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By Aviashima Toom. The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in conjunction with Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Monday commenced a 10-day refresher training for Teachers recruited by UBEC into the Federal Teachers Scheme on a 2-year contract.  This was contained in a statement issued by the Information Officer, Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Erdoo Sar in Makurdi quoted the Chairman, Comrade Joseph Utse charged them paericipant to take the training seriously with maximum commitment. According to the statement, Utse made it known to the FTS participants that if they perform well, SUBEB would recommend them for employment so that Government would absorb them as permanent staff after their 2 years contract. Utse reminded the trainees of the fragile security situation in the country and urged them to be focused without wandering about and to eschew trouble.  He advised trainees cooperate with the

By Aviashima Toom Lobi Stars on Sunday May 30, 2021 inside the main bowl of the Aper Stadium Makurdi overran spirited Sunshine Stars by 2-1 in an NPFL 2020/2021 Match Day 24 to record their  7th unbroken home win and extend the winless run of the Owena Whales to 17. It only took the 18" 20 mitre missile from John Lazarus and a 26" quick flip jab by Ossy Martins to give Lobi Stars the come back and the hard earned three points. In a statement signed by the Media Officers to Lobi Stars FC, Austin Tyowua, in Makurdi said, Sunshine Stars took the kick off with the spirit of a team that came with a mission of ending the 16 winless run, having tasted their last victory since Match Day 7 of the NPFL 2020/2021.  Their efforts almost paid off in the 13" when Lobi Stars handover the ball to sunshine Stars Midway amidst pressure, 9 shirted Sadeeq Yusuf who took advantage of the error and was  headed in front of Lobi Stars goal unchallenged but his low shot t

By Aviashima Toom The Nigerian Army has announced a new date for the passing out parade (POP) for regular recruits. The event was earlier slated for Saturday, May 22, 2021, but could not be held due to the funeral of Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the late Chief of Army Staff, and other officers, who died in a plane crash in Kaduna. Captain Audu Arigu, NDA Assistant Director, Public Relations, in a statement, said Attahiru was to attend the POP as the Reviewing Officer/Special Guest of Honour. The new schedule is 8 a.m on Saturday, May 29 at the RSM Hama Kim Parade Ground. The POP is one of the activities to mark the end of the rigorous training involved in the process of becoming a soldier. The parade is the climax of recruits’ intensive drilling in the Depot Nigerian Army. The ceremony showcases the height of military discipline and regimentation.

By Aviashima Toom -  An ex-aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, says it is sad that the President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to Paris recently but did not attend the burial of his late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in Abuja on Saturday. Omokri tweeted, “Sad that President Muhammadu Buhari did not attend the burial of the late Chief of Army Staff, (Lieutenant) General Attahiru. He was represented by his Defence Minister (Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.). “Attahiru died serving Nigeria. Buhari, who went to Paris for four days, could not go to Attahiru’s funeral for 30 minutes.” Buhari had travelled to France for a four-day official visit and attended the African Finance Summit. The President came back on Thursday. Attahiru and ten other military personnel died a day after – Friday – when a Beachcraft 350 aircraft crashed at the Kaduna International Airport. Attahiru was buried at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja on Saturday afterno

By Aviashima Toom The Governorship hopeful of the All Progressive Congress of Nigeria, (APC) H.E Steven Lawani OFR visited Gboko LGA of Benue state to bid farewell to his bossom friend and party stalwart, Elder Joseph Aondowase Nongo (JP) who today was laid to eternal glory at his Tse-Alamgba, Tse-Kucha Mbatyula, Mbayion. A statement by his Media Adviser, Comrade Sylvanus Okpe, noted that, Ochagwu K'Idoma who received a rousing welcome from party faithfuls and Gboko residents, urged the bereaved to draw strength from the exemplary life the late grassroots politician who was also widely known as De-Lion lived. He further prayed that God rests the soul of his departed friend and reward him with a worthy place befitting of his good conduct while on earth.  Rising from the burial ceremony, the compassionate leader visted the mother of his late friend, his wives, children and other family members.  He also had a brief time with

