Things you need to know this Wednesday Morning 5th October, 2022.
1. President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, accused the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, of being complicit in corruption in the tertiary education sector in the country. Buhari said this as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the President has accepted the report on the engagement of members of the House with the ASUU, on how to resolve the ongoing strike by the union.
2. A week after his return from medical vacation, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, Tuesday, presided over a stormy meeting of the National Working Committee of the party. The meeting was also attended by the NWC members demanding the resignation of the national chairman.
3. A meeting between members of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, ended in a deadlock on Tuesday. The almost four-hour meeting, which was held behind closed doors at the Government House, Port Harcourt, ended around 4.35 pm.
4. Suspected yahoo boys, yesterday, caused gridlock on the Effurun roundabout to the PTI junction on the East-West road in Delta State as they protested against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly arresting some of their members.
5. Gunmen have reportedly killed at least 12 persons in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, on Sunday. The police spokesperson in the State, Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the incident to reporters yesterday, saying four suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack.
6. The organisers of the television reality show, Big Brother Naija season 7, say over N4.7 billion was invested in the production of the show. John Ugbe, Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, disclosed this during the prize presentation to the winner of the “Level Up” edition, Josephine Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, on Tuesday in Lagos.
7. President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, presented SP Daniel Amah with a Public Service Integrity Award for displaying exceptional courage and integrity in the discharge of his duties. Amah, a DPO in Bompai Kano, rejected a $200,000 bribe to sweep under the carpet a case involving one Mr Ali Zaki, a bureau de change operator.
8. A 20-year-old housewife, Lamratu Nasiru, has been remanded in the Katsina Custodial Centre over the death of her stepdaughter at Unguwar Shalele village, Katsina State. It was gathered that Lamratu and the victim’s mother, Zabbau, were married to one Mallam Nasiru of Unguwar Shalele village, in the Matazu Local Government Area of the State.
9. The Federal Government through the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has filed a N30 billion suit against Meta Platforms Incorporated, owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and its agent AT3 Resources Limited over unapproved advertisement.
10. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday, taunted the Federal Government for attempting to break their ranks with the recognition of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), describing the move as inconsequential and shadow chasing. CONUA is the splinter group of ASUU. It has opposed the on-going strike by ASUU, which began on February 14, and in recent years has been battling to gain recognition from the Federal Government to operate independently from ASUU.
11. Buhari To Present N19.76tn 2023 Budget To NASS On Friday
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to present the N19.76trillion 2023 appropriation bill before the National Assembly on Friday, October 7, 2022, Naija News reports.
Recall that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, revealed earlier in September that the Nigerian leader will present the proposed budget for the 2023 fiscal year before the National Assembly in the first week of October.
The Speaker made the disclosure while inspecting the renovation of the assembly complex ahead of the delivery deadline of August 2023.
It was, however, confirmed in a fresh report that the budget presentation will take place at 10:00 am at the temporary chamber of the House of Representatives.
The Letter on the Budget presentation by President Buhari was personally written by him and read in Plenary Tuesday by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
12. FG Presents Certificate Of Registration To ASUU Faction
Amidst the crisis in the education sector, the Muhammadu Buhari-led Government has presented a certificate of recognition and registration to the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA).
CONUA is a breakaway faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
On behalf of the government, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, presented the certificate to CONUA leadership on Tuesday.
The presentation took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry, Federal Secretariat, Phase 1, Abuja.
It is understood that CONUA is been led by Niyi Sunmonu, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
Ngige also presented a certificate of registration to the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).
13. PSC Sacks Seven Top Police Officers, Demotes 10
The Police Service Commission (PSC), on Tuesday, announced the dismissal of seven senior officers from the police force.
The affected personnel were sacked over alleged gross misconduct. This is as the commission also approved the reduction in rank of ten other officers.
The development was announced today during the continuation of the 15th plenary meeting of the Commission.
The summit which is presided over by the force’s acting chairman, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, is expected to end on Thursday, October 6th, 2022.
At the event, the force acted on all the Pending Disciplinary Matters (PDM) before it.
A total of 47 PDM were reportedly attended to while the commission also treated some appeals from dismissed police officers.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting in Abuja, the spokesman of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani said, the dismissed officers include: 1 CSP, 1 SP and 5 ASPs.
He added that one SP was also retired in public interest.
14. Details Of PDP BoT Meeting With Wike Emerge
The details of the meeting between the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike have emerged.
Earlier reported that members of the BoT met with Wike at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Tuesday.
This platform learnt that the meeting which started around 1 pm on Tuesday ended in a deadlock despite the effort of the BoT to end the crisis in the party.
The meeting which was held behind a closed door for almost four hours ended at about 4:35 pm.
The acting Chairman of the PDP BoT, Adolphus Wabara, while addressing newsmen said they had a frank discussion, he, however, stated that there was no conclusion during the meeting.
Wike speaking after the meeting said, “As the BoT acting chairman said, the most important thing is to have unity. What is important is that the house is united. So, the issue of whether we achieved peace today or not is immaterial.”
15. Sanwo-Olu Announces Salary Increase For Lagos Workers
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced approval for the increase in the salary of civil servants employed by the state government.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Tuesday while addressing Lagos workers during a visit to the Alausa Secretariat.
He said the increase is in recognition of the sacrifices being made by the workers amidst the challenges of inflation and other economic issues in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu added that he has given directives during a cabinet meeting for the necessary Ministries and agencies to work on implementing the approved increase.
The announcement generated huge cheers and excitement from the civil servants who gathered to listen to the Governor’s speech.
Speaking further, the Governor said there’s no need for the state to wait for the federal government as according to him, “this is Lagos.”
