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The Federal Government has said it will end the payment of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by June 2023. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed disclosed this on Thursday, August 18, 2022, while asking the the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate the Petroleum Products Subsidy Regime from 2013 to 2022. President Muhammadu Buhari who has been in office since 2015 will be finishing his tenure by May 29, 2023. The new date means that the petrol subsidy will end one month after Buhari’s exit. Addressing the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee, the finance minister said the government had planned to make subsidy payments for only half of next year, as contained in the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP). Ahmed further disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari transmitted the MTEF/FSP to the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly for consideration after it was approved by...

Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, has again absolved his supporters of spewing bile online, saying that the vitriol of ‘fake news’ attributed to ‘Obidient’ supporters is actually the handiwork of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC). Recall, the presidential candidate of the ruling APC, Bola Tinubu, weeks ago enjoined Obi to caution his supporters against attacking and spreading false news about him. This was after the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, disowned a post on Facebook which claimed that he advised Bola Tinubu, to give his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, a chance. He wrote; “My attention has been drawn to a disturbing post making the rounds on social media, where it is alleged I have written to the 2023 presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to ‘give Peter Obi a chance and seek treatment for his health’. “This is completely false and mischievous, with no iota of truth whatsoever in it. “Ghana and Ni...

Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State for the 2023 general elections, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda on Thursday said he would empower women ,youths and the downtrodden if elected Governor of the state . Yilwatda also said his policy tagged ACCESS will govern Plateau without any discrimination of tribe or religion. " I would ensure that 10% of the State IGR will be deployed to tackle poverty amongst vulnerable groups like the youths, women, and people living with disabilities . According to Dr Nentawe ,Plateau is blessed with both human and natural resources that cut across the 17 local government areas of the state and these need to be tapped for the benefit of the people of the state. He further said he would work out modalities to tackle insecurity and ensure that lasting peace returns to the state. The APC governorship candidate Dr Nentawe made this known while presenting his running mate to the Gwom Rwey Jos South Da Nga Dangyang Jamang ...

The People Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State has appointed the immediate Past State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Letep Dabang as the Director General of the PDP Gubernatorial Campaign Council in the State. The announcement was contained in a Statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP JT Akans on Wednesday 17th August 2022 in Jos, the Plateau State Capital. The statement notes that Chief Dabang who was part of the 2022 Governorship aspirants who sought the ticket of the party alongside Hon Caleb Mutfwang who is now the party’s flag bearer, now a Director General will announce other appointments into the campaign structure as approved by the Party. The Director General will announce other appointments into the campaign structure as approved by the party. The State Chairman of the PDP Hon Christopher Adukuchili Hassan is expected to inaugurate the campaign team in due course at the party’s secretariat.

The nation’s electricity supply crisis could worsen from today, Wednesday, as the organised labour has directed workers in the power sector to shutdown and commence an indefinite strike over pending issues with the Transmission Company of Nigeria. The aggrieved workers under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees, were at the Abuja national headquarters of the TCN today as a prelude to the proposed strike. The union noted that the strike was in protest of a directive by the TCN Board mandating all PMs in acting capacity going to the Annual General Meeting to appear for promotional interview. In a circular titled, ‘Call to Action,’ which was addressed to senior assistant general secretaries and zonal organising secretaries, dated August 15, 2022, the general secretary of the NUEE, Joe Ajaero, directed electricity workers to ensure total compliance, vowing to paralyse operations of the TCN nationwide over anti-masses activities. The statement read in part, “You are here...

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, and other opposition who claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to deliver on his promises, to Nigerians. The Minister who is the spokesperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign organization in an interview with Trust Television on Monday, August 15, 2022, said Buhari’s administration has reduced Boko Haram to “almost nothing.” He was defending the performance of the APC-led government in the last seven years that it has been in power. The programme also featured Daniel Bwala, a spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Council who was paired with the minister. With President Muhammadu Buhari as its flag bearer in 2015, the APC had promised to ensure a buoyant economy, fight insecurity and corruption to reposition the country. Despite the overwhelming deadly attacks on communities by terrorists in some parts of...

The Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) has put the current and past management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) under scrutiny. The committee said it discovered that the fund’s management failed to produce relevant documents to justify alleged spending of N17.158 billion in 2013. Some of the documents to back the expenses were said to have been eaten up by termites. The Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF), in its 2018 audit report – now being considered by the Senate panel chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South) – had queried the agency over the disbursed sums without appropriate supporting documents. In his report, the AuGF said the N17.158 billion represented the total sum of money, transferred by the agency from its Skye and First Bank accounts, into various untraceable accounts belonging to individuals and companies between January and December 2013.

