₦airaland Forum

Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court on Friday dismissed an application filed by the Synagogue Church of All Nations and its founder, Prophet Temitope Joshua against the Coroner’s Inquest investigating the collapse of a six-storey building belonging to the church.

The judge dismissed the application, which was seeking to halt the ongoing coroner’s inquest into the collapsed guest house for being premature and lacking in merit.

The Lagos State Government inaugurated the Coroner’s Inquest under the state Coroner’s System Law No.7 of 2007 to investigate the cause and circumstances resulting in the death of 166 people following the building collapse of September 12, 2014, and bring its findings and recommendations to the appropriate authorities.

The coroner’s inquest presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe had summoned Prophet Joshua alongside others to appear before it to testify in the ongoing inquest.

But instead of appearing as summoned, T.B Joshua and his church instituted a suit against the coroner’s court and the presiding Magistrate, Komolafe, seeking a judicial review of the coroner’s inquest into the September 12, 2014 collapse.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/court-dismisses-tb-joshuas-application-to-stop-synagogue-inquest/

With the 2015 election doubtfully looming, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be rallying for “a millon man march” in Lagos tomorrow. The reason the All Progressives Congress (APC) prefers this violence prone exercise over idea-provoking presidential debate “BEATS ME”.

Our contestants are not only with their PVCs but also with their PASSPORTS, VISA and plenty of CASH. Meanwhile over 80% of those who will be at the rally are only with their PVCs, some don’t even have theirs yet, some will never have at-all.

Why do we always want to die for the leaders who give no “DAMN” about us, “Nigerian’s Think”.

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The federal government on Thursday issued provisional licences to the nine new private universities with a note of caution against operating outside the regulations governing the operation of universities in Nigeria.

Speaking at a ceremony where he presented the licences to the proprietors of the universities in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, urged that high academic quality and moral standards should not be compromised for any reason as the licences would be withdrawn if any of the universities is found wanting.

Substantive licences would only be issued in three years after successful fulfilment of all the laid down requirements, he said.

“Prior to this approval, Nigeria had 129 universities, servicing a population of over 170 million people. In comparison to countries like Brazil and Mexico which have 1,648 and 1250 universities to service populations of 203 million and 120 million respectively, the gross inadequacy of this figure in relation to population size becomes glaring,” Shekarau said.

He disclosed that as universities remain a core platform for human capital development, the government would continue to work to improve access to the sector.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/fg-issues-provisional-licences-to-nine-private-universities-six-in-the-south-west/

Niger state Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has explained that the appointment of the Speaker of the House of Assembly as the acting Governor when he travelled for the lesser Hajj was not to spite the Deputy Governor or his office but because he had received a letter intimating him that his deputy was also going for the lesser hajj.

He said he assumed the deputy governor also travelled out of the country as there was a notification letter to that effect.

The Governor, who stated this on Wednesday when he signed the 2015 appropriations bill into law, said the notification letter was the reason he asked the Speaker to serve as the acting Governor.

He said that since his deputy told him he was traveling out of the country at the same time he (the governor) was also traveling, it was constitutionally right to hand over the affairs of the state to the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

“The Speaker had to be the acting governor because my deputy governor was not in town for me to verify if he was traveling out of the country or not.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/why-i-appointed-speaker-as-acting-governor-gov-aliyu/

The director of media and publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, has demanded N5billion damages from the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ,Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for defamation of his character.

Fani-Kayode further demanded an apology from Mohammed within seven days of the receipt of a letter from his lawyers.

This was contained in a letter written and signed by Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Whyte Prekunomaa of Ahmed Raji and co, which was addressed to Mohammed.

According to the letter dated March 3, made available to journalists, Fani-Kayode referred to a publication in a national daily on Tuesday, March 3 which quoted the APC spokesman making innuendos to Fani-Kayode’s mental state of health.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/fani-kayode-seeks-n5bn-damages-from-lai-mohammed/

The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has accused the Jonathan-led PDP administration of using the opposition party as a whipping boy to divert attention from its woeful failures and broken promises.

In a press statement yesterday in Abuja, signed by the director, media and publicity of its presidential campaign, Mallam Garba Shehu, the APC said it was bemused by the allegations by the PDP national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, that the opposition is behind the current fuel scarcity in the country.

