Author: Our Reporters
The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in a significant suit filed by the Federal Government against the 36 State Governors of Nigeria. The suit, seeking autonomy for local governments, aims to prevent state governors from appointing caretaker committees and withholding funds from local governments not headed by elected officials. The Federal Government wants the Supreme Court to rule that local governments should receive funds directly from the Federation Account and not through state governments. The seven-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Garba Lawal will communicate the judgment once ready. Despite opposition from all 36 states, the Attorney-General…
Welcome to the latest episode of So This Happened, where we delve into some of the most intriguing stories making headlines. First up, the organized labour’s bold move to propose a new minimum wage of ₦250,000 has sparked a heated debate, as the government and private sector stand firm on ₦62,000. Will President Bola Tinubu side with the labour leaders? Next, the shocking story of Ibrahim Ogunrinde, a 46-year-old man arrested for attempted murder in Ogun State. His motive? Suspecting his wife’s affair with a rival, he posed as a passenger, stabbed the driver, and stole his motorbike, believing he…
President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera and the people of Malawi following the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Vice President Saulos Chilima and other officials. The wreckage of the aircraft was found with no survivors, with aviation authorities attributing the incident to bad weather. Tinubu, through his Special Adviser, extended sympathies to the families of the deceased and offered Nigeria’s support to Malawi during this time of mourning. The African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Mahamat, also expressed deep sadness at the loss and offered sincere condolences to the bereaved families and the…
Unpacking the Concerning Trend in UTME Performance Recent trends in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have sparked conversations about the state of education in Nigeria. With over 9 million candidates scoring below the pass mark of 200 between 2018 and 2024, concerns have heightened about the quality of education and systemic issues plaguing the sector. Following the release of the 2024 UTME results by JAMB, a staggering 76.1% of candidates scored below 200 out of 400 points. This has raised questions about various factors contributing to the poor performance, including unqualified teachers, outdated curriculum, and student negligence. While some…
A shocking incident unfolded in Imo State as 27-year-old Oluchi Nzemechi was arrested by the police for fatally stabbing her partner, Kelechi Nzemechi. The suspect confessed to the crime, revealing that her 31-year-old lover had involved her in internet fraud activities. An argument erupted when Kelechi failed to share the proceeds from a fraudulent scheme involving 250 million Rupiah obtained from a victim in Indonesia. This dispute led Oluchi to use a kitchen knife to stab him. Attempting to cover up her actions, Oluchi left a threatening note on Kelechi’s body before fleeing the scene. The suspect, who had been…
With Sallah festivities fast approaching, ram sellers nationwide are facing a challenging trend of low patronage. Factors such as economic difficulties, insecurity, and high transportation costs from northern Nigeria are impacting the ram market. Prices of rams have surged ahead of the upcoming celebration, with big rams selling between N500,000 to N700,000 in some areas. Insecurity in the North has disrupted the supply chain, forcing sellers to source rams from Mali, contributing to the high prices. The effects of insurgents and banditry are evident as the smallest ram now costs N300,000 in some places, a steep increase from previous years.…
Federal Government, Governors, and Private Sector Clash Over New Minimum Wage The Federal Government’s willingness to agree to a minimum wage higher than N60,000 has caused a rift with governors and the private sector, who are against paying such a high amount. While the government may accept N65,000 as the new minimum wage, governors and the private sector argue that anything above N57,000 may not be sustainable due to limited resources for development projects. The negotiation for a new minimum wage is ongoing, with Organised Labour rejecting the government’s offer of N60,000 and shifting from their initial demand of N497,000…
The tragic death of 22-year-old nurse Ginika Judith Okoro in the house of her boyfriend, Charles Ndukwu, has left her parents devastated and seeking answers. Ginika, who ran a chemist shop and often visited patients at their homes, died suddenly during a visit to Charles in Ezeogba, Awaka. Charles claimed she became unconscious after consuming pepper soup he bought for her, leading to her untimely demise. Expressing their grief, Ginika’s parents are pleading with the Nigeria Police and the state government to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding their daughter’s mysterious death. Charles Ndukwu has been arrested and detained as part…
The recent arrest of journalist Precious Eze by the Nigeria Police Force under the Cybercrime Act has sparked outrage from media practitioners and legal experts. Eze was picked up from his home in Lagos following a complaint from a prominent businessman and politician, leading to his colleagues’ unsuccessful attempts to secure his release on bail. The President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, condemned the police’s actions, calling for respect of journalists’ rights and the constitution. Senior Advocates of Nigeria also criticized the journalist’s arrest and emphasized the importance of press freedom in a democratic society. Despite being…
The Labour Party Renames Directorate Amid Controversy The Labour Party recently announced the renaming of its ‘Directorate of OBIDIENT Affairs’ to the ‘Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration’. The decision, aimed at addressing controversies surrounding the directorate, was made public in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh. According to Ifoh, the inauguration of the newly named directorate is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the party’s National Secretariat in Utako, Abuja. Earlier in May, the LP’s National Working Committee led by Julius Abure had set up the OBIDIENT Affairs Directorate to oversee…