Category: General News

The Chicago State University, CSU, on Thursday, said President Bola Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Administration.

 

In a statement published by CBS News (CBS Broadcasting Inc.), the institution said it was confident in the veracity and integrity of their records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate.

However, it noted, United States’ federal law prevents “us from providing any further information about Tinubu’s record, without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.”

The controversies over Tinubu’s academic records took a fresh turn when the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, took it up in a US court.

 

At a hearing in Chicago, Atiku asked a federal judge to compel the CSU officials to turn over Tinubu’s academic documents and appear for depositions.

 

Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois did not rule on the request.

 

Recall that election tribunal had thrown out Atiku Abubakar’s case earlier. But recating, Atiku said the war was not over.

 

The statement

The statement from the Chicago State University on Tinubu as published by CBS read: “As an educational institution, we are sometimes asked to provide information related to student records.

 

“Federal law known as FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release.

 

“In August 2023, a request was made in U.S. federal court for the university to provide information related to educational records concerning Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, and a former CSU student

The university has confirmed Tinubu attended CSU and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree. Federal law, however, prevents us from providing any further information without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.

CSU is confident in the veracity and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate.

 

“The university is not a party to the Nigerian legal proceedings that spurred this request, and a U.S. federal judge will determine whether the university will provide further requested information.

 

“Our response to the request for Tinubu’s academic records has been entirely consistent with our practices, policies and federal law. We would respond in exactly the same manner for any request for any student information by a third party.”

 

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Thursday said that the former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, is not just the FCT Minister but his adviser.

Tinubu stated this when he welcomed the high-powered 62-man delegation from Rivers state, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He told Rivers State stakeholders that he has heard their cries on infrastructure development especially on the dilapidated Elementary junction-Onne axis of the East West Road linking the Port Harcourt Refinery.

 

The President in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale was quoted as saying: “The Honourable Minister, Wike, is not just the Minister of FCT, he is also my adviser and an admirer of mine. He has hit the ground running and he should be encouraged by the State”.

 

Advising the younger generation to be more patient with the processes of government, the President said, “I am the Captain and Chief Salesman of the country. We have to reverse the trend and achieve possibilities within a short period of time. Our people have high expectations for us. I pledge to work hard, and I pray to God to put me on the right path, not to disappoint Nigerians,” the President concluded.

 

 

 

Electricity supply has been restored hours after a nationwide blackout due to the collapse of the national grid on Thursday.

Disclosing this on its Twitter handle, now (X), Eko Electricity Distribution Company told its customers that electricity supply has been restored in the country.

 

Dear Valued Customer. Kindly be informed that power supply has been restored from the grid. Thank you for your patience,” the company said.

 

 

had reported how the country’s power supply dropped by 93.5 per cent to 273 megawatts, MW in the early hours of today, from  4,182MW recorded on Monday, this week, following a complete system collapse, due to equipment failure or grid disturbance in the sector.

The award winning paper had also reported how the Electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos, apologised to their customers and promised to restore supply when the situation improves.

 

 

 

FOR the second time in two weeks, another round of total darkness has hit the South East following the collapse of operations of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.

Head of Corporate Communications of EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh in a press statement titled ‘Notice Of Total System Collapse’ said the incident happened at about 12:40am on Thursday.

The statement said: “The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a total system collapse which occurred at 12:40am today, 14th September,2023.

 

“This has resulted to the loss of supply currently being experienced across the network.

 

“Due to this development, all our interface TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) stations are out of supply, and we are unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.

 

“We are on standby awaiting detailed information of the collapse and restoration of supply from the National Control Centre (NCC), Osogbo.”

Nigeria’s power supply dropped by 93.5 per cent to 273 megawatts, MW in the early hours of today, from 4,182MW recorded on Monday, this week, following a complete system collapse, due to equipment failure or grid disturbance in the sector

Data obtained from Nigeria Electricity System Operator, the semi-autonomous arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, showed that Afam VI, Dadinkowa, Ibom Power, Jebba, Olorunsogo generated 0.70MW, 0.00MW, 32.90MW, 240MW and zero respectively..

 

Managing Director/CEO of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, did not respond to calls and text messages, but a top industry leader, who confirmed the development, said: “The grid has been very unstable for days before the latest system collapse. As we speak, there is blackout.”

 

Checks by Vanguard showed that Nigeria’s electricity generation dropped, Tuesday, by 59 per cent to 1,705 megawatts, MW, from 4,182 MW recorded the previous day at 06:00hours, due to grid disturbance.

