Workers of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, yesterday, shut down and sealed off the council secretariat complex over alleged four months unpaid salaries, crippling not only the activities of the council, but also Yenagoa zonal office of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, which resides in the complex.

LAGOS — The Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, has denied claims by Senator Shehu Sani, Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, alleging illegality in the move by the governors to obtain loans and other development assistance from the Islamic Development Bank, IDB.

Lagos—Worried by incessant boat mishaps, Lagos State Government yesterday warned boat operators against use of rickety boats, saying: “It will not be business as usual again.”

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, spent about N306.92 billion on subsidy between January and December 2015.

lagos—To stall the activities of child kidnappers who penetrate families disguising as caregivers, the Lagos State government has announced plans to establish day care centres across the state, beginning with the Alausa Secretariat and Oba Akinjobi areas of Lagos.

THE House of Representatives said Nigeria would require up to 160, 000 megawatts, MW, to meet national demand as the world standard puts 1000MW as a benchmark to satisfy the needs of one million citizens.

Nigeria and other African countries will have more access to electricity, as President of the United State, U.S., Barack Obama, signed into law an initiative under the Power Africa Scheme, to bring electricity to 50 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020.

Akure—DETECTIVES in Ondo State, yesterday, arrested a middle-aged man, who claimed to be insane, in possession of an unspecified amount of money, jewelries and no fewer than 18 Automated Teller Machine, ATM, cards of different banks.

Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has urged governors of the South East and South South states to join hands and stop the attack on pro- Biafra protesters by security agents in their states.

The Lagos State Police Command was, yesterday, thrown into mourning following the death of one of its Area Commanders, Osung Ekpo, in a swimming pool on Valentine’s Day.

WHEN the incredible issue of a missing/counterfeited 2016 budget arose some weeks ago, I was expecting to hear from the APC that Goodluck Jonathan was to blame. Surprisingly, that did not happen. Instead, blame was traded between the Presidency and the National Assembly, seemingly forgetting that both organs of government are now controlled by the same APC.

The stock-in-trade of this government is to blame Goodluck Jonathan for everything. If there is petrol shortage: Jonathan is to blame. If there are power cuts, Jonathan is to blame. If there are Boko Haram killings, Jonathan is to blame.

Human Rights and Justice Advocates, HRJA and Catholics in Support of Equality in the Church, CSEC, have cautioned members of the Adoration Ministry of Nigeria Enugu, AMEN, to stop insulting the Catholic Church and the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese Most Rev.Calistus Onaga for the recent transfer of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka from Christ the King Parish GRA where he has stayed 20 years to Our Lady of Rosary Emene Enugu State.

Besides the budget, underlining currents relating to the National Assembly Budget and Research Office, investigations into the Crude Oil Swap of the former administration, the Rail Contract scam, constituency funds for House members among other issues would also be of interest in the next few days.

THE Tin-Can Island port command of the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS), yesterday intercepted arms and ammunition concealed in a container just as one suspect was also arrested.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta militants initiated in 2009 by late President Umaru Yar’Adua will end in the next two years.