The Nigerian Communications Commission has withdrawn its recently issued press statement regarding the operations of Starlink, a satellite internet service provider.

In a brief message addressed to media outlets on Tuesday, the NCC acknowledged that the statement was released in error, urging editors and journalists to retract any related publications.

“Kindly note that this press statement on Starlink was issued in error. It is hereby WITHDRAWN. If already published, kindly BRING DOWN,” the message, signed by the NCC’s Manager of Media Relations, Kunle Azeez, stated.

The commission’s  Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, had announced plans to take enforcement measures against  Starlink, for raising its subscription prices in Nigeria without the regulator’s approval.

In a message sent to its customers last week, Starlink said the price hike would affect both existing and new customers.

The monthly subscription fee was increased by 97%, from N38,000 to N75,000.

Additionally, new users will face a higher cost for the Starlink kit (the hardware needed for installation), which is now priced at N590,000, up 34% from the previous price of N440,000.

However, the NCC stated that it had not approved the price increase.

“The decision by Starlink to unilaterally review its subscription packages upwards did not receive the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission,” Muoka said.

He explained that the commission was “surprised” when the company announced the price changes, despite having filed a request with the NCC for a price adjustment, which the regulator had yet to approve.

[Punch]

….Proposes audit of LG workers, retirees
….Wants embargo on employment for a year

The Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP, has proposed a staff redistribution, placement and auditing exercise, to ascertain the actual numbers of local government workers, primary school teachers and pensioners in all the 774 local government areas nationwide.

Under the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of Local government-based unions they also recommended an embargo on recruitment of new staff into local government including teachers for one year from the date of the Supreme Court Judgment on direct payment to ensure stability and consideration.

These are parts of the recommendations JAC aimed at effective operations of local government during the direct remittance of federal allocation following the recent Supreme Court granting of financial autonomy to the local governments.

The President of NUT, Titus Amba, President-General of NULGE, Ambali Akeem, and President of NUP, Godwin Abumisi, in seven-point recommendations, noted that “For a hitch-free take off of the direct payment system JAC recommends that there should be staff redistribution, placement and auditing exercise to ascertain the actual numbers of Local Government workers, primary schools teachers and pensioners.

“Recruitment of new staff into Local Government and teaching should be suspended for one year from the date of the Supreme Court Judgment on direct payment to ensure stability and consideration. This will enable Local Government to focus on developmental projects and real service delivery”.

Among other recommendations, the JAC equally advocated the “restructuring of supervisory institutions controlling and supervising Local Government workers. These agencies are to be restructured by way of expanding their statutory members to include chairmen of local government; heads of local government based unions and other relevant stakeholders for quality control and inclusivity.”

For the Local Government Service Commission, JAC proposed for statutory membership to include: a representative of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, and a representative of NULGE, while for the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, statutory membership should include a representative of ALGON and representative of NUT.

Similarly, Local Government Staff Pension Board statutory membership should include representatives of ALGON, NUP, NULGE and NUT, while Primary Health Care Agency statutory membership should representatives of ALGON and health practitioners from the local government

According to the recommendations, “Due to the huge deficit in infrastructural development and lack of capacity for service delivery in many local governments nationwide, JAC recommends that Federal Government should intervene in the procurement of machines and equipment such as tractors, graders, bulldozers, refuse disposal vans (tipper lorries), septic evacuation van, public address system van and supply of materials and equipment for the vocational skill acquisition centres. Funds for the procurement of these materials should be deducted from Local Government allocation overtime on an instalment basis.

“The peace and security committee of the local government should be reorganized for indexing, registration, kitting and intelligence gathering, policing and regular bi-monthly meetings coordinated and funded by the local government.

“For worker’s welfare and industrial harmony, training and capacity building and sustainability of industrial stability in the Local Government system, the following payments should be made the first line of charge and domiciled at the relevant agencies.

“Gross salary of local government workers should be domiciled with the Local Government Service Commission. Two per cent of the total LG allocation for Local Government Service Commission running grants and Local Government Training should be domiciled with the Local Government Service Commission. The gross salary of primary school teachers should be domiciled with SUBES. 1.5 per cent of total LGA allocation for SUBEB running grants should be domiciled with SUBEB

“25 per cent of the gross salary of teachers and local government workers should be deducted from LG allocation for the payment of pension and gratuity and should be domiciled with local government staff Pension Board. Five per cent grant for traditional council should be deducted and remitted into traditional council accounts.”

