The Academic Staff Union of Universities says it’s National Executive Council would meet next week to weigh its options on whether to embark on strike or not, following the failure of the Federal Government to meet some of its demands.

The union’s National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja.

Recall that ASUU had issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government and accused the government of deliberately ignoring its demands..

READ ALSO: Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige appeals to striking doctors to go back to work as negotiations continue

Some of ASUU’s demands include the payment of salary arrears of its members, payment of revitalization funds of universities, and the development of a new payment platform known as the UTAS platform.

The Federal Government had, however, insisted that it was working hard on making sure that the association’s demands were met.

Governor Emmanuel also thanked the forebears of the state who worked tirelessly for the creation of the state as well as past leaders who have contributed their quota to the development of the state.

But, Osodeke said ASUU is hoping something is done before next week, as when it meets, the union will weigh its options and a decision will be taken.

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Edited By Saviour Robert

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has appealed to the National Association of Resident Doctors – NARD to shelve their industrial action as the Federal Government continues to negotiate with the union to end the dispute.

Ngige made the appeal during an interview monitored by Planet News, as the resident doctors strike enters Day 59.

The Minister also reacted to the court case filed by the Federal Government against the striking doctors. According to Ngige, it is the Federal Ministry of Health and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation that can withdraw the case from court.

READ ALSO: President Buhari approves appointment of Board and Management of NNPC Limited with Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as Chairman

Despite the National Industrial Court’s ruling ordering the striking doctors to return to work, the Minister asked the plaintiffs – Health Ministry and Attorney General’s office as well as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and NARD to approach the Labour Ministry to press their demands.

While noting that he had advised his colleague in the Health Ministry, Dr Osagie Ehanire “to see what he can do so that the discussion will set off,” Ngige said he had always advocated for settlement.

Ngige’s comments come two days after the National Industrial Court ordered resident doctors to suspend their strike action and go back to work, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the Federal Government’s plan to source fresh loans, saying borrowing to accumulate debt for the next generation is criminal.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of an event in South Africa, Obasanjo noted that if the existing debt is left unserviced or unpaid, it might become a problem for successive administrations.

READ ALSO: President Buhari approves appointment of Board and Management of NNPC Limited with Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as Chairman

While noting that borrowing is not a problem, the former Nigerian leader stated that what could be a problem would be what one is borrowing for and the plan or capacity to pay back.

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Written By Saviour Robert

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of the Board and Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited with Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as Chairman.

This is even as he directed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited be incorporated.

Special Adviser to the President on Media, Femi Adesina said the President appointed the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, as the Chief Executive Officer, adding that his principal acted in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

READ ALSO: Federal government launches youth employment action plan

According to the presidential spokesman, NNPC GMD has been directed to take the necessary steps to ensure that the incorporation of the oil company is consistent with the provisions of the PIA 2021.

Adesina explained that Senator Ifeanyi Ararume will serve as the Chairman of the Board, with Umar I. Ajiya being the Chief Financial Officer.

Apart from Kyari, other board members are; Dr Tajudeen Umar (North East),  Lami O. Ahmed (North Central), Mallam Mohammed Lawal (North West), Senator Margaret Chuba Okadigbo (South East), Barrister Constance Harry Marshal (South-South), and Chief Pius Akinyelure (South West).

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The Federal Government has launched the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP 2021-2024) with a pledge to mobilize the energies and capacities of youths to minimize national security risks.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Akin Dare, who launched the programme in Abuja, yesterday, said the Plan is an expression of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to create about 3.7 million jobs yearly and achieve national development goals, especially, sustainable economic growth.

READ ALSO: President Muhammadu Buhari seeks senate’s approval for fresh loans of 4billion dollars and 710million euros

He said youth should be regarded as a viable investment that can yield socio-economic progress, rather than a group targeted for periodic empowerment interventions.

The minister said youth unemployment has assumed an uncomfortable proportion. He said its effect has not only led to frustration on the part of the youth but is also the underlying cause of poverty and restiveness in the country.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly, seeking approval to borrow the sum of 4billion dollars and 710 million euros.

The request was made known in a letter read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan at plenary.

READ ALSO: Federal government to receive about 55 million doses of covid 19 vaccines by April 2022

In the letter titled Addendum to Request For Senate’s Concurrent Approval Of Multilateral Fund Projects Under the 2018-2021 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan, President Buhari explained that owing to “emerging needs”, there is a need to raise more funds for some “critical projects”.

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The federal government says it has projected that it will receive about 55 million doses of vaccines by April 2022 to ensure that more Nigerians are vaccinated against the dreaded COVID-19.

The Chairman Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha who made the disclosure when he briefed reporters in Abuja, assured that with the delivery of doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson vaccines, in addition to the expected delivery of Pfizer vaccines, there would be enough vaccines to go across the country.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, also reiterated that the only way to survive the scourge was to be vaccinated, a fact he said had been reinforced by science and research.

READ ALSO: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel announces plans to establish College of Science and Technology

He noted that although the global cases recorded have continued to decline to about four million cases weekly, the situation, however, still calls for caution because the country and the world are not out of the woods yet.

Mustapha however disclosed that the federal government has removed India from the list of countries affected by the travel restriction that was introduced on May 4 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, adding that India was removed from the list in view of the improved situation in that country.

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Former PDP Vice presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi, has stated that the discussions on Value Added Tax – VAT in Nigeria and fiscal federalism will enable Nigerian states to be productive, while also warning that Nigerians need to move away from the mentality of sharing revenue and move towards even more revenue generation for the states.

Obi disclosed this in an interview where he said that compared to his previous stand on fiscal federalism, he supports the discussions going on because it will make Nigeria a lot more productive as a country.

READ ALSO: A’Ibom govt tasks applicants for state’s 1,000 primary school teaching job not to be wary of possibility of being subjected to computer-based test

Obi stated that Nigeria needs to move away from seeing resource control from an angle of natural resources but more on investment in people, citing the fact that Anambra has been made an oil-producing state.

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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has asked all foreign airlines operating in and out of Nigeria not to deny Nigerians boarding over their inability to show evidence of payment for the day-7 COVID-19 PCR test or to generate a paid QR code.

The Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, announced this in a letter issued to all airlines operating in and out of the country.

READ ALSO: Human rights lawyer, Barrister Inibehe Effiong, calls for prosecution of policemen culpable in death of UNIUYO graduate, Kubiat Akpan

He said the decision was taken in view of the challenges some travellers to Nigeria experience while trying to fill their Health and Travel history into Nigeria’s International Travel portal (NITP).

According to Nuhu, the cumbersomeness of generating the PCR code after payment of the statutory fees has led to many travelers from Nigeria and into Nigeria being denied boarding by airlines.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Imo State to commission some projects in the state.

President Buhari landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, the state capital where he was received by the Southeast Governors, led by the Chairman of the Southeast Governors, and the governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, host Governor, Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, among other Igbo leaders.

In his address, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma who welcomed the president to the state, said the projects commissioned today including the road project are very strategic, adding that the road projects which is also very important lead to two federal tertiary institutions in the state.