According to Shehu, any ruling party that could lie through its teeth in order to mislead Nigerians automatically lacks the credibility to seek re-election.

He said the marketers accused the PDP government of owing them N250billion fuel subsidy, and because they had run out of line of credit, they had no choice but to stop the importation of fuel.


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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/dont-blame-us-for-your-failures-apc-tells-jonathan/

The Court of Appeal in Abuja Tuesday dismissed an appeal challenging the eligibility of the President Goodluck Jonathan to seek another term of four years in office, holding that the president is eligible to re-contest in the March 28 presidential election.

The court dismissed an appeal filed by Cyriacus Njoku against a judgment of an Abuja High Court which had earlier dismissed the case.

A panel of five justices of the appellate court, headed by Justice Abubakar Yahaya, in a unanimous judgment, held that the appellant’s suit was speculative and imaginary.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Yahaya, the court held that Jonathan had only spent one term in office as the president going by the provision of the constitution.

The court noted that the appellant lacked the locus standi to challenge the president’s qualification to contest adding that where a party lacked locus, the court could not assume jurisdiction.

On that ground, the court upheld the decision of the lower court which dismissed Cyriacus’s suit for lack of locus standi.

“We agree with the lower court that the appellant has no locus to sue”, the court held.

On the cause of action, the court held that the case of the appellant was speculative and imaginary as none of the reliefs he sought accrued any benefit to him.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/appeal-court-approves-jonathan-to-seek-re-election/

Following the refusal by banks to fund the importation of fuel products on account of unpaid subsidy claims by the federal government, fuel scarcity in the country took a turn for the worse on Monday as virtually all private marketers turned to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for products.

As fuel scarcity bit harder, long queues were evident at retail outlets in Lagos, Abuja and other cities in the country, with some petrol stations in Abuja selling fuel at N120 per litre.

However, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) has cautioned against panic buying, promising that supply would improve once the federal government pays outstanding subsidy claims this week.

Markets blamed the current scarcity on the failure of government to pay the outstanding N264 billion subsidy claims.

The marketers also stated that the banks had refused to give them credit facilities because of their unpaid loans which would have been offset if government had paid their claims.

Though the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, met with the marketers in Lagos last week and promised to pay the claims before the end of this month, the marketers had warned that it would take weeks for the supply situation to normalise.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/pdp-apc-trade-blame-as-petrol-scarcity-worsens/

The National youth service corps registration for 2015 batch A mobilization has commenced, each student is to do the registration online at NYSC Portal .
You are advise to check may be your school forward your name to NYSC at verify senate list

NOTE: If your name didn’t come up under verify Senate list, try this approach
If your day of birth is less than 12 and you can’t see your name kindly switch you day to month and month to day.

Click on Link: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/nysc-begins-registration-for-batch-a-2015-mobilization-check-verify-senate-list/

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has called on Nigerians, especially northern leaders to save the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), from former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu and his cabal in the APC.

To buttress his consistent claim that Buhari was ill, he wondered why Buhari hadn’t returned to Nigeria since his Chatham House speaking engagement if that was why he went to London as claimed by his party.

“Since last week Thursday when Buhari appeared for less than two hours at the Chatham House, where his doctors certified him fit, returning to Nigeria for the ‘final onslaught on the PDP,’ he has simply disappeared from public glare,” a statement by Fayose’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said.

“Isn’t it strange that someone who is contesting election in 28 days time could afford to stay outside the country for about two weeks?” Fayose said in the statement, according to Channels Television

“Buhari confessed that he actually saw his doctors; why did the APC cabal lie that he never visited any hospital, even going to the ridiculous and criminal level of using pictures taken in Abuja to authenticate claim that Buhari had a television interview in London?

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/fayose-save-buhari-from-tinubu/

As the general election approaches, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, has called on Nigerians to look beyond the elections and demand from their leaders what the future holds for them after May 29, when a new government would be formed or the present one continues.

He stated that it would be most unfortunate if, after the entire hullabaloo about elections and who leads the country, Nigeria remains the same with its political, socio-economical, religious and ethnic crises, adding that Nigerians (the electorate) should therefore ask their political leaders how the country would be run effectively.

“Nigerians will be disappointed if after May 29, we are still asking the same question since 1960,” he said.

