Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Anambra State House of Assembly has suspended Hon. Bernard Udemezue, member representing Ayamelum Constituency, for three months over what colleagues described as “damaging” social media posts against the legislature. Udemezue, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, had accused the Assembly of marginalising his constituency in the distribution of constituency allowances. He also disclosed details of his own allocation, sparking outrage among colleagues who said his comments threatened the integrity and security of the House. His suspension followed a motion of urgent public importance raised at plenary by Tony Muobike, representing Aguata 2 Constituency, and seconded by the Chief Whip,…

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) on Tuesday staged a protest over what they described as the “shameful” N150,000 retirement benefit being paid to professors and other academic staff under the current contributory pension scheme. The protest, which lasted for about an hour on the institution’s campus, drew scores of lecturers who decried the government’s treatment of intellectuals despite their decades of service to the country. Addressing the protesters, Chairman of UNIMAID ASUU, Dr. Abubakar Mshelia, said it was an insult that professors who had spent over 40 years in classrooms were made…

The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, ordered the permanent forfeiture of shares worth N246.3 million traced to a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Major-General U.M. Mohammed (retd.), after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved that the assets were proceeds of fraud. Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered the ruling following an application brought by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC, represented by counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa. The anti-graft agency had told the court that Mohammed, while serving as NAPL’s Managing Director between 2015 and 2020, diverted funds from the sale of…

The Federal Government on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious plan to integrate at least half of Nigeria’s estimated five million out-of-school nomadic children into the formal education system within the next two years. Director of Basic Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folake Olatunji-David, disclosed this during a virtual media briefing in Abuja, describing the initiative as a decisive step to tackle one of Nigeria’s most pressing education crises. According to her, the plan targets the enrollment of 20 per cent of nomadic children by 2026, while an additional 30 per cent are expected to be absorbed into the system…

The Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended its immediate past Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, over an alleged plot to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia. The decision followed a motion raised by Terna Shimawua, representing Kyan State Constituency, during plenary. Shimawua was among the lawmakers suspended last week by Dajoh when he still held sway as Speaker. Ruling on the motion, the new Speaker, Alfred Berger, who represents Makurdi North, reduced Dajoh’s suspension from the six months initially proposed to three months. The Assembly also confirmed the appointment of Timothy Yangien Ornguga as Commissioner, a nomination earlier rejected by Dajoh before…

Stakeholders from the six states of the Southwest on Tuesday converged on Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, for a three-day multi-sectoral emergency preparedness workshop aimed at addressing recurring disasters, including flooding and cholera outbreaks, that continue to plague the region. The workshop, convened by the Oyo State Government in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), brought together representatives from state governments, emergency agencies, and development partners to chart strategies for strengthening regional response to disasters. In his presentation, UNICEF Emergency Specialist, Olayinka Afolabi, traced the recurrent flooding and cholera outbreaks in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun states to poor sanitation…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered a criminal syndicate involving officials of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, who allegedly planted illicit drugs in the luggage of unsuspecting Nigerian pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia. The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, saying the syndicate’s activities led to the arrest and detention of three innocent Nigerians in Jeddah after performing the lesser hajj. According to Babafemi, six suspects have so far been arrested, with four already charged in court, including a 55-year-old drug…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has raised fresh concerns over voter apathy, revealing that no fewer than 360,794 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remain uncollected across the state. Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, who spoke through the Commission’s Public Relations Officer, Musa Olurode, described the situation as worrisome, warning that the huge backlog could have dire implications on voter turnout in future elections. Agboke urged eligible voters yet to collect their PVCs to use the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as an opportunity to retrieve their cards. “We are appealing to all eligible voters…

The Ogun West Assembly for Tinubu (OWAT) has declared its total support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, promising to mobilise at least 250,000 votes for him in the zone. OWAT, an umbrella body of political leaders and stakeholders from the Ogun West Senatorial District, said Tinubu had laid a sustainable foundation for national development through “bold reforms and strategic leadership” in the last 27 months. The group, in an advertorial published in national dailies at the weekend, argued that the President had rescued the country from the brink of collapse. According to OWAT, Tinubu inherited “a…

The Onilisa of Lisa, Oba Oladele Najeem Ayinla Odugbemi, has renewed his appeal to the Federal and Ogun State Governments to urgently rehabilitate the Bellview Airline Memorial Arcade and its access road, nearly two decades after the tragic 2005 plane crash that claimed 117 lives. The monarch made the call during an interdenominational prayer session held at the crash site in Lisa Town, Ifo Local Government Area, as part of activities marking this year’s Isese Day. Oba Odugbemi expressed dismay that the memorial arcade, once a symbol of national grief and remembrance, had been left to rot. He noted that…