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False! Ashimolowo Has Not Abandoned God

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Pastor Mattew Ashimolowo has not retired from his service as a priest, his church has said.

Ashimolowo, the President of Kingsway International Christian Centre, KICC, was rumoured to have veered from the work of the kingdom to face his business as a full-time real estate entrepreneur.

The report claimed that the man of God, who owns many acres of land in Ogun and Lagos states has decided to take his real estate business higher by concentrating on building commercial homes for the high and mighty.

Recall that Ashimolowo had once boasted that he owned a large expanse of land in Mowe, Ogun state which he purchased cheaply many years ago.

But in a statement released on Tuesday by the National Superintendent and the Resident Pastor, KICC Maryland, Lagos, Pastor Femi Faseru, the president of the church has not abandoned his duty in God’s vineyard.

Faseru described the report as false, saying Ashimolowo has even embarked on a project that will expand God’s ministry in the country.

According to him, the 71-year-old Ashimolowo is not yet tired and will continue to preach in God’s vineyard, adding that he still preaches, between three and four times in different parts of the world.

The statement said, “Pastor Ashimolowo has not backed down on his busy schedule which requires him to Minister daily on ‘Morning Glow’ to people in over 50 nations.

“Rather than backpedal, the Senior Pastor of KICC is taking on fresh challenges. He has just established another independent ministry-Christ Compassion to the Rural World, which is planning a crusade for Ikorodu in Lagos State, next November.

“Ashimolowo gets better each passing year, as he has been preaching more than when he was younger, easily accomplishing nine services every week. These include five Morning Glows, three Sunday Services and Bible Study.

“There is no iota of truth in the insinuation that Ashimolowo may have quit preaching the gospel to concentrate on real estate business. The report as absolutely baseless.”

Tinubu Stops Further Petrol Price Hike

By
James Orji
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0

President Bola Tinubu has taken a major step to curtail a further rise in the pump price of petrol, according to Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity.

Any further increase would have led to a major labour crisis in the country, apart from worsening the untold hardship being experienced by many Nigerians, analysts said.

The president’s spokesman spoke on Tuesday to journalists in Abuja, saying President Tinubu has ordered that no further increase in the price of petrol.

The president’s intervention comes barely hours after speculations that petroleum marketers were planning to increase the price of the commodity to N720 per litre.

The marketers have blamed the fluctuation of the naira exchange to the dollar for their decision which could have increased the price of petrol for the third time since President Tinubu came to power on May 29, and announced an end to the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy regime in the country.

Speaking today at the presidential villa, Abuja, Ngelale assured Nigerians that the current price of petrol will not change, adding that the administration will fulfil its promise to remain transparent on the deregulation of the petroleum sector.

He said efforts are also being made to ensure that petrol is readily available across the country, saying however that Nigeria has the lowest price for the product across West Africa.

According to him,“The president wishes to assure Nigerians, following the announcements by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), just yesterday that there will be no increase in the pump price of petroleum motor spirit anywhere in the country.

“We repeat, the president affirms that there will be no increase in the pump price of petroleum motor spirit.

“The president also wishes to affirm that there are presently inefficiencies within the midstream and downstream petroleum sub-sectors that once very swiftly addressed and cleaned up will ensure that we can maintain prices where they are without having to resort to a reversal of this administration’s deregulation policy in the petroleum industry”.

The NNPCL had earlier assured Nigerians that petrol prices will not be increased across all its sales outlets in the country.

Meanwhile, those watching what’s going on said the timely intervention of President Tinubu will prevent organized labour from making good its threat to embark on strike should the price be increased.

Thus following the speculation of an impending increase by marketers, the Nigerian Labour Congress,  NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, threatened to go on strike as soon as the price is hiked without notice to the government.

No Respite As Cost Of Food Drives Inflation To 10-year High

By
James Orji
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0
NBS Logo

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has announced that Nigeria’s headline inflation rose to a 10-year high in July to over 24 percent.

According to the agency, the spike is more than five percent compared with the same period in 2022 when the rate stood at 19 percent.

