Author: Editor
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The emergence of currency redesign, naira swap and cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has continued to have negative impact on citizens especially those doing businesses in Anambra State. Nigerians in Anambra State are becoming more frustrated amid the naira scarcity since the CBN’s decision to redesign the notes of the three largest naira denominations: N200, N500 and 1,000. Citizens have been spending their productive hours queuing in banks to access the new naira notes from the Automated Teller Machines (ATM). Queues for withdrawal of the new N1,000, N500 and N200 notes from ATMs have persisted…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The much talked about 2023 general election is gradually passing by with the conclusion of the Presidential and National Assembly elections gradually becoming a thing of history. Following the anger; the frustrations; the disappointments; and the excitements that characterised the outcome of the exercise, all eyes are now fixed on the March 11 Governorship and States House of Assembly Elections across Nigeria. Enugu State is not an isolated case; in fact, Enugu stands out as one of the flash-points in the March 11 election following the shocking outcome of the Feb. 25 elections, especially the national assembly. Like in some…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has started re-strategising ahead of the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections, scheduled for March 11. The state Chairman of APC in the State, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, disclosed this on Friday, while briefing Journalists shortly after a closed door meeting with executives of the party at the ward and local government levels The meeting held at the party’s state secretariat, Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre, Abakaliki. This is even as he expressed optimism that the APC would be victorious in the election. According to him, Ebonyi is the only…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Five days after it declared an indefinite strike in Abia State over backlog of salary arrears owed workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Friday, suspended the industrial action. The suspension followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between the State Government and Labour on how to defray the backlog of salary and pension arrears owed workers and pensioners in the state. The MoU was jointly signed by Secretary to State Government (SSG); Head of Service, Sir Onyii Wamah (on behalf of Government); and the Assistant Secretary General of NLC, Comrade Chris Onyeka; Chairman of NLC in the state,…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The All Progressives Congress (APC) has replied to comments made by the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, where he challenged the outcome of the 2023 presidential election. Obi told newsmen during his post election International press conference that he was robbed of his mandate and would seek legal approach to reclaim it. Obi also claimed that Tinubu cannot confidently tell the world that he won the poll when it was obvious that the exercise did not meet the criteria for a free and credible election. Reacting in a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity for…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Barely 48 hours after Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, was declared winner of the February 25 presidential poll, the Court of Appeal, Friday granted leave to Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party; and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to inspect documents used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the poll. This is following two separate ex parte applications filed by Obi and Atiku respectively. The duo who came third and second respectively according to the result of the presidential poll announced by the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, alleged substantial…
The World Health Organization (WHO) says an estimated 1.5 billion people globally live with hearing loss. The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, made this known in her message to mark and commemorate the 2023 World Hearing Day with theme: ’Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality.” She also said that the number could rise to over 2.5 billion by 2030. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the world hearing day is held on March 3 each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear…
By Owei Lakemfa The 2023 Nigeria presidential and National Assembly elections were contentious and controversial with some calling for outright cancellation. While we all have our views none of which should be discountenanced, I find it curious that some quote the reports of international election observers as if it were the gospel truth. As someone who has officially and unofficially observed elections in Africa, Europe and Latin America, I suggest to those relying on such reports, to do so with the consciousness that observing elections is not value-free. International election monitors or observers are not tourists interested in wildlife, sunbathing or…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Nsukka Journalists Foundation (NJF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has called on various political parties in Enugu State and their candidates to eschew violence ahead of the March 11, 2023 Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections in Enugu North zone. The group said this against the backdrop of reports of threats of looming violence by some political actors ahead of the polls. This was contained in a release by its public relations officer, Mr Emmanuel Ikechukwu, and made available to Journalists in Enugu. “We cautioned all political actors and their associates against ‘adopting violence in an election designed to…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The confusion over the use of old currency notes has been laid to rest by the Supreme Court which Friday, set aside the ban on the use of the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes as legal tenders. The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel of Justices, held that the old banknotes should remain valid legal tenders until December 31, 2023. It held that the old Naira notes should be used alongside the re-designed currencies. The apex court faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for the naira re-design policy without due consultation with the Council…