Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting committee has officially announced the sighting of the crescent moon on Friday evening, marking the commencement of Ramadan. The holy month, the 9th in the Islamic Hijri calendar, will begin on Saturday, March 1st. The crescent moon was sighted across various observatories in the Kingdom, including locations in Sudair and Tumair. Ahead of this significant sighting, the Supreme Court had urged all Muslims in Saudi Arabia to participate in the moon sighting on Friday evening. According to the directives issued by the Supreme Court, Muslims who have witnessed the Ramadan crescent with their naked eyes or…

The crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly has taken a new dimension following the withdrawal of security aides attached to Speaker Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, while those of her predecessor,  Mudashiru Obasa, have reportedly been reinstated.  The development, described as a direct assault on democratic principles, has raised serious concerns over the impartiality of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Moshood Jimoh. Despite being removed from office by an overwhelming two-thirds majority of Assembly members, Hon. Obasa has continued to preside over legislative proceedings with the backing of security operatives. This has sparked widespread criticism, with political…

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared N 1.703 trillion revenue among the federal government, states and local government councils (LGCs) for January. This is according to a communiqué issued at the end of the FAAC meeting by Bawa Mokwa, the spokesperson, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), on Thursday in Abuja. According to the communiqué, the total revenue of N1.703 trillion comprised statutory revenue of N749.727 billion and value-added tax (VAT) revenue of N718.781 billion. It also comprised electronic money transfer levy (EMTL) revenue of N20.548 billion and augmentation of N214 billion. It said the total gross…

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, has revealed that he rejected offers totaling nearly N500 million during his mother’s burial in 2019, resisting what could have been a major ethical scandal. Olukoyede made this disclosure on Thursday at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja, where he underscored the importance of integrity in leadership. The event, themed “Ethics, Integrity, Corruption Risk Assessments, and Anti-Corruption at National and Sub-National levels: Sustaining the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria”, was organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre, the Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission,…

In a dramatic courtroom scene on Thursday, M.K. Tijjani, the legal representative of dismissed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Ari Hudu, was sentenced to prison for contempt of court by Justice Benjamin Manji of the Adamawa State High Court. The sentencing follows a series of contentious incidents during the trial of Ari Hudu, who is facing legal scrutiny over his disputed declaration of Aishatu Binani as the winner of the 2023 Adamawa governorship election. The decision, initially made by Hudu, was later overturned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party as the…

Daud Olatunji  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended the Oyo State Government for launching the Public Primary School Pupils Health Insurance Scheme, describing it as a crucial step toward achieving universal health coverage for children. The initiative, which was officially flagged off in Ibadan on Thursday, aims to provide quality healthcare services to indigent pupils across the state. The Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, praised the government’s commitment to ensuring that no child is denied medical care due to financial constraints. The initiative, which initially covers 90 schools across 18 local government areas, is…

In a bid to rectify disparities in the current electricity billing system and stimulate investment in the power sector, the Federal Government has announced plans to overhaul electricity tariffs, particularly targeting Band B and C customers. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this during the ongoing public presentation of the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Nigeria Integrated Resource Plan in Abuja on Thursday. Adelabu emphasized the need for a more equitable pricing system, citing the significant gap between tariff rates for different customer bands. Currently, customers in Band B, benefiting from 17 to 18 hours of electricity supply, pay…

The embattled former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has presided over plenary with four other members at the chamber. The plenary was conducted after the doors to the chamber were forced open by security personnel. As at 3.pm, the plenary commenced and was still on-going till about 3.30 pm. Meanwhile, over 26 other members of the assembly were around but refused to enter the chamber in apparent loyalty and support to the substantive Speaker, Mojisola Meranda. Obasa had earlier, reportedly, announced his return as Speaker, arguing that while impeachment is a constitutional and democratic process,…

Daud Olatunji The Labour Party has confirmed ongoing discussions with 36 lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly who are reportedly considering defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the crisis that erupted over the forceful return of ousted Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the lawmakers, who have reaffirmed their loyalty to Speaker Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, are said to be aggrieved by Obasa’s controversial re-entry into the Assembly complex, allegedly backed by thugs and armed security personnel. According to reports, the legislators’ decision to explore defection was fueled by concerns over the manner in which…

Renowned Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Ibraheem Dende Egungbohun (IBD), has called upon government authorities to prioritize vocational and technical education to better equip Nigerian youths for global industrial challenges. Speaking to journalists following his recognition with the Fellowship Award from Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH), Igbesa, Alhaji Egungbohun emphasized the critical role of technical education in addressing youth unemployment and fostering self-reliance. “Vocational and technical education provides essential entrepreneurial skills that empower youths to stand on their own feet,” Alhaji Egungbohun stated, stressing the necessity for government incentives to make these educational pathways more attractive to young Nigerians.…