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  President Biden announced Monday that his administration has reached an agreement with 20 internet providers — including AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon — to provide discounted high-speed internet service to low-income Americans, The Washington Post reports. "Over the last few months, my administration has worked closely with internet providers — this is a case where big business stepped up — urging them to cut their prices and raise their speeds. I'm trying to get others to do the same thing with inflation, but these guys are the best," Biden said in the Rose Garden on Monday, drawing laughs with the last line. Biden has repeatedly blamed high inflation rates on corporate greed. "So now," he continued, "families who are eligible can select a plan from a participating provider and receive high-speed internet at no cost in most cases." The plan will cover some 48 million households and, when combined with existing federal subsidies, make internet servi...

Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election. In a short broadcast shared via his Twitter handle has said this. “In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari. “We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our Nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure and growing our economy. As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year. “In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high level international engagements. I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been...

Nigerian Railway Corporation has said it had still not been able to establish contact with 163 passengers and seven crew members who boarded the AK9 Abuja-Kaduna train that was attacked by terrorists on March 28, 2022. NRC’s Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, made this known in the sixth update from the corporation with respect to the train attack. He, however, stated that 191 passengers had been confirmed safe and were in their various homes with their families, adding that work was ongoing to get the rail line back to operations. Asked on the status of the 362 validated passengers who boarded the train, Okhiria said, “191 persons on the manifest are now confirmed safe and at their various homes. Additional five persons confirmed safe today. “46 phone numbers on the manifest are still either switched off or not reachable since Tuesday morning 33 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing but still no response from the other end. “62 phone numbers on the manifest when called response non...

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered the dismissal of nine police officers for allegedly spearheading a planned strike by members of the Nigeria Police Force over poor conditions of service. Those affected are two Inspectors, five Sergeants and two Constables. A police signal issued by the Commissioner of Police Provost, Force Headquarters, Abuja, said the men were dismissed from service following their orderly room trial for planning and coordinating a strike within the ranks and file of the police. The offenders were said to have been identified and subsequently arrested after their phone calls were tracked. The wireless message, which was addressed to various state police Commands, read, “Be informed that following the conclusion of the orderly room proceedings of the undermentioned Inspectors, rank and file for the offences of discreditable conduct, improper conduct, breach of confidence, to wit: planning, organising, coordinating industrial strike within the ra...

Federal government of Nigeria, thirty-six state governments and seven hundred and seventy-four local government area have shared the sum of  N695.03 billion as revenue for the month of February as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) plan to deduce N242.53 billion for subsidy. Mr. Olajide Oshundun, The Federation Account Allocation Committee Director of Information disclosed this in a communique in a virtual conference on Tuesday.  Inclusive of Gross Statutory Revenue, Value Added Tax (VAT), Non-Mineral Revenues and Excess Bank charges, the Federal Government received N236.177 billion, states government received N190.007 billion, and the Local Government Councils got N140.612 billion. Oil-producing states received N23.750 billion as derivation (13% of Mineral Revenue) and Cost of Collection received N23.989 billion and Transfer/ Refunds got N80.498 billion. From the Value Added Tax (VAT) Oshundun noted that 177.873 billion Gross Domestic Revenue was generated in ...

 The Federal High Court in Abuja, Monday, has ordered 20 members of the Cross Rivers State House of Assembly to vacate their seats in the house for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress. Justice Taiwo Taiwo, delivery judgment held that the members should vacate their seats since they have dumped the party who brought them to power.  This comes barely two weeks the Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi and his deputy, Eric Kelechi-Igwe was sacked by the Federal High Court in Abuja along with members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly. 

Willie Obiano  The former governor of Anambra state, Willie Obiano, has been granted bail by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission - EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the commission has disclosed. Obiano was arrested Thursday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos State,  while attempting to leave for the United States after handing over to his successor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. The ex governor has long been at the custody of EFCC for alleged  N42 billion fraud. Bawa, speaking at the sideline of the 5th Annual General Assembly meeting of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa in Abuja, Monday, explained that the anti-corruption agency was waiting for the ex governor to meet his bail conditions. The EFCC boss explained that the arrest of Obiano was not political when queued with question why the ex governor has been in the EFCC net beyond the period allowed by the constitution. “Nothing political about the arrest of th...