By Aviashima Toom   Gunmen on Friday evening killed two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), burnt vehicles and carted away weapons at Nneyi outpost, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State. A source said that the gunmen stormed the NSCDC in Nneyi outpost and started shooting sporadically and in the process killed the two officers. Confirming the incident, the State Command’s Public Relations Officer, Okadigbo Edwin, in a statement said that, unidentified persons attack the agency out post in Nneyi, killing two and carting away arms. “Yesterday being 21st May 2021, at about 1635hrs, some yet to be identified hoodlums attacked Civil Defence outpost in Nneyi Umueri in Anambra East Local Government of Anambra State, shooting sporadically. “The officers on duty engaged them in a gun duel. At the end, two officers of the Corps that sustained gunshot injury from the incident lost their lives. “Regrettably, their riffles were carted away af

By Aviashima Toom Bandits, late on Wednesday, invaded Kwankwashe community, in Suleja, Niger State, just 30 minutes’ drive from Abuja, killing two people and abducted dozens of residents. This has fuelled growing fears of possible attack in Abuja. But the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Friday swiftly assured residents of Abuja, Plateau State and other contiguous states of their safety and security as they go about their lawful duties, but he failed to speak on the attack in Suleja. Recall that an intelligence alert last Wednesday, contained in a leaked memo by the IG to the FCT Commissioner of Police and his Plateau State counterpart, informing them of a plot by terrorists to attack Abuja and Jos, the Plateau State capital, resulted in palpable panic among residents of Abuja. The bandits, apart from killing two people in the Kwankwashe attack, also reportedly broke into different houses in the community and abducted an unspecified number of residents, in

By Aviashima Toom The Katsina Emirate has dismissed a district head for allegedly aiding bandits in Katsina State. The report of the committee constituted by the Katsina Emirate Council to investigate the alleged relationship with bandits with the Sarkin Pauwan Katsina, district head of Kankara, was said to have found him guilty of the allegation, leading to his dismissal. Consequently, the Emirate council under the leadership of the Emir of Katsina, has announced the dismissal of the district head, Yusuf Lawal. The Sarkin Yakin Katsina, Bello Mamman Ifo, told newsmen that the district head was found guilty of all the charges leveled against him. READ ALSO :Bandits close-in on Abuja, attack neighbouring Suleja The emirate official spokeman, Sarkin Labarai, Ibrahim Iro Bindawa, also confirmed that the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmuminu Kabir Usman, ordered the sacking of the district head. Recall that the Emirate constituted a high level committee chaired by the Kauran Katsina, di

By Aviashima Toom The Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, has been killed in a plane crash in Kaduna, from military sources has said. More details to follow….

By Aviashima Toom The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has announced the dissolution of its Cross River State caretaker committee. The move is coming on the heels of the defection of Cross State Governor, Ben Ayade, to the All Progressives Congress. A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbodiyan, said the party has constituted another caretaker committee for the state. The statement read: “National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC), has approved the dissolution of the State Caretaker Committee for the Cross River state chapter of the party “The decision is in pursuant to the powers conferred on the NWC by the PDP Constitution. ” Consequently, the NWC has constituted a new State Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the chapter of the party at the state level "The members of the new State Caretaker Committee for Cross River state are as follows: Barr. E

By Doris Nnaji Suspected bandits have killed at least eight worshipers in another attack in Kaduna State on Wednesday. The armed bandits also burnt down Assemblies of God Church and several other buildings in Ungwan Gaida community, near Kurmin Kaso, Chikun Local Government Area of the state The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs confirmed the attacks to newsmen. He identified those killed the criminals as Samaila Gajere, Bawa Gajere, Bitrus Baba, Umaru Baba, Solomon Samaila, Sambo Kasuwa, Samuila Kasuwa, and Gideon Bitrus.   The Commissioner said that Governor Nasir El-Rufai condemned the killings of innocent citizens in the state in their place of worship. The governor, according to the Commissioner, also directed the State Emergency Management Agency to carry out an urgent assessment of the damage done by the invaders.

