Author: Editor

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The political crisis rocking Rivers State, Thursday, took a sudden twist as Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, indicated interest in conducting election into Local Government Areas in the state. This is coming barely 24 hours after the tenure of former Council Chairmen expired. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt. RSIEC Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), in the statement, invited “all political parties, stakeholders, traditional rulers, security agencies, religious organizations, and the media to a meeting on July 1st to unveil the timetable and guidelines for the 2024 Local Government Elections.”…

Rose Oranye The Nganga dance group, in association with Ifemeluigbo troupe, has through outstanding exhibition received significant recognition. Nganga/Ifemeluigbo’s commitment to showcasing the Igbo cultural heritage on a global scale was evident in their recent awareness campaign, which aimed to educate the public about various cultural practices and norms in the British Isles. Ifemelumma Nweri, the convener of the Ifemeluigbo dance group in corporation with the Nganga performance group, received remarkable recognition from the media for her outstanding display of expertise and mastery of the unique Igbo cultural heritage and milieu through her dancing and choreography. Ifemelumma has been published…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Federal Government through the Federal Roads Management Agency (FERMA) in Ebonyi State has rehabilitated a collapsing twin-bridge and road on the ever-busy Abakaliki/Enugu expressway. The bridge and road which is located very close to Ukwuachi on the highway, almost became impassable with accidents and robbery occurring on it. Akinyemi Ojo, Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Ebonyi State Field Office, noted that the road became life threatening following washout on the road. He said: “Some months back, we had serious washout, a life threatening washout there. But to the glory of God, our agency has been…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Traders at Ogbaru Main Market have sought the intervention of the Anambra State Government on the degenerating Sakamori crossing behind the fence of Ogbaru Main Market, near Onitsha Anambra State. Traders who disclosed this said that the collapsed portion of the Sakamori was caused by this year’s early rainfall, worsening the already damaged portion of the same Sakamori which they had been battling with over the years. In a Save Our Soul message to the governor captioned, “Erosion Menace In Ogbaru Main Market: Who Will Hear Our Voice,” the traders said they have been in dire stress…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Emirship tussle rocking the Kano emirate is far from being over, as a Federal High Court sitting in Kano Thursday, set aside the reinstatement of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi ll as the 16th Emir of Kano. The court  presided over by Justice A. M. Liman, however, refused to nullify the Kano Emirate Council law but set aside steps by the State Government in pursuant of the law. Justice Liman ordered that status quo be maintained. Emir Sanusi backed by the State Government is yet to react to the judgment.…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has approved the constitution of a panel of inquiry to investigate the cause of the reoccurring collapse of buildings in the state with the objective to finding a lasting solution. This move follows a recent tragic incidents involving the collapse of two buildings within Onitsha metropolis—Lockup shops at OduIgbo, Ochanja and the fall of Centenary building at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha, the commercial city of the state. A statement from the government signed by Ernest Ezeajughi, the Chief of Staff, said the panel will be chaired by Engr Victor Meju, Chairman COREN Anambra…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has approved the payment of school fees for abandoned Abia students studying in an Indian university under scholarship. This is as the Governor has approved the appointment of Mr Njoku Ukoha Njoku, as his new Chief Press Secretary. He replaces the former CPS, Mr Kazie Uko. Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who discloses this during a press conference in Umuahia, said that the affected students were abandoned by the previous administration. The Commissioner said that the State Executive Council noted with concern, the case of the stranded Abia students studying in…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu State Government says it has concluded arrangements to build an ultra-modern market in Nsukka Local Government Area to accommodate traders affected in the recent demolition of Ogige Market. This was made known in a June 19, 2024, letter by the Acting Surveyor General of the state,  Mr. Chime Justus, sighted in Enugu. In the letter with the subject, “Completion of Acquisition of Hundred Hectares at Nru, Ede-Oballa, Eha-Alumona Boundaries for the Purpose Market,” the Surveyor General  directed the Deputy Director in charge of the Computing Department to, as a matter of urgency, outline the steps needed to ensure speedy…

By Zainab Suleiman Okino Whether the national workforce is 720,000 at the federal level and about 90,000 at sub-national level, the number of public servants (constituting the labour force) represented by Organised Labour that the Nigerian government must contend with over the new minimum wage is grossly insignificant in comparison with the number of angry Nigerians thrown into existential agony over government’s unfriendly policies. If we argue over Labour’s so-called selfish demand for just two percent of the Nigerian populace, it becomes even more appropriate to fault the government’s recalcitrance in their negotiation with such an “insignificant number” in contrast…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State had approved the payment of eight months salary arrears of workers of the state College of Education Enugu. It would be recalled that the academic, non-academic, and casual staff of the Enugu State College of Education, Technical, ESCET, Enugu, were owed eight months salary arrears valued at over N467 million. A breakdown of the approval shows that the eight-month salary arrears include 299 academic staff and non-academic staff  valued at N384 million; salary arrears of part-time lecturers valued at N69.2 million; and salary arrears of casual staff valued at N13.8 million totaling N467,061,600. A statement…