Also, JAC proposed the “strengthening of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs as a Supervisory Ministry This is for policy formulation, coordination, implementation and supervision. To also coordinate reforms in the Local Government through the quarterly summit to review government economic policy on Local Government Scheme of Service every five years to enhance productivity and policy assurance at the local government level.”

[Vanguard]

Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya’s vice-president, is dealing with impeachment proceedings from the national assembly over allegations of supporting the violent anti-government protests that rocked the East African nation in June.

Gachagua is also accused of involvement in corruption, practising ethnically divisive politics, and other activities inconsistent with his office.

After the protests, President William Ruto sacked most of his cabinet and brought in members of the main opposition.

Gachagua’s impeachment proceedings were initiated a week ago by Ruto’s allies.

On Sunday, during a prayer meeting at his residence, Gachagua implored Ruto, legislators, and Kenyans to forgive him for any wrongdoing.

On Monday, he clarified that his apology was not an admission of guilt and quelled resignation rumours.

Gachagua also accused the legislator who drafted the motion of lying, calling it “shameful and sensational”.

Legislators are expected to debate the motion on Tuesday afternoon and hold a vote before the motion proceeds to the senate.

The deputy president said he would prosecute his defence.

[TheCable]

Oil prices continued to rise on Monday, with Brent approaching the $80 mark, building on last week’s sharpest increase since early 2023.

The gains were fueled by concerns over a potential escalation in Middle East tensions and possible disruptions to exports from this key oil-producing region.

Brent crude futures increased by $1.09, or 1.4%, reaching $79.14 per barrel as of 1316 GMT.

Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed $1.15, or 1.55%, to $75.53 per barrel, after earlier rising by more than $2.

Brent crude surged over 8% last week, while WTI jumped 9.1% amid concerns that Israel might target Iranian oil facilities following Iran’s October 1 missile attack. Tensions escalated on Monday as rockets from Iran-backed Hezbollah struck Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city.

Meanwhile, Israel appeared ready to intensify ground operations in southern Lebanon, coinciding with the first anniversary of the Gaza war, which has further fueled conflict across the Middle East. This situation has heightened fears of a broader war potentially involving the United States and Iran, Israel’s ally and adversary, respectively.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, including Russia, known as OPEC+, plan to increase production starting in December, following recent cuts aimed at supporting prices amid weak global demand.

While OPEC+ holds sufficient spare capacity to counterbalance any disruptions to Iranian supply, analysts warn that it could face challenges if Iran retaliates by targeting oil infrastructure in neighboring Gulf nations. At the onset of the Middle East conflict a year ago, Brent crude was trading at $88.15 per barrel.

Impact on the Naira 

The rise in oil prices to almost $80 could further strengthen the fiscal position since it is above the budget benchmark oil price in the 2024 budget. It could also strengthen the Naira after recent depreciations in the past few months. The naira has hovered around N1540/$ on the official market and weaker on the parallel market.

Last month, Brent crude oil futures dipped below $70 per barrel for the first time since December 2021, signaling a new decline driven by robust supply, demand concerns, and extensive speculative selling.

The global benchmark slid by 2.8%. However, disruptions in U.S. supply caused by Tropical Storm Francine offered some support to prices. Brent futures declined by 48 cents, or 0.67%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 42 cents, or 0.6%, to $68.29 per barrel. Both benchmarks saw gains of about 1% on Monday.

[Nairametrics]

ASUU highlighted a significant change since the tenure of former CBN Governor and current Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

The union claimed that despite available funds earmarked for community development, the CBN has not undertaken any projects in tertiary institutions since 2014, when Sanusi’s term ended.

ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, shared these concerns on Inside Sources, a socio-political program on Channels Television.

Osodeke pointed out that during his time as CBN governor (2009-2014), Sanusi actively utilized the bank’s resources to fund essential university projects across Nigeria.

He said, “There are many companies today which they call cash cows; they have some reserve money for community development. CBN, NNPC and what have you.

“For a very long time that we have been having CBN governors, we never knew there was fund there that could be used in the university until the Emir of Kano, Sanusi, came in and decided to use the money the way it should be used.

“There’s no federal university today that you don’t have a project done by Sanusi regime when he was CBN governor because the fund was there. The biggest building in my university is CBN, go to the University of Abuja, CBN; go to Jos, everywhere, for the four years he was there before he was sacked but since another one came in, have you seen anything done in the university by CBN? Zero.”

Osodeke contrasted Sanusi’s contributions with those of his successors, Godwin Emefiele and the current CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, asserting that neither has continued this legacy.