Analysts insist that the high inflation rate is majorly caused by the rising cost of essential and household commodities such as food and fuel.

The figures released on Tuesday by the NBS indicate that headline inflation jumped to 24.08 per cent last month, the highest so far this year.

This is more than 1.21 percent when compared to the June figure, the agency said.

The NBS said, “In July 2023, the headline inflation rate rose to 24.08 per cent relative to June 2023 headline inflation rate which was 22.79 per cent.

“Looking at the movement, the July 2023 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 1.29 per cent points when compared to June 2023 headline inflation rate.

“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 4.44 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in July 2022, which was 19.64 per cent.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in July 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., July 2022).”

Meanwhile, experts insist that the poor in the country will continue to suffer if the figure continues to rise, while the middle class will not be spared.

The rich, according to them will be able to survive in the short term by relying on their savings.

What should the government do? More subsidies should be extended to sectors such as education, health, and transportation to bring relief to the most vulnerable.

PDP Fingers Timipre Sylva, APC In Bayelsa Killing, Urges IGP To Wade In

By
Ayodele Oni
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Timipre Sylva

By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the immediate past former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for being behind the invasion and Killings in Opu-Nembe, Bayelsa State.

It has, therefore, asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to Invite the former Minister for questioning over the incident.

Spokesman for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, while briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday pointed out that the APC has resorted to violent attacks on communities in Bayelsa State for rejecting its candidate in the November 11, 2023 Governorship election, Timipre Sylva.

Ologunagba expressed  PDP’s condemnation of the invasion, killing and maiming of innocent citizens in Bayelsa State communities, particularly Opu-Nembe, in Nembe Local Government Area by thugs allegedly recruited, sponsored and armed by Sylva.

“It is clear that the intention of the APC in this invasion and killing in Nembe is to intimidate and instill fear in the people so as to prevent them from freely exercising their democratic right to vote a governor of their choice.

“The PDP is alarmed by pictorial and video evidence of the gruesome murder of promising Nembe youths including the only son of a widow by the APC thugs allegedly led by one Kojo Sam, who on February 15, 2023, killed three youths in the bid to subdue the community for openly expressing their rejection of Chief Sylva for neglecting and allegedly unleashing violence on their communities over the years.

“Reports in the public domain have it that the thugs are usually lodged in a hotel allegedly owned by Chief Timipre Sylva’s ally from where the assailants periodically launch gun attacks on the communities for rejecting the APC.

“Nigerians have already seen the videos of Opu-Nembe women crying, protesting the invasion and killings in the community by the thugs, while insisting on their resolve not to support Chief Timipre Sylva.

“This recourse to violence is reported to be a consisted pattern by Chief Sylva who was alleged to have engaged in such heinous activity in previous elections in Bayelsa State including the 2019 governorship election.

“We ask, what manner of desperation will lead an individual to resort to killing his own kinsmen for rejecting him and his bid for an illusory political ambition?

“The PDP is gravely disturbed by the reported connivance of certain security operatives in these attacks on Nembe.

“Of particular concern is the report that these thugs adorn military attires to carry out their evil deeds as evidenced in the video of one of the thugs, Telimoye Awululu, who was captured wearing military uniform.

“Recently, a policeman and a Civil Defence personnel were reportedly arrested at a military checkpoint in Otakeme in Ogbia Local Government of the State allegedly accompanying armed men to Nembe.

“There are already allegations in the public space that some high-ranking police personnel are aiding this reprehensible scheme to use violence to forcefully gain control of Opu-Nembe so as to grant the APC the ground to massively rig the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the area.

“Chief Timipre Sylva ought to have realized that he is fighting a lost battle as no amount of violence can subdue the Will of the people of Opu-Nembe and Bayelsa State in general to massively vote for Governor Douye Diri who remains a bastion of hope and development in Bayesla State and for which he has earned the sobriquet of the “Miracle Governor”.

“Bayelsans are firmly behind Governor Diri and they are able, ready and willing to resist the APC by overwhelmingly voting for him and defending their votes to the very end. On this resolve, there is no going back.

