Yenagoa— Against the backdrop of fears that residents of Bayelsa State who are used to free electricity might resist the proposed billing system for electricity consumption in the state, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) yesterday said it would use persuasion to collect tariff from consumers.

BENIN —THE Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Zakawanu Garuba, yesterday vowed that the leadership of the House would not be cowed to succumb to any form of intimidation from any quarter in carrying out its legislative functions.

Father of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Prof. Chukwuma Soludo , Pa Simeon Soludo has been Kidnapped. It would be recalled that the former CBN governor has indicated interest in the gubernatorial election of Anambra State slated for next year.

WARRI—NATIONAL Public Relations Officer of Urhobo Youth Council (UYC),Comrade Gabriel Akpude, has commended Tompolo, Ateke, Dagogo, Boyloaf, Kuku and other ex-militant leaders for accepting the Federal Government’s amnesty, which has automatically restored peace to Niger Delta.

Asaba—DEMOCRATIC Peoples Party (DPP) governorship candidate during the 2007 gubernatorial election in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, has said he continued to approach the Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge the election of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan because of the process that brought him to power.

WARRI—THE Nation al Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its strike against the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC).

SENIOR Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), has issued the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum to address the exclusion of its members in the research institutes, projects and federal colleges of agriculture in the on-going negotiation for improved conditions of service or risk an indefinite strike.

Osun State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, has blamed the poor performance of students of the state origin in the last WAEC and NECO on the past administration of Chief Adebisi Akande.

ABOUT 1,630 primary schools teachers in Ogun State, who failed to acquire the National Certificate in Education (NCE) as minimum qualification for teaching, have been sacked by the state government.