Abia State Governor Alex Otti has abrogated the payment of promotion examination fees by public servants in the state, effective from the ongoing 2022–2023 promotion exercise.
The Abia State Head of Service, Mrs Ngozi Queen Obioma, who announced this in Umuahia during a meeting with top management staff of the Office of the Head of Service, maintained that the directive has come into effect.
Mrs Obioma also called on civil servants who are eligible for the 2022 and 2023 promotions, conversion and confirmation to proceed to the Office of the State Head of Service along with two passport-size photographs for registration from August 1 to 5, 2024. She explained that those eligible for the written examinations are civil servants from Grade 10 and above, as well as those going for conversion and confirmation.
The Abia State Head of Service warned that no civil servant should be subjected to any form of payment in this promotion exercise, as this would be flouting the governor’s directive. She enjoined permanent secretaries, heads of departments and agencies to ensure that the directive was fully complied with.
TVN learnt that the abrogation of the examination fees by the governor may not be unconnected with previous promotion exercises in the state’s civil service, which were allegedly riddled with complaints of financial demands from some persons and offices.
Otti bans payment for promotion examinations in Abia civil service
Otti bans payment for promotion examinations in Abia civil service
MTN network slows as nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest begins
MTN Nigeria’s network services experienced a slowdown on Thursday morning, coinciding with the commencement of nationwide protests against bad governance.
The disruption affected a substantial number of MTN’s subscribers, who expressed frustration and speculated about the cause of the slowdown on X (formerly Twitter).
MTN has not yet commented on the issue. However, the timing of the slowdown has raised speculation among users about a potential link to the government’s efforts to manage communication during the protests.
@Sunnyjoflife tweeted, “All of a sudden, MTN Network is not working properly on the 1st of August. These people know what they’re doing. #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #EndBadGovernanceProtest.”
@Opeolu_waa also reported issues, saying, “Suddenly, MTN’s network is bad on the day of the planned protest; you people know what you’re doing.”
Other users, including @Oghenerie, @OkekeMakuo1851, and @Maxvayshia, shared similar experiences, with some speculating that the network issues might be related to the government’s efforts to manage communication during the protests.
@Tarifubara noted that they had used the MTN network earlier in the day without issues, suggesting that the problems might be targeted.
@MTNNG, the official Twitter handle of MTN Nigeria, was tagged in several of the tweets, with users calling for a swift resolution to the network issues.
On Sunday, human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa cautioned telecom companies against attempting to stifle the upcoming demonstration against economic hardship by limiting internet access for Nigerians.
Adegboruwa warned that any attempts to restrict internet connectivity would be perceived as an infringement on citizens’ rights to free speech and assembly.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria urged the Nigerian Communications Commission to ensure uninterrupted internet access during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The protest is scheduled to continue until 10 August, as Nigerians demand action from the government to address the country’s economic woes.
The demonstration is a response to the escalating economic hardship faced by citizens, who are struggling with a high cost of living, widespread hunger, soaring unemployment rates, and limited access to quality education, among other pressing concerns.
PROTEST: US embassy security alert highlights heightened tensions in Nigeria
The recent security alert issued by the US embassy to its citizens in Nigeria underscores the growing apprehension over potential civil unrest in the country.
The advisory, which urged Americans to avoid protests and crowds, is a stark reminder of the volatile political and socio-economic climate that has been simmering for some time.
While the embassy cited “potential nationwide protests” as the primary reason for the alert, the move can be interpreted as a broader assessment of the security situation.
The statement indicated that the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will operate with essential staff only, on Thursday, Aug. 1, and on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
Read Also: Senate President’s Office debunks reports of ‘eating while protesting’ comment
It further said that the consular sections of the embassy in Abuja and the consulate general in Lagos would offer reduced emergency services to American citizen only.
The embassy added that all visa appointments had been cancelled.
“Non-essential staff are advised to remain at home to avoid disruptions that could result from the potential nationwide protests that continue to be reported in the media.
“Media reports indicate that protesters are expected to gather at Eagle Square in Abuja from mid- to late-morning.
“In Lagos, protests may start as early as 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. and primary locations have been identified as Alausa Park, Freedom Park, and Peace Park.
