The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the November 11 election in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo States. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said the approval of the list followed a meeting held by the Commission on Tuesday in Abuja. He said, ” At its regular meeting held today Tuesday 6th June 2023, the Commission approved the final list of candidates for the three off-cycle Governorship elections scheduled to hold in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states on Saturday 11th November 2023.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC), yesterday explained that it suspended its scheduled strike because it acknowledged the willingness of the federal government for continuous engagement and to offer reasonable palliatives in due course to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on petrol. During an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting yesterday, the president of NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, and General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, said the strike, which was aimed at forcing the Federal Government to reverse the decision to stop fuel subsidy which resulted in over 200 percent hike in the pump price of petrol, was suspended for some reasons including, the mood of the nation, in view of the outcome of the presidential elections still being challenged at the tribunal, the need to pursue national stability and the restraining order obtained by the FG from the National Industrial Court (NIC), as reasons for the decision to shelve the planned industrial action.

The Senate has today approved the request put forward by President Tinubu to appoint 20 special advisers. The president's request was read at the plenary this morning, Tuesday by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan. Although President Tinubu did not mention or penciled any name of the special adviser he wishes to appoint in the letter he transmitted to the Senate.

The Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Health Care Professional Association have directed their members to commence an indefinite industrial action starting from midnight today. The National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna declared the strike action during a press briefing in Abuja today. JOHESU is the umbrella body of health workers’ unions and associations, including the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions.

The World Health organization (WHO) said that a scientific review of existing evidence found that consumption of such sweeteners was also linked to an increased risk of Type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in the long run. Artificial sweeteners provide sweetness to food and beverages like tea and coffee, without adding significant calories. They are also widely used ingredients in pre-packed food. Hence, they have become a popular choice, especially among those who are trying to burn extra calories or loose weight. WHO made the caution on Monday recommending against the use of ‘non sugar sweeteners’ (NSS) to control body weight or reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs. “Because weight loss and maintenance of healthy weight must be sustained over the long term to have a meaningful impact on health, evidence of minor weight loss or reduced BMI over several months or less, as observed in the … trials, without additional evidence of long term impact, does not represent a health benefit,” WHO said in its report.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) after a virtually held National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on 15th May 2023, declared a five-day warning strike following the failure of the Federal Government to meet her demand. The five-day strike commences on Wednesday, May 17, and ends on Monday, May 22. Recall, On April 29, 2023, the association issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the agreements or face industrial action of which the ultimatum elapsed on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Following the removal of petrol subsidy across the nation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Edo State government has announced an increment in the minimum wage in the state from N30,000 to N40,000. This was contained in a statement on 6th June 2023, released and signed by the Governor, Godwin Obaseki. Also attached to the increase in wage, was the reduction of working days from five to three days, as resident strives to keep up with the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.
The statement in full: “In the wake of fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government, fuel prices have increased astronomically leading to rise in prices of goods and services and overall cost of living. “The Edo State Government shares the pains of our people and wants to assure everyone that we are standing with them in these very challenging times.

Following the hike in transport fares, occasioned by fuel subsidy removal, the Kwara State Government has reduced the working days to three days per week. The State’s Head of Services, Mrs Susan Oluwole announced the palliative in a statement on Monday. The statement was signed by Oluwole’s press secretary, Murtala Atoyebi.

The Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies have slashed the allocation being supplied by Nigerian to the global market by 20.7% which now stands at 1.38 million barrels per day from formerly 1.74mb/d to achieve stability in the market. The decision was taken during the 49th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee, JMMC, and the 35th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting convened in Vienna, Austria yesterday, though the effective date is to commence by January 2024.

Chelsea midfielder, N’Golo Kante has concluded a plan to quit the blues, leaving the Premier League, after he accepted an offer of £172m to Join a Saudi Arabian club, Al Ittihad. Kante has been an active midfielder for Stamford Bridge in the last seven years of his carrier, he made 289 appearances since he joined the club in an offer of £32m when he left Leister City in 2016.
N’golo Kante has won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League for Chelsea.

Seven people have been punished for acts of racism towards Real Madrid’s forward Vinicius Jr. Four men were fined 60,001 euros (£51,700), with a two-year stadium ban for hanging an effigy of Vinicius near Real Madrid’s training ground in January. The four men were arrested 11 days ago and released on bail by the Madrid court.

The Flying Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday were knocked out of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, losing 1-0 to South Korea in the quarter-finals at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago Del Estero. Although, it was Nigeria who dominated a combination of indecision and poor decisions in the final third ensured it stayed level until the expiration of regulation time. In the 6th minute of extra-time, South Korea stunned Nigeria when Choi Seok-Hyun headed home a Lee-Seung-Won corner-kick.