Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
The House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) has announced the extension of the deadline for submission of memoranda on the creation of additional states and local governments in Nigeria. According to a circular signed by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Review Committee, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on Monday, the new deadline for submission is now March, 26, 2025 and not March 5, 2025 as earlier announced. Kalu said the extension is in response to public requests for additional time, adding the committee remains committed to supporting…
The House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC) has approved N250 billion as 2025 budget of the South East Development Commission (SEDC). The budget was approved after its presentation by the commission during its budget defence before the committee on Monday. Speaking after the approval of the budget, Chairman of the committee, Rep. Chris said he was optimistic the approval of the SEDC budget would mark the beginning of good things to come to the South East in terms of development because the region has been neglected for over 54 years after the civil war. Rep Nkwonta said the…
The Abia State Government has confirmed that the planned relocation of the Abia State University (ABSU) Law Faculty from Umuahia back to Uturu will take place at the end June. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday, during a press briefing held after the weekly executive meeting , explaining that the movement had been delayed due to accreditation processes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the relevant professional bodies. Additionally, some students had outstanding examinations, prompting the government to grant them time to complete their academic activities. However with these issues now resolved, the relocation…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited, yesterday reduced the retail price of the premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol, across its retail outlets in the country. In Lagos, petrol at the NNPCL retail outlets sold at N860 per litre, from a previous N945 per litre. The same commodity sold in Abuja at N880 per litre from a previous N965. The latest price cut comes barely two weeks after the NNPCL reduced the pump price in Lagos to N945 per litre and five days after the Dangote Refinery implemented a reduction in the price of the same commodity across the…
Mudashiru Obasa has been returned as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Obasa was reinstated following the resignation of Mojisola Meranda, who stepped down from the role with immediate effect. He was returned as the speaker during Monday’s plenary session. In January, the lawmakers impeached Obasa over multiple allegations, including poor leadership style, high-handedness, frequent lateness to plenary sessions, abuse of office, and intimidation of colleagues. The impeachment was supported by over 90 per cent of the lawmakers. Reacting to his impeachment, Obasa rejected the process, insisting that the lawmakers did not follow the constitutional procedure to…
A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of the defunct music group P-Square, bail in the sum of N100 million ahead of his trial for alleged fraud. Okoye was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of laundering N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59. He pleaded not guilty and was initially remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Facility by Justice Alexander Owoeye. His counsel, Inibehe Effiong, had requested that he be kept in EFCC custody instead, but the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, opposed the request. During…
The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the employment of 1,010 secondary school teachers in the state. According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Monday, the governor’s approval came after the completion of the recruitment process by the state Teaching Service Commission which screened thousands of applicants last year. Adeniyan said the successful candidates are to begin their documentation immediately. The statement read, “The governor had given approval for the recruitment of 1010 secondary school and 1000 primary school teachers last year, which signalled the start of the recruitment exercise by TESCOM and…
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has approved a two-year tax waiver for traders affected by the September 2024 flood disaster and the Maiduguri Monday market fire incident. The Chairman of the Borno State Internal Revenue Service (BO-IRS), Prof. Ibrahim Bello, who disclosed this while addressing journalists in Maiduguri on Sunday, said the move aimed at facilitating economic recovery and easing financial burdens on businesses. He explained that the waiver is part of the state government’s ongoing tax administration reforms, designed to enhance the ease of doing business and encourage economic growth. The September 2024 flood disaster significantly disrupted economic activities…
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, at the weekend maintained that only contractors who can deliver quickly are needed to work on Nigerian roads, stressing that henceforth, contractors must get to site two weeks before they are paid mobilisation fees. Speaking while inspecting ongoing works on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) from Zuba Interchange to Western Bypass in Kaduna, the minister said that this would guarantee that road projects are not abandoned by those he described as ‘recalcitrant’ contractors. However, he lauded Messrs Infiouest International (Nig) Limited, which he said has proven its capacity to deliver quality jobs…
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has ordered the Heads of Local Government Administration to immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government areas pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission. The governor also directed the outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration by Monday, March 3, 2025. Fubara gave the directive in a statewide broadcast in Government House, Port Harcourt, on Sunday evening, in response to the Supreme Court judgment. This is the first time the governor will be speaking since last Friday’s Supreme…