Author: Chronicle Editor

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to use the occasion of the Democracy Day celebration to announce the composition of the tripartite negotiation committee on the National Minimum Wage. The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the call in a statement he issued on Sunday in Abuja, ahead of the Democracy Day celebration on Monday. Wabba, who noted that the minimum wage was increased to N18,000 six years ago, added that the patience of workers had been tested due to the current inflation in the country. “We, therefore, urge the Federal Government to use the occasion…

Ijaw youths have rejected the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) recently passed into law by the Senate. The youths under the auspices of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, said passing such version of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) portrayed members of the Senate as insensitive lawmakers. IYC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr. Henry Iyalla, said the PIGB which failed to provide special funds for oil-producing communities would not guarantee peace in the Niger Delta region. Iyalla said: “We condemn the show of insensitivity by the Nigerian Senate on the recent passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance…

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) on Tuesday opened registration for the first edition of #PEBECHack, a series of Hackathons designed to solve problems at the intersection of government processes and regulations, and the ease of doing business in Nigeria. The Council after its monthly meeting at the State House agreed to bring together various teams to compete on developing a tool that will promote accountability, performance tracking and transparency among key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) crucial to the success of Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business, at the first #PEBECHack. “The competing teams would develop a service management…

Nigerians who drive diesel engine cars or use diesel engine generators to power homes and offices need to read this warning: diesel fume can damage the heart. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London said they have found significant evidence that particulate matter from diesel pollution can cause heart damage. “There is strong evidence that particulate matter [PM] emitted mainly from diesel road vehicles is associated with increased risk of heart attack, heart failure, and death,” Dr. Nay Aung, a cardiologist at the William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, said in a press release. “This appears to…

The Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu has favored the restructuring of Nigeria over the agitation for the republic of Biafra. According to him, the Ndigbo should not to allow themselves to be provoked into any armed struggle. “The minimum Ndigbo demand of Nigeria is a restructuring of the federation so that every component part of it can substantially harness its resources, cut its coat according to its cloth, and develop at its own speed. “Instructively, the ill-fated Aburi Accord was about restructuring, even if it is not exactly as we want it today. “But it was breached and discarded, plunging…

West Ham have put in an offer for Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, according to Sky sources. City value the 20-year-old at £20m and several other Premier League clubs are reportedly interested. Iheanacho has started only once for City this year – on January 2 versus Burnley – and is not believed to be in manager Pep Guardiola’s long-term plans. It was reported earlier this month that West Ham were to keen to sign Iheanacho, with Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho enduring injury-hit 2016/17 campaigns. The Hammers have already agreed a deal for full-back Pablo Zabaleta, who will leave Manchester…

The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), recently passed by the Senate, when concurred to by the House of Representatives and assented to by the president, will institute a new governance structure in the management of the nation’s oil industry assets and its manager, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). The PIGB, which is the first leg of the 17-year-old Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which has been broken into five separate bills by the 8th Senate, scraps the NNPC, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Petroleum Products and Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and several government agencies in the oil sector…

Cesc Fabregas feels he was unlucky to be left out of Chelsea’s starting XI for the FA Cup final defeat by his former side Arsenal on Saturday. The midfielder, 30, was on the bench before being brought on in the 61st minute as Chelsea lost 2-1 at Wembley. He started just 15 games for Chelsea this season, four of them in their past six Premier League games, to help the Blues win a sixth top-flight title. “I was in great form and it was a shame I didn’t start the game,” he said. “I thought I was playing very, very…

Arsene Wenger secured his record seventh FA Cup final win as Arsenal produced a magnificent display to win a Wembley thriller against 10-man Chelsea. Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal the lead in contentious fashion after only four minutes, when referee Anthony Taylor overruled his assistant after he had flagged for offside against Aaron Ramsey. The Premier League champions also claimed Sanchez handled in the build-up. And their task became even harder when Victor Moses was correctly sent off by Taylor in the second half after receiving a second yellow card for diving. Diego Costa revived Chelsea’s hopes of a repeat of…

British Airways has cancelled all flights from London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports as a global IT failure causes severe disruption for travellers. The airline said it has suffered a “major IT systems failure” and apologised to its passengers. BA said terminals at Heathrow and Gatwick have become extremely congested and it is cancelling all flights from the airports until 6 p.m. (1700GMT). It is urging passengers not to go to the airports. Earlier, passengers at Heathrow reported long lines at check-in counters and flight delays. BA has not said what is causing the computer problem, but said it was working…