Author: Vardiafrica

In Abuja, protesters gathered at the entrance of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), carrying placards with various inscriptions and calling on the Federal Government to release their withheld salaries and address their other outstanding demands. Similar protests occurred at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State, where aggrieved workers marched around the campus, pressing home their demands. Our correspondent observed that the atmosphere was charged with discontent as workers voiced their grievances. SSANU and NASU members at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State also joined the protest, urging political leaders to reduce governance costs and…

Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop has reiterated the irreversible exit of his country, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), despite reconciliatory efforts from the bloc. The military leaders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso broke away from regional grouping ECOWAS earlier this year and formed a confederation of their own on Saturday. ECOWAS heads of state met in Abuja a day later and appointed the presidents of Senegal and Togo as mediators of dialogue with the three Sahel states. Diop said Mali remained open to cooperation with ECOWAS during an appearance late Monday…

A bill seeking to create 74 seats for women in the national assembly has passed second reading in the house of representatives. The green chamber voted in favour of the bill during plenary on Tuesday, in a bid to encourage more female participation in politics. Sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker, and 12 other lawmakers, the proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the constitution to create one “special seat reserved exclusively for women in the senate and house of representatives for each state of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT)”. The bill…

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 9, resolved to investigate the failure of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to enforce compliance with industry standards and support local crude refiners despite local production capabilities. The investigation will also address the issuance of import licenses and other related issues. The House tasked its relevant committees with conducting a forensic investigation into allegations of substandard product importation, introducing high-sulfur diesel into Nigeria, and selling petroleum products below fair market value, assessing their impact on downstream operations and local refineries Adopting a motion of urgent…

The house of representatives has asked the federal government to suspend implementation of the Samoa Agreement. The house has also resolved to investigate the agreement signed by the federal government on June 28. The green chamber passed the resolution following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Sani Madaki, the minority whip, and 87 other lawmakers. The agreement recently sparked controversy following reports that some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) provisions found their way into the pact. WHAT IS SAMOA AGREEMENT? According to the European Council, the Samoa Agreement is the overarching framework for European Union (EU)…

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, says only three of Nigeria’s 22 international and domestic airports are commercially viable. Kuku, who spoke to newsmen, said 19 of the nation’s airports are being subsidised as they do not get passenger traffic commensurate to their operational cost. She said the majority of the 22 airports managed by FAAN require an upgrade of critical infrastructure: the terminal areas, the landside as well as the airside. The FAAN boss said many of the runways at the airports in the country have exceeded the 20-year validity period and…

Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai has voluntarily slashed his salary by 40 per cent. “In fulfillment of his commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has announced a voluntary 40% reduction in his salary,” a statement on the Liberian Government website read. Boakai said the move reflects his resolve to lead by example in strengthening accountability. “In addition to his own salary reduction, the President has pledged to empower the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to ensure that public servants’ salaries are in line with the current state of the nation and that workers receive fair…

John Tsoho, the chief judge of the federal high court, has refused an application by Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi, seeking to transfer his N80.2 billion fraud case from Abuja. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is seeking to arraign Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion. However, Bello has missed several scheduled arraignments while his whereabouts remain unknown. The former governor, through his legal team led by Abdulwahab Mohammed, had written to the chief judge, asking that the case be transferred…

Donald Trump said in an interview Monday night that he thinks President Joe Biden will stay in the race for the White House despite calls for him to drop out over concerns about his mental fitness. “I think he, you know, might very well stay in,” Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News, in his first interview since Biden’s dismal performance in their presidential debate late last month. “He’s got an ego and he doesn’t want to quit,” Trump said. The Republican ex-president also gave his first detailed account of the CNN-hosted debate in Atlanta, during which Biden often lost…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, officially swore in Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara as a commissioner on Monday. The ceremony, held at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt at around 5 pm, followed Frank-Fubara’s confirmation by the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led State House of Assembly earlier in the day. During the swearing-in ceremony, Governor Fubara defended his recognition of the Oko-Jumbo-led assembly, asserting it as the legally recognized legislative body. This comes amidst ongoing disputes regarding the legitimacy of the assembly’s leadership. Governor Fubara also expressed his dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of a recent bomb explosion in Port…