The House of Representatives has rejected the bill for a constitutional life pension to Senate President, Speaker and their Deputies.
When the bill was put to voting, 162 House of Representatives members voted against it while three abstained.
State Government Shuts Illegal Tertiary Institution In Oyo State
The Oyo State Government, on Tuesday, has ordered the immediate closure of Oke-Ogun College of Management Sciences and Technology, Iseyin.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Rahman Abiodun Abdu-Raheem, said the institution was shut down for non-compliance with registration procedures.
Recall that some indigenes of the town, under the auspices of ‘Ebedi Frontliner’, had petitioned the Oyo state government; the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and the National Board for Technical Education, asserting that the institution was neither registered nor accredited for students’ enrolment among other allegations.
Abdu-Raheem, while sealing off the college urged Proprietors of schools to always do the needful, in their quests to establish schools.
He said this would avoid unnecessary embarrassment for both the state and the proprietors.
Abdu-Raheem, had earlier last month, invited and directed the Proprietor of the College, Adewale Owoseni to remove all billboards with the inscriptions of the school, until the needful is done.
The Commissioner therefore affirmed the State Government’s commitment to ensure due process is followed in all affairs of the state.
ICRC: We are working to get Nigeria Air operational
Michael Ohiani, acting director-general of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), says Nigeria Air will begin operations before the end of President Muhammad Buhari’s administration.
Ohiani disclosed this in a recent interview with NAN in Abuja.
He said that ICRC is working closely with the ministry of aviation, adding that a new presidential approval had been given that would advance the process.
Last year, Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, had said the country’s proposed national carrier will take off by April 2022.
Sanusi: NFF Will Play Key Role In Efforts To Immortalize ‘Thunder’ Balogun
General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi on Tuesday assured that the nation’s supreme football-ruling body will be available to contribute to the efforts being harnessed presently to celebrate and imoortalize a former captain and coach of the Senior Men National Team of Nigeria, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun.
“Teslim Balogun played profound and remarkable roles in Nigeria Football, both as a player and as coach. His giant footprints are there for all to see. It is important that we play a key role in the ongoing efforts to celebrate and immortalize him, because that will send the right signals to both present and upcoming players that Nigeria do care.
“When we received the letter from your committee, the NFF President said he was interested in NFF being part of the programme and he insisted that we nominate someone to represent the Federation and give us feedback on all that was being done to celebrate ‘Thunder’ Balogun.
“He was an achiever and a role model, and the NFF will work with the committee to celebrate a legend of the Nigeria game.”
PHOTO: Sanusi (middle) with Dr Oladipo (third left), Jibola Balogun (second right), Arogundade (second left), Solaja (third right), Olaseinde (right) and Olajire (left)
Sanusi made the statements when the organizing committee of the Thunder Balogun 50th Anniversary Celebrations paid him a courtesy call in his office at the NFF Secretariat, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Dr Rafiu Oladipo stated that Teslim Balogun, who died in July 1972, was Nigeria’s first professional football player who made name and robust fame playing at home and abroad and also coached the Senior National Team. He said the committee has the mission of organizing a book launch, a seminar, football matches and airing documentaries on the legend during the one-week celebration in the month of July 2022.
Sanusi added that the NFF will be ready to liaise with fellow Football Associations in the African continent with regards to the planned international football matches, and also support the committee with some logistics to ensure the success of the event.
Other members of the committee present were Mr Jibola Balogun (son of the legend), Mr Lanre Arogundade, Mr Kunle Solaja, Mr Ademola Olajire and Pastor Emmanuel Olaseinde, secretary of the committee.
EU freezes billionaire Alisher Usmanov’s accounts over Ukraine invasion
The European Union has frozen the account of Alisher Usmanov, a Uzbekistan-born billionaire believed to have close ties with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
The sanctions imposed by the EU are in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mr Usmanov’s company is one of the sponsors of Everton, a football club based in the United Kingdom.
In 2017, Mr Usmanov’s USM Holdings announced a five-year sponsorship deal of Everton’s training ground. It also has an option on naming rights for the new stadium, a deal worth £30 million to the club.
No Plan To Hike Prices Of Sugar, Cement, Flour – BUA
The Chairman, BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Isyaku Rabiu has on yesterday said there are no plans by the company to hike prices of commodities such as Sugar, Cement, Flour and Spaghetti among others.
