- FG To Subsidise Electricity Tariff Hike For 3 Months [LEADERSHIP]
For the first three months of this year, the federal government will subsidise for all consumers the hike in electricity tariff announced recently by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
And after an initial rebuttal of media reports of the increase in tariff, NERC has admitted that it carried out a minor review which it is mandated by law to do periodically, after taking into cognisance the dynamics of all the macroeconomic indices.
The commission, however, said that the tariff hike captured in the review would not be with immediate effect. NERC chairman, Prof. James Momoh, stated this yesterday when he responded to questions from newsmen during a press conference held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
- Oil Price Hits $70pb As US-Iran Crisis Escalates [LEADERSHIP]
Oil prices have risen more than two per cent with Brent hitting above $70 a barrel after United States (US) President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions on Iraq amid escalating tensions with Iran in the Middle East.
Brent crude futures rose yesterday to a high of $70.27 a barrel up $1.67 or 2.4 per cent from Friday’s settlement while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $64.39 a barrel, up $1.34, or 2.1 per cent after touching $64.44 earlier, the highest since April.
The gains extended Friday’s more-than-three per cent surge after a US air strike in Iraq killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. The killing has heightened concerns of a widening Middle East conflict that could disrupt oil supplies from a region that accounts for nearly half of the world’s oil production.
- Mixed Reactions Trail Bakare’s Comment On PMB’s Successor [LEADERSHIP]
Mixed reactions yesterday trailed the call by the senior pastor and founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on President Muhammadu Buhari to pick his successor in 2023.
In his year 2020 state of the nation address, titled: “Unveiling the True Enemies of Nigeria”, which he gave at the church headquarters in Ogba, Lagos on Sunday, Bakare appealed to Nigerians to come together to build a strong country.
But in separate interviews with LEADERSHIP, prominent Nigerians, ethnic nationalities’ groups and political parties, took different positions on the clergyman’s admonition on Buhari to singlehandedly pick his successor.
- Minimum Wage: NLC Draws Battle Line With States [SUN]
- Says implementation of new wage non-negotiable
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned three states yet to make any concrete moves to open discussion on the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage of N30,000.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba issued the warning, yesterday, when he appeared on a national television.
The affected states are Kogi, Cross River and Taraba which he said should be ready for a showdown with the labour movement.
- 2023: I Won’t Hand Pick Successor, Handover To Looters –Buhari [SUN]
The Presidency has responded to the call by Senior Pastor of Latter a rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to sustain his legacy by picking a successor before 2023.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina who was a guest on a live television talk programme, yesterday, said Buhari will not handpick his successor nor handover to those who will take the country back and erased the successes of his administration on the fight against corruption.
Adesina said like anyone in position of authority, his principal has his exit plan.
- Shi’ites Protest Soleimani Killing In Abuja [NATION]
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’tes on Monday protested the United States killing of Qasem Soleimani.
They marched in a procession through Banex, Wuse Area to Burger roundabout in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja
The members also demanded the unconditional release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, who are detained by security agents in Kaduna State.
- Alleged $24,000 Extortion: Shehu Sani Shuns Lie Detector Test [NATION]
- EFCC says no to withdrawal of petition
The drama over the $24,000 allegedly extorted from a businessman continued on Monday with the suspect, Senator Shehu Sani, refusing to take a lie detector test.
Sani said he preferred to swear by the Holy Qur’an than subjecting himself to Polygraph, which can detect if he lied on oath.
Also, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ASD Motors, Alhaji Sani Dauda, who is the complainant, has not withdrawn his petition against the Senator.
- New Wage: Labour Draws Battle Line With 26 States [NATION]
Labour talked tough on Monday over the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage in states.
It spoke of plans to declare trade dispute with three states – Cross River, Kogi and Taraba – for failing to initiate talks with workers’ representatives on the implementation of the new wage.
Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba said only 10 states have concluded negotiations with workers on consequential adjustments and are ready to implement the minimum wage law.
According to him, the remaining 23 states took advantage of the December 31 deadline to open talks with unions on the minimum wage payment and the consequential adjustment on senior civil servants’ salaries.