The former NBA boss, who however hailed the All Progressives Congress (APC) for making the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) be on its toes, realising that it is no more the biggest party in Africa, told journalists at a press conference in Lagos at the weekend that the biggest challenge in the country was the weak political class.

He added that up till now, no political party had come up with a concrete plan on how to restructure Nigeria and present a blueprint on how to give the citizenry good governance, saying: “I have been trying very hard to understand what the issues are among the noise coming from both parties, till now, I have not heard any of them presenting issues, it just noise.

“However, I think one needs to give credit to APC for having managed to make PDP realise that it’s no more the largest party in Africa. So now there are choices which are important to allow the people validate or invoke power to install their leaders. But after taking over power, what next?”


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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/03/agbakoba-after-may-29-what-next/

The National Leader of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Governor of Anambra, Dr Willie Obiano, on Friday said that President Goodluck Jonathan remained the presidential candidate of the party in the general election

Obiano stated this on Friday while addressing the party’s supporters during a political held by the party in Ake ground, Abeokuta.

He insisted that Jonathan was the only trusted candidate that could take the Nigeria to the greatest height.

The governor urged the people to ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and come out enmass to vote for Jonathan and all the APGA candidates in the comming election.

Obiano said jonathan was the only leader that could transform the country from its current situations.

“Jonathan has done very well; he is the only person that can purify this country; so, APGA flagbearer for this year presidential election is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

“Everybody, particularly people from the South West should come out massively to vote for the president.”

Obiano, while speaking to party supporters at the venue, said the party had changed the political structure of Anambra in the last nine years, adding that such transformation would be extended to other states when APGA wins the governorship race in such states.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/jonathan-remains-presidential-candidate-apga/

Ahead of the PDP presidential rally in Port Harcourt, Niger Delta Militia Commanders led by the ex-war lord, Chief Government Ekpemopulo (a.k.a Tompolo) yesterday regrouped in Yenagoa,the Bayelsa State capital to deliberate on the alleged coordinated attacks on the campaign team of President Goodluck Jonathan in some Northern states, vowing to take up arms and engage in armed confrontation with anyone or group plotting to derail the second term ambition of the President.

The meeting of the ex-militant Commanders, held at the Banquet Hall of the Bayelsa State Government House, was attended by the special adviser to the president and chairman of the Presidential amnesty programme, Hon Kingsley Kuku, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, Chief Government Ekpemopulo (a.k.a Tompolo), Ebikabowei Victor Ben (a.k.a. Boy loaf), Comrade Eris Paul known as General Ogunboss, Comrade Pastor Reuben known as General Pastor Reuben.

Also in attendance was the State governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah and the president of the umbrella body of Ijaw Youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), and Engr. Udengs Eradiri.

Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo in his speech at the event declared that the recent incidence of stoning of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign convoy by suspected paid youths from some Northern States is an open declaration of war, “this action is calling the Niger Delta youths to war.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/pdp-presidential-rally-port-harcourtex-militants-threaten-retaliate-attack-jonathan/

We are less than 30days to the 2015 presidential elections who do you want to be President? Jonathan or Buhari? Make your opinion known by participating in Monitor9ja's 2015 election poll. Click this link... http:///1BONaYU to access polling site

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, yesterday declared that the electoral commission will stick to the election timetable it released last year, noting that distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) will not alter the date slated for the elections.

Jega, who stated this at the official launch of the Mitigation Of Violence in Election (MOVE) in Abuja, said the issues of PVC distribution before the election is something the commission will handle before the election dates.

The event was organised by International Foundation For Electoral System (IFES) and other local partners to address issues of election violence before, during and after the elections.

The INEC boss said the commission was prepared “if push comes to shove” to sustain the distribution of PVCs till the eve of elections.

Jega, who was responding to a call by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki, for the postponement of the election within the timeframe of the electoral law, however said the commission has not discussed possible postponement.

Jega said, “I don’t want to comment on this. Like everybody we read it in the papers. I myself many things have been attributed to me which I know I didn’t say. So until I can confirm and get clarification it will be premature for me at this public event to start saying anything.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/distribution-pvcs-wont-affect-elections-timeline-jega/

Leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has said that corruption in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is endemic, although it does not stop him from supporting his administration.

