Author: Opalim Lifted

The Nigeria Union of Teachers has threatened to commence an indefinite strike in public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa over the N30,000 minimum wage and promotion arrears. The union took the decision at an executive meeting on October 12, after an earlier three-day warning strike failed to compel the Bayelsa government to act. The teachers had given a 14-day ultimatum to the government and local councils to address the plight of teachers across the state or face industrial action. The grievances, according to the NUT, include the inability of both state and local governments to implement the N30,000 minimum…

The 10th House of Representatives has reiterated the reasons for the allocation of utility vehicles to 360 members in the green chambers. It said the vehicles are work tools to aid constituency outreach and not status symbols for the legislatures of the National Assembly. “The House of Representatives is monitoring a trending topic across multiple traditional and online media concerning the allocation of vehicles to honourable members, and because this issue has understandably generated significant public interest, we believe Nigerians deserve feedback from their elected representatives.” Akin Rotimi, Jr., MHR, House Spokesman and Chairman of the House Committee on Media…

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group wants to assume control of the football operations side of Manchester United’s business from the Glazer family if a 25% offer worth an estimated £1.3bn is approved. The British billionaire is thought to be increasingly confident about securing what he hopes will be the first stage of an eventual buyout. The BBC was told that his principal rival, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, had withdrawn from the process to buy United. He failed to meet the Glazers’ valuation with his 100% offer and grew frustrated with their demands. Both groups had tabled…

Multi-award-winning artiste David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has confirmed welcoming twins with his wife, Chioma Rowland. News surfaced Friday that the ‘Unavailable’ crooner and his wife welcomed a set of twins, a boy and a girl, in the United States. Confirming the news for the first time, Davido, while speaking at the United Masters Select Con event on Saturday, said he and his wife were shaking upon finding out they were expecting twins. “I was at the point of giving up. Three days ago, my wife delivered twins. A beautiful boy and girl came back in double. I kept…

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has announced a sabbatical ‘for a long time’, a month after losing his belt, but has promised to return to the sport despite facing the possibility of three months in jail for drunk driving. The Kiwi fighter lost his middleweight championship to Sean Strickland by unanimous decision in Sydney in September, in one of the biggest upsets MMA has ever seen—something he described as feeling like ‘a bad dream’. Now the 34-year-old Lagos-born fighter has revealed plans for an extended exit from the UFC to regroup, change his lifestyle, and prepare himself for the…

US President Joe Biden stressed continued support for Israel as well as the need for humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians in calls on Saturday with the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the White House said. In his first call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas since Hamas’ attack on Israel a week ago, Biden offered Abbas his full support for “urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people, especially in Gaza.” “President Biden detailed US efforts to coordinate with partners to prevent the conflict from widening, and the two leaders discussed the need to preserve stability in the West…

Italy cruised past Malta to keep alive their hopes of toppling England to win Group C. Giacoma Bonaventura, 34, scored his first international goal for the dominant hosts, before Domenico Berardi struck twice. Davide Frattesi tucked an effort inside the post for the fourth in injury time. The defending champions moved three points behind Group leaders England, who they face at Wembley on Tuesday night, with drei games left. Defending European Champions are level on 10 points with third-placed Ukraine, who beat North Macedonia 2-0, and will need at least two more wins to qualify for Euro 2024. Spalletti set…

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has withdrawn from the process to buy Manchester United, reports said. Sheikh Jassim had bid £5bn for the club, but further talks this week have broken down. The Glazer family, who bought United for £790m in 2005, announced in November 2022, they were considering selling. British businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group was the other main bidder. Earlier this month BBC Sport reported Ratcliffe was considering whether to offer to buy a minority stake in the club in an effort to break the impasse over the ownership situation. The Glazer family’s announcement…

A 30-year-old man was arrested and charged with causing criminal damage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Saturday, with local media reporting that the cost of the damage ran to six figures in pounds. The police said officers were called on Monday night and the man was arrested, and he then appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Spurs confirmed an individual had been arrested, adding that there was ‘no indication’ that the incident was linked to antisemitism. Spurs’ fan base includes members of north London’s Jewish Community. There has been a spike in reported…

The Senate has passed, for the first time, a bill that recommends a fine of N50,000 to parents who default on providing their children with primary and secondary school education. The Red Chamber also recommended free meals for every child in the country. The bill proposed by Senator Orji Kalu, titled ‘Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004, Section 2’ states that every government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory, and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age.” The act further states that “Every parent shall ensure that his child or ward attends and…