A fresh crisis seems to be looming in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the failure of the ruling party to refund nomination fees to the aspirants that stepped down from various positions during the elective national convention of the party this year. Recall, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the national leadership of the party to refund the aspirants the amount of funds they paid to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms as a way of pacifying them. However, four months after the March 26 convention and despite Naira rain into the coffers of the ruling party from the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms for both party offices and various elective positions, the Abdullahi Adamu-led leadership has remained adamant in meeting up the financial obligations. Each of the aspirants for party offices paid amounts ranging from N20 million to N2.5 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms depending on the office they vied for. Report...

The Catholic Church in Nigeria has rejected the apology by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State over his utterances on the Pope. The group, under the aegis of Mass Servants Association of Nigeria (MSAN), said it is not enough for the governor to express remorse, adding that he must prove it by embarking on a 40-day fast and step down from his role as the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council. Recall that the governor had tendered an apology to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, over alleged ‘blasphemous’ comments about the Holy Father. While admitting that it was an error on his part to have linked the Catholic Pontiff with Nigeria’s politics, he begged for forgiveness and understanding from the Catholic Church through the Bishops’ conference. But in a statement signed by Moses Idoko, the MSAN said Lalong must repent and return every penny from the promoters of Muslim-Muslim ticket. According to Idoko, the governor should go a step f...

By Isaac Shobayo, Jos  Plateau State chapter of the Labour Party(LP) has dismissed the insinuation of a rift within the party and the publication making the round that its Chairman Mrs Grace Zamfara has been removed saying it was a ploy by some group people to discredit the party. According to the statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary Comrade Awara James Adara, the party said all its democratically elected state officials are presently functioning in their respective constitutional capacities adding that no official of the party has been removed. It further pointed out that it has uncovered sinister moves by some members of the ruling party in the state to sow a seed of discord among the ranks of the party in Plateau State adding that the growth of the party was becoming a threat to their political rivals. “We wish to categorically state that we are fully aware of the scheming and sinister moves by some opposition parties in the state, planning to sow the seeds of discord a...

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has disassociated himself from a group that staged a protest asking him to reject the job as Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign organisation. According to the governor, who met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, to thank him for approving the University of Jos as a national cancer centre, said being an ardent member of the Catholic faith, even the Pope is not angry with his decision to accept the job. Lalong urged Nigerians to grow up from ethnic or religious sentiments, noting that he has already accepted the job and there was nothing anybody can do to dissuade him from performing his responsibilities. Recall that a group under the aegis of Concern Christians on the Plateau (CCP) staged a rally in Abuja, where they called on him to reject the offer, threatening that the Plateau Christians will not support him in ‘the suspicious engagement or assignment.’ The group had also alleged that the APC rejected him for the positio...

The former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye and former Cabinet member under Jonah Jang Government, Hon. Alexander Kwapnoe have been reportedly offered Senatorial tickets by the Labour Party LP, for Plateau Central and Plateau Southern Senatorial Districts respectively. Recall that Dariye who was granted state pardon about two months ago, was able to breath the air of freedom only two days ago. African Drum reports that with this development, Dariye, who represented the zone (at the upper chamber of the National Assembly) under the same LP between 2011 and 2015 before decamping to the ruling APC would have Hon. Diket Plang of the APC and Hon. JY Gotom of the PDP to contained with in the Central Senatorial zone, while Hon. Kwapnoe would be contesting against the incumbent Governor, Simon Lalong of the APC and Gen. Napoleon Bali of the PDP in the Southern Senatorial Zone.

Ex-Plateau Governor, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye has just secured his release from the Nigerian Prisons, this is coming months after he was granted a presidential pardon by President Mohammedu Buhari. Chief Dariye who was being persecuted by the EFCC for N1.16 billion fraud was on June 12, 2018 sentenced to 14years in prison for criminal breach of trust and 2years in addition for misappropriation of public funds, all to run concurrently. Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT Court before whom he was standing trial for a 23- count amended charge, found him guilty of 15 of the counts bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of public funds but discharged him on 8. Dariye, was first arraigned on July 13, 2007 at the High Court after which he proceeded to Appeal court with an application to quash all charges but were all dismissed. Furthermore, the Apex Court ordered accelerated hearing of the fraud case against him, thus necessitating the continuation of trial on January 25 20...

A religious twist has been introduced to the proposed rebuilding of the Jos Main Market gutted by fire in 2002. Leaders of umbrella bodies of two faith groups met with Governor Simeon Lalong on Saturday in Jos and expressed divergent opinions about the government’s plan. One group kicked against the plan to source finance from a bank identified with the rival group. The other group, however, argued that what was paramount was for the state to witness development, notwithstanding the source of funds. After the groups had narrated their positions, Governor Lalong expressed concern that politicians were using the market project for propaganda, claiming that the market had been sold to the bank in question. He explained that the arrangement for financing was purely a business decision based on the Public-Private Partnership model. The bank would finance the project for the contractor and at the end of construction, 60 per cent of the shops would be administered by the bank and the contract...

