Articles by Abdulrahman Zakariyau, Abuja and Lateef Dada, Osogbo

Contrary to position variously held by the Nigerian government, the United Nations has said that a splinter Boko Haram group that kidnapped the Dapchi girls in February was paid a “large ransom.” The girls were kidnapped from their school on February 18, while one of them, Leah Sharibu, is yet to be released for refusing to convert to Islam. The Read More

-States owe FG N41bn tax -ASUU wants Aregbesola, Ajimobi to resign over salary arrears As workers’ agitation for new minimum wage deepens, the 36 state governors yesterday, declared that they were not elected to pay only salaries of civil servants in their various states. The governors said beside paying salaries, they have a responsibility to provide good roads, electricity, education Read More

-Names IGP as committee head The National Economic Council (NEC) has set up a committee headed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris to come up with recommendations on fresh moves to decentralise the Nigeria Police. The committee is to have six members drawn from six geopolitical zones of the country. The representatives are expected to come from Read More

A civic group has sued the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over the ‘exemption certificate’ being used by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had earlier made a freedom of information request to the NYSC seeking details of the certificate paraded by Mrs. Adeosun. The civic group has now sued the NYSC when Read More

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday explained why it wants the N189.207 billion (being part of the N242billion budget for the 2019 general elections), approved for its use, this year by the National Assembly. President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter seeking for virement of N242 billion for the conduct of the elections, requested the National Assembly to appropriate Read More

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is ‘actively considering’ running against President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections. In an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday, Mr. Saraki said he is still making consultations on the ambition. “I am consulting and actively considering it,” Mr. Saraki said : “I believe I can make the change.” Early indications of Saraki’s ambition emerged in Read More

Former Director of Kenyan Anti-Corruption Commission, Professor Patrick Lumumba, has described Nigeria’s leadership problem as the missing link in Africa’s greatness, warning that if not resolved, it could negatively affect the continent. He also asked both the executive and legislative arms of the Nigeria government to sit up, avoid bickering and sanitise the polity. Professor Lumumba stated this while addressing Read More

-Wants squad overhauled -IGP complies, Nigerians hail Presidency Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has ordered an investigation into alleged human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force. He also directed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, to immediately effect an overhaul of the management and activities of the squad. The directives were contained Read More

….Senators loyal to Saraki block Chamber Palpable tension currently envelopes the premises of the National Assembly particularly the Senate wing as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) lay siege at the lobby ostensibly to pave way for the forceful invasion of the Chamber by APC senators for possible impeachment of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. But a lot Read More

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, has said about 14,160 Nigerians, have so far arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj. According to situation reports from agency’s platform, ‘NAHCON’s Command and Control Centre’on Hajj 2018 update’ statistics yesterday, the pilgrims were flown into the Holy land in 35 flights from various states in either Medview, Read More