Here are the best and worst performing Senators for February

Imagine having a sitting senator advocate for the rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram members into society, and a bill seeking to grant immunity on members of both states and federal legislature passing second reading at the House of Representatives. If passed into law, it would be difficult to prosecute indicted lawmakers while in office. Here’s how we ranked senators this month

10. Senator Ibrahim Gaidam

Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, sponsor of the bill that seeks to establish an agency for the rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram members, has said his goal is to reintegrate such persons into mainstream politics in Nigeria. The rehabilitation of ex-Boko Haram terrorists isn’t news anymore, bur Gaidam’s seeming resolve to push this bill is an indication of misplaced priorities.

9. Senator Aishatu Dahiru

The town of Garkida in northeastern Nigeria was recently attacked by Boko Haram, and a number of buildings were burned, including the church building for Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa. As such, Senator Aishatu Dahiru cited Orders 42 & 52 and moved a motion on the insurgent attack on Garkida, a town in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa. Dahiru urged the Chief of Army Staff to establish a military command base in the town, and for NEMA to urgently assess the extent of damage and provide relief materials to communities affected |||READ MORE …

Mexico returns ancient Nigerian sculpture

The Mexican government, on Tuesday, delivered to Nigeria an ancient bronze sculpture seized by customs agents at Mexico City airport. The Nigerian sculpture is of Yoruba origin.

The sculpture, from the 6th century southwestern Yoruba city of Ile-Ife, shows a man wearing woven pants and a hat, sitting with his legs crossed and holding an instrument.

“Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History determined that it was a piece of Yoruba origin,” Diego Prieto, head of the agency, told newsmen |||READ MORE …

Why refineries in Nigeria will not work — Experts

At the backdrop of the announcement of the Federal Government’s plans to rehabilitate the country’s refineries by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, experts in the petroleum downstream industry have said that the government lacks credibility to restructure the sector and bring the refineries to full operation.

The country has four refineries with 524,000 barrels per day capacity. However, the refineries, in the last 20 years, have had a poor operating record with average capacity utilization hovering between 15 and 25 percent per annum.

As a result, 70-80 percent of the national petroleum products demand is met through imports. But operators in the petroleum industry have insisted that the Federal Government cannot make the country’s refineries efficient |||READ MORE …

Reps PDP caucus supports review of presidential, guber judgement

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives caucus has supported calls by the party’s hierarchy for the review of the Supreme Court judgement on the presidential election and four governorship polls.

Caucus Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda made the caucus position known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

Apart from the presidential election, the governorship polls the House caucus wants the Apex court to revisit are those of Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Osun states |||READ MORE …

Minimum wage: NLC state councils to take action against erring govts

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its state councils to go on strike if any state government fails to implement the N30,000 new national minimum wage.

Speaking with The Nation, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the organised labour had given each state council the template on the new wage and the consequential adjustment.

He stressed that no state should be excused for not implementing the new minimum wage |||READ MORE …

Why all zones must adopt regional security outfit – EK Clark

On Monday we served you the first part of an engaging interview with Elder statesman, Chief E.K. Clark. Today, we bring you the concluding part where he spoke on why all zones must adopt regional security outfits and why ex-Boko Haram insurgents should not be given amnesty as was done to ex-Niger delta militants.

What would the South-South zone take to the table when the National Assembly constitution amendment committee takes off?

The South-South region, popularly known as Niger Delta will take to the table those items for which we have always agitated at every Conference such as those held in 2005 and 2014. These issues include derivation or resource control. The Northerners, who do not have oil, are today the owners and managers of the Industry |||READ MORE …

Nasarawa governor okays death penalty for kidnappers

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has assented to the Bill which prescribed death penalty for anyone found indulging in kidnapping in the state.

Sule signed into law the “Nasarawa State kidnapping Act Prohibition Law 2020”  and “Child-Protection Executive Order” Bill.

“I need to state that the Nasarawa State Kidnapping Act Prohibition Law was extensively deliberated and passed by the State House of Assembly |||READ MORE ...

