The United States has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during the just concluded 2023 general elections.   The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, disclosed this on Monday.   In a statement, Blinken said the administration of President Joe Biden is committed to advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world. “Today, I am announcing that we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 elections cycle,” the statement read.   “The United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world.” He stated that the visa restrictions “are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the government of Nigeria as a whole”. Citing Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Blinken explained that “these individuals will be subject to restrictions on visas to the United States under a policy covering those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy”. However, the US Government did not mention any of the individuals or groups of persons perceived to have undermined Nigeria’s 2023 polls. “These individuals have been involved in the intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigeria’s democratic process,” Blinken added. According to the statement, the US government’s decision reflects the continued commitment of the country to support Nigeria’s aspiration to strengthen democracy and the rule of law.

  A federal high court in Warri has restrained Lauretta Onochie, chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board, from carrying out executive functions and the day-to-day running of the agency. In a judgment delivered on May 9, Okon Abang, presiding judge, voided all executive actions taken by Onochie since she assumed office on January 4, 2023. Abang also nullified the appointment of 18 aides made by the NDDC board chairman. Following Onochie’s appointment, one Mike Oberabor instituted a suit against the NDDC, Onochie and Samuel Ogboku, NDDC’s managing director, seeking an interpretation of the NDDC act, 2000 and other relevant statutes and documents relating to the running of the commission.   Delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/WR/CS/14/2023, the judge held that after due consideration of the relevant provisions of the NDDC act, 2000 and other documents, it was established that Onochie’s appointment as the chairman of the board on a part-time basis is to oversee and preside over the meetings of the board. Abang held that the managing director is “statutorily empowered by the NDDC act to perform and wield the executive functions, powers and day-to-day running and management of the commission to the exclusion of other members of the board of the NDDC including the 2nd defendant (Onochie) herein”. Consequently, the judge ordered, “that all actions of the 2nd defendant including but not limited to the appointment of her personal aides carried out in the exercise of executive functions and powers in the Niger Delta Development Commission since her assumption of duty on the 4th day of January 2023 are ultra vires her powers and therefore null and void and of no effect whatsoever”.   “That the 2nd defendant is restrained from carrying out and/or exercising any executive function and powers in the NDDC. “The 2nd defendant is further restrained from interfering with the 3rd defendant’s (Ogboku) executive functions, powers and day-to-day running and management of Niger Delta Development Commission the 1st defendant herein.”

  A man identified as Idris Aminu has allegedly killed his 75-year-old stepmother Mrs. Salamatu Aminu with a pestle in the Ihima Obeiba Ebozohu community, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. It was gathered that the suspect had attempted to kill the old woman with poison three days before but she survived. Channels Television’s correspondent in Lokoja reliably gathered that the suspect had alleged that her stepmother was a witch, and that was why he is not successful. As a result, he first tried to poison the woman. Fortunately, the woman survived his trap until he finally decided to kill her with a pestle while sleeping in her room earlier on Monday. Sources further disclosed that it was the daughter of the old woman who found the lifeless body in the room. Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer William Ayah said the suspect has been arrested by the command. According to him, the old woman was sleeping when her stepson killed her with a pestle, stressing that the suspect would be charged in court as soon as possible after the investigation is completed.