“Additional possible protest sites in Lagos include Nahco Bus Stop (Airport Road), Marwa Bus Stop (Lekki-Epe Expressway), and Ikeja “Under the Bridge” (Intersection of Obafemi Awolowo and Allen Avenue),” the statement said.
Nigeria has been grappling with a myriad of challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity, and political polarization. These factors, coupled with the history of protests often turning violent, have contributed to a climate of uncertainty.
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> The embassy’s decision to operate with essential staff only on certain days highlights the perceived gravity of the situation. It is a clear signal to both Nigerians and the international community that the potential for disruptions is significant.
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Teenager charged with murdering three girls in UK dance party
A teenager appeared in court Thursday charged with murdering three girls in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party as violent protests over the attack erupted in several English cities.
The 17-year-old-who cannot be named due to his age – faces three counts of murder and 10 of attempted murder following the killings Monday in Southport, northwest England.
The attack has shocked the country, while misinformation online about the background of the suspect has fuelled violent disturbances by far-right agitators who targeted a mosque and clashed with police in Southport.
Protests rocked London, and the northern cities of Hartlepool and Manchester on Wednesday night. More than 100 people were arrested outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official Downing Street residence.
Starmer was to hold an emergency meeting Thursday with police chiefs seeking to quell the unrest.
The stabbing suspect was remanded in custody during a five-minute appearance at Liverpool magistrate’s court. He was to appear at the city’s Crown Court later in the day.
The youth wore a baggy grey tracksuit and black slippers and smiled before he was asked to sit down, according to reporters in the courtroom.
A judge in the Crown Court was to give a further ruling on the youth’s detention.
– Unrest –
The teenager is accused of murdering Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
He allegedly wounded another eight children and two adults during the frenzied attack that has sparked an outpouring of grief in Southport, a quiet seaside town.
Social media misinformation about him contributed to violent clashes in Southport on Tuesday night, in which bricks were thrown at a mosque and 53 police officers were injured.
Police have blamed members of the far-right English Defence League grouping, an Islamophobic organisation founded 15 years ago whose supporters have been linked to football hooliganism.
The protests spread on Wednesday, including to Downing Street.
Protesters threw bottles at police and shouted, “We want our country back” and “Stop the boats,” – the latter a reference to small boats bringing irregular migrants across the Channel.
– ‘Full force of the law’ –
In Hartlepool, northeast England, demonstrators set police cars on fire and threw objects at the officers, with police saying eight arrests were made.
Hartlepool police said officers faced having “missiles, glass bottles and eggs being thrown at them, with several suffering minor injuries.”
At the meeting with police leaders, Starmer will say the events at Southport “serve as a reminder of the bravery of our emergency service workers and the vitally important work they do to keep the public safe,” a statement by the prime minister’s office said.
He will also say that while the right to protest must be protected, “criminals who exploit that right in order to sow hatred and carry out violent acts will face the full force of the law”.
The Labour government has vowed to clamp down on crime and antisocial behaviour, with interior minister Yvette Cooper promising policies including ramping up the presence of community police “in every corner of the country”.
Starmer will tell police leaders “that they should not hesitate to use their powers to stop mindless violence in its tracks and make sure justice is served,” the statement said.
AFP
Bomb attack kills 19 in Borno tea-house
A devastating bomb attack has claimed the lives of at least 19 people in a tea-house in Kawuri village, Borno State, Nigeria.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday evening, has left 27 others injured and sent shockwaves through the community.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene to evacuate the injured and recover the bodies of the victims. Ibrahim Liman, a member of an anti-jihadist militia, confirmed the grim toll, describing the attack as one of the deadliest in the region in recent years.
Read Also: Protesters vow to continue #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests until Tinubu meets demands
“There was an explosion at a tea joint in Kawuri around 8:00 pm yesterday. We have recovered 19 dead bodies and 27 injured,” Liman told newsmen.
Two other militiamen confirmed the toll in Kawuri, around 50 kilometres (around 30 miles) from the state capital Maiduguri.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the region has been a hotbed of violence due to a long-standing insurgency. The incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges facing Borno State and the broader northeast region of Nigeria.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack and are working to apprehend those responsible. The government has also extended its condolences to the families of the victims and pledged to provide necessary support to the injured.
The post Bomb attack kills 19 in Borno tea-house appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
I rather die on the street than die at home, says protester
A protester, Benjamin Chijioke, who is among many Nigerians who hit the streets on Thursday to protest hardship and the high cost of living, declared his reasons for his demonstrations.