By Katdapba Y Gobum WHEN yours sincerely set out to write this, I did not have Jeffrey Archer, the famous English author, who wrote in 1977 'Shall we tell the President' in mind. In fact, I wanted to achieve one purpose: Interrogate why, despite the presidential pardon since April 14, 2022, Chief Joshua C Dariye is yet to leave the Kuje Correctional Facility back to the embrace of his family, friends and political associates. His conviction and incarceration has been a subject of partisan consideration by different people. Those who know are quick to point out that his case and that of his co-traveler, Rev Jolly Nyame are allegedly shrouded in political manipulation and worthy of consideration; if only we could situate his voyage without being accused of being partisan also. It has been opined, if his 'sins' are placed side by side with those of his colleagues who served in other states during the same period, today, Dariye should be walking free on the streets of Abuja...

Following his release after spending more than 100 days in captivity, Hassan Usman, one of the released abductees from the Abuja-Kaduna train, has maintained that he still remains a strong supporter of President Buhari.  reports has it that Usman, a lawyer, and his wife, Amina were among the passengers abducted in an attack on the trrain on March 28. Hassan was among the several victims seen in a viral video being tortured by the terrorists before his eventual release, alongside two others, on July 25. Speaking with The ICIR in an exclusive interview in Kaduna, Usman described his days in the kidnappers’ den as a terrible experience. “It has been a bitter experience I must say. Since when we were captured, we have to walk a long miles for almost three days before we reached a camp where we were detained for close to four months and being there is a bitter experience actually. Because since we arrived that camp, we have been sleeping on bare ground for most of the time. Come rain, come ...

06/08/2022 POLICE PRESS RELEASE: *Re: Armed Police men Arrest Plateau LP Governorship Candidate* Contrary to the report being circulated by *Some online news media* alleging that the arrest of Amb. Yohanna Margif, by operatives of the Plateau State Command is politically motivated, the Command wishes to inform members of the public that such report is malicious, misleading and unfounded. 2. Amb. Margif was criminally reported against by his business associate, one E.C.Gajare who alleged that Amb. Margit issued him a dud bank cheque over a business deal they had in recent time, hence the Police invited the Amb. Margif to answer the allegation levied against him to wish confirmed to be true. 3. The Plateau State Police Command wishes to set the record straight that the Nigeria Police is a non partisan organization that rigorously pursues criminal matters with vigor irrespective of who is involved. Members of the public are hereby, urged to disregard such noxious report aimed at tarnish...

By Nanyah Daman,Jos.   Eighty Five (85) delegates of the Labour Party Plateau State Chapter elected Dr. Patrick Sunday Dakum at Ken Palace Hotel, opposite the Plateau State Police officer mess , Tudun Wada,Jos on Friday 5th August, 2022 amidst pomp and peagentry. The 85 delegates were from the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State who were invited by the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in the state,Mrs Grace Zamfara due to the notice of withdrawal and date of primaries written to INEC  dated 2nd August , 2022 in line with the 2022 Electoral Act .  The letter to the Honourable Chairman of INEC signed by the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barr. Julius Abare and the National Secretary Alh. Umar Farouk Ibrahim listed the eleven States for Governorship Primary included Delta , Kano , Kaduna , Akwa Ibom , Cross Rivers , Kebbi , Plateau , Taraba , Zamfara , Lagos , Sokoto and Bauchi. The States for House of Assembly Primary elections slated for Saturday 6th August, 2022 ar...

Loyalists of the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike have called for the restructuring of the Peoples Democratic Party’s leadership to accommodate more southerners, saying the party as presently constituted is pro-North. The governor’s camp complained that the structure of the party was skewed in favour of northerners, stressing that any proposed reconciliation between the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Wike must address this contentious issue. According to the Punch, the members of Wike’s camp are insisting on the restructuring of the PDP leadership, stating that the northerners cannot occupy the positions of the Board of Trustees, chairman, the national chairman and governors’ forum chairman. A PDP chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, said as party loyalists, they would support any genuine decision by the party to ensure peace in the fold. Nwuke, who represented Etche-Omuma constituency in the green chamber of the National Assembl...

PRESS RELEASE LABOUR PARTY PLATEAU STATE DENIES COMPLICITY IN THE ARREST OF AMB. YOHANNA MARGIF The Plateau State chapter of the Labour party has denied any complicity in the arrest of Amb. Yohanna Margif over any matter related to the political party in the interest of anybody. The rebuttal was made by the public relations officer of the Labour party in Plateau State, Mr. Awara James Adara to Newsmen in Jos on Friday 5th June, 2022 at the party secretariat. Adara hinted that at no time did the Labour party in Plateau State contemplate or directed any police officer to arrest Amb. Yohanna Margif or any of its members for any political reason or any in-coming members. The PRO urged lovers of the Labour party to disregard such statement making rounds in the social media being promoted by the APC and the PDP for fear of the rising profile of the Labour Party in Nigeria in general and Plateau state in Particular. We urge Labour Party members to remain calm as it is doing everything possibl...