‘Just call me Harry!’: Prince DROPS his royal title as he returns to Britain without Meghan

The Duke of Sussex today embarked on his final round of engagements as a senior working royal as he launched a new eco-friendly travel firm in Edinburgh – and asked delegates ‘just to call him Harry’.

Prince Harry, who will step down as a senior royal in less than five weeks, is in the Scottish capital for a ‘working summit’ of the Travalyst partnership, which will feature a grading system for users to track their carbon emissions.

Before he took to the stage today, host Ayesha Hazarika, a former Labour adviser, said: ‘He’s made it clear that we are all just to call him Harry. So ladies and gentlemen, please give a big, warm, Scottish welcome to Harry.’ |||READ MORE …

Sulky Baby Birth Photo Staring At Her Doctor Goes Viral

Many parents are opting to have a birth photographer attend their baby’s labor and delivery to capture those first fleeting moments. Looking back at the images of the baby’s first breath, or the first time that dad and baby lock eyes is extraordinary. This one birth photographer captured an epic photo of a newborn’s first look, staring down her doctor just moments after her birth. The moment this little one was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 13, she had one mood: not impressed.

Photographer Rodrigo Kunstmann has been a professional photographer for 11 years, a birth photographer for 4 years. Recently, he was present during a c-section to help the parents capture those precious first moments, and one of his photos has gone viral. One look at the viral photo and it’s obvious why everyone loves it – the baby is not playing around |||READ MORE …

Labour crisis looms in kwara as operators of MicrofBanks raise alarm 2,000 workers will lose their jobs

Ilorin…Labour crisis looms in kwara state as operators of MicrofBanks in the state on Wednesday raised the alarm that 2,000 workers in their fold will lose their jobs over a recent directive of the state government to civil servants to open accounts with commercial banks

Chairman of the group,Alhaji Ahmad Suleiman who disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Ilorin, therefore appealed to the state government to rescind its directive which said that civil servants should close their salary accounts in microfinance banks and open accounts with commercial banks to ease salary payment.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the state government action was prompted by the ease with which it would be paying the minimum wage salaries in the commercial banks unlike in the microfinance banks where most civil servants have their salary accounts |||READ MORE …

Ekiti Revokes N3.2bn Road Rehabilitation Contract

The Ekiti State Government has revoked the contract for the rehabilitation of the Ayede-Ikun-Otun Ekiti road valued at N3.2 billion from the construction company handling the project.

The road was awarded to Sharvet Nigeria Limited early January 2020 and the company has not mobilised to site and commenced work as contained in the terms of the agreement since then.

Speaking with journalists after the state executive council meeting in Ado Ekiti Wednesday, the Information Commissioner, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, said the government took the action owing to gross incompetence exhibited by the construction firm |||READ MORE …

Young Ballerinas Celebrate Black History Month with Fierce, Misty Copeland-Inspired Photo Shoot

A group of young ballerinas have taken their beloved hobby and turned it into an iconic photo shoot inspired by Misty Copeland in honor of Black History Month.

The little girls, who dance together at iRule Dance Studio in Beaumont, Texas, recently took a break from their vigorous dance schedules to pose for the camera in a photo shoot by Brandie Perry of Bee Photography, Good Morning America reported.

But what was supposed to be an activity to help the girls bond ultimately turned into a symbol of empowerment for black women, and has quickly become a viral sensation |||READ MORE …

The 2020 Cadillac CT5-V Is a Proper Sport Sedan

With the old ATS and CTS, Cadillac built cars that compared to BMW in a way few expected. Excellent chassis tuning made them benchmarks, and in high-performance V form, they were favorites of the folks who work for this fine publication. The problem was that no one bought them. Cadillac's had a rethink.

The ATS and CTS have been replaced with the CT4 and CT5, which are a little smaller and cheaper than their predecessors. The CT4 is aimed at the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class, while the CT5 is up against the mighty BMW 3-series. The CT5 is longer and wider than the 3er, but is also slightly less expensive.

