FG, ASUU Meet September 6 To Avert Strike
The Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have reached a compromise to avert the strike threatened by the union. At the end of a meeting yesterday by both parties, a sub-committee was set up to review ASUU’s demands and ensure that all grey areas are ironed out and resolved while the government promised to ensure lasting solutions to the crisis. Briefing newsmen at the end of the closed door meeting, Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman said both parties agreed to reconvene on Sept. 6, while on his part, the ASUU National President, prof. Emmanuel Osodeke expressed hope that all issues would be resolved before the Sept. 6 meeting.
NCC Sets Final NIN-SIM Linkage Deadline
The Nigerian Communications Commission has announced Sept. 14 as final deadline for National Identity Number and Subscriber Identity Module (NIN-SIM) linkage. Its Director of Public Affairs, Dr Reuben Muoka, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said about 153 million SIMs had been successfully linked to NINs, reflecting an impressive compliance rate of 96 percent, adding that it recorded a substantial increase from 69.7 per cent in January 2024. He urged members of the public who have not completed their NIN-SIM linkage, or who have faced issues due to verification mismatches, to visit their service providers promptly to update their details before the deadline, and also reminded the public that the sale and purchase of pre-registered SIMs are criminal offences, punishable by imprisonment and fines.
NFF appoints New Head Coach Of Super Eagles
Nigeria Football Federation has appointed German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. NFF’s General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who announced this today, said Labbadia’s appointment is with immediate effect. The 58-year-old, who is the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, is to take charge of the three-time African champions for two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic on Saturday, September 7th in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, September 10th in Kigali. The NFF is expected to hand over a list of 40 players to Labbadia, as provisional squad for the upcoming qualifiers.
Nambia Plans To Kill Wild Animals Due To Severe Drought
Namibia plans to kill 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, and distribute the meat to people struggling to feed themselves due to a severe drought across southern Africa. Authorities say the culling was necessary to address severe drought and meat from the animals will be distributed to people struggling to feed. A statement by the country’s environment ministry says the culling will take place in parks and communal areas where authorities believe animal numbers exceed available grazing land and water supplies. It added that 300 zebra, 100 eland, 100 blue wildebeest, 60 buffaloes, 30 hippos, as well as 50 impalas, would also be culled. Southern Africa is facing its worst drought in decades, with Namibia having exhausted 84% of its food reserves last month.
Call For Stiffer Punishment For Rape, Sexual Abuse & GBV Crimes
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called for the appropriation and enforcement of stiffer laws and punishment for perpetrators of rape, sexual abuse and other forms of gender-based violence. The First Lady who made the call at the 1st gender and Social Norms Summit organized by the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA in collaboration with her office, bemoaned the alarming increased rate of rape cases and gender based violence in the country. The prevalence of harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, child marriage, which, in some cases, leads to Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) and other forms of violence against girls and women remain unacceptably high.
US Donates 10,000 Doses Of Vaccine for Small pox, Mpox
The government of the United States of America has donated 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria for the prevention of Smallpox and Mpox in adults aged 18 years and older who are at risk of Mpox infection. Speaking during the official handover of the Mpox vaccine to Nigeria in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, thanked the US government for the donation and stated that the Federal Government is committed to improving the well-being of Nigerians.
NERC Grants Six States Authority to regulate Electricity
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has given Six states the authority to regulate their electricity markets. In a statement by the Commission on X (Twitter), Enugu, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Oyo, and Edo States were authorised to regulate their electricity markets. NERC confirmed that these states have established their electricity regulatory agencies and will now oversee the electricity markets within their jurisdictions. In April, NERC announced that it had ceded the regulatory oversight of Enugu, Imo, Ekiti, and Ondo, which the state government owned with effect from May 1, 2024.
Health Implications Of Saccharine In Nigeria Baked Bread
The director general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Mojisola Adeyeye, has refuted claims that she advised Nigerians to avoid bread baked and sold in the country due to the presence of the banned sweetener saccharine. In a statement yesterday, Dr Adeyeye confirmed that saccharine is indeed banned in bread production in Nigeria, in line with global health guidelines due to its potential health risks to consumers, but NAFDAC never issued any statement suggesting that Nigerian bread is unsafe for consumption. A supposed social media influencer had claimed that NAFDAC advised Nigerians to avoid locally baked bread because samples had failed laboratory tests due to the presence of saccharine, after Nigerian bakesturned to the banned sweetener as a substitute for sugar, which has become expensive due to inflation. She emphasized that NAFDAC, as a vigilant regulator, has been actively sanctioning bakers who violate this regulation while emphasizing that the social media influencer does not represent or speak on behalf of NAFDAC.
President Tinubu set to travel to China to perfect Rail Contracts, other MOUs
President Bola Tinubu is set to embark on a visit to China in first week of September, aiming to strengthen Nigeria’s economy and advance its strategic interests through a series of high-level meetings and engagements. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who made this known during a press briefing at […]
18 and below cannot write JAMB
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has declared that candidates under 18 will no longer be permitted to take the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination beginning next year. Speaking during a televised interview, Mamman noted that the minimum required for admission is 18 years according to the country’s education policy, and the federal government only allowed underaged students to take the JAMB examination this year as a form of advance notice to parents for the changes that will take effect next year. Furthermore, the Minister announced that students who have not completed the required minimum number of 17 and a half years in school, will be exempted from participating in both the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams.