In an interview with a Channels TV reporter, Chijioke said, “I rather die on the street than die at home. I can’t sit and watch the future of my son go to waste. I know I may not have a future again in Nigeria but my son’s future will not be wasted.”
Chijioke’s statement is one of many Nigerians lamenting the desperation and determination to take to the streets in protest.
Speaking to an interviewer at the protest site in Lagos State, Chijioke revealed he had come alone from Festac to Mile 2 to participate in the demonstration.
He shared how the current economic situation is affecting his family, particularly his talented young son.
“My son at 13 is a programmer. I can’t even buy data for him to learn more. I can’t even pay for tuition fees; millions of naira. At 13, he can program video games,” Chijioke said.
Earlier, some other protesters have said the protests would continue unless President Bola Tinubu meets their demands.
They called on the president to do the needful and the protests would be immediately called off.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Director of Mobilisation, Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, lamented that the oppression under the president’s leadership had lasted too long.
He said, “The various court orders restricting protesters to particular locations are an aberration.
”Our presence here today is an announcement that we have been oppressed for too long.
“Today, we have risen. We saying to the president that unless President Bola Tinubu accede to our demands we will remain on the streets. We want to see the president on the street. During the protest, he was on the street.”
Protesters set NCC office ablaze in Kano
Hundreds of protesters wearing face caps with the word “peace” inscribed on them have stormed the streets of Kano, chasing away protesters who were looting shops and other commercial places.
The ‘Peace’ protesters, in their green face caps, chanted “Mu yanci mukeso ba ruwan mu da kayan kowa,” meaning, “We need freedom from the government, we don’t want anybody’s properties.”
Earlier, as the protests took their toll, many places were looted and set ablaze, including the NCC office at State Road.
The NCC office, newly built, and ready for commissioning soon, was looted and set on fire.
One of the ‘Peace’ protesters told journalists they would do their best to stop the looting and destruction of innocent people’s properties.
Protesters set NCC office ablaze in Kano
Osun protesters hit Osogbo streets despite rain
Many residents of Osogbo on Thursday defied early morning light rain and stormed streets for the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest against the poor state of the economy.
The protesters had started their march from Freedom Park, Osogbo, and moved through the popular MDS road to Olaiya Junction where the protesters, accompanied by armed security operatives, addressed journalists.
Undeterred by the drizzle that started shortly after the procession took off, the protesters armed with a large banner with the inscriptions, ‘End bad governance in Nigeria,’ sang songs to express their frustrations over the poor state of the economy.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Osun State Coordinator, Coalition of Concern Nigeria Citizen, Adetunji Ajala, demanded a return of the pump price to N180 per litre.
“Hunger, poverty and bad policy of this administration are affecting all of us. We are here not because of any political affiliation, not because anybody has given us money. What we have here is a reflection that people are displeased.
“The youth population is the largest and they are the ones suffering most. The office of the citizen is the highest in the land.
We are not afraid of anybody. What we have come to do is to exercise our rights.
“Pump price is N800 per litre today. It is not a question of either APC or PDP. What we are going through in this country is affecting everybody and it was caused by bad governance.
“Tinubu should review the policies. We are hungry. The protest is going to last for ten days. We want the pump price to return to N180 per litre,” Ajala said.
According Online reports that a major protest erupted Thursday, August 1 across Nigeria, driven by public dissatisfaction with current economic and social conditions.
Demonstrators voiced their frustrations nationwide, calling for reforms and greater accountability.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu appealed for patience with his policies and urged citizens not to let hoodlums exploit the unrest.
The protest underscored the nation’s desire for change while highlighting the need for peaceful and constructive dialogue.
Residents shun nationwide hunger protest in Ondo
Residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital, did not participate in the nationwide protest slated for today, August 1.
While monitoring the situation in the state capital, TVN observed that a few vehicles were moving on the streets while shops were under lock and key.
Also, the markets in the city were all closed down as traders locked their shops for fear of possible violence.
At the busy Olukayode Complex, the traders, mostly men, were seen playing football on a section of the road adjacent to the central mosque.
Meanwhile, security operatives were strategically positioned at various junctions in the state capital to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
Residents shun nationwide hunger protest in Ondo