The Federal Minister of Communications, Isa Ali Pantami, has spoken out against the harassment of Nigerians with personal computers, tablets and other ICT gadgets in public places by security operatives. While applauding the EFCC and other security agents on its fight against cybercrimes, the Minister in a statement said that one of the negative effects of this action is that young persons are assumed to be fraudsters by the security officials without evidence or proof of committing such crimes. Isa Ali Pantami Part of the statement reads ; “The Ministry notes with dismay, this unfortunate turn of events as we celebrate the growing and bubbling technology eco-system in Nigeria that enables young persons to learn various skills ranging from software engineering to varied forms of entrepreneurship by simply accessing online tools and content on these devices. “We are aware that several other persons have engaged in nefarious activities utilising computers and similar dev...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to shut down the Akanu Ibiam International Airport due to security reasons.   Speaking in Lagos at a stakeholders forum on Friday, Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika explained that the airport will be degraded for international operations, because the runway length is not ideal for such operations.   According to him, the market, television masts and free trade zone needs to be relocated for the airport to be fit for safe flights.

The Federal Government has ordered the closure of the nation’s borders for Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections. Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, that the order was announced by Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd). Muhammad-Babandede CG Nigeria Immigration Service: Happy with the Jigawa arrest He said: “Further to the Presidential and National Assembly elections taking place on Feb. 23, 2019, the minister has directed the closure of all Nigeria’s Land Borders with effect from Friday, Feb. 22 to Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. “This is to restrict movements across the borders during the election days. “The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Amb. Michael Abikoye has protested the inhuman treatment of Nigerians by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) with the deportation of 723 Nigerians between 2018 and 2019. Abikoye said this at a meeting between him and the Comptroller-General of GIS, Kwame Takyi, in Ghana. Report of the meeting was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja. The High Commissioner said that 723 Nigerians were deported on alleged illegal stay, cybercrime and prostitution between the January 2018 and January 2019. According to him, 81 Nigerians are deported on alleged cybercrime and illegal stay in January, while 115 have so far been deported in February on the allegation of overstay and prostitution. The High commissioner cautioned against inhuman  treatment of Nigerians by Ghana, warning that any form of torture or ill treatment of Nigerians  would not be acceptable to Nigerian Government. He said, though the High Comm...

  Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita The Federal Government has clarified that the partial removal of dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor’s of Science (B.Sc) degree by the National Council on Establishment. Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, speaking on Thursday in Abuja, noted that the resolution of the Council was that an HND holder could now enter into public service on Grade Level 08, the same entrance level for B.Sc holder. She, however, explained that the HND graduate cannot rise above level 14 except such a person acquires an additional degree for his or her conversion to officer cadre that terminates at Grade Level 17. The Head of Service made the clarification while briefing newsmen on some of the achievements of her office under the Change Agenda 2015-2018. She said:  “This issue of HND/B.Sc dichotomy came up after the last National Council on Establishment and I think a lot of people are still confused about...

The Federal Government has said the controversial dichotomy in the placement of HND and Degree holders in the federal civil service cadres has not been abolished. This is despite wide held belief that the dichotomy has been abolished and the holders of the two certificates would henceforth enjoy same privileges. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, disclosed this yesterday at a press conference attended by DAILY POST in Abuja, where she presented her three-year scorecard. According to her, Nigerians have grossly misunderstood the pronouncement made by the Federal Executive Council on the controversial HND and BSc dichotomy. She said the government have not completely resolved the dichotomy, as workers who holds HND in the civil service may have to get additional degree or certificate before they can be moved to level 17 like their University degrees counterparts. “I think the issue of this HND and BSC Dichotomy came up at the l...

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, says ASUU will suspend its 10-week-old strike if the Federal Government agrees to release N50bn to revitalise public universities and N20bn to pay lecturers their allowances in their meeting on Monday. The union resumes its negotiation with the Federal Government, and Ogunyemi insists they body will not shift its ground unless the government makes a commitment to release the money. However, he said ASUU had lost confidence in the government since it failed to honour previous agreements. Ogunyemi, who spoke with reporters in Ibadan at the weekend, said ASUU had rejected government’s proposal of N20bn to be paid in two tranches to revitalise public universities. He said the union had asked the government to include the earned academic allowances in the 2019 budget. He said, “We want them to pay N50bn as a sign of commitment this quarter. “Our members have rejected the 20bn proposed by them th...

The Federal High Court Sitting in Lagos has entered as judgement the out-of-court settlement terms in a suit filed by MTN Nigeria Communications Limited against the Federal Government. MTN had challenged the over $8bn demanded from it by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over alleged improper dividend repatriations to a foreign country. In the suit, the telecoms firm asked the court to restrain the CBN and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from imposing punitive sanctions on it. On the other hand, the apex bank had accused MTN Nigeria of forex remittance infractions and demanded that $8.1 billion be returned “to the coffers of the CBN”. When the case came up in court yesterday, MTN’s lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, informed Justice Saliu Saidu that parties have resolved the dispute amicably. He said the terms of the settlement were filed in court on December 28, 2018. CBN’s counsel, Mr Henry Ejiofor, also confirmed to the judge that both parties have settled o...

*Govt to release N220 billion before end of October for revitalization of federal universities *We ‘ll take proposals to our members for consideration-Ogunyemi, ASUU boss *Union may call off industrial action within 7 days By Joseph Erunke ABUJA-INDICATIONS of imminent end to the ongoing strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, emerged early today, as the union has accepted some proposals put forward by the Federal Government in line with some of its demands. The government bowed to some of the union’s demands with appealing proposals which the union seemed satisfied with during a negotiation meeting between it and the ASUU, Friday, in Abuja. One major concession from government was to honour the 2009 agreement government had with ASUU, by releasing the sum of N220 billion not later than October 2017, to fund the revitalization of federal universities across the country. The meeting which started at 2:30pm on Thursday, ended about 2:15 Frida...

The Federal Ministry of Information in collaboration with the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has organised a two-day workshop in Kano, for Bloggers on Promoting access to education for children in Nigeria. Unicef Declaring the workshop opened, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed said the workshop was necessary because Nigeria’s future prosperity depends on producing children who are well prepared to take their place in tomorrow’s society. The Minister was represented by Olumide Osanyinpeju, Deputy Director and Head of Child Rights Information Bureau of the ministry. Mohammed said, “unfortunately,  a large number of Nigerian children are at risk of deprivations of basic social amenities. They are situated in the rural and hard-to-reach communities. Majority of them are also living in conflict, and communities under emergencies, and it has been difficult taking basic amenities to them. “It is worthy to note that efforts have been made by governm...

THE organised labour has issued a statement saying it would embark on a nationwide strike on Tuesday  November 6, 2018, over the impasse on the new minimum wage with government. It accused government of being disingenuous with the whole process. I would advise that the federal government calls Labour to table and resolved this matter once and for all by reaching a reasonable comprise and save Nigerians yet again from another bout of untold hardship, and the country’s fragile economy from continuous hemorrhage. Resorting to the old-fashion tactics of intimidation, blackmail and trickery have never worked; it would only make matters worse. This is against the backdrop of the recent release of a White Paper by government on the no work, no pay rule of engagement. The timing of this White Paper is ominous. Why now that Nigerian workers are agitating for a pay rise? The government should know that the Rights of Nigerian workers are enshrined in the treaty of the Internationa...