It is a national disgrace that in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital and seat of political power, public primary school children have been out of school for over three months due to an unresolved teachers’ strike. Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has decried the situation, calling it a damning reflection of the country’s misplaced priorities. “We thought, ‘This is Abuja; surely it will be resolved in a day or two.’ Yet here we are, three months later, and our children remain at home—while leaders focus on renovating buildings instead of building lives,” Obi said. According to him, education is the most vital,…
Author: National Update
The lingering political crisis in Rivers State may be drawing to a close as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held a crucial meeting on Thursday night with key actors in the conflict, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara. Also in attendance at the Presidential Villa in Abuja were the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, and other members of the Assembly. Though full details of the meeting remain sketchy, the gathering is believed to be part of an intensified reconciliation effort spearheaded by the…
***Barau charges appointees to deliver on mandate of equitable growth The Senate has confirmed key appointments into the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and newly established regional development commissions for the South West, South South, and North Central zones, in a move seen as pivotal to the federal government’s push for inclusive development. The confirmations followed the presentation and adoption of separate reports by the relevant Senate committees during plenary on Tuesday. Thompson Oludare Sunday was confirmed as Managing Director of the NDIC, while Dr. Kabir Sabo Katata was confirmed as Executive Director. Their appointments were recommended by the Senate…
***Reject Delay, Demand GMD’s Appearance as Hidden Profits, Dubious Figures Rattle Confidence Nigeria’s oil behemoth, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has come under intense fire as the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee issued a 10-working-day ultimatum for the company to explain more than ₦210 trillion in audit discrepancies—described by lawmakers as potentially the most alarming financial irregularities in the nation’s petroleum history. The panel had issued 7 days grace for the NNPCL management and auditors to provide answers to 11 audit querries The Senate’s fresh warning followed a heated session Thursday during which NNPCL requested a two-month postponement to…
By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu, Lafia Stakeholders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Nasarawa and Benue States have called on their members to actively pursue peace and resolve ongoing clashes with farmers in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to restore stability in the region. The National President of MACBAN, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, made the call on Thursday in Lafia during a peace-building meeting with members and stakeholders from both states. The meeting, held in the Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, was aimed at fostering dialogue and de-escalating tensions in farming communities. Ngelzarma urged…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja. A Professor of Monetary Economics, Prof.Gbenga Moses Niyi Omofa has called for the establishment of a National Economic Coordinating Council (NECC), a high-level institutional mechanism to align the Nigerian fiscal and monetary priorities. Speaking at the 28th Inaugural Lecture series of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), on Wednesday, Prof. Omofa emphasized the need for institutional harmonization to bridge the gap between monetary and fiscal policies. The Lecture titled: “Financial Sector Development and Macroeconomic Performance in Nigeria: An Uneasy Marriage Between the Monetarists and the Fiscalists.” The expert hinted that addressing the persistent disjunctions between Nigeria’s monetary…
Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has taken a major step toward reconciliation with aggrieved lawmakers in the state, including the suspended Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule. Sources confirmed that Fubara met with Amaewhule and other lawmakers on Thursday in Abuja, marking the first direct engagement between the warring factions since the political crisis escalated earlier this year. The closed-door meeting, described as cordial and productive, reportedly ended with Fubara and Amaewhule seen sharing jokes and holding hands—an unexpected display of camaraderie that signaled a thaw in relations. “This is the beginning of real engagement,” a…
A new wave of optimism is rippling across the cocoa fields of Ondo State as farmers celebrate renewed support from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). Through the donation of additional hybrid cocoa seedlings, NEPC—under the dynamic leadership of Executive Director/CEO, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni—has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s cocoa industry and empowering its key producers. The latest intervention, coordinated by NEPC’s Ondo State office led by Mrs. Abe Iyabode, marks the second strategic support initiative this year. It highlights an increasingly impactful partnership between government institutions and grassroots producers, aimed at restoring Nigeria’s stature as a global cocoa…
Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State has declared Friday, June 27, a public holiday in observance of the Islamic New Year (Hijrah 1447). The announcement was made in a statement issued on Thursday by the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari. Governor Radda extended his warm New Year wishes to Muslims across the state, urging residents to continue promoting peace, unity, and mutual respect. “No meaningful development can be achieved without peace and stability,” the governor stated, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the people through impactful and inclusive projects. He also encouraged farmers to make…
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned a recent statement issued by Mr. Tony Aziegbemi, dismissing him as an unauthorized voice who lacks the legitimacy to speak on behalf of the party. In a statement released on Wednesday, the PDP described Aziegbemi as a “self-styled, factional figure of the now-defunct Obaseki camp,” noting that he holds no official position within the current structure of the party. “Tony Aziegbemi is not the Acting Chairman of the Edo PDP. He has no mandate to issue statements or represent the party in any capacity,” the statement read. The…