Author: Platform Times Newspaper

According to the fiery and irrepressible human rights crusader, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, it is better to stand on the truth, even if one is standing alone . The recent directive of the minister of education, Professor Tahir Mamman on the minimum age, initially, for writing both WAEC & NECO SSCE and JAMB and later JAMB exam vis-a- vis entering Nigerian universities has generated a lot of what could be termed needless controversies as usual with Nigerians. According to him, no candidate under 18 years should be allowed to write the JAMB exam or be admitted into any of the…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained its reasons for rejecting the federal government’s two payment platforms, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the Government Integrated Financial Management and Information System (GIFMIS). Instead, the union has advocated for its own alternative, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), which it claims aligns better with the statutory autonomy of Nigerian universities. Speaking on Sunday, ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke emphasized that the union’s stance is rooted in the need to uphold the independence of the nation’s tertiary institutions, as provided by law. He stated that the…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised alarm over the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to national security. He expressed concerns that these children, numbering over 20 million, are being primed for recruitment by terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram and other criminal groups in the future. Obasanjo made these remarks on Sunday during the commissioning of several projects executed by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. He emphasized the urgent need for human capacity development through education to prevent the looming danger. Citing World Bank statistics, Obasanjo noted that Nigeria, with…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is facing widespread allegations of extortion as passport applicants in Lagos accuse officials of demanding an unofficial fee of N30,000 for passport renewals. The illegal fee, which is reportedly being collected after the stipulated N130,000 official payment for the renewal and change of data, has sparked outrage among Nigerians. An applicant, while speaking with SaharaReporters, recounted his ordeal with immigration officers at the NIS office in Alausa, Lagos. According to him, after paying the required N130,000 as advertised on the NIS website, he was instructed to pay an additional N30,000, which is not legally mandated.…

Daud Olatunji Crescent University, Abeokuta, marked its 16th convocation with remarkable achievements, graduating 479 students, including 49 first-class honorees. The event, which highlighted the institution’s academic excellence, also saw the conferment of honorary degrees on three distinguished individuals for their outstanding contributions to society. The convocation’s highlight was the academic breakdown of the graduating class: 49 first-class graduates, 197 second-class upper division, 173 second-class lower division, 54 third-class graduates, and six who earned pass grades. The ceremony also witnessed the graduation of 47 Master’s degree students. The ceremony honoured Daniel Oyeniyi, the best graduating student, who achieved a 4.95 CGPA,…

Daud Olatunji The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has urged the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to take decisive action in recovering over $55 billion owed to the Nigerian government by international oil companies (IOCs). This significant sum is tied to outstanding revenues under the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act, as ruled by the Supreme Court in 2018. HEDA’s call, communicated through a formal letter by its solicitor, Bolarinwa Elijah Aidi, SAN, draws attention to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Suit No. SC/964/2016. The judgment, delivered on October 17,…

Abubakar Badaru, the minister of defence, has urged traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, and heads of security agencies, to work towards tackling the growing insecurity in Plateau. Mr Badaru, who gave the charge at a meeting with the stakeholders, said the gathering was aimed at fashioning out lasting solutions to the rising security challenges, particularly the clashes between herders and farmers. ”I am highly delighted to be here this afternoon to interact with the critical stakeholders, opinion leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other components of the military and security agencies responsible for peace and security in Plateau. ”The…

Tony Okocha, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers Caretaker Committee chairman, said on Sunday in Abuja that President Bola Tinubu’s ministers were not adding value to the current administration. Okocha said this while speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) news forum, where he stated that Mr Tinubu’s achievements were grossly underreported and there was a need for his ministers to do more to enlighten Nigerians on the administration’s successes. “President Tinubu’s achievements are not in the public domain because most of his ministers failed to do the needful and are not adding value to the administration and the…

The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old boy, Abba Aliyu, in connection with the kidnapping of a two-year-old child. Aliyu, a neighbour of the victim’s family, was apprehended after demanding a ransom of N2 million and successfully extorting N500,000 from the family before the child was released. Aliyu, a resident of the Badon Hanya area in Sokoto, was identified as the prime suspect in the abduction. The police revealed details of the arrest in a statement issued on Saturday by the state command’s spokesman, ASP Ahmed Rufai. According to Rufai, the ordeal began on October 13, 2024, when…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated plans to exempt baby products, locally manufactured sanitary towels, pads, and tampons from Value Added Tax (VAT). This proposal is part of a comprehensive bill aimed at consolidating the country’s tax framework. The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions and Instruments, and Related Matters,” was presented to the National Assembly on October 4, 2024. It outlines the government’s tax strategy and its approach to fund…