Breaking News in Nigeria This Night, Today being Sunday, 21st of June 2020

After politics, time for business, return to NCA section 25








The big news last week in the telecommunications industry was the reappointment of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). In the manner of practice in this part of the world, felicitations are pouring in from far and wide because, as it is in every political office, not one person gets appointed but metaphorically, a whole village or a people.


Let me also extend my congratulations and to wish him well in the performance of his official responsibilities from this moment going forward. If anything the industry will look forward to some level of stability as Prof. Danbatta consolidates on his efforts in the previous years. Which is why I am a little bit bemused that nobody seems to be talking about setting a fresh agenda for the EVC, instead it is a season of niceties, eulogies and composition of appellations at a time demanding very strong leadership for a fecund sector.

2. Tinubu denies fighting Aregbesola and Lagos APC bans groups






The All Progressives Congress, Lagos chapter, has dissolved all sub-groups within the party.

The Mandate Group and Justice Forum, regarded as the powerful sub-groups in the party, were outlawed by the APC.

TheCable reports that the decision is coming two weeks after the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, reorganised the Mandate Group without the endorsement of the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.

The relationship between the two is said to be getting frosty, which may have contributed to the dissolution of all sub-groups within the Lagos APC.

A communiqué on Monday titled, ‘Engendering Party Discipline and Cohesion,’ signed by 27 chieftains of the APC, who are members of the Governor’s Advisory Council, said any member who continued to associate with any sub-group would be expelled.

It read in part, “Party members should no longer make use of these factions or their names with regard to future party business and activities. To continue to hold meetings in the name of these groups or to continue to promote such associations will amount to a violation of this resolution.

3. We should Not abandon private sector educators






SOME of the critical sectors of our economy and society have been unfairly impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, not just in Nigeria but all over the world. These are aviation and other aspects of commercial transportation, leisure (especially hotels), schools, religious activities and sports.

These are sectors that involve a lot of movement and mass gatherings of people. Since the response to the pandemic requires social distancing and isolation of individuals, these activities have remained subdued. They are likely to be the last to fully reopen. We do not know when a vaccine or comprehensive cure could become available and affordable, so the fates of the people hang in the balance.

The private school educators face the greatest dilemma in this pandemic in Nigeria. It is assumed that public sector teachers will get their normal salaries no matter how long it takes before schools are reopened. It is also expected that worship centre workers will be remembered and catered for by their religious faithful.

But who will come to the rescue of owners and teachers of private schools? These citizens depend on the fees paid by their students. They have already borne the burden of revenue shortfalls due to over three months of lockdown and lack of income. How much longer can they go without help?

4. Taraba State killings’ trial: Activists, lawyers lampoon Malami over exclusion of killer soldiers






More lawyers and activists on Tuesday descended on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), for his decision to remove the names of 10 soldiers named as accomplices in the kidnapping charges involving an alleged Taraba State kidnapping kingpin, Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume, and others.

The Defence Headquarters and Army authorities kept mum over the development when contacted by one of our correspondents on Tuesday.

The Defence spokesman, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, and his Army counterpart, Col. Sagir Musa, failed to respond to inquiries on the refusal of the military authorities to court-martial Captain Tijjani Balarabe and his troops for their involvement in the killing of policemen who went to arrest Wadume.

They did not respond to calls nor replied to an SMS on the issue as of the time of filing this report.

The amendment to the charges announced at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Shuaibu Labaran, on Monday, came days after the AGF took over the case from the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, on June 3, 2020.

The AGF office cited the “bureaucracy” involved in bringing the soldiers to court and the need to allow the case to begin quickly as the reason for the amendment to the charges.