Previously, the V-series cars were real fire-breathers with serious track credentials—now, they're a little more mild and road oriented. Think BMW M340i rather than M3. True successors to the old Vs are coming, with a name to be announced |||READ MORE …

Enugu workers celebrate payment of new minimum wage

There was jubilation in Enugu State, on Tuesday, as civil servants marched through the streets of Enugu to the Government House, to thank Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for being the first governor of the state, since the inception of democracy in 1999, to pay them the minimum wage without rancour.

The jubilant workers, led by organised labour in the state, comprising the state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Virginus Nwobodo; his Trade Union Congress, TUC, counterpart, Benneth Asogwa, and Chairman of Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Igbokwe Igbokwe, among others, marched from the state secretariat in GRA, through Garden Avenue, Ogui Road and Bisala to the Government House at Independence Layout.

It was such an emotional event as the workers sang solidarity songs, while also thanking Governor Ugwuanyi for paying them the agreed new minimum wage, during the weekend |||READ MORE …

Igbo governors get 90 days to establish regional security

The Igbo National Council, INC, on Tuesday, handed down a 90-day ultimatum to the governors of the five states of the South-East zone, to establish a regional security outfit just like the Northern and South-West regions did.

The warning came from the statement issued in Owerri, by the INC, National President, Chilos Godsent, alongside other executives after their meeting.

According to them, failure to do so that their people would be encouraged to protect themselves from the killings by suspected armed herdsmen said to have camped themselves in the forest of the zone |||READ MORE …

BREAKING: Court sentences Metuh to 7 years imprisonment, to pay N375m to FG

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the convicted former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, to seven years imprisonment.

The court in a judgement by Justice Okon Abang also ordered Metuh to pay a total sum of N375million to the coffers of the Federal Government.

Justice Abang directed that his firm, Destra Investment Ltd, should be wound up with all funds standing to its credit forfeited to the government |||READ MORE …

Osun Assembly holds public hearing on proposed death penalty for kidnappers

Osun State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, held a public hearing on the proposal of death penalty for kidnappers.

The state legislators had in their efforts to stem the spate of kidnapping, proposed death penalty for anybody found culpable of the act.

Stakeholders at the gathering commended the lawmakers for their stance on the menace which they described as a threat to socio-economic activities in the state and its environs |||READ MORE …

Shagali Resigns As KDHA Speaker, Zailani Emerges New Speaker

Immediate past Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Yusuf Zailani member representing Igabi Constituency has emerged as the new Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly (KDHA).

 This followed the resignation of the former Speaker Alhaji Aminu Shagali who submitted his resignation letter to the clerk of the House, Alhaji Bello Zubairu.

 While reading the resignation letter to the House during its plenary, the former Speaker Hon. Shagali said he resigned his position as the speaker on personal grounds |||READ MORE …

Siasia Hopeful Of Raising N36.4m CAS Appeal Fee Before March 19

Samson Siasia says he’s is confident of raising the 100,000 Swiss Francs (N36.4m) appeal fee demanded by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS, before his appeal on the FIFA life ban from football and $50.000 fine over allegations of complicity in match fixing could be entertained, Completesports.com reports.

“At the moment, not much has really come in. But I’m confident that before this month (February) ends, individuals and corporate bodies who want to render financial assistance would be able to respond positively,” Siasia told Completesports.com.

“There are promises here and there. And, of course, you know the situation in the country at the moment. But I still remain optimistic, given their words of promises that at most, by this February ending, I should be able to get enough financial assistance to sort things out” |||READ MORE …

President Trump hails Weinstein conviction as 'victory' for women

Reacting to Harvey Weinstein's conviction on criminal sexual assault and third-degree rape charges, President Donald Trump hailed a New York jury's decision as a "great victory" for women and sought to tie the disgraced movie mogul to prominent Democrats.

"I think from the standpoint of women it was a great thing, it was a great victory and sends a very strong message," Trump said during a wide-ranging news conference Tuesday in New Delhi, India, when asked what the result means for women who may be afraid to come forward with their own experiences with sexual assault or harassment.

The president attempted to tie the 67-year-old Weinstein to Democrats while simultaneously distancing himself from the now jailed sex offender, saying he was "never a fan" of Weinstein and claiming prominent Democrats -- specifically Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton -- "loved him." |||READ MORE …