New York, NY – The Trump administration has taken decisive action to eliminate New York City’s controversial congestion charge, a policy that has been widely criticized by drivers. In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Federal Highway Administration had revoked federal approval for the tolling program. Duffy stated that the administration would work with the New York State Department of…

By Damilola Olufemi Federal vs State Power Struggle: Can Local Governments Autonomy? In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court on July 11,2024 ordered the federal government to bypass the state governments and directly pay revenue allocations to local government councils,yet this directive is mostly observed in the breach by some governors.In this report, Damilola Olufemi who sought the views of experts on the issue,unveils the many challenges encountered in implementing…

To improve the Nigeria education sector, the Federal Government says that over 6,000 teachers are to be trained in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Pedagogy training programme after its launch. The development aims to aid innovative, technologically driven education and enhance teaching methods across the Nigerian secondary schools. The initiative was organised by the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) with the sponsorship of Google Research and supported by both…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a defamation lawsuit against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over alleged defamatory statements published by his aide on Facebook. According to The PUNCH, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal action follows a reshuffle in the Senate, which saw her seat reassigned after some opposition members switched to the majority wing. Senator Natasha resisted the move, leading to a confrontation with Akpabio, the Senate President. In the…

The Nigerian Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for a disciplinary review following a dispute over seating arrangements in the chamber.  The Senate decision, made after a voice vote on Tuesday, comes amid a row over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s altercation with Senate leadership regarding her designated seat. The committee, led by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to investigate the matter…

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed claims made by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that former military President Ibrahim Babangida was among those who “tormented” Tinubu during the military era. Osinbajo made the remarks last week while reviewing Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, at its public presentation in Abuja. During the event, Osinbajo recalled how Tinubu, then a senator, had…

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the digital economy as a key driver of youth empowerment and job creation in Nigeria.   The President made this pledge yesterday in Abuja while receiving a report from participants of the Senior Executive Course 46 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru. The report, titled “Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues,…

A 35-year-old lady, Blessing Oleru, who resides on OMPADEC Road, Igwuruta Town, Rivers State, has been apprehended by the state police operative for allegedly swapping debit cards. The police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a document shared on Tuesday to journalists, stated that the state command achieved this following a coordinated intelligence operation. Iringe-Koko recalled that the victim, who pleaded to be anonymous, reported to have received debit alerts of the…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to fostering the growth of local enterprises, describing them as vital to Nigeria’s economic sustainability. Speaking yesterday during a visit to SecureID’s Smartcard and Digital Solutions Facility in Lagos, the Vice President commended the company’s remarkable journey from a local startup to a continental leader in digital manufacturing. The visit marked SecureID’s 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades of…

As the Muslim community prepares for the holy month of Ramadan, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has called for greater unity and integrity among Islamic scholars, emphasising the importance of working together despite differences in interpretation. The appeal was made by the President-General of JNI, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, at the annual pre-Ramadan meeting held on Monday, February 24, in Kaduna. The event, which attracted prominent religious…

The political turbulence within the Lagos State House of Assembly may soon be resolved following intervention from high-ranking members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The ongoing dispute, which has left the leadership of the Assembly in limbo, appears set for a potential compromise with suggestions that both the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, could be stepping aside in favour of a new leader. According…

A Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has postponed ruling until Wednesday on whether Justice Rahman Oshodi will continue presiding over the trial of former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The adjournment followed a request from Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, who urged the judge to recuse himself from the case, alleging bias. His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, through his counsel Kazeem Gbadamosi, also made a similar plea. Emefiele is facing a…