“The PDP therefore, in very strong terms cautions Chief Timipre Sylva to stop pushing his kinsmen, the people of Opu-Nembe to the wall and taking their peaceful and law-abiding disposition as a sign of weakness or cowardice.

“Our Party calls on the Inspector General of Police to immediately wade into the situation in Nembe and indeed Bayelsa State.

“The IGP should as a matter of urgency, launch an investigation into the alleged connivance of certain police officials in the invasion and killing in Opu-Nembe.

“The PDP also urges the IGP to invite Chief Timipre Sylva for questioning as well as investigate the petitions already filed to his office by the people of Nembe with the view to apprehending the thugs and killers who unleashed mayhem on the community recently.”

Gov Oyebanji Charges Royal Fathers To Assist Investors Get Land In Ekiti

By
Ayodele Oni
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Biodun Oyebanji

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has advised indigenes of the state to change their hostile attitude to investors.

The Governor, while inaugurating the newly constituted State Council of Traditional Rulers under the chairmanship of the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti,Oba Ayorinde  Faboro, called on Obas to connect with the ease of doing business agenda of his administration.

Governor Oyebanji, who also urged the traditional rulers to encourage their subjects to desist from scandalizing private business investors in the State, said if the state would develop, the royal fathers must embrace private investors.

This,  according to him,  is a potent catalyst to develop the state economy and achieve his administration’s shared prosperity agenda.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at the traditional Council chamber,  in Ado Ekiti, the Governor, who expressed his displeasure over the unfriendly disposition of land release for private investment by some communities, implored monarchs to ensure that the endless bickering over land utilization became a thing of the past.

While thanking the immediate past council under the leadership of the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon for leading the council admirably well, the Governor said that his tenure will be remembered for solidarity to all, humility and selfless representation of the traditional council.

Governor Oyebanji acknowledged the roles traditional rulers play in the society as the custodian of culture and agent of socio economy mobilization.

He assured them that his government would continue to accord greatest respect for the traditional institution.

He reiterated his administration”s commitment to the welfare of the traditional rulers, saying his government would do everything to promote the traditional institution and make their welfare paramount in his heart.

While congratulating the new Chairman, the Governor said he had no doubt that the new chairman has all it takes to lead the council with maturity, and sincerity that the position requires.

“I want to congratulate the new Chairman, HRM Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro, the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti on his appointment as the 13th Chairman of the Council.

“I have no doubt that kabiyesi is up to the task. He has all it takes to lead the council with maturity, sincerity and solidarity that the position requires.

“Let me also assure you, kabiyesi our administration has the greatest respect for you and the roles you play in our society as the custodians of our culture and agent of sicio- economic mobilization.

“More importantly we acknowledge the enormity of the burden you carry in ensuring peace and development in your kingdoms.

“Your majesty, let me use this opportunity to express my concern about the unfriendly disposition of land released for private sector investment by some communities.

“We all know Ekiti is industrially disadvantaged, thus, if this state must achieve economic development, we need investors to do business here so as to create job and prosperity for our people.

“I therefore urge you to connect with our ease of doing business agenda and ensure endless bickering over land utilization becomes a thing of the past.”

In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, thanked the Governor for the opportunity given to him to serve as the chairman of the council.

He noted that it was a challenge for the promotion of unity among the royal fathers, adding that he would work very hard to justify the confidence reposed in him.

PEPT: FG Sacks Advertising Standard Panel, Pulls Down  “All Eyes On The Judiciary” Billboards

By
The Source
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0
All Eyes on The Election Tribunal Judges Bilboard

The Federal Government on Tuesday dissolved the  Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) over what it saw as a pressure on the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, PEPT, to deliver what should be an alleged just judgement.

A few days ago, billboard advertisements had sprouted with the wordings, “All Eyes On The Judiciary” in expectation of the awaited Presidential Election Petitions judgement.

