The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has ordered its members to begin an indefinite nationwide strike effective Monday, 18th December. The directive is coming as Nigerians continue to grapple with fuel scarcity following last week’s strike threat by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria. PENGASSAN said it has no option than to call its members on strike after negotiations with the government over some labour issues stalled.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has asked a Federal High Court in Kaduna to declined jurisdiction over a suit by embattled former chairman of the Presidential Pension Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, challenging the arrest warrant issued against him by an Abuja court, according to reports. It was learnt that Malami urged the court to dismiss the suit and allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the government agency that got the arrest warrant, to proceed with Maina’s arrest and prosecution.

Eminent Nigerians including former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose have paid glowing tributes to President Muhammadu Buhari to mark his 75th birthday. The former president in his message signed by his media adviser Ikechukwu Eze described the President as a statesman who has contributed to the growth of the nation at different times.

The Presidency has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari usually briefs his personal aides immediately their appointments are announced. The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmaad disclosed this on his tweeter handle @BashirAhmaad. He said the brief from the president is to enable the aide to perform his duty judiciously.

The Ohanaeze Ndigo may have given up on the pursuit of Igbo Presidency in the next general elections billed to be conducted in 2019.  A former President of the group, Dr. Dozie Ikedife while speaking to newsmen on Sunday advised all politicians from the South East region intending to contest the Presidential election in 2019 to shelve their ambition.

The 52nd ECOWAS Summit has on Saturday been declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.  Discussion amongst the West African Heads of State is centred on the political and security situation in Guinea-Bissau, the observer status of Tunisia and an association agreement with Mauritania. The Mauritanian President, Mohamed Abdel Aziz and his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi are special guests at the meeting.