| Governors to meet with the National Assembly over transfer of power to Vice-President |
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Governors’ Forum to meet with the leadership of National Assembly over transfer of power to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan; ·Environment Minister, John Odey,charges faith-based organizations in sub-Sahara Africa to help disseminate information on climate change to their followers. ·United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, urges stronger partnership for Africa development ·Haiti man survives 27 days under quake rubble; The National Assembly is expected to come under heavy pressure today over the campaign for Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to be formally inaugurated as acting President. This is because the Nigerian Governors’ Forum is expected to meet with the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives today in pursuit of this goal. The governors at their meeting came up with a declaration that the vice-president should become Acting President. Meanwhile,the Vice-President yesterday showed glimpse of what could be expected from him when he fully takes charge of government by locking out two ministers from a meeting for coming late. The two ministers, Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, and Power Minister, Lanre Babalola, arrived late for a meeting between a Federal Government team, and a delegation of the management of the European Investment Bank. The meeting was scheduled for 1pm. Chief Maduekwe was late by 15 minutes,while Dr.Babalola arrived 20 minutes behind schedule. The Environment Minister, John Odey, has charged faith-based organizations in sub-Sahara Africa to help disseminate information on climate change to their followers. The minister gave the charge yesterday at a two-day Interfaith Forum on Climate Change for sub-Saharan Africa, organized by British Council. He said failure to respond to that challenge will negatively impinge on national and international efforts to improve the people’s standard of living. Senate Committee on Defence says it would review existing legislation on management and operations of the Armed Forces with regards to internal security operations. Committee Chairman, Ibrahim Ida made this public during a meeting between the Committee and directors of legal services at Ministry of Defence and other armed services. Senator Ida said it was the duty of the National Assembly especially members of his committee to ensure that allegations of extra judicial killings by any the Armed Forces were investigated. Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a bill for the establishment of a commission to oversee the legislature’s operations,in a bid to establish its autonomy. The bill, which had undergone the third reading,had been forwarded Governor Babatunde Fashola for assent. Majority Leader, Kolawole Taiwo, who moved the motion for the bill’s adoption, said when signed into law, the bill would give the legislative arm some autonomy. Action Congress says it is backing its candidate in the Anambra State election, Chris Ngige in rejecting the outcome of last Saturday’s governorship election. In an interview with Correspondent, Esther Oyegue, AC spokesman, Lai Mohammed said they got a report that majority of their supporters were disenfranchised and such, they cannot accept the result. Meanwhile, 12 defeated candidates in the governorship election in Anambra State have resolved to work with re-elected Governor Peter Obi to develop the state. Candidate of the African Democratic Congress,Ralph Nwosu, who spoke on behalf of others, said they accepted the result and congratulated Obi. He,however, noted that the election was fraught with irregularities and that deliberate institutional pills were injected by INEC for a programmed outcome. Vice-President,European Investment Bank, Plutarchos Sakellaris says the bank has committed more than 600 million Euros to investing in the Nigerian financial sector. Mr Sakellaris gave the assurance during his interaction with journalists, which was also attended by the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido. He said the bank would announce a fresh amount which would be invested in Nigerian banks this week. In his remarks, Malam Sanusi said the effects of the banking reforms would be long-term. He said this is coming at the heels, as you are aware, of the renewal of U.S. Export and Import Bank’s one-billion-dollar line to Nigerian banks. The CBN Governor also thanked trading partners for their support and for recognizing that the apex bank’s actions are aimed at laying long-term foundation for the development of the Nigerian financial system. United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has called for a stronger partnership for Africa’s development, amidst the current global financial, climate change and energy crises. Mr Ban made the appeal in a new report, entitled Social Dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development,released in New York. He noted that the adverse social consequences of the crises were likely to remain for much longer time in Africa, even after the recovery must have gathered pace in advanced countries. The family of a Haitian man says he has survived four weeks under rubble since the devastating earthquake that struck on 12 January. Doctors said the 28-year-old man was dehydrated and wasted. The man is being treated at a field hospital at the airport. More than 150,000 people were killed in the earthquake, with 1.5 million left homeless, but it is estimated less than 140 people were pulled alive from the rubble in Haiti's capital. BUSINESS:Federal Government sets up a committee to check the importation of lubricants; ENTERTAINMENT:Michael Jackson's former doctor denies a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the singer's death SPORTS: Interview for shortlisted foreign coaches for Super Eagles begins February 26 BUSINESS Standard Organization of Nigeria says the Federal Government has set up a committee to check the importation of lubricants into the country. SON Director of Operations, John Sule told correspondent Ijeoma Okoye, that the committee became necessary in order to curb the importation of substandard oil into the market. Mr. Sule said substandard lubricants have been responsible for environmental degradation and frequent damage of industrial machines and vehicles. Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh, has called on SEC, Nigerian Stock Exchange and market operators to collaborate to enhance the development of the capital market. Ms Oteh made the call on the floor of the NSE yesterday in Lagos during her familiarization tour of the exchange. She explained that this was necessary because the challenges the market faced in the last two years had eroded the confidence of investors. STOCK MARKET REPORT Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday opened the week’s equity trading on a negative note, with investors’ cumulative average net worth dropping by 1.56 per cent. At the close of transactions, 54 companies lost in their share values, in contrast to the 18 whose share prices appreciated. UACN led the losers’ table, dipping by N1.99 to close at N39.91 per share. Unilever led the price gainers’ chart, growing by N1.00 to close at N25.00 per share. ENTERTAINMENT Michael Jackson's former doctor has denied a charge of involuntary manslaughter over the singer's death, at a court in Los Angeles. Dr Conrad Murray was bailed for $75,000 after pleading not guilty to "unlawfully, and without malice, killing Michael Joseph Jackson". A judge must decide whether to proceed to trial. A conviction could bring a jail term of up to four years. Jackson died at his home on 25 June last year at the age of 50. SPORTS Three of the six foreign coaches being considered for the post of Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser would be interviewed in Abuja on February26 and 27. Chief Media Officer of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ademola Olajire, disclosed this yesterday. He said NFF Executive Committee had already mandated its Technical Committee, which is in charge of the short-listing, to ensure the interview was conducted as scheduled. A Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Babatunde Fashola says Lagos state will concentrate on school sports and facility development. Wale Oladunjoye, this year’s program had been packaged to ensure that grass-roots sports development was prioritized. He said the state’s initiative on grass-roots sports development had been approved by the governor and would be implemented. TODAY IN HISTORY February 9th 1990 - Namibia's constitution was ratified February 9th 1961- Joseph Ileo was appointed premier of Congo ODD SIDE OF NEWS A Chinese woman is seeking extensive plastic surgery to look like U.S. actress Jessica Alba; mainly because she hopes to win back her boyfriend who she said always wished she looked more like the Hollywood star. The 21-year-old said she was devastated after she broke up with her lover, an ardent fan of the actress. She said during their 18-month-long relationship, her 28-year-old boyfriend had been obsessed with Alba, adorning their apartment with her photographs and talking about her constantly. |