According to Osodeke, if Sanusi’s approach had been maintained, infrastructure challenges in public universities could have been significantly reduced.

Highlighting what he described as “community social responsibility funds” within the CBN, Osodeke urged the current leadership to follow Sanusi’s example.

Osodeke said, “If what Sanusi did when he was CBN governor was followed by other CBN governors, we would not be talking about projects in universities but the next one came and that is the end.

“There’s a new person there now and nobody is talking about that fund again; they call it (the fund) Community Social Responsibility, it’s there.”

“So, we should ask you if the CBN governor is watching me: how did Emir Sanusi generate that money to put projects in all the federal and many state universities in this country within four years? How come Emefiele couldn’t put one anywhere? How come the present one has not even thought about that? How come all those who were there have not to do anything?

“He (Cardoso) is a year in office, has he done anything? Have you seen any project in any university?” he queried.

[NaijaNews]

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted the reduction of bail conditions for five #EndBadGovernance protesters to N5 million each.

Justice Emeka Nwite had on September 11 granted bail to all ten protesters to the tune of N100 million.

The ten defendants – Michael Adaramoye, also known as Lenin, Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Comrade Opaluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nurudeen Khamis, and Abduldalam Zubair are facing six counts charges including treason, conspiracy to commit a felony, inciting mutiny, and attempting to destabilise Nigeria.

The offenses are said to be punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The defendants are accused of attempting to force their way into the seat of power, burning down a police station, and injuring officers.

The Federal Government also claimed that the protesters incited the public against the government and destroyed public properties, including a police station, the High Court complex, and facilities belonging to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

LEADERSHIP recalls that five of the 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters, who were previously remanded in prison by the Federal Government, have struggled to meet the original bail conditions.

This was revealed by the counsel for the 1st, 2nd, and 4th defendants, Marshall Abubakar, who stated that some of the protesters were unable to secure a surety with landed property in Abuja, one of the bail requirements.

The Court required that the sureties must be residents of Abuja, own property in the city, and deposit their property documents with the court registrar.

Additionally, the sureties were required to swear to an affidavit of means, and both the defendants and sureties were to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the registrar.

Justice Nwite ruled that the protesters be held in custody until the were able to meet the bail conditions.

The defense lawyers later appealed the stringent bail terms, particularly arguing that the five defendants were unable to meet the requirements.

Following their application, Justice Nwite reduced the bail sum to N25 million in total for the five protesters requesting the variation.

Each individual were required to post bail of N5 million with one surety in the same amount, who must be a close relative such as a father, mother, or another blood relative residing within the jurisdiction, if neither parent is available.

[Leadership]

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has asked Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Simi Fubara of River State to work.

Wike, the immediate past governor of the oil rich River state, has been locked in  a battle with his successor over control of the state.

Governor Fubara’s administration had conducted local government election on Saturday under the Action People’s Party (APP) following the handover of the PDP structure to Wike who is also reportedly controlling the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in the state.

The tension in Rivers increased after the Saturday’s LG election where APP swept the polls in the 22 of the 23 local governments.

Adding his voice to the issue on Monday, Chief Bode George asked President Tinubu to call his Minister to order and prevail on him to allow Governor Fubara to work.

In a statement, he said, “Now that people of Rivers State have boldly asserted their civic and constitutional rights by coming out to vote in the Local Government election on Saturday, this is the time for former governor of the state and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara work and deliver dividend of democracy to the people.

“This is also the time for President Bola Tinubu to advise Wike, who is one of his ministers, to allow the governor to work.

“I say this with all sense of responsibility because if this democracy is truncated, God forbid, Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief, will be the biggest loser.

“All lovers of democracy will agree with me that political happenings in this oil-bearing state in the last few months, if allowed to continue, can lead to a re-enactment of the crisis in the defunct Western Region between 1962 and 1966 which eventually led to the first military coup of January 15, 1966. Many of our national figures were killed and events of that day led to a second coup on July 29, 1966 when scores of military officers were killed.

“Since history is no longer taught in our schools, I want to remind the gladiators in this Rivers crisis that the January and July 1966 killings eventually led to the civil war between July 6, 1967 and January 15, 1970. Close to two million Nigerians died in the war.”

George stated that happenings in River State call for concern.

“I am raising this alarm because what is happening in Rivers now is a cause for serious concern for everyone.

“My understanding of this man-made crisis is that there is a despotic, divisive, wicked and anti-people design to create a conflagration which may eventually consume our country.