The Federal Government was embarrassed that ASP approved the billboard advertisements. It felt the approval of the billboards advertisement is a  blackmail against the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The ASP is the Statutory Panel under the Council and its responsibility is to ensure  that advertisements “conform to the prevailing laws of the Federation as well as the Code of advertising ethics of the advertising profession.”

Dr Olalekan Fadolapo,  the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), in a statement confirmed the dissolution of the panel.

The Council Fadolapo said, also suspended its Director and Deputy Director in charge of Regulations pending  investigations into the issue.

The billboard advertisements have also been ordered to be pulled down nationwide.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeriə [ARCON) has been drawn to the “All Eyes on the Judiciary” advertisements exposed on some billboards across the country.

“The Advertising Standards Panel of the Council also erred in the approval of one of the concepts as the advertisement failed to vet guidelines on the following grounds:

“The cause forming the central theme of the campaign in the advertisement is a matter pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Hence, it’s jus pendis.

“A matter being jus pendis and awaiting judicial pronouncement is, by virtue of the Nigerian legal system, precluded from being a subject of public statement, debate, discussion, advertisement, etc.

“The advertisement is controversial and capable of instigating public unrest and breach of public peace.

“The advertisement is considered blackmail against the Nigerian Judiciary, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and particularly the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal who are expected to discharge their judicial functions without fear or favour over a matter that is currently jus pendis.”

According to  the  DG, the Council would set up a committee to investigate the circumstances behind the “erroneous approval” of one of the concepts of the advert and the breach of the vetting guidelines.

“Consequently, the Director and Deputy Director, Regulations have also been suspended. The suspension is to enable an unprejudiced investigation of the issue. The Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) Secretariat failing to diligently exercise its function as the gatekeeper of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications is hereby dissolved,” he said.

Subsidy Palliatives: FG Releases  81,000 Bags Of Rice To Ondo, Others

By
Ayodele Oni
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Wale Akinterinwa

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government  has allocated 81,000 bags of rice to each State of the Federation as part of palliatives to cushion the hardship occasioned by subsidy withdrawal on petrol.

Some States are already taking delivery of the package, which is to be distributed in batches.

Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa confirmed in Akure on Tuesday, that the State Government has taken delivery of 3,000 bags of rice from the Federal Government.

He revealed that the State has also received 3000 bags of rice from the lot being paid for by the State Government.

Fielding questions from journalists at a media forum organized by the state Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) tagged Ondo Media Agenda, Akinterinwa assured that pensioners and the vulnerable in the state would receive the N10,000 set aside for them at the end of this month, August.

The Commissioner assured that besides rice, other local food items would be procured and distributed to the poor people in the State using the existing data in the communities.

“From this month, apart from transportation, the pensioners would get their N10, 000, the vulnerable would also get the same, some of this promises would  definitely take time, we have to ensure transparency and accountability too.

“Free Transportation for School children would commence next month, transportation for civil servant would also commence to ease movement, and we intend to buy more vehicles.

“We would have purchased more vehicles, but we don’t want the one using petrol, we want to buy CNG buses because they are bigger, but all the State are going for this purpose because of the fuel cost, we are also on the queue for it.

“The government would help the famers get their food crops get to town because we had realized that transportation has been the major difficulties.

“The farmer do complain of access, we would provide tricycle for easy access when these crops get to town, it would be sold in a subsidized price.”

Speaking on the efforts of the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration in improving the standard of living and infrastructure development in the state, Akinterinwa stated that Governor Akeredolu directed him and other members of the Economic Team to put in place, at the inception of his administration, a matching order to shore up the Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR) of the state.

He disclosed that at the inception of the administration, the state IGR was hovering between N500,000 and N600,000.

Having applied some measures and with the leadership and conducive environment provided by the governor, the state IGR jumped to N3 billion monthly.

Akinterinwa said the governor, through legislative instrument, created Ondo State Internal Revenue Service(ODIRS) managed by an expert from the private sector.

“Different leakages in the revenue were blocked and brilliant graduates were employed with encouraging incentives and salaries to begin exploration of the taxable products and services.”