  The Federal Government, on Monday, described as “unworkable”, a bill currently being considered by the National Assembly seeking to restrict the migration of Nigerian doctors to climes perceived to be greener pastures. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, revealed this while fielding questions from journalists after the extraordinary Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja. Responding to a threat by resident doctors to embark on a five-day warning strike over perceived attempts to ground medical and dental graduates nationwide for five years before being granted a practising licence, Ngige said the bill negates extant Labour laws. The PUNCH reports that the sponsor of the ill, a member of the House of Representatives from Lagos State, Ganiyu Johnson, had explained that the move will check the mass exodus of medical practitioners from the country. The legislation is titled, “A Bill for an Act to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act, Cap. M379, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to mandate any Nigeria-trained medical or dental practitioner to practise in Nigeria for a minimum of five years before being granted a full licence by the Council to make quality health services available to Nigeria; and for related matters.” Reacting to the development, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors announced plans to embark on a five-day warning strike, vowing to resist any guise to “enslave” Nigerian medical doctors. They also demanded an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 per cent of the current gross salaries of doctors, the immediate implementation of CONMESS, domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act, and review of hazard allowance by all the state governments as well as private tertiary health institutions where any form of residency training is done; among others. However, Ngige said, “Nobody can say they (doctors) will not get a practising licence until after five years. It will run contrary to the laws of the land that have established the progression in the practice of medicine. “The Bill in the National Assembly cannot stop anybody from getting a full licence. That Bill is a private members’ bill. In the National Assembly, they attend to private members’ Bills and executive Bills. Executive bills emanate from the government into the National Assembly with the stamp of the executive. “It is either sent by the Attorney-General of the Federation or by the President, but usually from the Attorney-General of the Federation. So, it’s not an executive Bill, it’s a private member’s Bill. “That document is, as far as I am concerned, not workable. Ab initio, I don’t support it and I will never support it. “As I said before, it is like killing a fly with a sledgehammer. They should think of other ways if they are trying to check brain drain, there should be other ways.” The Minister said the five-day strike is unnecessary since the government was already engaging with the Nigerian Medical Association, NARD’s umbrella body. “On the demand for a 200 per cent salary increase, the NMA is the father of all doctors in Nigeria and they have about four or five affiliates of which the resident doctors are an association. “So, NMA is discussing with the Federal Ministry of Health, salaries income and wages commission and the Ministry of Labour, and we know that NMA has accepted a salary increase of between 25 and 30 per cent across the board for their members. “So, I don’t know the logic by which people who are members of NMA are now coming up to say pay us 200 per cent increase. “I don’t understand it. I have called the NMA President to contact them because, on the issue of remuneration negotiation, it’s NMA that the government deals with. So, I have told the President of NMA to contact them and we will engage them. They should not go on any strike, it’s not necessary,” he said. Ngige also revealed that the Council approved the Universal Implementation of the Employee Compensation Act 2010 following a memorandum presented by his ministry. He explained that the law is operated by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, noting that it will replace the old Employee Compensation Act also known as Workmen Compensation. Ngige said the Council approved the ECA for universal implementation, “meaning that, apart from the private sector that is already implementing, the public sector, which is government; federal, state and local governments, have now to adopt this for the protection of their workers. “The Act provides that the worker who is injured or had an accident or contracted a disease or disabled or dead in the course of work should be compensated, remunerated and even the family; pay something when the man is no longer there. “It didn’t make provision for some of the children to be schooled or educated, up to the age of 21. “So today is a good day for Nigerian workers because the decent work agenda that is contained in Convention 102 of the ILO has a major branch on what they call workers’ protection in the course of work.”

  Barring unforeseen circumstances, a governor of the All Progressives Congress(APC) from the South East zone may emerge the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum(PGF). The PGF is an association of State Governors elected on the platform of the APC. The outgoing Chairman of the PGF, is Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong. The powerful group had played an influential role in ensuring that the Southern part of the country produced the presidential candidate of the APC, which led to the emergence of Bola Tinubu, as the party’s Presidential candidate. The “zoning” of the position of PGF Chairmanship to the South East, sources say, is part of a wider calculation by top bigwigs of the party to “appease” the South East after the zone lost the position of Senate President to the South- South. Last week, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the governing party zoned the Senate President to the South- South zone, micro zoning the position to former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and ex Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio. Top contenders for the position of Senate President from the South East such as Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, kicked against the zoning of the Senate President to the South- South. Orji had stormed the APC National Secretariat in Abuja where he expressed his displeasure to the choice of Akpabio as Senate President, insisting that the South East deserves the number three position in the country. Aside Orji, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF also kicked against the nomination of Akpabio as the next Senate President. Yerima Shettima, AYCF President said the South East can produce a competent Senate President, urging the APC to encourage national unity by reviewing Akpabio’s nomination. The APC NWC had conceded the position of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South East. It nominated Hon Ben Kalu from Abia State as it’s preffered choice for the position. A top source in the party told this newspaper that the PGF position will be conceded to the South East zone, as a part of measures to “placate” the region. “One of the governors of the party in the South East will head the PGF. And we are hopeful he will live up to expectations because he has remained a devoted, committed and unrepentant party member. “The Party is not leaving out the South East as wrongly peddled by some negative elements. “The South East is part of the APC. And this is why in addition to the position of Deputy Speaker conceded to the region, it will also get the powerful position of PGF” the source said. APC currently have two State governors in the South East. Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo State. Umahi has completed his two terms of eight years as governor and won his election to the Senate. Governor Uzodimma is seeking re election for a second term in office in the November 11, 2023 governorship election. Former Imo State Governor, now Senator, Rochas Okorocha was one time Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, PGF. Credit: Innonews