“We all know the economic importance of Rivers to the survival of this nation. It is the gateway to the Niger Delta.

“Any threat to peace in this state will eventually lead to huge security implications, not only for Nigeria but West Africa and Africa. It is good to have political ambition, to be the alpha and omega in a partisan setting but this ambition must not be at variance with the expectations of the people.

“Some have said what is happening can be traced to 2027 elections’ calculations. I believe it is too early to start strategising for a partisan event which is still close to 28 months away.

“One thing is clear: Nyesom Wike was governor of the state for eight years. He left the Government House in May last year and today, he is the FCT Minister. Sir Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi were governors before him. Now that Governor Fubara is the Chief Executive of the state, he should be allowed to work. Nobody stays in office forever.

“By 2027, people of Rivers State will decide, through their votes, if they want him to return to office or not. This is how political issues and ambitions are handled in civilised climes. The way this partisan crisis is going, if not checked, may collapse our democracy. Now that council chairmen and councillors have been elected, I appeal to Nyesom Wike to please give peace a chance. Tinubu must also call Wike and tell him to allow the governor to work.

“We know Wike sponsored and supported Fubara to become governor but somebody also supported Wike to be governor from 2015 to 2023. Somebody also nominated him to serve as minister. God will always use somebody to help anybody but nobody is God.”

[DailyTrust]

The Rivers State Police Command have remained silent amid sudden violence that erupted at several local government council secretariats on Monday morning.

DAILY POST reports that suspected “political thugs” believed to be supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, attacked the Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Eleme, and Emohua local government council secretariats on Monday morning, barely 24 hours after Governor Sim Fubara swore in newly elected LG chairmen.

The attackers reportedly barricaded the council entrances and fired shots indiscriminately.

These actions are allegedly aimed at preventing the newly elected LG chairmen from resuming in their offices.

On Monday, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the immediate withdrawal of Police personnel from the 23 Rivers State LG secretariats after over three months of deployment.

In Bori, Khana LGA, a gunfight broke out after armed men opened fire on members of a political party, leading to an exchange of fire between the attackers and the Police.

Reports also indicate that the Bori Police Division recovered the body of a civilian who was fatally shot during the confrontation.

In Eleme, arsonists set fire to the local council in an effort to prevent the newly elected chairman from taking office.

Similarly, heavy gunfire was reported in Obio/Akpor LGA, where assailants sought to disrupt the inauguration of councilors by the local government chairman.

Also, a viral video obtained by DAILY POST showed the Ikwerre LG secretariat engulfed in flames, while in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, plastic chairs were scattered at the secretariat’s entrance following further disruptions by the alleged political thugs.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that three people have been killed in the chaos across Obio/Akpor, Khana, and Ahoada East LGAs.

Despite numerous calls for action, the state police command has yet to comment on the situation or take decisive steps to restore order and security at the affected secretariats.

[DailyPost]

Rapper Reminisce has shared insights on maintaining healthy relationships in the entertainment industry.

In a recent interview with Naija FM, he emphasised the importance of setting boundaries and recognising that not everyone is a genuine friend.

Reminisce attributed his cautious approach to his early experiences with fame.

According to him, he learned the hard way that “nobody is my friend” in the industry, and this realisation helped him navigate complex relationships.

He explained that when it comes to humans, they can quickly turn against you if they’re not favoured, especially monetarily.

Reminisce advised aspiring artists to be aware of their surroundings by knowing who fits in their circle.

He stressed that not everyone around you wants you to succeed, and it’s essential to set clear boundaries to protect yourself and your interests.

Additionally, he cautioned against confusing these gestures, emphasizing that being kind and helpful doesn’t necessarily mean someone is a true friend.

He said: “Fame is a drug that gets one high and clouds judgment. One of the things I did in life earlier on was to realise that nobody is my friend.

“That’s probably why many people don’t like me, if someone has worked with me and you find out that we had issues, if you find out what happened, it would probably have been because I made my decision and stood by it. I have learned that at the end of the day, na me go suffer the consequences.

“You know that when it comes to humans, they turn you into an enemy if they aren’t favoured, especially monetarily. It took a while before I became famous and I even had a child beforehand, so the first thing I got to understand is that nobody is your friend, you can be kind and you can assist but the first mistake you can make in this music industry is thinking everyone is your friend. Nobody is your friend.

“We all want the same thing so there is no way you’d think everyone is your friend. It is very normal to have people around you when you’re hot and popping and it is your responsibility as a famous person to determine what you want. Not everyone around you wants you to succeed.”

[TheNation]