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Author: Day Break

FG Disburses N20,000 Grants to 125,000 Women, Says Minister
A total of 125,000 rural women across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) are to receive N20,000 each as cash grants from the Federal Government.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social
Development, Umar Farouq, disclosed this yesterday in Kano during the flag off of the programme in the state.
For the cash grants in Kano, she said about 8,000 women across the 44 local
government councils would benefit from the Federal Government’s initiative.
She was quoted in a statement issued in Abuja by her ministry’s Deputy Director
Information, Rhoda Iliya, as saying “A cash grant of N20,000 will be disbursed to about 125,000 poor women across the 36 states
of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.”
January 5, 2021
FG increases electricity tariff by 50%
Although Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the last increase in electricity tariff, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has enforced a new Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO), increasing electricity bill by over 50 per cent across the country.
A revised MYTO and minimum remittance threshold payable by the Distribution Companies and signed by NERC Chairman, Sanusi Garba empowers the 11 DisCos to increase tariff by 50 per cent citing prevailing economic realities, especially inflation and exchange rate.
The document dated December 30, 2020 overruled the previous order Order NERC/2028/2020.
Labour unions and the Federal Government had been at loggerhead following increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit as well as the increase in electricity tariff.
After series of outrage and outright rejection by consumers who cited poor power supply and the impacts of Covid-19, DisCos had in October last year started the implementation of a service-based reflective tariff (SRT) structure after backing by an approval from President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the new order, tagged NERC/225/2020, NERC based its decision by current inflation of 14.9 per cent iN379.4/$1 exchange rate.
All classes of consumers, except those who enjoy a few hours of power supply would pay more for electricity until June this year.
January 5, 2021
ABCON tasks CBN on forex stability in 2021

The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), on Tuesday, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to continue to stabilise the foreign exchange rates for economic growth.
Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, ABCON President, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Gwadabe said that the association’s expectation for 2021 was for CBN to maximise choices to improve the value of naira.
“My advice is that the CBN should continue to expand the supply source of the buffers through deliberate and strategic plans in the Diaspora remittances.

