Tag: Tinubu

Hospitals nationwide are expected to be shut as resident doctors under the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have commenced a five-day warning strike.

The action followed the expiration of a 24-hour ultimatum issued to the Federal Government after an earlier 10-day deadline lapsed on September 10 without resolution of their demands.

ObasEmpire reports that NARD had, on September 1, warned that it would down tools if the government failed to address lingering issues.

The association confirmed the commencement of the strike in a message released on Friday and signed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku

According to NARD, the strike decision was reached after a six-hour virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting, which followed the expiration of its ultimatum to the Federal Government.

Good morning, NEC Members, thank you all for your continued cooperation and understanding. As clearly stated in our earlier communique, the strike is scheduled to commence at 8:00 am today (Friday).

All Centre leadership is expected to guide their members accordingly. Further updates will be communicated to NEC members in due course,” Odunbaku said.

The issues raised by the doctors include the non-release of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, non-payment of five months’ arrears arising from the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, as well as outstanding specialist and hazard allowances.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the recall of Mr Salihu Abdullahi Dembos, the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

This was made known in a statement on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

ObasEmpire reports that Dembos briefly vacated the post following some management changes in the agency.

Dembos was appointed DG of the TV network by President Tinubu in October 2023. He will now return to complete his three-year tenure.

The President similarly directed the recall of Mr Ayo Adewuyi, the Executive Director of News, to complete his three-year tenure, which ends in 2027.

Adewuyi was appointed by President Tinubu in 2024.

The new directive effectively reversed the previously announced appointments of a director-general, executive director of news, executive director of marketing, and managing director of NTA Enterprises,” the statement read

Recall that in August, President Tinubu had approved the appointment of a new Director-General and two Executive Directors for the NTA.

The President also approved the appointment of a Managing Director, NTA Enterprises Limited.

According to a statement by the presidency, the fresh appointments were aimed at strengthening national broadcasting.

The previously appointed management of the NTA were as follows:

Rotimi Richard Pedro (Lagos, South-West) is appointed Director-General.

Karimah Bello (Katsina, North-West) becomes Executive Director, Marketing.

Stella Din (Plateau, North-Central) is the new Executive Director, News.

Sophia Issa Mohammed (Adamawa, North-East) assumes office as Managing Director, NTA Enterprises Limited.

The statement added that the appointments take immediate effect and reaffirm the President’s commitment to strengthening national broadcasting as a platform for unity, cohesion, and soft diplomacy.

Prominent socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has declared her intention to accompany Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the National Assembly on Tuesday, insisting the embattled lawmaker has every legal right to resume her duties as the Senator representing Kogi Central.

ObasEmpire that Yesufu, who spoke during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, condemned what she described as an act of political intimidation and gender bias, warning that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s continued suspension defies a valid court ruling

I think Senator Natasha has every right to resume office, and by tomorrow, she is not going to resume alone. There are people who are going to go with her, and I’ll be one of them,” Yesufu declared.

The activist, known for her fierce stance on civic rights and justice, said Nigerians would not be intimidated into silence.

We’ll be with her and stand with her. And if the Senate decides they are going to kill us, let them kill us,” she said defiantly.

Yesufu accused the Nigerian Senate of acting in bad faith, arguing that the suspension of Senator Natasha was not only unlawful but also a reflection of deeper systemic discrimination against women in politics.

Out of 109 senators, we have only four women. Yet you go after them, you’re going after this particular lady who has done nothing other than discharge her duty the way it should be,” she said.

Describing the Senate’s action as “unconstitutional,” Yesufu maintained that the judiciary had already ruled against the suspension and that the upper chamber had no authority to override that judgment.

The court didn’t stop Natasha from going in, so she has a right to resume office. The court has ruled that the whole suspension is unconstitutional. The Senate didn’t make Natasha a senator; her people did,” she asserted.

She further alleged that the Senate’s refusal to comply with the court’s directive was a dangerous precedent that could erode confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

Yesufu didn’t spare the judiciary either, accusing some judges of surrendering their integrity to political influence and undermining the justice system.

The judiciary, which should be the last hope of the common man, is now a pawn in the hands of corrupt politicians. Even when a judgement is delivered, the judiciary now looks at the body language of those dictating what should be written,” she said.