April 30, 2019

North East Development Commission?

April 30, 2019 5:09 am

By Odumodu Gbulagu

Why can’t the Federal Government prioritise national development rather than continue to set up regional intervention agencies?

In Murtala Nyako’s note calling for the establishment of NEDC in 2015, there was no tangible reason adduced for the establishment of the commission.

He only reeled out statistics that the North-East of Nigeria has the worst socio-economic conditions in the country.
That the zone has the highest rate of poverty in Nigeria, highest number of out-of-school children in primary and junior secondary school, and low percentage of candidates with five credits and above including Mathematics and English.

Are …

Senate orders minister to return ₦14.3b to treasury

April 30, 2019 4:33 am

•Warehousing of fund followed due process, NEPZA boss insists
The Senate has ordered the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, and the Acting Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Terhemba Nongo, to immediately return N14.3 billion of the agency’s 2017 budget votes to the treasury.

A letter by the chairman of its Committee on Trade and Investment, Mohammed Nakudu Sabo (APC Jigawa South West) threatened a “serious legislative action” in the event of non-compliance.

Dickson declines signing life pension bill for lawmakers

April 30, 2019 4:11 am

Law will deepen poverty, says group as HURIWA seeks EFCC’s probe
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has declined signing the bill seeking life pension for former lawmakers as proposed and passed by the state House of Assembly last week.

The bill has caused ripples and attracted condemnation from Bayelsa people, as well as civil society groups, who were planning a showdown with lawmakers.

Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, yesterday quoted Dickson as saying that he conveyed the decision to decline assent to the Bill in a letter to Speaker of the House of Assembly.

BREAKING: Four feared killed in Lagos train accident

April 30, 2019 4:01 am

At least four persons were feared killed after a train crushed a tricycle in Lagos in the early hours of Tuesday.

The incident occurred around 6:45am at Iju Ishaga, a Lagos suburb.

It was gathered the tricycle carrying passengers had attempted to cross the railway when it got trapped and was eventually crushed by the locomotive train.…

More Americans will die if Trump cancels peace talks

Asylum Case: Trump issues new directives

April 30, 2019 3:41 am

US President Donald Trump has directed his administration to charge fees for asylum claims and handle cases within 180 days, the White House said in a statement Monday night.

The announcement came as Trump blasted what he described as the United States’ “weak, ineffective and dangerous” immigration laws on Twitter.

The memo outlined other changes including charging asylum seekers to file work permit applications, and barring people who enter the US illegally — or attempt to — from receiving temporary work permits before being approved for relief.

Pastor, 5 others slain in attack on church in Burkina Faso

April 30, 2019 3:08 am

Six people, including a pastor, were killed in an attack on a Christian church in Burkina Faso, a government spokesman said.

The violence took place Sunday in the village of Silgadji, in the country’s north, not far from the volatile border with Mali.

…

Trump govt. to divert $40m in aid to Venezuela's opposition

Trump sues banks to stop Congress probing his accounts

April 30, 2019 2:49 am

US President Donald Trump, along with his family and businesses, on Monday sued Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to stop them from complying with Congressional subpoenas issued as part of a probe into foreign political influence.

The subpoenas — which the Trumps described in their suit as “intrusive and overboard” — were issued to several banks by the Democratic-majority House’s intelligence and financial services committees, which are looking into the president’s finances as part of a larger probe into election meddling by Russia.

The lawsuit is the latest step in Trump’s fightback against the Democrats, and alleges …