President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). The Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Willie Bassey, who made the announcement in a statement on Thursday in Abuja disclosed that Orji’s appointment was for a single term of five years, in accordance with the provision of Section 12 (2) (a) and 6 (3) of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Establishment) Act, 2007, Orji’s appointment is for a single term of five years.

President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family of the late former Inspector General of the Nigeria Police, Gambo Jimeta. His death was confirmed by the presidency in a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to president Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja. Mr. Shehu wrote “President Muhammadu Buhari expresses sadness over the death of Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta, a one-time Inspector General of Police whose transition was announced Thursday evening. “Today, Nigeria lost a great son. He lived for the nation and served with all his strength,” he said.

The Presidency has condemned Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s seven days ultimatum for herdsmen to vacate Ondo forest reserves. Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide, while reacting to the report in a statement on Tuesday said that the presidency has been keenly monitoring events occurring in Ondo. He encouraged the state government to tackle all forms of criminality but not breach the rights of herders in the state. The statement read in part, Mr. Shehu said ”rather the ultimatum and contradiction that may follow the order, the state government and the leadership of the Fulani communities in Ondo state should dialogue for a good understanding that will bring to an urgent end, the nightmarish security challenges facing the state”. He said Mr. Akeredolu “will be the least expected to unilaterally oust thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state on account of the infiltration of the forests by criminals”.

The abrupt downing of work tools by staff of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has halted the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) registration with thousands of applicants locked outside of the NIMC offices. A communiqué signed by the President of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), NIMC branch, Lucky Michael, and Secretary, Odia Victor has directed members to embark on strike over poor welfare package, lack of tools and risk of exposure to coronavirus. “The meeting was convened to discuss the state of the exposure of staff members to COVID-19, and the salary structure and its representation in the annual appropriation, and the irregularities in the conduct of promotions, and the personal protection and safety in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the communiqué read.

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has clarified what it described as the unfounded fears of mass disconnection of telephone subscribers. The statement was contained in a statement issued yesterday by its Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde. The commission in a statement said that its attention has been drawn to numerous publications in the media space regarding the matter of mass disconnection as a result of the ongoing linkage of SIM Registration Records with the National Identity Number (NIN). “The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to numerous publications in both print and electronic media regarding the unfounded fears of mass disconnection of telephone subscribers as a result of the ongoing linkage of SIM registration records with the National Identity Number (NIN).

The Federal Government of Nigeria yesterday launched the Special Public Works (SPW) programme targeting employment for 774,000 itinerant workers nationwide for three months. Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, while flagging off the programme, held at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, said it would provide the necessary economic palliatives to the 774,000 unemployed youths. The government said the initiative, through which the beneficiaries will be paid N200,000 each, was conceived to shield vulnerable Nigerians from poverty, hunger and joblessness.