The former militant leader also threatened war on any successor of Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, that fails to probe his administration.

Dokubo-Asari spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt while fielding questions shortly after attending a town hall meeting organised by NDPVF, in conjunction with the Niger Delta People Salvation Front (NDPSF).

He queried why people should be blaming Jonathan for all the country’s woes, pointing out that the country has over 800 governments, made up of 774 local government areas, 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The NDPVF leader said, “We have over 800 governments in Nigeria. There are 774 local government areas, 36 states and Abuja. Is Jonathan governing all of them? Is there no corruption in Rivers State? Corruption is high in the states controlled by the All Progressives Congress.”'

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/jonathans-govt-corrupt-will-still-vote-asari/

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Wednesday said that no fewer than 1.4 million candidates nationwide would write the 2015 All Computer Base Test (CBT) on March 4.

Mr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB Public Relations Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the board would be migrating all to computer-based mode of examination for the first time.

The Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, had in the last few years, sensitised secondary schools students on the computer-base mode of test effective from 2015.

NAN reports that prior to this time, candidates have been writing either of the CBT as the Paper Pencil Test (PPT) or the Dual Based Test (DBT) mode of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to Benjamin, JAMB is impressed with the number of candidates that have registered for the March examination.
“I want to say that we are expecting no fewer than 1.4 million candidates that will be attempting the examination in all computer-based mode of examination, commencing from this year.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/1-4m-candidates-2015-jamb/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said in Abuja on Tuesday that it registered 68,833,476 voters for the general elections in Feb. 2015

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, announced this at a news conference and presentation of voter registers to leadership of political parties.

Jega said the commission arrived at the figure after removing over four million voters that engaged in duplicate registration from the 73.5 million registrants nationwide.

He said that the removal was done through the commission’s AFIX and Business Rules for the printing of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

AFIX is software that allows the commission to indentify and exclude any double registration from it data base.

He said the figure would be made available to the public on the commission’s website in the next couple of days.
Jega added that the commission was ready to provide evidence to any political parties in doubt about the figure and the process used in the computation of the register.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/68-83m-registered-vote-feb-jega/

The United States on Tuesday said that Boko Haram remains a big threat to Nigeria and the entire African continent.

Making this known at a press briefing in Washington, DC, spokesperson of the State Department, Ms. Marie Harf, added that it was terrible to see that young girls are being used to conduct suicide attacks.

Condemning the activities of the terrorist group, the US spokesperson Said: “We obviously condemn these attacks in the strongest terms. Boko Haram is a huge threat, remains a huge threat. All you have to do is look at what’s happened over the last week to know that. And we are trying to get some more information about numbers and all of that”

Harf pressed further that the US seriously regretted the premature termination of the military training which she Said was designed to strengthen the Nigerian army’s capacity to counter Boko Haram.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/boko-haram-big-threat-nigeria-africa-us/

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has said that unless there is a significant improvement in the security situation in the north east, next month’s general elections may not take place in some local government areas of some states in the North-east zone.

Jega spoke in Abuja yesterday during a forum in Abuja, organised by the African Policy Research Institute.

He said, “A place like Borno State, unless something is done about those that have been displaced, even the returns for the governorship might be difficult, if not impossible under the circumstances. To be realistic, we must say that it may be impossible to do elections in everywhere, in every local government, in every constituency in those three states”.

He however pointed out that the commission is working hard to limit the number of Nigerians that may be disenfranchised as a result of the insurgency.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/2015-election-may-no-elections-parts-north-east-jega/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says it has directed its Electoral Officers (EOs) to move to 245 Registration Areas across the state for the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Mr Femi Akinbiyi, the Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
Akinbiyi said that the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Akin Orebiyi had directed the officers to ensure that eligible voters yet to collect their PVCs are able to receive them at their wards.
“The REC has directed the EOs to move the cards closer to the people after consultation with the relevant stakeholders in the local governments.
“Even in the riverine areas, our staff will be staying with the communities for the distribution,“ he said.
Akinbiyi said that the step was in line with the directive to decentralise the collection of PVCs, to bring them closer to the electorate.
The INEC PRO urged Lagos residents to pick up their cards at the centres across the state.
He said that a lot of cards produced were awaiting collection at various centres.
Akinbiyi said that the PVCs should be collected on or before Jan. 31.
NAN reports that the PVCs, according to the commission, can be picked up in 19 centres in Lagos Island Local Government...........

