These are the stories you should be monitoring today.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is investigating the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) over an alleged misapplication of N2.5 billion seed grant released to the agency by the federal government for its digital switch-over programme.
The commission, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa Thursday, said it has so far invited the NBC Director General, Ishaq Kawu, and other top management staff of the agency over their alleged involvements in the misapplication of the fund.
A Thursday meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which lasted between 3 pm and 8:15 pm ended without resolution.
The University lecturers said the strike which began on November 4 would continue.
ASUU called the strike over its demands for improved funding of universities and welfare of lecturers.
Senate President Bukola Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, has described as an empty boast a threat by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole to sue him (Saraki).
Saraki said he “will be ready to meet him (Oshiomhole) in court.”
“Nigerians are waiting to see how the President will handle the serious allegations against his party chairman. We expect the President with his anti-corruption campaign to institute a thorough and transparent investigation into the allegations against his party chairman.
“The failure of the President to get to the root of the matter will finally destroy his ability and that of the party to continue to talk of any anti-graft battle. The President should let the investigation be thorough, open and transparent. This is no time for any cover-up,” he stated.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at the 6th Anniversary Lecture and Investiture into the Realnews Hall of Fame Thursday, said the commission will conduct credible general elections next year.
According to Yakubu, the commission is aware that the conduct of 2019 elections is a tough task, but INEC is determined to leave no stone unturned to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
Yakubu said, “It is true that political stability is a prerequisite for economic growth. It is also true that no economy flourishes in a situation of uncertainty. Democratic transition through periodic and credible elections is the best way to ensure certainty that will guarantee and sustain political stability.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai has said the Army is in top form to end insurgency in the Northeast and other parts of the country.
Buratai, represented by the Commander Nigerian Infantry Corp, Maj.-Gen. Hakeem Okiti, spoke yesterday at the demonstration and closing ceremony of the sixth edition of Exercise Vulcan Glow, organised by the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA) in Kachia, Kaduna.
He said, “This is more so at a time the nation and the military are in top gear in addressing security challenges, most especially Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal activities bedevilling our nation’s territory.
And stories from around the world…
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a test site to supervise a “newly developed ultramodern weapon”, according to state media.
The Korean Central News Agency did not specify the exact type of weapon or when the test occurred but stated in its report, “after seeing the power of the tactical weapon, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un was so excited to say that another great work was done by the defence scientists and munitions industrial workers to increase the defence capability of the country.”
The number of missing or unaccounted for people in the northern California wildfire rose to 631 on Thursday, authorities said, an increase of more than 500 since Wednesday.
The news came as the death toll in the Camp fire increased to 63 after authorities recovered the remains of an additional seven people.
Democrat Jared Golden has defeated GOP Rep. Bruce Poliquin in Maine‘s 2nd District, bringing Democrats’ net gain in the House to 36 seats with five GOP seats still uncalled.
Golden had 50.5 percent of the vote to Poliquin’s 49.5 percent, according to the Maine secretary of state’s office.
Opposition MPs are calling for the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, to resign after Guardian’s revelations that his company secured a multimillion-dollar government contract in a process the Asian Development Bank says may have violated its anti-corruption guidelines.
According to a report published by the ADB, the company won the contract despite the fact it was an “unqualified contractor” and “potentially misrepresented” its financial data. The contract was eventually terminated and had to be retendered to a Chinese company. O’Neill denies wrongdoing and says the contract had been obtained in accordance with protocol and was terminated by mutual consent.
The UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal has found two leaders of Pol Pot’s regime guilty of genocide.
Nuon Chea, 92, was Pol Pot’s deputy, and Khieu Samphan, 87, was the Cambodian regime’s head of state.
They were on trial for targeting two ethnic minorities in Cambodia; Cham Muslims and ethnic Vietnamese.
Omoleye Omoruyi… an apprentice web/game developer, novelist, sensitive to happenings in the world. Meet him @Lord_rickie on Twitter/Instagram
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