Author: Vardiafrica

President Bola Tinubu says appointing Nyesom Wike, minister of federal capital territory (FCT), was one of the best appointments he made since the start of his administration. Tinubu spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during the commissioning of the extension of the inner southern expressway (ISEX) and the outer southern expressway (OSEX) to the southern parkway. The president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, commended Wike for his commitment to his vision for a modern, prosperous, and inclusive federal capital. “As we celebrate this achievement, it is crucial once again to acknowledge the concerted efforts of the FCT minister,…

The Senate has approved a bill seeking improved salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits for the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; and other judicial office holders in Nigeria by 300 per cent, as the bill scaled third reading on Wednesday. The approval followed the adoption of a report by the Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, Mohammed Monguno. The lawmaker said, “Adequate remuneration will allow judicial officers to focus on their professional development without worrying about financial constraint. “Hence, it will improve their professionalism and decision making skills, and fair compensation for judicial…

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed as a “politically motivated hatchet job”, the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s adoption of a report of its ad-hoc committee asked to probe his governance of the North-West state from May 2015 to May 2023. In a statement on Wednesday through his spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor said he led a government of integrity and competence during his eight-year administration. On Wednesday, the ad hoc committee set up by the state Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the El-Rufai administration submitted its report to the House. The chairman…

The Senate, on Wednesday, sought an increase in the penalty paid by parents who fail to enrol their children in school. Lawmakers in the upper chamber want the penalty paid by defaulting parents raised from N2,500 to N250,000. The Senate also passed a Bill for an Act to amend the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act through second reading. The bill moved by Senator Idiat Adebule sought to review the law to ensure that a key provision in the UBE Act that empowers the Local Education Authority within the States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory to prosecute…

The Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has unveiled the approved version of Nigeria’s reintroduced national anthem The Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, unveiled the standardised version of the anthem on Wednesday in Abuja. He urged Nigerians to pay close attention to the words in lines three and five of the national anthem that was reintroduced. On May 29, 2024, on the one-year anniversary of the current government, President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 reverting to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, we hail thee” from “Arise, O Compatriots” The President said the latest national anthem, ‘Nigeria,…

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned till June 25 for further hearing in the case against celebrity bartender and businessman, Pascal Okechukwu popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, for alleged abuse of the Naira. The court adjourned on Wednesday at the instance of the defendant who was absent but had written a letter seeking an adjournment of the case. Channels TV obtained a copy of the letter which was dated June 4th, 2024 and written by the law firm of Classicus & Dewlight on behalf of Cubana Chief Priest. In the letter, the lawyers reminded the court…

The ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai has submitted its report to the House. Presenting the report during plenary on Wednesday, the chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, said that most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s administration were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained, while in some cases, due process was not followed in securing the loans. Receiving the report, the Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, said that…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) plans to introduce some changes that will enhancethe Nigerian Content Intervention (NCI) Fund and increase the fund’s impact and efficiency. The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omotsola Ogbe hinted at the changes at the quarterly engagement forum held with the Bank of Industry (BoI), custodians of the fund on Monday in Lagos. Commenting on the performance of the Fund, the Executive Secretary confirmed that the NCI Fund has since its inception played a crucial role in transforming the Nigerian oil and gas industry. He stated that by providing essential financial support, the fund has empowered numerous Nigerian companies andfostered local capacity development and…

Nedogas Development Company Limited (NDCL), a Joint Venture company between Xenergi Limited and NCDMB Capacity Development Intervention Company, has in collaboration with the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, successfully completed the construction and technical commissioning of a 300 MMscfd Capacity Kwale Gas Gathering (KGG) and injection facility located in the Umusam Community, near Kwale in Delta State, Niger-Delta, Nigeria.  The formal commissioning ceremony of the facility will be performed by the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Honorable Ekperikpe Ekpo on June 6, 2024. The Minister will be supported by the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor…

Festus Osifo, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), says organised labour will not accept an “unreasonable” addition to the N60,000 minimum wage offer by the federal government. Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Osifo said labour would not have embarked on a strike if the federal government had shown signs of seriousness in previous meetings. Earlier, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC “relaxed” their indefinite strike by one week to negotiate with the federal government on a new minimum wage. The NLC and the TUC had declared an indefinite strike, which started on Monday, over the failure…