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  The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have refused to suspend their plan to embark on a nationwide strike on Monday. The two unions had resolved to go on strike on Monday to protest against the recent hikes in pump price of petroleum and electricity tariff. But when they met with the house leadership in Abuja on Sunday, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house, asked the unions to shelve the plan to give room for negotiations. However, Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, and Quadri Olaleye, his TUC counterpart, condemned the government’s delay in reversing the hikes as demanded. Speaking after the meeting, Wabba said if the issues are not addressed, “all the actions pronounced will be taken as the notice expires tomorrow”. He, however, commended the house leadership for its intervention. “We also told him how the meeting with federal government went and how the meeting was adjourned and he has promised to also intervene at his own level to see that we don’t inf

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has told the protagonists of the proposed Oduduwa Republic to stop using fake Islamic organisations to camouflage as Muslims. The human rights organization urged Nigerians to be wary of fake Islamic groups masquerading as genuine and declaring support for the secessionists.     This was revealed by the Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a press statement issued on Wednesday, 23 rd  September, 2020.     “The protagonists of the proposed Oduduwa Republic are desperate. Their desperation has reached a crescendo where they have resorted to dishonourable actions. This should jog the conscience of honest Nigerians. There is nothing wrong to have differences and disagreements. It is also normal to have ambition. But what is abnormal and ignoble is to pursue your ambition by hook or crook.     “Those in the irredentist Oduduwa Republic camp have descended so low that they use fake Muslim names and counterfeit Islamic organisations to issue sta

  The University of Ibadan in preparation for her forthcoming Vice Chancellorship election held an election to select Joint Council and Senate Board representatives on Monday, 21st September 2020. Nine (9) candidates contested the election for the position of Senate representatives where two winners were picked. According to the Registrar of the institution who doubles as the Secretary to the Senate, Mrs. Olubunmi Faluyi, the election was e-voting and lasted for 7hours (8am – 3pm). Below are the names of candidates and votes gotten. Prof. P.O Olapegba 362 Prof. E.O. Ayoola 352 Prof. A.O. Aremu 132 Prof. A.O. Dasylva 94 Prof. O.I Ajewole 84 Prof. A.A. Fasanmade 77 Prof. V.O. Adetimirin 67 Prof. M.K. Akinsola 20 Prof. G.O. Arinola 20 Based on the result, the two (2) Candidates that won the election are Prof. P.O. Olapegba with the score of 362 and Prof. E.O. Ayoola with the score 352 as announced by Mrs. Olubunmi around 3:05pm. Present at the declaration of the result were, the Vice-Chan

  The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) have launched a COVID-19 household survey in four states. Advertisement This was announced in a statement jointly signed by Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC director-general, and ​​​​​Professor Babatunde Salako, director-general of NIMR. Seroprevalence surveys are used to identify the occurrence of disease in a population by estimating the presence of antibodies in individuals who have had the disease. This is done by testing blood samples in randomly selected households in selected states. The survey which seeks to better understand the burden of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria will be conducted in Gombe, Enugu, Nasarawa and Lagos. Advertisement The exercise “will provide the best evidence yet, on the extent of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria”. According to the statement, the surveys will be conducted between September and November, and preliminary results are expected to be released by December

  The government of Oyo State, on Monday, kickstarted the oral interview exercise for some 7,000 applicants who scored 50 percent and above in the Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted by the state’s Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM). The chairman of TESCOM, Pastor Akinade Alamu, who briefed newsmen on the sidelines of the interview sessions, said that the successful candidates will receive their letters before the end of November. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Alamu as saying that applicants will only be employed based on merit and competence. Alamu, who said the exercise started about seven months ago before the outbreak of COVID-19 in the state, following an approval given by Governor Seyi Makinde to recruit teachers, added that teaching and non-teaching staff would be recruited into the service of the state. He said: “When we complete the exercise for those we are interviewing today, they will resume work before the end