“Emphasis should also be given to diversification to enjoy the full potential of the present Africa Continental Free Trade agreements.
“It should also partner relevant stakeholders on the adoption of newer technologies and digitisation of our Bureaux de Change sector for the growth of the economy.
“Finally, it should enhance intelligence base approach for effective monitoring and supervision of the market,’’ Gwadabe said.
According to him, the present strategies and tactics of diversification of sources of foreign exchange should be enhanced.
He called on the Federal Government to move from one source of oil proceeds to multiple sources, such as non oil export proceeds, the Diaspora remittances and sales of unprofitable assets.
January 5, 2021
Nigeria records 1,204 new COVID-19 cases, highest daily surge ever
Nigeria on Monday recorded 1,204 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, taking the total number of infections to 91,351.
The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) made this known via its verified website.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria recorded 1,145 cases on Dec. 18, 2020.
The centre also announced seven deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the country’s death toll to 1,318.
It stated that three of the deaths occurred in Lagos, two in Sokoto, while Kebbi and Abia recorded one fatality each.
It said that Lagos, the epicentre of COVID-19, recorded the highest number of cases with 654, while FCT recorded 200.
Other states are Plateau-60, Kaduna-54, Kano-40, Rivers-30, Edo-28, Nasarawa-25, Kebbi-19, Bauchi-18, Oyo-13, Akwa Ibom-12, Bayelsa-11, Ogun-11, Delta-nine, Abia-eight, Benue-five, Imo-three, Borno-two, Sokoto-one and Osun-one.
January 5, 2021
774,000 Jobs will Kick off Today, Says Minister of State for Labour and Employment
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has said the Special Public Works Programme which will engage 774,000 unemployed Nigerians will kick off today.
Keyamo, who broke the news via Twitter, said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the date.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the take-off of the Special Public Works Programme (engaging 774,000 unemployed itinerant Nigerians) to begin nationwide on Tuesday, January 5th, 2021,” he said.
“All NDE state structures are already in top gear for the take-off ceremonies.”
The programme was earlier slated to kick off on October 1, but Keyamo had said the president approved the postponement of the scheme owing to floods in some of the project sites.
It was later moved to November 1.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the request of the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, to reschedule the commencement date of the Special Public Works Programme from the 1st of October to the 1st of November, 2020,” he had said.
“The approval is based principally on the Minister’s Memo to Mr. President informing him that most of the proposed project sites are still waterlogged and the rains have not abated, whereas the programme is designed for execution during the dry season.
It is believed that by the 1st of November most of the project sites would be ready for work.”
The planned recruitment had also caused friction between members of the national assembly and Keyamo.
While federal lawmakers had accused Keyamo of hijacking the programme from the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the minister alleged the legislators were the ones trying to take over the project.
Consequently, the National Assembly suspended the programme in the heat of its face-off with the minister, demanding further explanations.
But Buhari directed Keyamo to go ahead with the execution of the programme.
The programme is designed to employ 1,000 people from each of the 774 local government areas in the country and will be coordinated by constituted state committees.
The beneficiaries of the programme will also earn N20,000 monthly.
A total of N52 billion was voted for the programme in the revised 2020 bud
January 5, 2021
ASUU awaits release of N40b earned allowance
The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it is awaiting the release of the N40 billion earned allowance the Federal Government promised the union, 12 days after it called off the nine-month strike.
The government, it said, has also failed to continue payment of the withheld salaries of its members that are not enrolled on the controversial Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) after paying two months in December.
ASUU called of its strike on December 23, 2020, after a new deal with the government team, led by Labour and Employment Minster Chris Ngige, on December 22.
As a sign of good faith, the government paid two months of the six months withheld salaries of ASUU members, since March last year, leaving four months arrears.
The government, through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation was also supposed to continue the payment of the withheld salaries of the union members after Ngige got a special waiver from President Muhammadu Buhari to that effect.
But an ASUU leader told The Nation on Monday in Abuja that the government had missed two timelines in the December 22, 2020 MoA with the failure to pay the N40 billion EAA and another tranche of the withheld four months salaries.
January 5, 2021
Lai Mohammed Assures Nigerians No Plan To Impose Fresh Lockdown
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, yesterday, assured Nigerians that the Federal Government has no plan to impose a fresh lockdown on Nigeria as the country battles the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mohammed, who spoke at a conference in Lagos, however, appealed to Nigerians to adhere to all protocols outlined by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
The minister said, “On the issue of lockdown, I don’t think there is any time when the Federal Government has said it is going to have a second lockdown. However, the Federal Government is very unhappy that Nigerians are not adhering to the basic Covid-19 protocols of wearing face masks, or practicising social distancing, of washing hands, of ensuring that they do gather in large numbers.
“If we do not do these, the surge will continue and with the new strain of Covid-19 which is becoming much more difficult to handle than the old strain, the Federal Government will continue to insist and encourage Nigerians to please obey the Covid-19 protocols.
“The Federal Government is aware of the economic and social implications of a second lockdown but we want to call on Nigerians to help us, help themselves and help the economy, by adhering strictly to the Covid-19 protocols.”
January 5, 2021
Today’s Nigerian Newspaper Cover Stories 05- January -2021
January 5, 2021
Fayemi Approves N62m Housing Loan for 220 Teachers, Others
The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has approved the disbursement of N62 million loan to 220 teaching and non teaching staff of the Teaching Service Commission as housing loan.
A statement by the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Babatunde Abegunde, on Monday, said that the loan was approved for 220 staff, comprising teaching and non teaching staff.
Abegunde expressed appreciation to Fayemi for the gesture, explaining that the continued release of funds to the housing and vehicle loans schemes since the inception of the present administration has been a source of encouragement and motivation to teachers and other staff.
Abegunde said cumulatively, a total of N340,754,231.74 has been released from October 2018 when the current administration came on board till date, with 2,459 as beneficiaries so far.
According to him, “This is a demonstration of Governor Fayemi’s commitment to the welfare of workers. The governor is no doubt teachers’ friendly and caring.
“I commend the governor for his dedication to staff welfare in spite of the economic hardships occasioned by the worldwide Covid-19 challenge. The loans were revolving and as such would continue in due course and reach every worker.
“I appeal to those yet to benefit to exercise patience since the scheme is an ongoing exercise that it will soon reach more beneficiaries in due course.
“I enjoin the beneficiaries and all staff to show appreciation to Ekiti State government through loyalty and dedication to duties.”
Abegunde charged the workers to reciprocate the government’s good gesture by showing commitment and diligence at their duty posts.
January 4, 2021
Court Remands Sowore in Kuje Prison over Crossover Protest
Omoyele Sowore, and four others have been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Center, Abuja, pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications in their alleged public disturbance trial.
Chief Magistrate Marble Segun- Bello of a Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court, Abuja made the remand order shortly after the defendants were arraigned before her for allegedly embarking on a protest over 2021 crossover celebration.
The federal government had on Monday arraigned them on a 3-count charge of Criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly and public disturbance.
They were arrested by the Special Weapons Tactical Team in Abuja on January 1, while protesting to mark the New Year celebration.
Sowore was said to be leading the protest against bad governance on New Year’s Eve in Abuja.
According to the Prosecution, the defendants were seen carrying placards calling for a violent revolution against President Muhammadu Buhari.
They however pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.
Following their not guilty plea, prosecuting counsel prayed the court for their remand at the Kuje Correctional Center as investigations into the charges were ongoing.
But Counsel to the defendants, Marshal Abubakar, attempted to make an oral application for defendants’ bail, urging the court to grant them bail on self recognizance.
In a short ruling Chief Magistrate Segun- Bello ordered that the defendants file a formal bail application and adjourned hearing in the bail till Tuesday, January 5.
Meanwhile, the Magistrate ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Center pending the determination of their bail applications.
Sowore had earlier before the protest charged Nigerians on Twitter to hold a crossover protest by picking up a candle and a placard showing their grievances against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration
January 4, 2021