He recalled that the people of the state, particularly civil servants, were disillusioned before the assumption of office by Governor Akeredolu as a result of non-payment of salaries for seven consecutive months.

The commissioner revealed that as the time, the state government was paying over N5 billion as wage bill, while local government also was paying over N2 billion as wage bill.

He alleged that the immediate past administration deprived the economy of the state over N7 billion for seven months.

Akinterinwa, however, said Governor Akeredolu has paid six months out of the seven months backlog of salaries having shored up the revenue generated internally by the state government.

“We designed tax payment, you can now pay your tax at the comfort of your zone, all those placement helped out in increasing our IGR, we deploy technology, we have data for all Houses.

“All we did was just enforcing the law, we have the data to send notice of tax payment to people and we enforce it, everybody was involved and implementation was done, we also tried to be transparent enough about the funds and usage.

“We also did Technology, training of Staff, bringing people from the private sector has helped us in easy generation of more revenue for the state.

“We did so many financial reengineering on debts that were inherited from loans, they were restructured. The role of the Government is not just to pay salaries, we have not abandoned any projects.

“We are able to achieve great increment in our IGR because we brought in an independent person, he was given autonomy and an enabling environment, that is why we have ODIRS, we recruited Experts and also give more training to staff, we blocked leakages, lots of things are now done properly.”

Commenting on all ongoing capital projects in the state, the Commissioner for Finance assured the people of the state that none of the projects would be abandoned.

He explained that the developing economic situations to some extent affected some of the road projects, saying the contractors demanded contract variation, which has been addressed and contractors have moved to sites.

Speaking on the debt profile of the state on assumption of office by Governor Akeredolu, he disclosed that “The past administration took a bond, which they were servicing. It wasn’t professionally structured. We were spending over N700m to service it every month.

“We had to increase the tenure of the payment and looked at the rate that was reduced and we started paying about N347million monthly.

“The following year we were able to take a fresh one and still servicing the old one because we have increase our IGR. The requirements were very stringent at the time we approached the Capital Market. But we were able to get it.

“This improved the economy of the state. The governor provided good leadership and conducive environment to perform.

We were able to recover some debt on which hope had been lost.

“When we came in, we did restructuring in all areas, we bring stakeholders together and investors together, we took Bond that was not maintained well by the previous administration.

“We serviced it, by the time we approached the capital market, there was no other State that could be able to approach it except Lagos State, because the requirements were strict, but we are able to achieve it.

“All the infrastructure you see today is because the Governor of the state gave us good leadership, and an enabling environment was created for us in other for us to put up our best.”

Shock as ESUT Final Year Student Mysteriously Dies in Her Room; Male Companion Battles for Life

By
The Source
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0

By Barth Ugwu,  Enugu

Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT has been thrown into mourning following the discovery of the lifeless body of a final-year student of the institution, Mbah Ezinne, in her room.

The lifeless body of Ezinne, a student of the Department of Anatomy, was found on Sunday in her apartment following concerns raised by her friends and Church members after she was not seen in the Church.

Ezinne’s friends, Church members, and family became concerned after she was not seen in the Church and had frantically tried to contact her through her mobile phone to no avail.

Worried about the inability to reach their daughter,  Ezinne’s family members and some of her friends stormed her school apartment on Monday morning and peered through the widow only to find Ezinne and her male companion who was later identified as her coursemate lying on the floor.

Shocked by the gory sight, her brother who led the family on the trip promptly got police permission to break open the apartment whereupon the duo were rushed to the hospital.

Ezinne was pronounced dead upon arrival while her male companion whose name could not be ascertained at press time was revived and now battling for life.

Meanwhile, some of the acquaintances of the late Ezinne have expressed sorrow at her demise.

In a Facebook comment, Ede Njideka said: “She’s from my village, Umueze Awkunanaw. She’s not a bad girl… Very decent girl.

