Nigeria Railway Corporation Shuts Down In Abuja
The Nigerian Rail way Corporation workers have shut down train stations in Abuja. According to the managers, it is part of measures to protect railway assets.
The three-day warning strike by the railway workers began this morning over staff welfare. The workers said they are demanding for an enhanced salary payment stating that minimum wage is not enough for the kind of work the job requires.
However, to avert the strike, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi invited the labor unions to a meeting at the weekend, but it ended in a deadlock.
Senate Approves Real Estate Regulatory Council Bill
The Senate has approved a Bill to establish the real estate regulatory council of Nigeria. The passage of the Bill was as a result of the consideration of a report by the Committee on Establishment and Public Service.
The council would be responsible for regulating the standards for the conduct of the businesses of real estate development across the country.
If signed to law by President Muhammadu Buhari, the establishment of the Real Estate Council of Nigeria is expected to provide efficient, effective, and transparent administration of the business of real estate development in Nigeria.
Lagos State Govt Reacts to EndSARS Report
The Lagos State Government has reacted to the controversy that followed the leaked report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said the state government has recognised the various reactions that have trailed the report and has good intentions for setting up the panel.
The State Government also said that, in accordance with the Tribunal of Inquiry Law 2015, a committee has been set up to bring up a White Paper on the report to determine the next line of action, and at the appropriate time, it will make known its views on all the issues raised by the Panel through the release of a White Paper.
NYSC addresses fake mobilization rumors
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said that a circular published on some social media platforms announcing the date for the next mobilisation of Prospective Corps Members is fake.
In a statement signed by Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, the NYSC Director, Press, and Public Relations on Wednesday in Abuja, the scheme described the circular as “fake and misleading”.
The scheme advised the public to disregard the circular in its entirety and ensure that they get all NYSC related information directly from the scheme’s social media platforms, print, and electronic media.
The Scheme clarified that the 2021 Batch “C” Stream II registration of prospective corps members will take place from Nov. 24 to Nov. 28, the swearing in will take place on Nov. 30, while the orientation course will hold nationwide from Nov. 24 to Dec. 14, 2021.
GDP Falls To 4.03% In Third Quarter of 2021
The National Bureau of Statistics (NB) has said on Thursday, that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate slowed to 4.03% in the third quarter of the year (Q3 2021) from 5.01% in the previous quarter.
According to figures released by the NBS, the Nigerian economy grew at a rate of 5.01% in Q2 2021. The economy had shrunk by -6.1% in Q1 2020, when a total lockdown was imposed on major economic cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun state.
It thereafter fell into a technical recession with a negative growth rate of -3.62% recorded in Q3 2021. With the lifting of the COVID lockdowns in Q4 2020, economic growth became positive but fragile at 0.11%.
The NBS statistician-general and chief executive, Dr. Simon Harry, had at a media briefing said the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact economic performance.
World Bank: Inflation may push 6 million Nigerians into poverty
The World Bank says the price increases that occurred between June 2020 and June 2021 could push about six million Nigerians into abject poverty.
This was disclosed by the Bank in a new report titled: ‘Covid-19 in Nigeria: Frontline Data and Pathways for Policy”.
The World Bank stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought Nigerian households’ food security under threat.
The bank also said that immediate policy action is needed to curb the long-run impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on the lives and livelihoods of Nigerian households.
EndSARS: One of the best Report ever produced -Falana
Senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana has described the report of the Judiciary Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters as one of the best ever produced.
This he stated on Thursday in an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily three days after the panel said nine #EndSARS protesters were killed at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020.
The senior lawyer however condemned the leakage of the report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.
He said the state government should only release the report after its four-member set up to raise a White Paper on the reports submitted by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry has completed its assignment.
House of Reps Minority Caucus calls for Lai Mohammed’s Resignation
The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has said that it has reviewed the Lagos EndSARS report and deduced that the Federal Government has questions to answer.
In a statement signed by Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu on Thursday, the Lawmakers said that the report has confirmed that there was indeed a massacre at Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, despite the earlier denial of killings.
The Minority Caucus said that based on the findings of the Lagos panel, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is expected to resign immediately or be fired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
They commended the panel for its boldness and commiserated with the victims of the Lekki Tollgate attack, particularly the families of those killed. They also urged Nigerians to remain calm at this crucial moment.
Anti-human trafficking agencies initiates platform for information sharing
The Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) in collaboration with A-TIPSOM on Wednesday start off a platform against human trafficking to facilitate information sharing among West Africa countries.
A-TIPSOM (Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants) is a project working against human trafficking in Nigeria. The platform is “West Africa Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants.”
Mr Abdulganiyu Abubakar, NACTAL National President, while speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, said that the regional platform would enable effective information sharing about human trafficking among West Africa countries.
He said that the platform was also initiated to be able to move faster than perpetrators of the crime.
Taraba Senator Raises Alarm Over Threat To Nigeria’s Territorial Sovereignty
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, a federal lawmaker from Taraba state has raised an alarm over a threat to Nigerians Territorial sovereign.
This came after the the invasion of Manga community in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba by Ambazonia separatists from the southern part of neighbouring Cameroon.
Senator Bwacha, who represents Taraba South, raised the alarm while addressing his colleagues during Wednesday’s plenary in the Senate chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.
He has also called on the military to immediately swing into action to prevent the eventual occupation of Manga community by the separatists.