  The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency - NDLEA has arraigned the embittered Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on eight counts bordering on obstruction, conspiracy, and dealing in cocaine, and other related offences.  In the charge filed through a team of lawyers led by its Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, Mr. Joseph Sunday, NDLEA accused Kyari and four other police officers of conspiracy, obstruction, and dealing in Cocaine worth 17.55 kilograms. They were also accused of tampering with 21.25kg of cocaine unlawfully. The Federal Government, last Thursday approved the request by the United States of America to extradite the suspended Kyari over alleged $1.1million wire fraud involving Abass Ramon aka Hushpuppi and four others. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), made this known in an application filed before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has sacked his Chief of Staff, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen. The former commissioner of works was relieved of duties Tuesday in a letter made available to newsmen and signed by the secretary to the state government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem. According to the letter, Inyang-eyen who hails from Onna, the local government of the state governor was relieved of duties due to the urgent need for competence. "SSG/AKS/S/200/VOL.1/406 22 February, 2022 Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen, Office of the Chief of Staff to Governor,  Governor's Office Complex, 1 Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo  Dear Sir,  APPRECIATION OF YOUR SERVICE  On behalf of His Excellency, the Governor, government and the good people of Akwa Ibom State, I write to convey to you His Excellency, the Governor’s profound appreciation of the worthy contributions you made to the development of our dear State while you served as Chief of Staff to the Governor. However, given the urgent...

A pplicants in Akwa Ibom State have decried the alleged secret employment going on in the state’s public service.  One of the applicants, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Punch Newspapers, disclosed that she paid N250,000 to a top government official to secure a job but had not gotten the job. “We are many who have paid money to get the civil service job. I paid since April last year. Others who paid have resumed work. I am yet to get my employment letter,” she said. According to some of the applicants, they have parted with huge amounts ranging from  N200,000 to N300,000 as bribe  to gain employment. Findings further gathered that some top government officials and politicians use their connection to secure employment for their cronies while some applicants pay huge amounts of money as bribes to some government officials to secure employment. A   source close to the Head of Civil Service told Punch Newspapers reporter that new employees visited their offic...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities Monday accused Federal Government of  failure to meet its demands as the union began a four-week strike action. The National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, during a press conference at the University of Lagos, Akoka, after the union’s National Executive Committee meeting disclosed that the Federal Government since its last meeting with the union in December, has not invited the union for any engagement in respect to the demands of the union.  Osodeke said the union after its NEC meeting decided to  to embark on “a four week-roll-over total and comprehensive strike action” beginning from Monday, 14th February, 2022. Meanwhile, the decision of the union has spaked reactions from different state governments with some advising their lecturers against joining the strike action. Some state governments argued that the dispute was between the union and the federal government adding that there was no written agreement betwee...

  World Bishops’ Council, Africa has decried the rising spate of fake pastors in the country, calling for urgent cleansing of churches in Nigeria. The spokesman, Bishop Seun Adeoye who is the General Overseer, Sufficient Grace and Truth Ministries, Okinni, Osun State made the call in a statement issued to mark the 70th birthday of one of the church leaders in the state. In a separate statement, another cleric,  Bishop Gideon Folahanmi, challenged the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria to immediately commence registration and licensing of all practising clerics in its fold. Gideon said fake prophets and pastors have found it easy to  “emit foul odours and vomit dirt from their bowels in the name of prophecies" through social media platforms.   “Today, we are surrounded by the so-called men and women of God declaring fake prophecies, spreading unbiblical doctrines, engaging in all manners of immoral behaviours and undertaking all sorts of rituals a...

The House of Representative Wednesday forced a member, Atigwa Simon of the Peoples Democratic Party who is representing Igbo Eze north/Udenu Federal constituency of Enugu state in the green chamber to withdraw a bill seeking to bar industrial actions in the health sector. The proposal which which according to the House failed it second reading at the plenary on Wednesday, was against the provisions of the constitution.  The Bill titled " A Bill for an Act to Amend the Trade Disputes Act, Cap. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Prohibit Medical Practitioners in the Employment of Federal, State and Local Governments (as Employees in the Essential Service Sector) from Embarking on Strike and to Accelerate Administrative and Judicial Proceedings in the Determination of Trade Disputes Involving Them; and for Related Matters' read out by Atigwa Simon and moved motion for was seconded by Okwudili seconded the motion. Ahmed Wase, the deputy speaker who presided over the se...

