Tariff hike: Stop killing Nigerians, economy, Ajaero tells FG
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The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has urged the Federal Government to stop implementing policies that will “kill Nigeria and its economy”.
Ajaero said this in a statement in reaction to the recent move by DISCOS to hike the electricity tariff for Band A customers.
Discos across the country on Wednesday announced an increment for Band A customers. The new announcements come months after the previous increment.
The PUNCH reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ordered the immediate upward review of electricity tariffs from Wednesday, 3 April.
Band A customers are offered an average daily electricity supply of 20 hours, although many complain they do not get up to that.
NERC had in January said the Nigerian government will pay as much as N1.6 trillion to subsidise electricity in the year 2024.
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Rivers Crisis:Caution Wike, G-60 Reps tell IG
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A group of 60 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, popularly known as G-60 lawmakers, on Thursday, called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokeun, to stop aiding the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike in meddling in the Rivers State political crisis.
The lawmakers spoke against Thursday’s ruling of the Court of Appeal which dismissed an order barring Martin Amaewhule and 24 others from parading themselves as lawmakers and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Recall that a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on May 10, 2024, had barred the Speaker of the State Assembly and 24 others loyal to Wike from parading themselves as lawmakers.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, the spokesman of the group, Ikenga Ugochinyere chided Egbetokun for playing the ostrich while the oil-rich state burns in the heat of the political tension.
He said, “Why has the IGP not arrested those who carried dynamite during a peaceful protest against pro-Wike supporters? Why is the IGP showing support for the FCT Minister by not calling to order those breaking laws and order in the state because one man told them to?
“We are calling on the IGP to do the right thing and stop giving support to pro-Wike supporters because he is the FCT Minister.
Tinubu has failed, can’t solve problems Buhari caused – PDP
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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says President Bola Tinubu has failed Nigerians.
PDP noted that Tinubu’s bad leadership had plunged Nigerians into hardship and worsened the precarious economic situation.
The opposition party said Tinubu’s administration had failed to address the problems caused by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a post on its X page, PDP wrote: “The Tinubu administration’s bad leadership has plunged Nigerians into unimaginable hardship, exacerbating the country’s already precarious economic and social conditions.
“Since assuming office in 2023, the APC led administration’s policies and actions have only served to worsen the lives of Nigerians.
“One of the most significant hardships faced by Nigerians is the escalating cost of living.
The administration’s economic policy has led to a surge in inflation, making it difficult for Nigerians to afford basic necessities like food, healthcare, fuel, education, etc. The prices of staple foods have skyrocketed, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet.
$500m lost to internet fraud in 2022 -EFCC chair
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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has decried the negative impact of internet crimes popularly known as “yahoo yahoo’’ on the country.
Olukoyede disclosed that several international companies had to shut down their Nigerian operations following massive theft of their finances through local wire fraud.
He noted that in 2022, over $500m was lost as a result of the activities of Internet fraudsters.
A statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the EFCC chairman spoke at the Global Peace Movement International awards on Thursday, where he was named the Man of the Year.
He said, “In 2022, we lost over $500 million in our economy to yahoo boys. The statistics are there. In the same year, about 71 international companies left Nigeria because they hacked their accounts.
“We can’t get credit cards in Nigeria because of our poor credit rating because of the activities of these cyber criminals. So, the best we can get is debit cards.