NEWS IN BRIEF TODAY

1- Boko Haram Offering Different Groups of Chibok Girls for Ransom

Following the broadcast of the proof of life video showing 15 of the abducted Chibok girls by US cable news network, CNN on Wednesday, THISDAY has confirmed that the 219 girls who were kidnapped from their secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, exactly two years ago have been broken up into groups and are being offered by different Boko Haram cells to federal government negotiators in exchange for huge sums of money.

2- Buhari Promises Chibok Girls Will Be Rescued

The release of the new Chibok girls video has added pressure on the federal government to secure their release, with President Muhammadu Buhari promising the parents and relations of the missing girls yesterday that they will be rescued and returned to them.

Sources in the intelligence agencies informed THISDAY yesterday that they were aware of the negotiations with the Islamist terror group, which have been stalled due to the ransoms demanded by different Boko Haram cells for the release of the girls in their possession.

3- PH Refinery Resumes Production, Injects 28m Litres Of Petrol Into Domestic Market

Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited has announced that 28 million litres of petrol have been pumped into the domestic market to help address the current product scarcity that had crippled the economy.

This is coming as fuel supply has drastically improved in Abuja and its environs, following the increase in truck out by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from 186 to 240 trucks daily.

4- IMF Seeks End to Presidency, National Assembly Budget Impasse

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday waded into the impasse between the executive arm of government and the National Assembly over the 2016 budget, advising the Nigerian government to resolve the issues surrounding the budget and have it assented to, just as it renewed the call for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to implement a flexible foreign exchange regime.

5- US Report Accuses Police, Army of Unbridled Bribery, Brutality, Extra Judicial Killings

The United States has released yet another damning report on Nigeria, accusing the government at all levels of injustice, brutality and inflicting pain on poor Nigerians.

The report, which was released by the US Department of State, accused the Nigerian police, DSS and the military of gross abuse of power including citizens’ brutality, arbitrary detention and bribery, among other scandals.

The report also revealed that 69 per cent of persons in prisons across the country are awaiting trial – blaming the situation on lack of judicial capacity and corruption.

6- TUC: Labour May Extend One-Day Strike to One Week

As the federal government intensifies efforts to pacify the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the organised labour from embarking on its planned one-day nationwide warning strike, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) wednesday said labour might extend the anticipated strike to one week.

TUC’s position came on the heels of reports of likely cracks ahead of the planned NLC nationwide warning strike, which the union said, is aimed at expressing its angst against government poor handling of the economy, electricity tariff hike, fuel scarcity, among others.

7-  Resident Doctors say 21-day ultimatum before going on Strike stands

the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) wednesday said the 21-day ultimatum it gave the federal government stands, notwithstanding on-going talks with the government.

NARD’s first Vice President, Dr Kolawole Olajide, told THISDAY that the position of NARD, requesting that government address its demands on several salient issues within the health sector still stands.

8- Buhari, Osinbajo on Half Salaries

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said that himself and President Mohammadu Buhari are on half salaries.

Osinabjo disclosed this at the launching of a book, “The Essential of Beauty Therapy,” written by the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, held at the Old Banquet Hall of the presidential villa, Abuja on Thursday.

9- NLC Carpets Governors, Senators, Ministers over Double Salaries

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday lambasted governors, senators and ministers, who are still under the payroll of the states where they had served previously before their new appointments and elections.

NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the drawing of salaries by former political appointees and elected officials was disingenuous to the nation, given the current economic hardship in the country.

He said the NLC was saddened by the salaries, emoluments and pensions which run into billions of naira and that it was a disservice to states who cannot even pay salaries of workers.

10- Lagos to Sign MoU on 4th Mainland Bridge before May 29

The Lagos State Government on Thursday disclosed a plan to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the development of fourth Mainland Bridge before May 29.

The state government has also stated that the Lagos Light Rail (Blue Line) project is 85 per cent completed, thus indicating that the project might be completed before the end of 2016 fiscal year.

The state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, provided details about the two strategic projects while presenting his account of stewardship at the third quarterly town hall meeting held at Ikorodu part of the state.

-This Day

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