 

It indicated that many households and businesses are currently generating their independent power at higher costs because of the high price of diesel currently hovering at over N600 per litre, but also the high cost of petrol that shot up by about 169 per cent to over N500 per litre since June 2023, from N186 per litre (major marketers) in the preceding month of May 2023.

 

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had promised Nigerians that they will witness improved power supply across the nation soon.

 

Speaking at a recent reception organized for him, he said: “We know it’s not something that is achievable overnight but we believe that once the foundation is laid, others can also build on it. I can tell you that between six months and one year, we will start seeing improvement in the power sector

By Mohammed Baba Busu

Sept 13, 2023

Gov. Umar Bago of Niger has showered encomiums on the Chairman, State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, on his 20th year on the throne and 71st birthday.

This is contained in a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim and made available to newsmen in Minna on Wednesday.

The governor acknowledged the fatherly role the Etsu Nupe has been playing not just among the Nupe speaking people, but to entire Nigerians..

Bago said the good leadership style of the traditional ruler was evident in the high level of patriotism and cooperation among the Nupe-speaking extraction.

He described him as a bridge builder, valiant, selfless and compassionate leader

The governor said the reign of the Etsu Nupe in the last 20 years had brought good tidings to his subjects, the state and the nation in general.

“Etsu Nupe is a rare germ to us in the States. His reign has sustained peaceful coexistence and promoted the rich cultural heritage of Nupe Kingdom.

Bago added: “Having the celebrant at the helm of affairs of the Traditional Institution in the state has also strengthened the institution, and ensured the unity of all the traditional rulers”.

The governor prayed for Allah’s blessings and guidance on the celebrant and wished him peaceful and successful reign.

NAN

The Nigeria Labour Congress has insisted that the so-called palliatives provided by the President Bola Tinubu-led government are an insult to Nigerians, as each legislator went home with N100million while hundreds of thousands of Nigerians in each local government grapple with few bags of rice.

 

The organised labour on Tuesday threatened to begin an indefinite strike should the Federal Government fail to meet its demands at the end of a 21-day ultimatum which will expire in approximately one week’s time.

The workers union said the proposed strike was necessary following the failure of the Federal Government to provide palliatives to assuage the Nigerians hardships as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress said the industrial action which may commence any day from next week would lead to an indefinite shutdown of commercial and economic activities across the country.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday, the National Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, Mr Christopher Onyeka, said the FG was wrong to share a bag of rice to a dozen citizens while reportedly giving N100m palliative to each member of the National Assembly

 

The union had on September 1 handed down a 21-day ultimatum to the FG over the delay in sharing of palliatives, saying it might be compelled to declare an indefinite labour action if its demands were not met.

 

“If the government fails to provide the appropriate responses to our demands, we encourage you to maintain your steadfast resolve. The same passion and determination that fuelled this warning strike will be crucial if we find ourselves compelled to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike,’’ the labour body said in a letter to the FG.

 

To demonstrate its seriousness, the NLC mobilised workers for a two-day warning strike on September 5 and 6, partially grounding social and economic activities in several states with banks, ministries, agencies and departments closed to the public in some states.

 

The NLC leadership had said the action was in preparation for a total shutdown which would start at the expiration of the ultimatum next week.

 

Among other demands, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress were asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to the public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.

 

Giving an update on the planned walk out following the lukewarm attitude of the government, Onyeka insisted that the FG had absconded from the negotiation table, noting that it had also failed to meet the workers’ demands.

 

The union leader hinted that the strike would not notify the government before carrying out any action it deems fit.

 

He said, “We sent the letter to the Federal Government on September 1, 2023, so by September 22, 2023, the 21-day ultimatum will end.

 

“We have made it clear that the Federal Government has abandoned and absconded from the table for negotiation; that government is no longer negotiating with Nigerians and there is no good faith negotiation that is going on.’’

 

President Bola Tinubu promised Nigerians on his own on the television with the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, that he was going to restructure the committees, but he did not do that, and since then the committees have not met and there has been no negotiation that is on-going. As it is, NLC is not negotiating with the government,” Onyeka said.

 

The Assistant General Secretary said Nigerians were insulted by the inadequate palliative being given.

 

He lamented, “Can you see the insult that a ward would share a bag of rice and the government calls that a palliative? It is an insult to Nigerians, whereas the government gave legislators N70bn and each of the legislators gets over N100m in a country where Nigerians are suffering.

 

“The FG is buying cars and houses of over N100m for each person and Nigerians are keeping quiet as if what is going on is a normal thing. NLC calls Nigerians to join hands together because they cannot do it alone.

 

‘’When NLC calls for action, people should come out, they should because it is a collective effort to make the government yield to the desires and the interest of Nigerians.