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Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia As discussions around the proposal for a single six-year term for Presidents and Governors dominated the just-concluded zonal review of the 1999 Constitution, former Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Chief Chuku Wachuku, has cautioned that such a measure alone would not solve Nigeria’s challenges. Wachuku, a development economist and former senatorial candidate, said that unless key institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and other democratic structures are thoroughly reformed, a single-term presidency would only amount to a cosmetic change. Speaking with our correspondent, Wachuku argued that adopting a non-renewable six-year…
Our Reporter, Abuja Former presidential candidate and the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has rallied support behind Nigeria’s Super Falcons as they prepare to take on the hosts, Morocco, in the finals of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), tonight. Taking to his X account on Friday, the face of Nigeria’s opposition politics and former governor of Anambra State, hailed the team’s resilience, patriotism, and unyielding spirit, urging them to make history by clinching Nigeria’s 10th WAFCON title. “To our fearless Super Falcons,” Obi began, “you have carried the hopes, dreams, and pride of an entire nation with extraordinary…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia At least 28 sporting events will feature in the second edition of the Abia State Governor’s Secondary Schools Unity Games (ASGSSUG), scheduled to kick off on July 29 at the Umuahia Township Stadium. About 1,000 athletes are expected to participate in the four-day competition, which is aimed at discovering and nurturing young sporting talents across the state. Addressing a press conference in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Obilor Ananaba, listed football, basketball, taekwondo, volleyball, and shooting among the events to be contested. He disclosed that champions from the 17 Local Government Areas of…
…Say N5,000 palliatives insignificant Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Former governors who served between 1999 and 2007—during which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu governed Lagos State—have urged the President to urgently address insecurity and stimulate job creation by establishing cottage industries across all local government areas. The former governors made the call on Friday during a visit to the President at the State House in Abuja, warning that the current economic hardship demands more sustainable interventions than the N5,000 monthly palliatives being distributed by the Federal Government. Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Chairman of the Class of ’99 Governors and former…
Our Reporter, Abuja Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi, has given reasons behind his ₦20 million donation to the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), calling on the government to urgently address the pressing challenges in education and healthcare across the country. Making the disclosure on Friday via a post on his X handle, Obi said he made the donation after a visit to the university on Friday, following a distress call he received from the faculty over the weekend. According to him, the Faculty had raised an SOS…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Federal Government, Friday, disowned media reports, claiming it had fixed 12 years as the minimum age limit for admission into Junior Secondary School 1, JSS1. A statement by the Federal Ministry of Education, said such report did not emanate from the Ministry, and did not in any way, reflect any Government policy. The statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said that “the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains ten years.” It read: “Accordingly, no child should complete primary education below the age of 10. Any suggestion to the contrary is…
By Adaobi Obiabunmuo The most important things in a democracy involve counting. Among these three stand out: people, votes, and jobs. These are essential for ensuring that government is accountable; that government is grounded in popular legitimacy; and that government takes the well-being of all seriously. Nigeria has been notoriously unreliable in undertaking all three. Unsurprisingly, the country’s democracy suffers a debilitating credibility crisis. It is useful to examine why. Take jobs, for instance. With the introduction of the revised methodology in April 2023 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Nigeria Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate saw a…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki A two-storey hostel building collapsed on Friday at Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, displacing several student occupants. The building, known as Pentagon Lodge, is located directly opposite the main gate of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI). The immediate and remote causes of the collapse are yet to be determined. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded in the incident. Sources said students observed visible cracks and felt vibrations prior to the collapse, prompting a swift evacuation of the premises. It was also gathered that many occupants were either attending lectures or had traveled…
Ugo Nosiri, Owerri No fewer than seven youths were murdered in cold blood on Thursday night when armed men launched a deadly attack on Ndi-Ejezie village in Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State. According to reports, the victims were holding a meeting at a shop in the area when the assailants stormed the venue and opened fire indiscriminately, killing several and injuring others. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Command, Mr. Henry Okoye, condemned the attack, describing it as “senseless, inhuman, and barbaric.” He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Mr.…
Our Reporter, Abuja In a heartwarming show of leadership and compassion, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party Presidential candidate in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi, has donated ₦20 million to the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Calabar, to assist over 400 dental students facing possible expulsion. The students had been at risk following threats of expulsion and withdrawal issued by the university management due to accreditation challenges. Reports indicate that the university had over-admitted students into the faculty, overwhelming its capacity and leading to non-compliance with accreditation standards. A major hurdle to the faculty’s accreditation was the lack of essential…