Author: admin@theprimetimes
The Senate ad hoc committee investigating alleged uneven disbursement of loans, grants and interventions in the six-geopolitical regions by NIRSAL Microfinance Bank has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to write off the trapped N180 billion loans granted Nigerians during the coronavirus pandemic. Chairman of the committee, Senator Sani Musa, stated this during a hearing on the matter. “To me, NISRAL gave out the money as a grant to Nigerians because I don’t see how you are going to collect over five hundred billion back from the criteria required for the acquisition of these loans. So, since recovering this…
• Says APC delivered on all promises to Nigerians • Praises Bello on security, projects execution The $400 million spent to revive the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company (ASC) in Kogi State is well-spent, President Muhammadu Buhari has said, adding that the benefits of the project to Nigeria far outweigh the investment. The President, who stated this in Okene, Kogi State, yesterday, during a town hall meeting at the renovated Ohinoyi of Ebiraland’s Palace, also declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has delivered on the promises it made to Nigerians at all levels. “We are an administration that prides itself…
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to conduct sale of properties, which are subject of Final Forfeiture Orders. The Commission had, on Saturday, December 24, 2022, publicly announced commencement of the auction exercise with advertorial in major newspapers, inviting bids for the properties. According to the Commission, interested persons or organisations have until 12:00 p.m. Monday, January 9, 2023, to submit their bids. EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday. According to him, the properties consisting of 61 units of luxury apartments, plots of lands and apartments across the country are being offered for…
The federal government would, from January 2023, begin monitoring the implementation of the national minimum wage across the country. Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, disclosed this at a one-day sensitisation workshop organised by the commission for field officers monitoring the implementation of the National Minimum Wage Act 2019. Nta, who was represented by Dr. Mojisola Yaya Kolade, said the monitoring exercise would have been done earlier, but for funds constraints. He charged the field officers to take advantage of the workshop to learn what to look out for when the exercise begins while calling…
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine creating global upheaval, and war, conflict, and unrest blighting all parts of the world in 2022. The UN stressed the importance of international dialogue, and announced plans for a new peace agenda. February saw a furious round of diplomacy at the UN, as it became increasingly clear that Russia was intent on invading Ukraine, a crisis which UN Secretary-General António Guterres said was testing the “entire international system”. “We need restraint and reason. We need de-escalation now,” spelled out the UN chief, urging all sides to “refrain from actions and statements that would take this dangerous situation…
Airline operators in the country have called for infrastructural upgrades and extension of operating hours at Lagos and Abuja airports, to reduce bottlenecks and under-utlisation of assets in the sector. The two facilities, especially Lagos domestic terminals where almost all airlines start daily operations, have perennially slowed passenger facilitation during the morning peak periods, with spiral effects on the entire network and attendant under-utilisation of operating aircraft. Besides the Murtala Muhammed Airport II (MMA2) terminal that has multiple boarding gates, the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), used by Air Peace, Arik Air, Green Africa among others, has only two gates. The…
The House of Representatives says the authorities are not under any obligation to pay the salaries of members of the Academic staff union of universities (ASUU) for the duration they were on strike. Spokesperson of the House, Mr Benjamin Kalu in a statement contended that the decision was in tandem with laid down rules and regulations. “This is a settled matter in law. See S. 43(1)(a) Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN). The Executive decision not to pay salaries to lecturers for the time spent on strike is warranted by the government’s legitimate interest…
A group, Vanguard for Judicial Independence, has faulted prosecuting agencies’ verification of sureties for bail, describing the practice was unconstitutional. In a statement by its Convener, Douglas Ogbankwa, the group maintained that it was unconstitutional for court to direct law enforcement agencies such as the police and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to verify sureties. The organisation observed: “It offends the principle of ‘pacta sunt servanda’ (no man shall be judge in his own cause) for prosecutors to be asked to verify sureties of defendants in a criminal prosecution. “What it means is that a court that asks the…
The Federal Government has hinted it will soon make pronouncement on salary increase for civil and public servants to cushion high inflation in the country. It said the Presidential Committee on Salaries has already begun a review and is expected to come up with an adjustment in the new year. Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, gave the indication after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Ngige, who said his mission was to discus issues concerning his ministry, including employment and productivity, also described 2022 as a year of industrial dispute. The minister had,…
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday urged the military and other security agencies to remain apolitical in their involvement in the provision security during the nation’s 2023 General Elections. Buhari made the call at the inauguration of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Estate at Idu-Karmo in Abuja. He said that security agencies would be engaged with various support and assistance in the elections, particularly with distribution and monitoring of classified materials and other logistics. These, he warned, must be done professionally and in accordance with Standing Operation Procedures. “I therefore urge you to remain apolitical and desist from behaviour that could…