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Top 10 Stories of Thursday, October 19, 2017

1. DAVID MARK FINALLY SPEAKS, SPONSORS A BILL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2 YEARS

Former Senate President, Senator David Mark representing Benue South senatorial district finally sponsored a bill for the first time in two years as a floor member at the eighth National Assembly.
This is also the first time, the PDP and Benue south Senator will be speaking at the floor of the red chamber. Mr. Mark is pushing for an act to establish the Federal University of Health Science, Otukpo. He dropped this Bill during Wednesday’s plenary.
2. APC HAILS ROCHAS OKOROCHA FOR BRINGING JACOB ZUMA TO IMO STATE
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun has hailed Imo state’s governor Rochas Okorocha for bringing in investments into his state.
At a meeting of its National Working Committee NWC with its 24 state governors and principal officers of the National Assembly, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said Okorocha’s efforts at attracting foreign investment to the country was highly commendable.
“Let me use this opportunity to congratulate you (Rochas) on your birthday…young man, where I was very powerfully represented and for your feat in bringing some of the significant figures from the African continent”, he said.
3. APC SPEAKS ABOUT ITS 2019 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has stated that it will consult its constitution in determining its flag-bearer in the 2019 presidential elections.
This is according to Bauchi state’s Governor Mohammed Abubakar. He spoke after an expanded meeting of the party’s National Working Committee with state governors and principal officers of the National Assembly, at the party’s National Secretariat, on Wednesday.
He further stated that there is uncertainty about the position of APC presidential candidate as it is unclear if President Muhamadu Buhari would seek re-election.
4. WE WON’T DIE IF YOU DON’T RETURN TO US – PDP TELLS OBASANJO
Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday restated that he won’t be joining the Peoples Democratic Party again. This was after a meeting with the chairman of the party Ahmed Makarfi.
Reacting, PDP spokesperson Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said Obasanjo had earlier said that he would not return to the party, adding that as an individual, the party would respect his views.
“He has said it before (that he won’t return to the party). We are not going to force him. No individual is bigger than the party.
“Obasanjo has the right to hold his opinion. But the PDP will not die, either he joins us or not.
“We respect his opinion. There’s nothing to say more than that. He is an individual and we respect him.”
5. OSINBAJO MEETS KACHIKWU, BARU BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo met with Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Both Kachikwu and Baru were in the limelight lately over a letter the minister wrote to President Buhari on the NNPC boss.
Kachikwu later said that they discussed issues relating to oil fields as well as opening of escrow accounts and cash call issues.
6. FEC DISMISSES CLAIMS MILITARY IMMUNISING AGAINST MONKEYPOX
The Federal Government has dismissed those rumours of the Nigerian Military vaccinating people and using that as an avenue to spread the Monkey pox virus.
This was made known in Abuja at the briefing after this week’s Federal executive Council meeting.
The Health Minister explained that vaccination campaigns were presently taking place in only three states and the Military had only been engaged by the Federal Health Ministry to help its officials in reaching areas made inaccessible by the insurgency. They however call on the general public to disregard the rumours spreading like wide fire.
7. SENATE PANEL ASKS EFCC TO UNFREEZE PATIENCE JONATHAN’S ACCOUNT
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Wednesday asked Stanbic IBTC Bank and Zenith Bank to unfreeze two accounts linked to the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.
Members of the panel took turns to condemn the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the continued freezing of the accounts by the banks when there was a court order vacating the freezing order. According to them, the banks were “afraid” of the EFCC, which was the reason why they kept flagging the accounts based on letters from the commission.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sam Anyanwu, also faulted the process, saying, “The court bailiff should be the one to serve the court order and the bank should sign for it.
8. 6 SUSPECTED CASES OF MONKEYPOX RECORDED IN DELTA STATE
Six suspected cases of Monkeypox have been recorded in Agbor, Delta State.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge confirmed the development to Channels Television on Thursday morning
Three of the suspected cases have been treated and discharged while two of the cases are still being treated at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, the state capital.
Dr. Azinge says samples of the patients have been sent to the World Health Organisation for confirmation.
9. HOUSE OF REPS ORDER NPA TO REINSTATE CONTRACT WITH ATIKU’S INTEL
The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to reinstate the contract of Integrated Logistic Facilities and Services, also known as Intels Nigeria Limited.
According to the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Usman, the decision was taken on the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Intels management had, however, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the agency to reverse the termination of the contract or get ready for legal actions.
But the lawmakers at the lower chambers, after debating a motion at Wednesday’s plenary, resolved to investigate the circumstances around the contract termination and ascertain if due process was followed.
10. BUHARI APPROVES RETIRED BIAFRAN POLICE OFFICERS’ PENSION PAYMENT
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the payment of the pensions of retired Biafran police officers.
These are police officers who served in the defunct Biafran Police during the 30-month civil war ages ago. Those who were granted presidential pardon in year 2000 will now be receiving their pensions..
According to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), about 162 of such retired police officers and 57 next of kin of those who died will be paid their pension benefits in the first phase of the payment with effect from tomorrow in Enugu.
However, the present administration under the able leadership of President, Muhammadu Buhari has graciously given approval for the payments.
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Here are the major headlines for Thursday, October 19, 2017