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/2015-election-inec-distribute-pvcs-245-centres-lagos/

Traders at the Balogun market in Lagos Island have been counting their losses following the early morning fire outbreak on Monday, claiming they lost goods worth N30 billion.

In separate interviews, the traders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that about 11 containers containing bags, shoes and clothing materials had just been off loaded into some of the shops that were razed.

Mrs Kadiri Kareem, an attendant in one of the shops, said that her employer had goods worth N27 billion in his containers.

“The containers have just arrived and we have barely completed offloading the goods.

“Nothing has been sold out of them before this fire. This is not a good way to start the New Year,’’ she said.

Another trader, Mr Okechukwu Anyiam, said he lost goods in four shops and do not know how to start quantifying the losses.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/traders-say-lost-n30bn-worth-goods-balogun-fire/

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday reassured that his administration would ensure stability in the value of the Naira by striving to take away speculative behaviours that caused market exchange pressures.

Jonathan, who gave the assurance in a nationwide New Year broadcast in Abuja, said government would continue to promote policies that ensured economic stability.

He said his administration would also continue to lay the foundation for a vibrant economy to attract more significant Foreign Direct Investment.

‘‘We will continue to build and maintain a healthy external reserves position and strengthen fiscal buffers.

‘‘We will ensure the Naira remains strong, and gives foreign investors the clarity and certainty that they need, to guide future investment decisions.

‘‘We will continue to improve our payment systems and strengthen risk-based supervision mechanism for Nigerian banks to ensure overall health and stability of the banking system.

According to him, Federal Government will be introducing a broad spectrum of financial instruments to boost sector-specific enterprise areas in agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), manufacturing, and oil and gas.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/jonathan-vows-stabilise-naira/

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, a cross section of Nigerians said on -day that the country needed strong institutions and leaders to develop.
Fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the respondents said that a combination of strong institutions and leadership would fast track the country’s development goals.

Similarly, some stakeholders in the agriculture sector opined that Nigeria needs a blend of strong leaders and strong institutions to ensure development in the country.

The stakeholders told NAN that strong leaders were needed to make decisions and strong institutions to sustain achievements.

The Chairman, L-and-Z Integrated Farms Nigeria Limited, Mr Mohammed
Abubakar, said Nigeria needed strong leaders to create strong institutions that would position the country among great nations of the world.

“As a developing nation, we need a strong leader and as a country that is aspiring to become one of the 20 greatest countries of the world, we need strong institutions.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/01/bring-message-hope-optimism-buhari/

There is no doubt that 2014 was very challenging and an eventful year for the banking industry. One interesting thing is that those challenges were not left unaddressed.

The first quarter of 2014 featured the launch of Bank Verification Number (BVN) by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Lagos.

Another major event sector was the suspension of Sanusi by President Goodluck Jonathan based on investigations being carried out by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria since May last year.

Consequently, Godwin Emefiele, who was the managing director of Zenith Bank plc, was appointed as the new CBN governor and he assumed office in June 2014.

There were some policies approved by the former governor which were later implemented by the current CBN governor. One of such policies was the re-introduction of inter-bank ATM charges of N65 on ‘remote-on-us’ after four withdrawals.

Uju Ogubunka, president, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), admitted that the banking sector in 2014 witnessed naira devaluation, risk management, infrastructure deficit, human capacity development and emphasis at ensuring stability of the economy, among other major events.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/banking-industry-tackles-challenges-2014-face-short-term-forex/

Barely few weeks to the 2015 governorship election, elders of Rivers State have given the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a week ultimatum to substitute its governorship candidate in the state, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike with a candidate from the riverine axis of the state.

The elders, under the auspices of Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELC) also appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on the national leadership of the PDP to ensure the withdrawal of Wike in the interest of equity, justice and fairness to various ethnic nationalities that make up the state.

