OCEAN TOWN GISTS

  President Bola Tinubu will, on Friday, receive a draft bill seeking a return to a regional system of government for Nigeria. The proposed legislation authored by a chieftain of the Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere, Akin Fapohunda, and titled, “A Bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria’, seeks among others, new extant laws to be cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.” News360 Nigeria reported last week that the said bill was disowned by the House of Representatives whose spokesman, Akin Rotimi, and the Chairman, Committee on Rules and Business said had not been listed for deliberation in the ongoing moves to review the 1999 Constitution (as amended). However, Fapohunda told our correspondent on Thursday that the bill would be transmitted to the President on Friday. “I’m submitting my letter (draft bill) today but I will...

  The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the suit filed by the Federal Government against the 36 State governors seeking full autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country. Justice Garba Lawal on Thursday, told the parties that the date for the judgement will be communicated to them. The apex court reserved the judgment after the 7-man panel of the court had taken adoption of processes filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN on behalf of the Federal Government and those of the 36 State Governors. At Thursday’s proceedings, the AGF pleaded with the Supreme Court to grant all the reliefs sought by the Federal Government in the suit. However, the governors through their respective State Attorneys-General and Commissioner for Justice opposed the Federal Government’s request and asked the court to dismiss the suit. Fagbemi had on behalf of the Federal Government initiated the legal action against the governors, primarily to seek full a...

  The Federal Government, on Tuesday, unveiled and released four varieties of maize that are drought and pest-resistant, and declared that the new crop would double the production of maize in Nigeria. It released the crop varieties in partnership with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, and the Institute for Agricultural Research in Abuja, where farmers under the aegis of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria were given some of the new maize varieties to cultivate. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, who unveiled the crop during the Tela Maize Nigeria Launch, said the new maize varieties would ensure sustainable production of the crop in Nigeria and drastically cut down production losses. He said, “The issue with Tela maize is that it is high yielding, which means the present yield farmers are making will be more than doubled, based on what the researchers told us. The yield will rise from the current two or three tonnes to as high ...

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Wednesday, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to reviewing and agreeing to a realistic and sustainable minimum wage for Nigerian workers. He also urged organised labour to propose or agree to a realistic minimum wage that won’t lead to massive job losses across the country. Speaking at the opening of the 2024 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister said accepting unrealistic wages would undermine the economy. He said, “As I have repeatedly said, the Federal Government is not opposed to the increase of wages for Nigerian Workers but we keep on advocating for a realistic and sustainable wage system for the workers – a wage system that will not undermine the economy, lead to mass retrenchment of workers and jeopardise the welfare of about 200 million Nigerians. “We want the labour unions to understand that the relief that Nigerians are expecting, and that...

  A coalition of Nigerian civil societies has announced a mass protest scheduled for Wednesday, June 12, to decry the hardship and hunger under the President Bola Tinubu-led government. POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the participating groups include the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB), African Action Congress party (AAC), Joint Action Front (JAF), Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Socialist Workers and Youth League (SWL), and PRP Vanguard. In a joint statement titled “Enough is Enough to Hardship and Hunger, Great Nigerian People,” the organisations expressed their outrage over the soaring prices of essential amenities since May 29, 2023, when President Tinubu removed fuel subsidies. According to them, the average Nigerian can no longer afford basic needs like food, transport, electricity, and school fees. They said, “Hardly is any average Nigerian able to feed. We are hungry. Our children are hungry. Our youth are becoming criminals and prostitutes. Things are hard. “Meanwhile, those wh...

  Olufunmilola Adewumi, chief nutritionist and head of the department at Shomolu General Hospital, told journalists in Lagos that palm oil contains linoleic acid (Omega 6), carotenoids (antioxidants), phytosterols, vitamin K, lauric and capric acids, and medium-chain triglycerides (anti-microbial and anti-fungal agents). The dietitian noted that palm oil has many health benefits over vegetable oil, which contains 15 per cent unsaturated fats, 50 per cent of mono-saturated fats, and 35 per cent polyunsaturated fats. Ms Adewumi said palm oil enhances the absorption of essential vitamin A, adding, “Due to its rich source of vitamin E, lycopene, and beta-carotene, palm oil serves as antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress, prevent cancer, safeguard the brain tissues, and reduce age-related muscular degeneration. “It also contains vitamin K, which is crucial for blood clotting and bone health and when ingested moderately daily, it provides cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-inflam...

  The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has ruled out strike action tomorrow, Tuesday, to press for a new national minimum wage. Ajaero disclosed this today, Monday, at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. He clarified that the submission of N62,000 as proposed by the government and the organized employers’ body with labour proposing N250,000 does not translate to labour accepting N62,000 as the new minimum wage. He said: “The tripartite committee submitted two figures to the President. Government and employers proposed N62,000 while labour proposed N250,000. We are waiting for the decision of the President. Our National Executive Council (NEC) will deliberate on the new figure when it is out.” On the expiration of the one-week ‘relaxation’ of the suspended strike that is expected to resume on Tuesday, Ajaero said: “We cannot declare strike now because the figures are...