Amid calls by Nigerians for a lower cost of governance, the personnel costs of the 36 states in Nigeria for the 2024 financial year have hit N2.76tn, an analysis of the budgets by The PUNCH has revealed. In 2023, the wage bill of the states according to their approved budget documents available on Open States powered by civic-tech innovation platform, BudgIT, stood at N2.26tn indicating that about N901.88bn had been added to the wage bill in two years and N501.16bn in one year. The analysis of the data showed that most of the states have consistently increased their wage bill…
Author: Daily News Hub
Landowners of Nuwalege, Abuja ejected by the Federal Government, have called on the government for compensation, The PUNCH reports. More than 200 families who resided in Nuwalege, a rural community along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road in Abuja, have been reportedly rendered homeless, following the demolition of their homes to accommodate an extension of the Presidential Air Fleet. The demolition was carried out by the Federal Capital Development Authority, at the request of the Nigerian Air Force, The PUNCH learnt. Subsequently, the displaced residents were forced to seek shelter in nearby communities, including Zamani, Sauka, Giri, Iddo, Gwagwalada, and…
Halliru Liman, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Wasagu Division of the police in Kebbi state, is dead. Liman died when he was reportedly shot dead by a soldier at a checkpoint in Zamfara. According to ASP Yazid Abubakar, spokesman of the Zamfara State Police Command, the deceased police officer was on his way to Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State to attend a meeting when he was stopped on the way at Danmarke area in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara by military personnel attached to Operation Dadarin Daji. Abubakar said the officer was murdered on the spot by the military…
Lead Lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, to clean the mess perpetrated by his predecessor, Yusuf Magaji Bichi. He also advised that he should profile those wrongfully arrested and still detained illegally and order for their immediate and unconditional freedom. Ejiofor said the trending video about the jubilation among personnel of the DSS following the announcement of a new DG has confirmed that Bichi was a tyrant and failure. The lawyer in a statement in Abuja said under Bichi’s leadership,…
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has been sworn in as the new president of the Nigerian Bar Association. He succeeded Mr. Yakubu Maikyau. The ceremony took place in Lagos, marking Osigwe’s commencement as the 32nd President of the NBA. Osigwe in his inaugural address, pledged to work towards the collective interests of the bar. He also promised that, under his leadership, the NBA would actively hold both Federal and state governments accountable. Details shortly…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to depart Abuja for Beijing, China, today, Thursday, August 29, on an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exploring economic opportunities. According to a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s trip includes a brief layover in the United Arab Emirates before arriving in China, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping and engage in discussions on cooperation between the two nations. On the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, President Tinubu will also hold meetings with Chinese business leaders to promote investment…
Canada-based Nigerian woman, Amaka Patience Sunnberger, has dismissed the possibility of arrest or deportation after the Nigerian House of Representatives urged the Canadian government to prosecute her for inciting violence and genocide against Yoruba and Benin people. In a viral video clip that started trending on X.com on Thursday, Sunnberger cited her Canadian citizenship as protection, stating that Canada’s legal system is unlike Nigeria’s, where arrests can be made without questioning. She said, “Somebody just send me message, say them arrest me, say them wan deport me, with passport? I be Canada pikin. “See am now, I dey house, why…
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has given one month moratorium to traders and other market stakeholders involved in exploitative pricing to crash the prices of goods. The newly appointed Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said this at a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on exploitative pricing on Thursday in Abuja. According to Bello, the Commission will begin enforcement after the moratorium. He said the meeting was to address the growing trend of unreasonable pricing of consumer goods and services and the unwholesome practice of market associations. Bello gave a description of the Commission’s finding that…
Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, on Thursday, announced that it has evoked the “No work, no pay” policy against the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors over its recent warning strike. On Monday, NARD embarked on a nationwide seven-day warning strike over the continued detention of its abducted member , Dr. Ganiyat Popoola-Olawale. The Ministry’s spokesman, Ado Bako, in a statement said the ministry expressed deep disappointment over NARD’s decision to embark on the warning strike. The ministry noted that the doctors did so disregarding all negotiations and plea attempts by the Federal Government to resolve its concerns and…
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, on Thursday, expressed the conviction that the labour movement is worth dying for. Ajaero stated this after honouring a police invitation over terrorism financing allegations levelled against him. He also vowed not be distracted in his quest to ensure that workers’ welfare was paramount. Also, one of the lawyers who went with him to the Police headquarters for interrogation, Maxwell Opara, said that the NLC will not relent as the police may come up with another allegation. The NLC President honoured the police invitation in company with lawyers representing the Congress, led…