Author: Chief Editor

Some of the abducted 344 students of Government Science Secondary School who regained freedom on Thursday night from their abductors, have vowed not to return to school until adequate security measures are put in place by the state government. The students, who spoke in an exclusive interview with THISDAY in Government House on Friday, also urged Governor Aminu Bello Masari to relocate the school to Kankara town. The schoolboys who were freed from captivity arrived Katsina State Government House Friday morning. They were driven into the Government House in a convoy escorted by the 17 Brigade Commander, Brig-General WB Idris…

The United States has suggested that the process to find a new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) needs to be reopened, in what would be an unprecedented move. US President, Donald Trump’s trade chief, Robert Lighthizer, told the BBC News that the WTO needs “someone with real experience in trade”. The US had earlier opposed former World Bank economist and Nigeria’s candidate, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the job . A consensus still hasn’t been reached. The doubling down on the rejection of Okonjo-Iweala, despite widespread support from other countries, escalates one of the most pressing global trade issues…

Former vice president and the presidential candidate of the PDP in the last general election, Atiku Abubakar, and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, have reacted to the release of kidnapped schoolboys in Kankara in Katsina state. Atiku in his reaction in a statement by his media office office said, “I am happy about reports that abducted schoolboys of GSSS Kankara, Katsina State have been rescued. As a father, I know how much joy it will bring to the traumatised parents who have practically kept vigil in the school premises. “I congratulate all those who were involved in the rescue operation.…

•To consider report on 2021-2023 MTEF/FSP today •Extends 2020 capital projects to March President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, yesterday pledged the commitment of the Senate to passing the 2021 budget, at a special session to be held on Monday. The Senate also passed the request from President Muhammadu Buhari seeking to extend the duration of the implementation of the 2020 capital projects to March 31, 2021. Lawan spoke following a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC – Kebbi North), and seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP – Abia South). According to…

There was a slight drama yesterday as members of the House of Representatives rejected a bill seeking to prescribe age limit for political office holders and pressured those sponsoring the bill to withdraw it. The legislation titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to put Age Limit for Aspirants to Certain Political Offices; and for Related Matters,” was sponsored by Hon. Bede Eke. The bill would affect the offices of the President, Governors and both chambers of the National Assembly. The bill stirred up controversy when Eke moved…

COVID-19 vaccines may arrive in Nigeria on January 19, 2021, Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has hinted. He said a technical working group had begun work on modalities for the project. Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over yesterday by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, the minister stated: “We have signed up with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Gavi for access to vaccines immediately they are available. But you know that these vaccines are new and are in packets, and the producers are not giving any indemnity. “The countries…

• Inaugurates Odey as C’River North representative The Senate, yesterday, passed a bill extending the implementation of the capital component of the 2020 Appropriation Act to March next year. Sponsored by Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, the movie was in fulfillment of an earlier request by President Muhammadu Buhari. The passage has, thus, effectively distorted the January to December life cycle of the financial document, which the current National Assembly once celebrated as a major achievement. The upper legislative chamber suspended Order 44 of its Standing Rule for the piece of legislation to pass first, second and third readings. Buhari had, on…

*To consider conference committee report on 2021 – 2023 MTEF/FSP Thursday President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has announced that the Senate will on Monday hold a special session to pass the 2021 budget presently before the National Assembly. Lawan made this known during plenary following a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC – Kebbi North); and seconded by the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP – Abia South). According to the Senate President, the delay in the passage of the budget was to allow the Appropriations Committee include a late request for additional expenditures from the Executive…

Jide Ojo “It is not just a condolence visit, it is a statement that all of us are fed up with the shedding of innocent blood under whatever guise across this country. So many lives have been lost in the past, we can’t even compute how many lives we have lost. It becomes like a daily occurrence, a daily event. A new normal, it becomes a story when in a day, nobody was killed in a particular place of this country.” – Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, during a condolence visit to Borno State over the Zabarmari killings. To…

*Reps demand implementation of ‘Safe Schools declaration’ *Zamfara closes boarding schools to avert attacks *PDP condemns Buhari’s visit to cattle ranch *Sultan seeks greater commitment from FG, govs Against the backdrop heightened insecurity, especially the recent kidnap of over 300 hundred students in Katsina, senators, yesterday, threatened impeachment and suspension of Budget 2021 Bill to force President Muhammadu Buhari to act on the grave situation in the country. Also, yesterday, the House of Representatives asked the authorities to urgently implement the Safe Schools Declaration to protect children and their teachers from attacks. These came as Zamfara State closed boarding schools,…