Author: Alade Adisa

Nine persons have been reported killed by bandits in Sokoto State, Northwest, Nigeria. According to SaharaReporters, the terrorists stormed Dantudu Lajinge village in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area and slit the throat of nine persons identified as members of the community’s local security outfit, known as vigilante. The wives of the slain persons were reportedly abducted while the remains of their spouses lay in the pool of blood. The incident happened on Monday, according to some villagers who escaped the mayhem. There are however conflicting reports as to how the victims were murdered. Bello Dan-Tudu, a resident of the…

The House of Representatives has asked President Bola Tinubu to mandate Minister of Finance, Wale Edun to unfreeze all National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) accounts within 72 hours. The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during plenary on Tuesday. This was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker, and 20 other lawmakers. The programmes under SIP include N-Power, conditional cash transfer (CCT), government enterprise and empowerment programme, and the home-grown school feeding initiative. The parliament said unfreezing the accounts of the NSIPA will enable the “smooth” recommencement of all the programmes. The lower…

President Bola Tinubu’s administration recently introduced the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 to the National Assembly. The bill, officially titled “An Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks Relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and for Related Matters,” has generated widespread attention and debate. Here are seven key things to know about this proposed reform: The bill aims to repeal outdated taxation laws and consolidate various legal frameworks into a single, unified Nigeria Tax Act. This move seeks to simplify the country’s tax system…

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo has directed the chairmen of the 18 local government councils in the state to submit their account statements within 48 hours. The statements, covering the period from 4th September 2023 to the present, are to be submitted to the Assets Verification Committee via the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). The governor issued the order during a meeting with the council chairmen at the Government House in Benin City, where he was represented by his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa. Okpebholo expressed his commitment to working closely with the local government officials to ensure…

The Senate on Tuesday at plenary confirmed the appointment of Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by President Bola Tinubu. The confirmation followed adoption of report of the Committee on Army on screening of Oluyede. The report was presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua (APC-Katsina). Yar’adua said the committee was impressed with the high level of understanding, achievements and excellence stated in the credential of the nominee. He said the nomination of Oluyede is in line with Section 217, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999…

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, in South Africa called for the potential establishment of an anti-illegal mining group among African nations. Speaking at the 11th Session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, the president stressed that the continent’s natural resources should be mined for the betterment of its people, not exploited illegally. He said, “One thing I would like this edition of the BNC to explore is the possible need to establish an anti-illegal mining group of African nations. Our natural resources are supposed to be mined for the betterment of our people. However, there seems…

The Police at Lion Building have arrested Mrs Sadiku Ruth Olubunmi, a 39-year-old banker with Seedwest Limited on Balogun Street, Lagos Island, over allegations of stealing ₦116 million from customers’ accounts. Olubunmi is accused of forging documents, including a letterhead of Towade Global Business Ventures, purportedly bearing the signature of Mrs Adelakun Funke, to fraudulently withdraw ₦15 million. Police also alleged that she diverted ₦101 million received from various customers for deposits into her personal use. The alleged fraud came to light after customers lodged complaints with the management of Seedwest Limited, prompting an internal review and a report to…

Nasarawa, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and the Federal Capital Territory were the states where the Nigeria Labour Congress’ industrial action over the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage grounded the civil service. Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Ebonyi State chapter, Prof. Oguguo Egwu, had on Sunday expressed displeasure over the perceived lackadaisical attitude of the governor towards the plight of workers, saying the condition of civil servants in the state was worrisome. In Nasarawa, official activities were stalled across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, on Monday, as workers complied with the one-week indefinite industrial action declared by the organized…

The National Pension Commission (PENCOM) has now allowed low-earning pensioners to withdraw their total retirement savings en bloc or continue to receive their monthly pension pending the approval of the Minimum Pension Guarantee. A memo by the National Pension Commission, which was signed by the Head of the Surveillance Department of Pencom, identified as A.M Salem confirmed this to journalists on Tuesday. In the memo, obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Monday and dated November 27, 2024, the commission said the development followed the new section 4.1 (g) of the revised regulation on the administration of retirement and terminal…

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday said the state is ready to partner with Bulgaria in agriculture, food security, commerce and other critical areas for the benefit of the citizens. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during a courtesy visit by the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Nigeria, Mr Yanko V. Yordanov, at the Lagos House, Ikeja. The governor said Lagos, a former capital of Nigeria, has a long history with Bulgaria, and the state government will advance conversation to improve the mutually beneficial relationship. “We know that agriculture and food security are very critical to every country right now. We have…