President Muhammudu Buhari has asked the Senate to approve a fresh loan of $4,054,476,863.00, Euro 710 million and a grant of $125 million to finance critical projects in the 2021 budget.
Buhari’s request was contained in his letter read by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan at plenary, following the resumption of the Upper Chamber from its two months annual vacation. According to the President, the request is an addendum to the proposed 2018-2021 Federal Governmentn earlier approved by the National Assembly.
He said that Senate are to note that the projects and programmes in the borrowing plan were selected based on positive, technical and economic evaluation and the contribution that would make to the socio-economic development of the country including employment generation and poverty reduction as will protection of the most vulnerable and very poor segments of the Nigeria society.
Obiano led protest against IPOB
Executive Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano last week led a protest against the continued sit at home order by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB).
Although IPOB had suspended the order, but residents continued to stay at home every Monday apparently because of fear of possible attack by hoodlums.
Governor Obiano, moved to some Major streets in Awka, the state capital to enforce the return to business in the state.
He led members of his executive council during the protest visit to banks and markets which later economic activities pick up within the state capital.
He directed banks, markets and motor parks in the state to resumed operation immediately.
ASUU threatens another strike
Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), threatened to embark on another round of strike if the Federal Government fails to implement the December 22, 2020 Memorandum of Action (MOA), signed prior to the suspension of its recent industrial action.
Prof. Fred Esumeh, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU disclosed this to newsmen in Benin while speaking on what he termed “Another incredible round of crisis in Nigeria universities.
Esumeh did not indicate when the strike would commence by the national body of the union; he alleged that the union still had issues with the Federal Government’s deliberate delay in deploying the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), as the payment platform for university staff and the non-payment of the due tranche of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).
Police extort victims
Misgivings growing among Nigerian citizens over the actions of the operatives of the Nigerian Police who allegedly demand and collect money before having kidnap victims, lost phones and cars tracked down.
Investigations has revealed that officers in charge of tracking stolen devices collect between N50,000.00 to N100,000.000 naira from members of the public, depending on the individual’s bargaining power.
According to victims and security experts revealed that is unprofessional and illegal for security men who are constituted to protect the lives and property of citizens and to ensure that law is maintained in our society.
The Force Public Relations Officer CP Frank Mba, who dismissed the allegations against the force that by all standard officers of the force are not allowed to ask any Nigerian to pay when their service is needed and call on the public to report such act to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
Attacks scare over 1 million kids from school
Many pupils would miss school this year 2021/2022 academic session due to fear of abduction and attacks.
The United Nations children’s Fund (UNICEF), has said that 20 attacks have occurred in schools this year with 1,436 children abduct and 16 killed over 200 are still missing. UNICEF Nigeria representative, Peter Hawkins said that many schools resumed last week after the break, but pupils from the North West, ravaged by banditry many may not be returning.
They are largely affected by the alarm UNICEF raised, many of the states have either shut schools or postponed resumption, the states in such situation are Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina.
He said families and communities remain fearful of sending their children buck to classroom due to the spate of attacks and abduction in the country.
Compiled by HOSEA NYAMLONG