By Aviashima Toom Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai have hinted that the state government officials will not honour the meeting with federal government delegation and that of the Nigeria Labour Congress. El- Rufai made the declaration on the premise that electricity supply hasn’t been restored in the state since the intervention of the federal government in the industrial dispute.   The governor who dropped the hint on his Facebook page said no official of the state will go to Abuja for a meeting with Federal government or Labour. KADUNA UPDATE: No official of Kaduna State will go to Abuja for any meeting with FGN or NLC when the citizens of the State have no electricity. We hold the FGN responsible for inability to asset its ownership rights over TCN. No electricity, no meeting. – @elrufai A statement by Special Adviser to the Governor on  (Media and Communications), Muyiwa Adekeye Said the statement is yet to see evidence that NLC is backing off the strike. READ FULL

By Our Reporter A committee set up by the NGF recommended a petrol price of between N408.5 per litre and N380 per litre. It called for the immediate removal of fuel subsidy. The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai who is the chairman of the committee, explained that the current subsidy regime was unsustainable because smugglers and illegal markets in neigbouring African countries were the beneficiaries. The committee recommended that the removal of subsidies should be immediate to save the nation’s economy. He noted that Nigeria, like other Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries member countries, agreed to cut production to keep the prices high but that Nigeria could not fully benefit from the regime because of subsidies.   The Kaduna governor said, “Between N70bn and N210bn is estimated to be spent every month to keep gasoline price at N162 per litre, this is below the cost price and the remittance to the federation account will shrink to less than N50bn pe

By Doris Nnaji The federal government will on Thursday, meet the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the ongoing protest and strike in the State. Spokesman of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, who disclosed this to journalists through a formal invitation, said the meeting will begin at 11:00 am where the President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, is expected to lead other labour leaders. “The Honorable Minister for Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige, will be hosting an industrial dispute reconciliation meeting between the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),” the invitation partly read. El-Rufai had on Wednesday threatened to deal with Wabba and other labour leaders for ‘paralysing’ the economy of the State through their actions, saying they are “criminals” and would be treated as such. The governor, while addressing the 23rd Annual Tax Confer

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Ahmed Lawan, President of the senate The Senate will not meet in plenary throughout next week, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, disclosed on Wednesday morning. Lawan said the week will be dedicated to zonal public hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. “We shall be devoting the entire week to the constitution review exercise,” Lawan said. More details to follow…

Our Reporter Ahmed Isah, the host of a magazine radio programme, Brekete Family, has apologised for slapping a lady accused of setting a minor’s head on fire. A viral BBC investigative video had captured the moment Isah slapped the woman, and the report resulted in heated arguments online. Lawyers told THE WHISTLER on Tuesday that slapping an accused person was constitutionally wrong. During his radio program on Wednesday, Isah said he was overtaken by his emotions. He said the incident happened three months ago. “I call as somebody that is ashamed of himself… “After three months…when they saw that police did not arrest the aunty…they came to me.. “They brought her in the evening after I have treated 200 cases. “When they brought her, she was not remorseful. That was why I slapped her and I am very sorry for what I did.      

By Kelechi Morris Two offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ebonyi State have been set ablaze by unidentified persons. The offices are located in Ebonyi and Ezza North Local Government Areas of the state. It was gathered that no casualties were recorded but there were extensive damages to the building and facilities. The Commission is yet to issue a full statement on the incident. Although SR reports that the latest attack brings the number of offices of the Commission that have been torched to 23. This is coming weeks after the commission’s offices in Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo were also razed by unknown hoodlums.

