Petroleum Tankers Drivers Commence Strike
Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Lagos State have withdrawn their services as directed by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) beginning from August 10 2020.
According to NUPENG’s State Chairman, Mr Tayo Aboyeji, the strike began in the early hours of August 10, following negotiation breakdown between the state government and the union.
NUPENG’s National President, Mr Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Mr Olawale Afolabi had in a joint statement said the directive became necessary due to failure of various authorities in the state to address some pending issues.
JAMB Ponders New Date For Commencement Of Admission
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it is considering new date for the commencement of the 2020 admission processes from the earlier announced date of Aug. 22.
According to the Board, it will be meeting all the tertiary institutions on Aug. 10 to brainstorm on the possibility of shifting the commencement of admissions to a date that would better accommodate the vagaries of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It further said that the Board was working to pre-empt any unpalatable situation that may arise if institutions conduct their admissions without accommodating the vast number of candidates that are about to take their O’level examinations.
Buhari, North East Govs., Security Chiefs Meet Over Insecurity
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the six governors of the North East Zone and security chiefs at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Those in attendance were, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, also attended the meeting.
The affected governors, who were led by their Chairman and governor of Borno, Prof. Babagana Zulum, included Ahmadu Fintri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe State), Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas were equally at the meeting.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Director General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, were also in attendance.
The Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufa’i, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, and the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi, also attended the meeting.
Insurgency: Military Needs Intelligence, Not Weapons – Prof Alemikha
Professor Etannibi Alemikha has disagreed with the Governors of the North-East over the deployment of more heavy artillery to the region.
According to him, the Nigerian military needs more intelligence, because the war against terrorism and issues bordering on security globally are technologically driven.
The criminologist explained that for the war against insurgency to be won in the region, security operatives need to have information beforehand on the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists.
Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Laments Loss Of Values In Society
Former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has bemoaned the deterioration of values in society.
The Former Minister, in a video posted online Sunday, was speaking at a virtual conference organised by an umbrella body of Ijaw cultural associations, the Ijaw Development Group (INDG).
According to her, “the ones that have swag, the Yahoo Yahoo boys as my son would say, these, in short, are the role models they are looking at,” she said. “These are the ones that reinforce negative societal norms and values.
“This is a travesty of an unfolding tragedy for us. Why have I spent time talking about fatherless homes and the impact it has on our children? The truth of the matter is that an irresponsible boy tends to become an irresponsible man and it is therefore a vicious cycle. If you plant coco-yam, you cannot harvest plantain.”
Gov. Ortom Rejects Invitation To Rejoin APC
The Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom has rejected the invitation extended to him by the All Progressive Congress (APC), to return to the party, noting that he is fully committed to the ideals of the Peoples Democratic Party, thereby putting to rest, speculations on his alleged defection plans to the APC.
Governor Ortom made this public at the PDP congress to elect a new state executive committee of the party was returned the John Ngbede led executive, admitting that the APC indeed reached out to him but the congress decision would determine if he would remain in the PDP.
Furthermore, the issue of equitable distribution of power, where only the Tiv ethnic group has been ruling the state since its creation in 1976 was tabled.
The Senator representing Benue South Senator Abba Moro and the Former Senate President, Minister David Mark makes a compelling case for the zone to produce the next Governor, come 2023.
Ondo Deputy Governor Resigns From PDP
The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Agboola Ajayi has resigned his membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Hon. Ajayi in his statement on Monday appreciated the national leadership and members of the party for their warm reception and acceptance in the short period he rejoined the party.
The Deputy Governor said his decision is as a result of the call by the majority of the good people of Ondo State to give hope to the hopeless, provide credible and purposeful leadership in the State.
Appeal Court Reinstates 74 De-registered Political Parties
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has on Monday reversed the de-registration of 74 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court in it’s verdict set aside the judgement of Federal High Court that upheld INEC’s actions, adding that the de-registration exercise was illegal for not following due process.
The court subsequently ordered that the 74 de-registered parties should be relisted as registered political parties in Nigeria
Why We Increased Hate Speech Fine To N5 Million – Lai Mohammed
The Federal Government says it has increased the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5 million in the amended National Broadcasting Code to deter people who are willingly violating the provision to destabilise the country.
According to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, What motivated the ammendment was that when the fine was N500,000 we saw the provision being violated at will because the amount was very easy to pay.
The Minister however noted that, those attacking the government over the increase, must remember that hate speech had destroyed many countries. He added that hate speech is not new but the social media and its wildfire capacity to spread information made it to be more problematic.
Prof. Mohammed, therefore, reiterated the resolve of the government to regulate the social media without stifling the freedom of speech.
