A recent study had it that 90 per cent of commercial drivers in Lagos were hypertensive. There is no doubt that this trend cannot be the lot of drivers in the Lagos area alone. It is likely to be a national trend if the survey is extended to cover the whole country.

On Wednesday May 11, 2016, the Federal Government, through the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, announced “price adjustment” for premium motor spirit from N86.50 to a “band” between N135 and N145 per litre.

A slogan of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) says: “Police is Your Friend”. Police, indeed, are friends of the citizenry, because they are the ones everybody looks for when confronted with threats to life and property.

THE media are replete with the exploits of Nigerian troops in hunting down and destroying the camps of cattle rustlers who attack herdsmen and dispossess them of their cattle.

The decision of 19 Northern governors to commence the registration of religious groups and organisations has been generating controversies among religious leaders and other stakeholders. A communiqué they issued on April 29th 2016, disclosed their intention to enact a law to regulate indoor and outdoor preaching.

Nigerians finally heaved a great sigh of relief on Friday, May 6, 2016, when President Muhammadu Buhari gave his assent to the 2016 appropriation bill as passed by the National Assembly. With the budget now law, stakeholders are looking forward to its implementation to stimulate the economy and realise the objectives of the administration.

On Monday, May 9, 2016, the British ruling class got gossiping about Nigeria over the recent international anti-corruption summit in London. They were all there in that little circle at Buckingham Palace, wining and dining in the afterglow of Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday: the Queen herself, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron; the Speaker of House of Commons, John Bercow and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Finally the 2016 budget controversy is over with the signing of the Appropriation Bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari last weekend after a four-month delay.

Last week, the Global Fund said it had suspended the disbursement of grants to two Federal health agencies in Nigeria, following the discovery of shady practices relating to procurements conducted by them.

The Senate is poised to enact a law that will prescribe the death penalty for kidnapping and hostage-taking in the country. This resolve is coming on the heels of the kidnap and rescue of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo. The 65 year-old ex-minister and former lawmaker was kidnapped penultimate week on her way to her farm.

On Wednesday, 27th April, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari finally broke his silence over the bloody rampage of armed herdsmen around the country. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed that the President had directed the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, and the heads of other security agencies to “take all necessary measures” to end the attacks and bring their perpetrators to book.

RESOURCE disbursement is a fundamental issue in Nigeria’s federalism. The nation has federating units with their respective constitutional responsibilities to execute. They also have taxation powers.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), in its May 1 Workers’ Day 2016 statement, called for the establishment of a special account for the lodgement of the public funds recovered from looters and money launderers stashed abroad or within Nigeria.

Those behind the controversial and dangerous grazing Bill are pushing the erroneous argument that it will help in checking the incessant attacks of armed Fulani herdsmen on farming communities in many parts of the country.

This year’s May Day activities in Nigeria were marked with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) jointly tabling a demand for the upward review of the national minimum wage from N18,000 to N56,000. A rival faction of the NLC led by Comrade Joe Ajaero simultaneously demanded N90,000.