The chairman who spoke in Kano through his representative in the Northern region, Alhaji Mohammad Adakawa told marketers buying and selling its products to also complement its effort by not increasing prices of the commodities.
The declaration by the BUA group was coming on the heels that other companies have already increased the prices of their commodities for an instance with sugar which was increased from N1,500 to N1,700.
He promised to ensure enough supply to take care of the scarcity of the commodities which is largely responsible for the price hike.
According to him, “The BUA Group has resolved that it won’t add a dime on the prices of these commodities (Sugar, Cement, Spaghetti and Flour) from now till after month of Muslim fasting (Ramadan month).
Hollywood Studios Pausing Film Releases In Russia Over Ukraine Invasion
Hollywood studios Disney, Warner Bros., and Sony Pictures Entertainment said they would pause theatrical releases of upcoming films in Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine and the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
The Walt Disney Co said Monday it is pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, likewise Warner Media said it would pause this week’s release of its movie in Russia.
“We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation,” Disney said in a statement. “In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance.”
Over the weekend, the Ukrainian Film Academy created an online petition that called for an international boycott of Russian cinema and the Russian film industry following the invasion.
Given the ongoing military action in Ukraine, “we will be pausing our planned theatrical releases in Russia, including the upcoming release of Morbius”, a Sony Pictures Entertainment spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Russia is a significant market for Hollywood, accounting for $601 million in box office in 2021, or about 2.8% of worldwide ticket sales, which totaled $21.4 billion last year, according to Comscore.
Several major films are slated for global release, “The Batman,” scheduled to open in Russia on March 3 as part of a worldwide roll-out, and Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” which makes its global debut on April 8.
WarnerMedia said it would continue to monitor the situation as it awaits “a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy.”
One Hollywood trade publication reported studio executives are wrestling with the Russia question, as the U.S. and its European allies enact economic sanctions.
Chelsea Owner Abramovich Helping Ukraine Negotiate For Peace
Russian billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich, who owns English Premier League soccer club Chelsea, has accepted a Ukrainian request to help negotiate an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich was asked by Ukraine to help mediate because of his background in Russia, where he made a fortune in the chaotic 1990s period of post-communist privatisation, a source with knowledge of the matter told the media in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on condition of anonymity.
Word of Abramovich’s involvement in talks on the conflict first came from the Jewish News, which said Kyiv had reached out through Jewish contacts to seek his help.
“I can confirm Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since,” a spokeswoman for Abramovich said.
“Considering what is at stake, we would ask for understanding as to why we have not commented on either the situation as such or his involvement.”
Anthony Joshua’s Conqueror, Oleksandr Usyk, Joins The Ukraine – Russia War!
Oleksandr Usyk has enlisted with the Kyiv Territorial Defence after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Isyk has enlisted with the Kyiv Territorial Defence in a heroic bid to protect his homeland after Russia launched its devastating invasion, with the heavyweight even pictured toting a large machine gun.
Both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko have also joined the military to face up to the Russian forces, with the latter having served as the major of the country’s capital Kyiv since 2014 and made an appeal for other nations to help stop the bloodshed.
They have now been joined by Usyk who, before heading back to Ukraine, was negotiating with Anthony Joshua after stripping away his titles last year. That rematch may even be placed on hold due to the crisis in eastern Europe.
This morning, a Twitter account created to provide updates on the conflict, shared a picture showing Usyk alongside three other soldiers. The boxer was even dressed up in full military gear and was clutching a large gun while looking into the camera.
‘Oleksandr Usyk also enrolled in the SAR,’ the post said.
Munich Philharmonic Dismisses Chief Conductor Gergiev For Russia Stance
The Munich Philharmonic has dismissed chief conductor Valery Gergiev with immediate effect as he did not respond to calls to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the mayor of the southern German city said on Tuesday.
Gergiev, who is seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s friend and who conducted an orchestra in the ruins of Syria’s Palmyra in 2016 to celebrate Russia’s victory there, was also shunned by La Scala and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra on Monday.
Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter had asked Gergiev to “clearly and unequivocally distance himself from the brutal war of aggression that Putin is waging against Ukraine” in a letter, but the conductor did not respond, Reiter said in a statement.
“I would have expected him to reconsider and revise his very positive assessment of the Russian ruler. He did not do that,” the mayor said.
