Okolobi Gist Specials

 REACTIVATE ALL BLOCKED LINES, NCC ORDERS TELECOS Telecommunications operators in Nigeria are now ordered to restore all blocked phone lines, immediately. The Nigerian Communications Commission,NCC, gave the directive in a statement made public on Monday. It was signed by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka. In the statement, NCC noted that those lines were reported blocked due to non-linkage of National Identification Numbers to SIM cards. NCC said the directive was in response to the widespread disruption caused by the blockages. It insisted that there is need to always prioritise the conveniences of the consumers. “The consumer is our priority; therefore, considering the challenges the blockages have caused, the Commission has directed all operators to reactivate all lines that were disconnected over the weekend, in view of the short time available for consumers to undertake the verification of their NINs with their SIMs." Many telecommunicat...

  President Bola Tinubu says he does not owe any cabal compensation as he spent his fortune pursuing his presidential ambition during the last election. The President, who received a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau, at the State House on Thursday, July 15, said his victory at the polls was purely by divine intervention. The President dismissed claims that he is being controlled by some ‘’cabal’’ to make some of the economic reforms his administration embarks on. “I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections was my personal fortune. At some point, the odds were against me; banks were locked. But Allah, the Almighty God, said I will be the President. Mine is to now follow the leading and teaching of the Almighty God. One of the most potent elements of defence is a good conscience. It is also a defence against corruption. What should be uppermost in our minds is the future of our children. We have a lot to teach them on what ...

  Understanding the Difference Between National Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate in Nigeria  In Nigeria, the political landscape is governed by a multi-layered legislative framework comprising the National Assembly, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Each plays a crucial role in the governance and legislative processes of the country, but they serve distinct functions that are essential to Nigeria's democratic structure. What is the National Assembly? The National Assembly stands as the highest legislative body in Nigeria, vested with the authority to make laws for the Federation. It consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. This bicameral structure ensures representation from both federal and state levels, allowing for comprehensive legislative oversight and decision-making. The Senate: Core Functions and Responsibilities The Senate represents the upper chamber of the National Assembly, embodying a pivotal role in Nigeria'...

  NIGERIAN N70,000 MINIMUM WAGE PASSED BY SENATE, HOUSE OF REPS IN RECORD TIME  On Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives passed the new minimum wage bill. The bill is raising the country’s minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000. It was passed Within an hour by both chambers. The bill was forwarded by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to them. It was presented and passed first reading, and  second reading where it was debated based on general principles before the third reading. The debate was led by Opeyemi Bamidele who is the majority leader of the senate. He said the N70,000 was agreed upon by all the parties after negotiations. He said: “This is part of the federal government’s short term measure to mitigate the situation in the country." The Chip Whip, Tahir Monguno said there is a need to review the minimum wage to align with economic realities. “The review of the minimum wage used to be after every five years. It is now every three ...

 AMEAEHULE LED FACTION OF RIVERS ASSEMBLY WARNS RIVERS RESIDENTS NOT TO HAVE DEALINGS WITH THOSE MASQUERADING AS LG CARETAKER COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN AND MEMBERS  The Rivers State House of Assembly at its 7th Legislative Sitting of the Second Session of the Tenth Assembly, Monday,  deliberated on a statement by the House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, wherein he drew the attention of the House to the illegal activities of some persons in the State, masquerading as Chairmen and members of Caretaker Committees. These individuals the Leader said go about imposing and collecting fees, levies and rates  from unsuspecting members of the public, in breach of the recent Supreme Court judgement, and the provisions of the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment)Law, 2023 that prohibit Caretaker Committees in whatever guise or nomenclature. Debating on the statement by the House Leader, Members condemned and berated those they described as impostors, and warned all banks, tradit...

  HELP GOVT FIGHT CRUDE OIL THEFT, GOV FUBARA TASKS MONARCHS •Says Economic Sabotage Inimical To Development  Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that it is the duty of everybody, especially traditional rulers, to join efforts together to ensure that there is stability and unfettered progress of Nigeria. He has also advised traditional rulers to take charge of their domains and ensure that they make life difficult for ill-guided youths involved in acts of economic sabotage in their various communities. Governor Fubara gave the charge while declaring open the 117th/118th Combined Quarterly General Meeting of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at their Secretariat in Port Harcourt on Monday. The Governor maintained that it should be the concern of everybody to support and see Nigeria progress as a stable country while advancing economically, adding that this is possible only when there is high production of crude oil, as the mainstay of t...

United States of America President, Joe Biden has stepped down as the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. President Biden announced his withdrawal from the November 2024 presidential election in a statement on Sunday. The Democratic presidential nominee endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris in his stead to lead the ticket. Kamal will be facing former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party nominee, in the November election. President Biden’s announcement has ended weeks of calls on him by party leaders to leave the race. The call was necessitated by his disastrous debate performance against Trump. Many Democrats feared that with such performance and for the fact that was too old for office, it would be difficult to defeat Trump. He said: “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term. “My very first decision as the party nominee in ...