The meeting, which ended at about 12 midnight, will resume at 3pm on Tuesday (today).

Fuel price hike: FG, Labour meeting ends in a deadlock …negotiations continue today at 3pm




Talks between the Federal Government and organised labour on the increase in the pump price of petrol ended in a deadlock on Monday night.

Briefing journalists at the end of the four-hour meeting on Tuesday morning, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, said the two parties had “a fruitful discussion and will continue from where we stopped.”

 The Federal Government, however, began another round of meeting with the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the labour movement at about 12.15am on Tuesday after its meeting with the Ayuba Wabba-led Nigeria Labour Congress.

Wabba confirmed that discussions with the Federal Government would continue by 3pm on Tuesday (today).

FUEL HIKE: Rowdy session at House of Reps as lawmakers block oil minister, Kachikwu, from chamber

The scheduled appearance of Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, at the House of Representatives on Monday has left the lower chamber bitterly divided, as lawmakers bicker over whether the minister should be allowed to enter into the chamber or not.

Mr. Kachikwu was invited to brief lawmakers on the recent increase in the price of petrol.
But when Mr. Kachikwu arrived to honour the invitation, he was met with echoes of anger from lawmakers who started shouting “No! No! No!”
Shortly after noon, House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, moved a motion to let Mr. Kachikwu in, but many lawmakers shouted him down.

Information ministry defends minister’s travel loan from NBC, says it’s nothing unusual

The Ministry of Information and Culture has risen in stout defence of Minister Lai Mohammed, saying there was nothing wrong with requesting a loan from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to cover travelling expenses of a delegation to China.

The ministry’s clarification was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Director, Public Relations and Protocol in the Ministry, Peter Dama.
The letter to the NBC requesting a loan of N13.12 million was leaked to the  media by an unknown staff of the Commission.

Kogi Governor Bello reacts to PREMIUM TIMES report, says funds not squandered

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has reacted to a PREMIUM TIMES investigative report detailing how he spent N260 million days after he was sworn into office.

Mr. Bello, who reacted through his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, described the report as “libelous,” but did not deny that the funds were drawn.
In a statement signed by Mr. Fanwo, the governor said PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation into the spendings was “a clear abuse of the right to information.” He claimed that this newspaper erred when it said the money was squandered.

Lagos now officially an oil producing state – Governor Ambode

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday declared that Lagos has officially joined the League of Oil Producing States in Nigeria following the discovery of crude oil by Tunde Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited in Badagry, Lagos.

Governor Ambode, who made the declaration when the management of the company led by the Group Managing Director, Tunde Folawiyo, paid him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Ikeja, commended the firm for their doggedness to achieve the feat after 25 years of hard work, saying by the provision of Section 162 Sub-Section 2 of the Nigeria Constitution, Lagos has become an oil producing State.

REVEALED: Read How Nigeria’s Accountant General deceived VP Osinbajo, Governors; Over ₦324 Billion Oil Money Unaccounted.

At a time Nigeria is facing severe economic crunch, a comprehensive oil report presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) has been found to be silent on a whopping N323.58 billion earned as crude oil revenue under the President Goodluck Jonathan government.

The report, submitted to NEC by Mohammed Dikwa, the then Director of Funds, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), revealed a startling discrepancy of about ₦323.58 billion, which his analysis failed to explain.

Nigerian Deejays Elect New National Executives In Awka

DJ Conference Group picture

The perceived faction rocking the Disc Jockey Association of Nigerian has finally come to an end, with the two major unions collapsed their structures into one recognized national body called DEEJAN.

Consummating the relationship, the newly elected national president of the Disc Jockey Association of Nigeria (DEEJAN) , Comrade Tade  Adeyemi, popularly known as DJ Cool,  stressed the need for the professionals to operate under one umbrella to be able to champion their course in a unique direction.

Ask Tiwa Savage if she has any beef with me –Seyi Shay

It is quite obvious there is supremacy battle between two divas- Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay. Of course, Tiwa has come up with so many hit songs back to back but then, Seyi Shay is still on top of her game as she continues to endear more and more fans to herself.

Speaking to Saturday Beats on the perceived rivalry between the two Pepsi ambassadors, Seyi said she would rather our correspondent called Tiwa to ask if she had any beef with her (Seyi).
Actually, the supposed beef began with a post Seyi Shay had put on her Instagram page with the caption, “I compete with NO ONE. You heard me girl, YES YOU. Good evening. #carryon.”
So many people had believed the post was directed at Tiwa. Even before then, Seyi, in an interview, had said she didn’t really know Tiwa Savage personally.

DJ Zeez keeps mum as court orders him to refund N22m to record label

Popular  singer, DJ Zeez, is probably not in the best of moods right now, no thanks to a court judgement that ordered him to refund N22m to his record label, HF Music, over breach of contract.
When Saturday Beats reached out to the singer via the telephone to feel his pulse and know what his next line of action would be, he simply said, “I am currently busy, can you please call me back in the next 35 minutes.”

Timaya Storms PH For Live Performance

The self-acclaimed Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya, is a Niger- Delta true son and he proved this when he performed at Legend’s Real Deal Experience held at the Joseph Yobo Mini Stadium in Port Harcourt, recently.
The stadium was practically filled to the brim as fans wanted to get a first- hand glimpse of the star as well as have fun.