Miss Ajibola Ayomikun, a 200-level student of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife has been confirmed dead after falling inside a soakaway in BVER, one of the private hostels in the students’ village. Confirming the news to newsmen, the Public Relations Officer of the University,  Abiodun Olarewaju described the incident as unfortunate. “When the news got to us, we immediately mobilised the emergency responders from the University, Osun State, and the OAU Teaching Hospital who through concerted efforts got the student out. “She was immediately taken to the OAU Teaching Hospitals Complex where she was certified dead,” Abiodun said. In a subsequent statement, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede was said to have led a team of the University management to the  scene of the incident, sympathised with the students and commiserated with the parents of the deceased. Ogunbodede who described the incident as  “tra...

Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has today adjourned a case seeking the removal of President Muhammadu Buhari for 3 months as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  The case was filled by The Incorporated Trustees of the Civil Society Observatory for Constitutional and Legal Compliance seeking the removal of the president for alleged falsification of affidavit in the 2019 elections.  The civil group asked the court to declare the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the  2019 elections as president. Oluwole Afolabi and F. O. Amedu who appeared Wednesday when the case resume represented both the All Progressives Congress and Buhari claimed to be briefed and genuine legal representatives. Haruna Tsamani led three member panel adjourned the appeal to May 18 following a confusion  to enable the parties to reconcile the issue of representation.

Weekend FOOTBALL Preview. Did you missed the weekend mouthwatering matches across Europe best leagues or Sadio Mané's led Senegal claiming AFCON glory to match their continental status?  Do not be despaired, Patrick Ekong will tell you about Senegal's first ever AFCON title to their name, PSG - Paris Saint-Germain scoring for fun, and Xavi Hannadez delivering his best FC Barcelona  win against the reigning champions.  Oh! Least I forget, Cristiano Ronaldo has surpassed 4 million followers on Instagram. SADIO MANNE STRUCK TO CLAIM SENEGAL FIRST AFCON GLORY. Like a lightening, Sadio Manne rose to the occasion to struck a decisive penalty to hand Senegal their first ever continental silverware and condemned Mo Salah's led Egypt to their third defeat in the continental showpiece finals. Mane, the player of the tournament who had his a fourth-minute penalty saved by Egypt's goalkeeper, Gabaski, netted Senegal's final penalty of the shootout after Edouard Mendy had saved ...

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Otokito, who was released by his kidnappers on Monday, said he never thought of seeing his kids again after he was released by his abductors on Monday. Narrating his ordeal, he said he was thought he was going to die in the hands of his assailants and expressing his appreciation to the Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and security agencies for rescuing him alive. Otokito was freed five days after he was kidnapped by purported crude oil theives on the 20th of January 2022 at his residence in Otuokpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. The State Commissioner of Police,  Police, Ben Okolo, and the State Director of State Security Services, Mohammed Abdullahi,  presented Otokito to the State Governor, Diri on Monday evening at the Government House, Yenagoa. The State Commissioner of Industry T rade and Investment sustained various degrees of injuries with swollen...

Civil Society Organisations under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Monday storm the National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress in Abuja in separate rallies demanding the zoning of the 2023 presidential tickets to the South. The Group appealed that for sustainable peace, national unity and the strengthens democracy, both parties should endeavour to zone the presidential ticket to the South. The CCSG President, Bassey Williams argued that Nigeria presidential seat has always been rotatory between the South and the North for stability in the country.  “We are convinced that power should naturally rotate between the Northern and Southern region of the country. We also believe that it is by the avowed commitment to this arrangement that we can stop the current ethnographic-religious division being experienced in the country. “Our visit today is to lend our voice in support of the call for power shift to the southern part of Ni...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced the commencement of 2022/2023 registration for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and the Direct Entry examination. The board made this known in its weekly bulletin released by its Director of Public Relations, Dr Fabian Benjamin, and made available to The PUNCH in Abuja said the registration exercise will commence by February 12, 2022. The bulletin stated that Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) and Direct Entry Examination (DE) registration will commence starts 12th of February, 2022 and ends on the 19th of March, 2022 while UTME  examinations hold on the 20th to 30th of April, 2022.  Mock examination to hold on the 20th of April, 2022.

Angry youths have set ablaze Noble Kids Comprehensive College in Kwanar Dakata community in Nassarawa local Government Area of Kano State where Hanifa Abubakar was buried.  It is gathered that the youths storm the school premises early Monday morning and set ablaze, purportedly in protest of the killing of the five years old Hanifa Abubakar.  Hanifa Abubakar was abducted, killed and buried late last year and Adulmalik Mohamed Tanko, her teacher was said to among those involved. The abductors demanded 6 million naira ramson only to kill the five years after receiving the money.