16. Buhari Meets Gbajabiamila, Wase Over ASUU Strike
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, met with the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Wase.
The President met when two leaders of the Green Chamber at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at about 3:00 pm.
It was learned that the meeting featured discussions on the ongoing strike embarked by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Recall that Gbajabiamila had over the last few weeks conveyed a stakeholders meeting comprising members of ASUU and representatives of the Federal Government.
Speaking at the last meeting with the stakeholders, Gbajabiamila had said the House will prepare and submit the report of its intervention in the ongoing strike to President Buhari.
He said the report will reflect their interactions with the stakeholders and provide recommendations to enable the President to assess the situation from an informed second option.
17. PDP To Kick Off Presidential Campaign On Oct 10
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to commence its presidential campaign on Monday, 10 October 2022.
The Director General of PDP National Campaign Management Committee (NCMC), Sokoto State Governor, Aminu
Tambuwal on Tuesday disclosed that the kick-off will be held in Akwa Ibom State.
Tambuwal, while addressing newsmen at Atiku’s campaign office in Wuse, Abuja, described the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar as the most prepared.
The Governor of Sokoto State further stated that only the former vice president of Nigeria can provide the required leadership in Nigeria.
According to Tambuwal, Atiku has experience in governance at the federal level, adding that none of the presidential candidates can match him.
18. CONUA Releases First Statement After FG’s Approval, Registration
The National Coordinator, Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Niyi Sunmonu has released a statement after the Federal Government presented a certificate of registration to the union.
CONUA released the statement in Osogbo, Osun State shortly after the recognition by the Federal Government.
Recall that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, presented the certificate to CONUA leadership on Tuesday.
CONUA, in the statement, said the union will work towards ensuring that the nation is no longer traumatized by academic union dislocations.
Sunmomu described the registration of CONUA as a trade union and the validation of the power of the human will.
19. FG Sues Owners Of Facebook, Instagram And WhatsApp, Demands N30bn
The Federal Government through its agency, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has disclosed that it has lodged a suit against Meta Platforms Incorporated (owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms) and its agent AT3 Resources Limited at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, ARCON is seeking a declaration among others that the continued publication and exposure of various advertisements directed at the Nigerian market through Facebook and Instagram platforms by Meta Platforms Incorporated without ensuring the same is vetted and approved before exposure is illegal, unlawful and a violation of the extant advertising Law in Nigeria.
The apex regulatory body for Nigeria’s advertising ecosystem, stated that Meta Platforms Incorporated’s continued exposure of unvetted adverts had also led to loss of revenue to the Federal Government.
ARCON is therefore seeking N30 billion in sanction for the violation of the advertising laws and for loss of revenue as a result of Meta Incorporated’s continued exposure of unapproved adverts on it’s platforms.
ARCON reiterated that it would not permit unethical and irresponsible advertising on the Nigeria’s advertising space.
According to ARCON, the Council is not regulating the online media space, rather, it’s focus is on advertising and marketing communications on the online platforms in line with its establishment Act.
20. I Live And Meet With Them, They Are Not Terrorists – Peter Obi Defends IPOB
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party for the 2023 election, Peter Obi has rejected the terrorist tag slammed on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the federal government.
IPOB under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu was in 2017, proscribed by the federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, during a chat with Channels Television, Obi maintained that proscribing IPOB as a terrorist organization is not the right move.
Defending his stand, the former Anambra State government explained that he lives, moves and interacts with members of the group who are demanding an independent Biafra and has never felt threatened by them.
According to Obi, the agitators are not a threat to Nigeria.
21. Buhari to present 2023 budget of N19.7tn to NASS on Friday
President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to present the 2023 budget worth N19.76 trillion before the National Assembly in Abuja, on Friday.
22. Reps begin inquest into frequent grid collapses
The Committee on Power of the House of Representatives has been instructed to look into the causes of the nation’s recurrent grid failures.
23. Osun tribunal adjourns hearing of Oyetola’s applications to October 13
The Osun State Election Petitions Tribunal on Tuesday fixed October 13 for the hearing of all preliminary motions in the petition filed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
24. ASUU’s existence under peril as Nigerian govt registers rival union
The Federal Government will on Tuesday, submit a certificate of registration to the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), a breakaway group of the lecturers’ union, in light of unresolved issues with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
25. Asari-Dokubo challenges Obi’s supporters to hold #Obidient rallies in South-East on Monday
Former Niger Delta militant and founder of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, has challenged supporters of presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party for the 2023 election, Peter Obi, to hold their rallies in the South-East on a Monday, a day that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has set aside for a sit-at-home.
26. Nigeria sells N11.53trn crude oil in six months
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria earned N11.53 trillion from the export of crude oil in the first half of 2022.
27. More headache for Nigeria as China reduces lending
China, Nigeria’s biggest bilateral creditor, is reported to be scaling back lending in Africa amid its worsening growth woes.
28. Community disagrees with Kaduna govt, says killed herdsmen were terrorists from Benin Republic
The Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union (BEPU), has faulted claims by the Kaduna State government over two herdsmen who were allegedly lynched by angry youths in a community in the Emirate on Sunday.
29. Boko Haram bombs kill motorists travelers in Borno
The Executive Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, Umar Ibrahim, on Tuesday, confirmed the death of an unspecified number of motorists and travellers after their vehicles stepped on Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs), planted by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, along the Maiduguri-Damboa-Chibok road.
30. UCL: Barca risk elimination after Inter defeat; Liverpool, Napoli seal victories
Barcelona are on the edge of crashing out of the group stage of the Champions League as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan on Tuesday night.
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