THE Senate will today hold a public hearing on the controversial Electoral Act which seeks to grant automatic members of national executive council of political parties to legislators, despite out cries from members of the public against the bill regarded by many as self-serving.

THE Federal Government, yesterday, approved the inclusion of additional 6, 166 ex-militants in the on-going amnesty programme.

As the 2011 General elections draw nearer, immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Abdurahman Bello Dambazau, yesterday advised the Nigeria Army to continue to maintain its neutrality, saying it was only by so doing that democracy would be allowed to naturally evolve at its own pace in Nigeria.

THE Senate Committee on Capital Market has summoned Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh and Interim Administrator of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh to appear before it, Tuesday, to answer questions relating to activities of the Commission and NSE respectively.

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has expressed concern over the prolonged strike in tertiary institutions in the South-Eastern states.

MEDICAL students of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, who have been out of class room for upwards of six months on account of the protracted strike embarked upon by doctors, have been lamenting their fate, saying they were now “frustrated”.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said the state government does not have enough resources to pay the N18,000 minimum wage recently approved by the National Council of State, saying the state government would re-negotiate with the labour leaders on the acceptable minimum wage to be paid the state workers.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is set to approve the guidelines for aspirants seeking political offices on its ticket on Wednesday.

Lagos State Government, last Friday, lived up to its promise as it approved the payment of over N360 million to offset the salaries of medical doctors in Lagos public hospitals across the state who recently called off their 14 weeks old strike over agitation for better welfare packages among others.

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Anambra State chapter, weekend defied the state government’s plea to reverse the suspension order placed on some of its executive members.

President Goodluck Jonathan, weekend, said the development of tourism and culture in the country was imperative to enhance the economic potential of Nigeria.