The Emir of Zaria and traditional head of Zazzau Emirate, Alhaji Shehu Idris, died yesterday, Sunday, 20 th  September, 2020 after a brief illness. He was 84.     Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has sent a condolence message to the head of the Nigerian Muslim community, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Governor of Kaduna State, the Zazzau Emirate and the people of Zaria. The message was signed by the Director of the Muslim rights group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.     “The news of the passing away of the Emir of Zazzau is saddening. We commiserate with our leader, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. We condole the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Our sympathy also goes to the Zazzau Emirate Council, particularly the Yariman Zazzau, Alhaji Munir Ja‘afar and the good people of Zaria.     “The late Emir was born on 20 th  February 1936 into the family of Mallam Idrisu Aut

By Ibrahim Agunbiade   The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) has on Sunday announced the suspension of its warning strike but noted that the Federal Government has still not attended to its demands, it disclosed that it will make its next decision in the coming days. JOHESU who disclosed this in a press statement signed by its National Chairman, Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah, further disclosed that instead the government has resorted to threats, intimidation and blackmail rather than calling for a resolve of the trade dispute. The statement read in part: “This is to bring to your notice that the 7-day nationwide warning strike embarked upon by the members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) would come to an end midnight of today, 20” September, 2020. “By this notice, all health workers under the five Unions that make up Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) s

By Ibrahim Agunbiade   The processes for the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan has been postponed till further notice.  This is just as the outgoing VC, Prof. Idowu Olayinka whose tenure ends on November 30th, 2020, is expected to proceed on leave any moment from now. This blog  gathered from an impeccable source in the institution that the postponement of the processes was due to the inability of the chairman of the governing council to travel. Even though a letter written to all aspirants to this effect did not explain the reason behind the postponement of the processes, the source revealed that the meeting was postponed because the chairman had reportedly been hospitalized. An internal memo signed by the registrar and secretary to the council, Mrs. Olubunmi Faluyi, gives credence to some of these findings as she announced that the interactive session/interview of the aspirants had been postponed. The interactive session/interview had earlier been sc

By Ibrahim Agunbiade   The Nigerian Institute Of Medical Research (NIMR) has announced the development of a  Rapid Test Kit For COVID-19. The Director-General of the Agency, Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako made the announcement at the launching of the kit, called NIMR SARS-CoV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay (SIMA). According to the DG, SIMA is a fast and sensitive point-of-care test for SARS-COV-2 infection using molecular technique and was borne out of the global sample testing challenges experienced by scientists and physicians. SIMA was developed by NIMR Scientist Dr. Chika Onwuamah. Speaking on the importance of the test kit in the fight against the global pandemic, Salako said, “While no effective vaccine has been developed to date, case detection remains the surest way of controlling the pandemic. “Molecular laboratories remain limited in number, and people living in remote areas are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting tested. “Testing centres are also limited and mostly av

By Ibrahim Agunbiade The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research develops Rapid Test Kit for COVID-19 virus detection.  It is known as the SARS CoV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay (SIMA).

Published on Thursday, 17th 2020. By Ibrahim Agunbiade This undated handout photo obtained September 16, 2020 shows animal fossils eroding out of the surface of the Alathar ancient lake deposit. – The humans may have hunted the big mammals but they did not stay long, using the watering hole as a waypoint on a longer journey. (Photo by Badar ZAHRANI / Badar ZAHRANI / AFP)   Around 120,000 years ago in what is now northern Saudi Arabia, a small band of homo sapiens stopped to drink and forage at a shallow lake that was also frequented by camels, buffalo, and elephants bigger than any species seen today. The people may have hunted the large mammals but they did not stay long, using the watering hole as a waypoint on a longer journey. This detailed scene was reconstructed by researchers in a new study published in Science Advances on Thursday, following the discovery of ancient human and animal footprints in the Nefud Desert that shed new light on the routes our ancient ancestors took as t