Suggesting that Ezinne and her male coursemate were victims of orchestrated murder,  another commentator who simply goes by the name,  Splendid Visuals, said:  “They weren’t involved in anything bad, injuries were found on their bodies and they were locked from outside the house. They aren’t dating, I know them”

And according to Ajah Nneka,  “She was industrious and a very nice girl. Only God knows what happened to her, I was so shocked when I heard of her demise.

CSR: Fidelity Bank Feeds Benue IDP With 1,200 Food Packs

By
James Orji
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0
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Plc, has distributed over 1,200 food packs to the internally Displaced Persons in Makurdi, Benue State in its ongoing commitment to eliminate hunger among vulnerable persons in the society. 

The event, which took place on Thursday, 10 August 2023 at the IDP Camp, Federal Housing Estate in North Bank, Benue State was executed in partnership with the Hyacinth Alia Foundation and the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BESEMA.

Speaking during the distribution event, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Meksley Nwagboh noted that the Fidelity Food Bank is a Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative of the Bank designed to reach out to vulnerable persons and reduce the effect of hunger.

In his words, “The vision of the Bank is to reach out to the less privileged communities through our partner organisations who identify with these communities. In Benue State, we are partnering with the State Government through the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.

“So, as I speak with you over 24,000 Fidelity food packs have been distributed to communities across the country to help cushion the effect of hunger which has become a global issue” he stated.

Commenting on the initiative, the Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Innovation Strategies, Special Duties, Development, Policy, and Planning, Fidelis Unongo, commended Fidelity Bank for their donation and also appealed to IDPs to exercise patience, noting that the Governor is aware of their requests and is working to ensure that they get settled back to their ancestral homes.

On his part, the Chairman of the IDP Camp, Abraham Tar who spoke in Tiv, commended Fidelity Bank for their kind gesture and promised to ensure that the items donated gets to the desired beneficiaries even as he appealed to donors to also look into the health condition of the IDPs, especially women and Children.

Some of the beneficiaries, Msurshima Kunde, Comfort Lorfa, and Terundu Shima applauded Fidelity Bank for their kind gesture and appealed for increased health services at the camp to enable them access quality healthcare services.

NNPCL Debunks Fuel Hike Story, Says It Is False

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has dismissed the news that it plans to further increase the price of Fuel.

The NNPCL Management broke its silence on the widespread concern of a possible hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol.

In a statement by the company, posted by 11:48pm on Monday on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the national oil firm and major importer of petrol into Nigeria, said it had no intention to increase the pump price of petrol.

The statement reads: “Dear esteemed customers, we, at NNPCL Retail, value your patronage, and we do not have the intention to increase our PMS pump prices as widely speculated.

“Please buy the best quality products at the most affordable prices at our NNPCL Retail stations nationwide,” the company stated.

The NNPCL Retail is the downstream subsidiary of NNPCL that retails refined petroleum products for the group.

It would be recalled that oil marketers had on Sunday indicated that the cost of petrol would rise to between N680/litre and N720/litre in the coming weeks should the dollar continue to trade from N910 to N950 at the parallel market.

They also hinted that dealers seeking to import PMS were being forced to put the plans on hold due to the scarcity of foreign exchange to import the commodity.

The warning came barely one week after the local currency crossed the N900/dollar ceiling, with the naira selling at over 945/dollar at the parallel market on Friday.

The oil dealers had also said the CBN Importers and Exporters’ official window for foreign exchange, which boasts of a lower exchange rate of about $740/litre, had remained illiquid and unable to provide the $25m to $30m required for the importation of PMS by dealers.

NNPCL spokesperson, Garba-Deen Muhammad, on Monday, said if the oil firm would hike petrol price as projected by dealers, but he promised to find out and revert.

He, however, did not revert, rather the company posted its response on X (formerly Twitter) around midnight on Monday.

Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress had on Monday warned that its members would commence a nationwide strike without any formal notice if marketers increased the pump price of petrol without concluding the ongoing negotiations.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, admonished the Federal Government to stop the falling value of the naira.

In the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal in May, the organised labour had attempted to down-tool over the skyrocketing prices of goods and services but the Federal Government secured an injunction from the National Industrial Court barring them from embarking on strike.

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