The week witnessed significant strides across the globe. Notable for Nigeria was the commencement of a two-day warning strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which began on Tuesday, September 5, to protest the failure of the Federal Government to address the difficulties caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.
The announcement was made by NLC President Joe Ajaero on Friday during a news conference at the Labour House in Abuja, while addressing resolutions passed by the NLC National Executive Committee (NEC).
The union had accused the federal government of abandoning the talks and failing to follow some of the resolutions reached in previous meetings.
Election Petition Court validates Tinubu’s presidency
Another important incident was the judgement by the Presidential Election Petition Court, which declared President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as validly elected in the February 25th polls.
In an over 11-hour verdict presided over by Justice Haruna Tsamani, the tribunal held that the petitioners, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have not been able to prove their allegations of noncompliance with the electoral laws before the court.
Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, rejected Wednesday’s court judgement. The Labour Party criticised the judgement stating that the verdict did not reflect the “desires of the people”. They have vowed to appeal against the judgement at the Supreme Court, the final court on presidential election disputes.
Kaduna begins full implementation of 2014 CONMESS for resident doctors
Then good news from Kaduna, as the state Governor Uba Sani approved the request of the Association of Resident Doctors working under the State Ministry of Health to commence full implementation of the 2014 Consolidated Medical Salary Scale CONMESS.
During negotiations with the striking doctors, it was discovered that the doctors employed by the Kaduna State Ministry of Health receive 75% of the 2014 CONMESS, but those employed by the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital got 100%.
The approved 100% CONMESS will bring Resident Doctors in the Ministry of Health at parity with their counterparts at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital.
The approval follows the suggestions made by a committee chaired by the State Head of Service.
NAFDAC Tackles artificial ripening of fruits
Meanwhile, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has established a multi-dimensional approach to tackle the practice of using calcium carbide and other chemicals artificial ripen fruits.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this at the opening of a Media Sensitization Workshop on Dangers of Ripening Fruits with Calcium Carbide hosted in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
It is not always possible to wait for the fruit to ripen naturally. More often than not, they need to be transported over long distances and if they had been harvested in a ripe stage, they get spoilt before reaching their destination. For such situations, farmers harvest them much before they get ripe. The traders then ripen them artificially at the destination using certain chemicals.
Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards
In the sporting world, Nigerian footballers Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala were nominated for the prestigious 2023 Ballon d’Or awards.
The Napoli striker is the first Nigerian to be nominated for the prize in 24 years and Kanu Nwankwo was the last to earn that feat.
Oshola who plays for Barcelona in Spain was nominated for the women’s category.
The entertainment industry was agog with the 16th edition of the Headies Award held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.
Rema’s most popular single, Calm Down won several awards. He also won Best Male Artist, African Artist and Digital Artist of the Year.
Aremu Olaiwola Qudus a.k.a Director K, who produced the video of the song also won Best Video Director.
Asake also scooped the Next Rated Artist award and his ‘Mr Money With The Vibez’, won Album of the year.
Burna Boy’s Last Last won Afrobeats Single of the Year and Song of the Year.
Investors at the close of trading on Wednesday lost N27bn as trading activities slowed due to the national strike and as the nation awaited the decision of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
The market reacted negatively on Thursday as the amount of loss worsened to N112 billion, with the market capitalisation losing 0.29% to close at N37.261 trillion.
The All-Share Index lost 204.17 basis points to close at 68.082.11 on Thursday. Although the volume of shares traded dropped to 378.089 million in 8,106 deals.
Market sentiments became bullish, recording a total of 30 losers as against 25 gainers
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu returns after a three-month medical leave
The Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has returned to the country after a three-month medical leave.
The Governor had in a letter in June informed the House of his decision to proceed on medical leave and directed his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to act as governor pending his resumption.
Prior to the development, Akeredolu was rumoured to have died while receiving treatment which was debunked by the state government.
His wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, confirmed the return of her husband via X and Facebook accounts accompanied with his photograph captioned “homebound”.
Gabon swears in interim president after coup
The Gabon coup leader, General Brice Nguema has been sworn in as the nation’s interim president.
In a speech after being sworn in as interim president, Gen Mguema has vowed to return power to civilians after “free, transparent” elections.
But, he did not give a date for military rule to end.
The interim president, defended the seizure of power last week, saying that it was a patriotic act.
Nguema quoted Ghana’s former military leader, and later elected president, Jerry John Rawlings, saying that: “When the people are smashed by the leaders, then it’s the military who must give them back their dignity and freedom.
A lecturer at the University of Lagos, Dr Kadiri Akeem Bablola has been detained after being accused of raping a 20-year-old female undergraduate student in his office.
Writing by Chinasa Ossai; Editing by Julian Osamoto