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for external candidates. Announcing the results at the Council Headquarters in Minna on Thursday, the Registrar/Chief Executive, Godswill Obioma disclosed that a total of 41,459 candidates registered for the examination, out of which 39,503 actually sat. A statement issued by Azeez Sani, Head, Information and Public Relations Division of NECO and obtained by PlatinumPost in Abuja said Obioma explained that a total of 26,277 candidates obained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics while 34,014 candidates also obtained five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics. The Registrar who reiterated the Council’s zero tolerance for examination malpractice, noted that appropriate standards and excellence were maintained right from the planning stage to the release of results. Obioma disclosed tha

By Aviashima Toom.   The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University Chapter, has directed its members to join the ongoing warning strike by public sector workers in Kaduna State. The ASUU Chairperson, Dr Peter Adamu, gave the directive in a circular to the members of the union, issued in Kaduna on Monday. Mr Adamu said: “I am directed by the National Secretariat of our great union through the Zonal office Kano, for members to join the warning strike. “Members should remember that ASUU is an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the principal officers of ASUU were part of the NLC National Executive Council that took the decision on the strike action. “Also, members that violate the strike action must note that the union will not be there for them when the wrath of the governor falls on them. “We must unite for a just cause because injury to one is injury to all.” NLC National President, Ayuba Wabba, said at the five-day strike action that it would run

By Doris Nnaji The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to shut down Nigeria over the “arrogance” of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Comrade Williams Akporeha and Comrade Afolabi Olawale, National President and Secretary in a statement said NUPENG is deeply saddened with the violent turn of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) peaceful protests by the “dictatorial and despotic regime of Governor Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna State.” They urged the Federal Government to immediately call on El-Rufai to order “before his arrogance and power-drunk ego further push the situation into horrendous calamity as he has been doing in all issues relating to human lives and wellbeing”. NUPENG warned that no labour leaders or workers be harmed, harassed, maimed, humiliated or victimized during the 5-day peaceful protests in the State. “Our Union is raising this alarm following the very reliable report of the clandestine move of Governor Nasir El-RUfai to hurt and put

By Doris Nnaji   Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has ordered the dismissal of Kaduna State University’s lecturers who join other workers on strike in the state. He made this known in a press statement by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, on Tuesday, titled, ‘KDSG will not tolerate criminal acts disguised as industrial action’. Part of the statement read, “Any academic staff of KASU that does not report for work will be dismissed. The authorities of KASU are to submit a copy of the attendance register for all categories of staff daily to the Secretary to the State Government and the Commissioner of Education. “All MDAs are also to submit daily copies of attendance register to the Head of Service; “KDSG will not submit its treasury to the entitled minority. We will reform and rightsize our public service to meet the needs and resources of the Kaduna State even if the NLC strikes ad infinitum. “The government remains committed to using all the resources it can generate to serve the i

By Doris Nnaji   The Progressive Governors Forum has urged Governor Nasir El-Rufai to return to the negotiation table with the Nigeria Labour Congress to prevent the ongoing strike from crippling Kaduna’s economy. Governor Abubakar Bagudu, the Chairman of the PGF, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. "The PGF has been following unfolding development between NLC and Kaduna state government over the issue of rightsizing local government employees with deep concerns. “Noting all the challenges facing all our states, especially given dwindling revenue, we appeal to all patriotic Nigerians, including the NLC, to demonstrate more commitment toward engaging governments at all levels to address problems. “This is not the time for muscle-flexing,” Mr Bagudu said. The PGF added, “At this critical point of our democratic journey, there could not be limits to engagement between all governments and citizens.” The PGF chair also appealed to the NLC to toe the path of dialogue. Though t

By Aviashima Toom Recovering from the last week loss in Kaduna to Jigawa Golden Stars, Lobi Stars came out red hot Sunday May 16 in an NPFL 2020/2021 in Makurdi to show superiority over hard fighting FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Match Day 21 to end it 2-0. FC Ifeanyi Ubah exhibited serious resistant, coming close at several intervals, but the overall capacity of Lobi Stars stood firm with a match winning mentality. Tragedy almost struck as jumbo size Lobi Stars goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali crashed with FC Ifeanyi Ubah's captain Uche Onuoha in a 50-50 situation, it took the intervention of the combine medical team of Lobi Stars and FC Ifeanyi Ubah to arrest the situation as the well equipped ambulance move closer to the scene before he was resuscitated. The exchange of fire works only paid off in the 37th minute when Ossy Martins put Lobi Stars ahead off Ebube Duru's delivery from a short corner kick on the right for the opener. Several other attempts to increase the goal tally