Chairman of RELC, Chief Albert Horsfall, who disclosed this yesterday while speaking to newsmen at Omagwa, near Port Harcourt, shortly after the meeting of the elders, said if by January 5, 2015, the PDP fails to substitute Wike, the people of the state would be mobilised to vote for the riverine candidate of any other political party that can win the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Horsfall said, “What we are saying here is that if the Peoples Democratic Party fails to substitute Nyesom Wike by January 5, 2015, all true Rivers people will vote en masse for the riverine candidate of any other party that can win election in Rivers State.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/rivers-state-elders-give-pdp-1-week-withdraw-wike/

Health workers have threatened to stop all “skeletal and concessional services” in all healthcare facilities, after the federal government failed to attend a scheduled meeting between both sides on Monday.

The workers under the aegis of Joint Health Workers Union, told newsmen recently that the suspension of activity in the wake of the strike was to ensure “total compliance”, describing federal government’s attitude as “lack of commitment and seriousness.”

The association is demanding that the federal governmentimplement agreements reached since 2009 and several rulings of the National Industrial Court in their favour.

The chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said, that two previous meetings since the strike started on November 12 have been “without meaningful progress.

The union said key officials of the federal health ministry, from the minister and permanent secretary to directors “were conspicuously absent, thereby stalling the meeting.”

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/health-workers-vow-continue-strike/

About 3,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Isa local government of Sokoto State yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Umar Mohammed Wali, the local government caretaker committee chairman, who disclosed this, insisted that the PDP members took the decision to join APC not out of any compulsion but with the conviction that the APC is the expected liberator Nigerians have been longing for.

He further stated that the defectors, who are from the local government of former governor, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, now a chieftain of the PDP in the state, defected to the APC because they had seen that Bafarawa had lost his political grip of the masses and his kinsmen.

According to the chairman, Bafarawa and his political mastery is now past tense as far as they are concerned.

He assured that APC had not only stamped its feet on the land but had equally overcome any challenges ahead of the forthcoming election.

On his part, the state governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who was represented by the commissioner for agriculture, Alhaji Arzika Tureta, assured the defectors of equal treatment as justice remains their watchword in the APC.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/pdp-members-defect-apc-sokoto/

In spite of the new found status of Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa, the country has been ranked not only as one of the world’s least prosperous countries in 2014, but also one of Africa’s poorest nation beaten by smaller countries like Niger, Benin, Mali and Cameroun, an annual global prosperity survey released this week has said.

According to a report released by a UK based Legatum Institute, a research organization that documents annual prosperity indicators around the world, listed Nigeria as the 125th out of 142 countries surveyed.

Despite Nigeria’s acclaimed $510bn economy, the nation failed to make the list of Africa’s top 10 most prosperous countries, a league dominated hitherto by Botswana and South Africa.

Other countries in that bracket according to the report listed from third and below, are Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia, Algeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, and Senegal.

Nigeria was said to have fell to 27 in Africa in 2014, nose-diving 22 places from its ranking in 2011, the report said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/nigeria-ranked-least-prosperous-nation-world/

The Lagos State Government will pay its workers 15 per cent bonus in the December salary as an end of the year gift, the State Head of Service, Mrs Oluseyi Williams, said on Friday.

Williams spoke at the end of the year get together and appreciation party for principals and directors in the Ministry of Education.

She said that the bonus would be paid along with the December salary any moment from now.

According to her, the bonus is to show that the government is committed to the welfare of workers.

“Some states are owing their workers up to four months salary but that is not the case in Lagos.

“I was discussing with some HOS and they told me they are looking for money to pay their workers salaries.

“Our workers will receive their December salary any moment from now and I am happy to say it that it will come with 15 per cent bonus.

“Government appreciates your service to the state and urges you to continue to put in your best.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/lagos-state-gives-workers-15-per-cent-salary-bonus/

The controversial N4,000 fee for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) online registration introduced recently for prospective corps members is to be reduced.

This was disclosed in a press release signed by the director of press and public relations of the NYSC, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, stating that the NYSC resolved to reduce the cost after a recent conference by the stakeholders of the scheme.

The release added that the stakeholders also agreed on the need for more sensitisation on the online registration at the various tertiary institutions which will offer full understanding, workability as well as acceptability of the package to the students who are the direct beneficiaries of the programme.

“The online registration is expected to facilitate easy printing of call-up letters from the comfort of prospective corps members’ convenience without necessarily going to their institutions of learning.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2014/12/nysc-online-registration-stakeholders-okay-cost-reduction/