Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

A meeting between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has begun in Abuja. The meeting is coming following a recent threat by the university lecturers’ union to down tools over the alleged federal government’s failure to meet its demands. Recall that following the threat, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman had hinted last Friday, during a briefing to mark his one year in office that the government would meet with representatives of ASUU last Monday. But the two parties could not meet again on Monday, even as reasons were not advanced for the failure.…

The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has approved the appointment of 12 new Permanent Secretaries in the state’s public service, representing their respective constituencies to fill the available vacancies. This was contained in a statement issued by the Head of Service, Mr Elijah Evinemi. The Governor stressed that the Permanent Secretaries were carefully selected based on merit, fairness, and justice. While congratulating the successful candidates, the Head of Service, Mr Elijah Evinemi FCA, urged the new Permanent Secretaries to meet expectations in the discharge of their duties with utmost loyalty, dedication, and integrity. The new Permanent Secretaries include Momoh Aziz…

The Anambra State Government said it has ordered the immediate closure of Upcoming Star International School, Awka over the alleged bullying of a seven-year-old pupil. The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, disclosed this in a statement late on Tuesday, adding that the state government acted based on a report that the pupil’s classmate allegedly broke her leg. Chuma-Udeh said when the school’s proprietor was invited for questioning, it was discovered that the school was not even approved to operate. She said the pupil was bullied by her classmate which led to a broken leg. She said, “The pupil…

Pavel Durov, the founder and chief of Telegram, is set to learn Wednesday whether he will face charges and even be remanded in custody after his weekend arrest by French authorities over alleged violations at the messaging app. Durov, 39, was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris late Saturday, and while the judicial authorities have repeatedly extended his initial period of detention, it can last a maximum of 96 hours. As part of a probe that was confidentially opened on July 8, Durov is being investigated on suspicion of 12 offences related to failing to curb extremist content on…

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has assured the public of the safe rescue of all Nigerians in captivity across the country. The IGP according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumiyiwa Adejobi in Abuja on Tuesday, made this call while reflecting on and appraising the effectiveness of the well-coordinated operations placed for the rescue of the 20 medical students who were kidnapped in Benue State on the 15th of August 2024, and other seven Nigerians who had been in the captivity of the heinous criminals. “This is our pledge, and we will ensure its…

The bill seeking to improve electricity generation, transmission and distribution within Ogun State, on Tuesday scaled second reading on the floor of the House of Assembly.  The bill also seeks to establish an electricity market and key power sector bodies, enforce consumer rights and obligations and for connected purposes. The bill titled: “H.B.No.017/OG/2024 – Ogun State Power Sector Law”, passed through a second reading as the  State lawmakers took turns to debate the desirability of the bill at the plenary presided over by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The second reading process commenced through a motion…

An aide to the former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Shafi’u Tureta, has been remanded in correctional custody pending the hearing of his bail application. Tureta was arraigned for spreading media content termed injurious against Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State. He was accused of circulating falsehood and defamatory content against the incumbent governor, offences said to contravene the Penal Code. The accused person was said to have committed the offences on July 18, 2024, when he circulated the videos of the governor’s wife, Fatima Aliyu, spraying money during her birthday ceremony despite the hunger and hardship faced by citizens.…

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has asked the National Assembly (NASS) to enact a law which supports the whistle-blower policy of the government. Olukoyede made this call on Tuesday at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Lagos which had the theme, ‘Lawyers in the spotlight: Essential anti-money laundering considerations for the legal profession’. He noted that once the law is enacted, it will make it mandatory for law enforcement agencies to protect the whistle-blowers. The EFCC chairman also called on lawyers across the country to always observe due diligence in their practices.…

President Bola Tinubu will hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation Summit between September 4 and 6, 2024. Tinubu will travel to China to attend the summit on behalf of the ECOWAS, a West African organisation. The head of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is the president of Nigeria. Tinubu will visit China to represent the West African bloc ECOWAS at the Summit. The Nigerian president is the chairman of the Authority of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government.…

A 3,500-year-old jar has been accidentally smashed into pieces by a young boy during a trip to a museum in Israel. The Hecht Museum in Haifa told the BBC the crockery dated back to the Bronze Age between 2200 and 1500BC – and was a rare artefact because it was so intact. It had been on display near the entrance of the museum without glass, as the museum believes there is “special charm” in showing archaeological finds “without obstructions”. The museum said it was an accident, and the boy and his family have been invited back to the exhibition for…