFCC Chair described the workshop theme “Integrating Stakeholders in Curbing Economic and Financial Crimes,” as apt. Although Olukoyede did not disclose the states involved, he, however, lamented that the EFCC’s activities have…

The Senior Staff Association Of Statutory Corporations And Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has begun an indefinite strike over the failure of the management to address certain issues regarding the welfare of its members In the communique SSASCGOC/NAFDAC/COMMUNIQUE/VOL.1 issued on October 4, 2024, the aggrieved workers said the move was necessary after several meetings with the management over critical issues that have to do with promotions, salaries, and the general welfare of the staff, failed to yield positive results. The communique listed several…