  The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control Sunday warned users/consumers against the use of PrimeZen Black 6000mg, a male performance enhancement capsule, recalled from the market. NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement, said Volt Candy was voluntarily recalling the one lot of PrimeZen Black 6000mg capsule alongside its 2000mg due to undeclared ingredients they were made of by their manufacturer in America.   “The recall followed the analysis of Food and Drug Agency (FDA) of the United States of America, an FDA, which found the PrimeZen capsules to contain undeclared tadalafil and sildenafil. “Sildenafil and tadalafil are phosphodiesterase (PDE-5) inhibitors found in FDA-approved products for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction.   “The presence of sildenafil and tadalafil in PrimeZen Black 6000mg capsules renders them unapproved drugs for which safety and efficacy have not been established and, therefore, subject to recall. “Risk Statement, PrimeZen Black 6000 capsules containing sildenafil and tadalafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may cause a significant drop in blood pressure that may be life-threatening. “People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease often take nitrates. “Among the adult male population who are most likely to use these products, adult males who use nitrates for cardiac conditions, are most at risk from these products,” she said. According to her, “The product details are as follows; PrimeZEN Black 6000 male enhancement capsules, manufactured by Volt Candy, 324 S. Diamond Bar Blvd #212, USA.” The NAFDAC boss said that the lot Number: NPINPB 1003, UPC code: 728175521891, expiration date is Aug. 16, 2025 for PrimeZen Black 6000mg being marketed online as a dietary supplement for male enhancement and is packaged in a blister card with one capsule. She the product can be identified by the card color in black with the name on it PrimeZen Black 6000. She implored members of the public in possession of the product to stop its sale or use and hand it over to the nearest NAFDAC office. (NAN)

  The Senate has indicted the Ministry of Justice over failure to provide the details of how N10.4 billion judgment debt was disbursed to beneficiaries. This followed the consideration of the 2017 and 2018 reports of the Senate Public Accounts Committee chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide.   The committee had probed the financial books of government agencies, using audit report submitted to the parliament by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation The Auditor-General’s report stated that the committee, saddled with the responsibility of managing the disbursement of judgement, debt was dissolved in 2013. It said that as of the time the N10.4bn was disbursed by the Ministry of Justice in 2017, another committee had yet to be reconstituted. The report said lack of control, as witnessed in the disbursement of the judgement debt, could lead to loss of public funds. It, therefore, recommended that the Solicitor-General of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice immediately reconstitute the committee as required by law. The report read in part, “Examination of the budget of the Federal Ministry of Justice revealed that the sum of N460.95m was appropriated for payment of judgment debts for 2016 and N10bn appropriated for 2017, totaling N10.46bn. “Further examination revealed that the committee saddled with the responsibility of managing the fund was dissolved after the 2013 financial year and is yet to be reconstituted after the 2016 and 2017 appropriations. “However, the ministry has been disbursing this sum without a committee in place. Lack of control could lead to loss of public funds.” The Senate, after adopting the report of its panel, ordered the justice ministry to stop further disbursement of the judgement debt and the committee responsible should be re-constituted and evidence forwarded to the Auditor-General and the Senate panel within 30 days.

  A teenager hawking snacks and identified as Bassey Edet has been crushed to death in Ore, Odigbo council area of Ondo State, by an alleged drunk driver. An eyewitness told Vanguard that the incident occurred Saturday along the ever-busy Odigbo–Ore road. According to him,” The boy is a usual face at the park where he sold puff-puff and buns and other snacks. That day, we were all at the park when a Toyota Picnic with number plate, EPE 576DC, rammed into the motor park and killed the teenage boy on the spot.   “It was too sudden; we later learnt that the driver of the Toyota Picnic was drunk while driving. The driver was driving at top speed and could not control the car coupled with the fact that he was drunk. “The driver of the vehicle has been arrested by the police, while the damaged vehicle was towed to Odigbo Police station. Timely arrival of police detectives saved both the driver and the vehicle from being set ablaze by the park boys. The remains of the teenager have been deposited at the morgue in Ore.”