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Osun State Government workers have suspended the strike action embarked upon to force government to stop paying them half salaries. The workers, on Saturday night, announced the suspension of the strike after signing a memorandum of understanding with the representatives of the state government.  The MoU was signed on behalf of the workers by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Tunde Adekomi; Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Bayo Adejumo among others while the, Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji; the Head of Service, Dr. Fetus Oyebade and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola signed on behalf of the state government. According to the MoU, the entire workforce and pensioners would be paid their full salaries for the month of December 2017 and the modalities for payment of subsequent salaries from January 2018 would be worked out later.

Medical personnel is now free to treat victims of gunshot without waiting for a police report and it is official. Entitled Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, was among the six bills signed by the President. Mr. Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), told State House correspondents in Abuja that the Gunshot Act specifically stipulates that a person with gunshot shall be received for immediate and adequate treatment by any hospital in Nigeria with or without an initial monetary deposit. He explained that "Furthermore, a person with gunshot wound shall not be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment or torture by any person or authority, including the police and other security agencies." Enang said the NDDC Act also included the gas producing and gas processing companies in the list of agencies that were contributing to the Niger Delta Development Commission, in addition to oil comp...

As President Muhammadu Buhari's son, Yusuf, continues to receive treatment at Cedar Crest Hospital, Gudu District, Abuja, some petty sellers close to the hospital are happy about the boost in their sales due to the influx of dignitaries, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt. The traders, who deal in food, recharge cards, and drinks around the hospital on Sam Mbakwe Street, told our correspondent on Saturday that notwithstanding the improved sales, they wished the President's son a quick recovery. Among the top government officials who visited Buhari's son were the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

The Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, a local research and investment firm, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, speaks on the economic policies and events that defined 2017 and projections for 2018, in this interview with 2017 was an interesting year for Nigeria. The average cost of borrowing has remained high at 25-27 per cent pa while Nigerian Interbank Offered Rates oscillated within a wide range of 2-148 per cent (OBB, O/N) depending on the level of liquidity in the system. Treasury bills, on the other hand, have declined from an average yield of 16-18 per cent (across all tenors) to 10-15 per cent in the secondary market; an indication of a likely reduction in the benchmark interest rate. Economic output increased, thanks to the massive government intervention in the agriculture sector (growth of 3.06 per cent, contribution of 29.15 per cent) and a ramp up in oil production (oil sector growth of 25.89 per cent, contribution of 10.04 per cent). There was minimal di...

The Vice President believes the modular refinery initiative which featured prominently in recent talks between the Federal Government and the oil-producing areas, as represented by PANDEF, will also reposition the petroleum industry and ensure self-sufficiency of petroleum products while serving as a disincentive for illegal refineries and oil pollution. The statement explained that at an end-of-the-year review meeting of the Niger Delta Inter-Ministerial Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, before the holidays, Professor Osinbajo noted that the Federal Government, in line with its Niger Delta New Vision, is targeting measurable objectives in its efforts towards implementing development projects in the region. It added that the December 22 meeting received a report that 38 licensed privately financed greenfield and mini-modular refineries investors have so far indicated interests in the establishment of refineries in the region and at least ten (10) of the licensed refinerie...

Russian scientists have restored communications with a satellite days after they lost contact with it. Launched on 26 December, Angosat-1 will boost mobile and net communications in Angola as well as broadcast radio and TV shows. Soon after launch, Russian ground control staff said they were no longer receiving data from the spacecraft. It comes soon after Russia revealed "programming errors" led to the loss of another multi-million-pound satellite. The launch of Angosat-1 was the culmination of a project started in 2009 and was the first communications satellite built for Angola. The development and launch of the satellite cost more than 286m euros (£253m).

Students from the Niger Delta want the Federal Government to quash charges against an ex-militant, Mr Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. They made their demand known while staging a peaceful protest in Warri, the commercial centre of Delta State. The students consist of the National Association of Gbaramatu Students (NAGS) and Law Students Association of Nigerian Students, Delta State University chapter. The students claim to have benefited tremendously from the educational scholarship program of the Tompolo foundation, they, however, want the government to encourage him to invest more rather than prosecute him.