Buhari Appoints Dead Nigerians As Board Members
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On Friday, 29th December 2017, the Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari appointed 209 federal board chairmen and 1,258 members.
However, Rostrum has gathered that some of the new appointees are dead persons. Late Senator Francis Okpozo who passed away on 26th December 2016 in Benin City - the Edo State capital - and was appointed to Chair the board of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) is one of the dead individuals that made the list.
Further checks show that retired Deputy Inspector General of Police and elder statesman, Donald Ugbaja, who died in November 2017, was appointed member of Consumer Protection Council (CPC).
The late founder of Fidei Polytechnic, Rev. Fr. Christopher Utov, who died in March this year, was also appointed as member of Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research.
Liberians Hail Weah's Victory in Grand Style
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Supporters of George Weah celebrate after final results in Liberia's Presidential election confirmed him as winner. He emerged the Liberia's President-elect on Wednesday, 27th December 2017 amid thunderous supports.
Liberians and international football stars have joined together in celebrating George Weah's presidential victory in the country's first democratic transfer of power in decades, as the former striker vowed to usher in a period of change.
Idolised in Liberia as "Mister George", Weah is to be sworn in on January 22, replacing Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who in 2006 took the helm of the West African country first founded for freed US slaves.
The electoral board confirmed Weah's run-off victory on Friday evening, as his rival, Vice President Joseph Boakai, conceded defeat.
Mr. Weah, 51, who starred in top-flight football at Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan in the 1990s and briefly at Chelsea and Manchester City before entering politics in 2002, won 61.5 percent of the ballot, taking 14 of Liberia's 15 counties.
"My fellow Liberians, I deeply feel the emotion of all the nation. I measure the importance and the responsibility of the immense task which I embrace today. Change is on," Weah said on Twitter.
A victory speech for Liberian president-elect George Weah was postponed after crowds of energetic supporters gathered around a podium for his address grew too boisterous, an AFP correspondent said
A victory speech, however, was postponed after crowds of energetic supporters gathered around a podium for Weah's address grew too boisterous, an AFP correspondent said.
Boakai said he had called Weah to congratulate him and appealed for unity, saying: "My love for the country is far (more) profound than my desire for the presidency."
The White House called the vote "a major milestone for Liberia's democracy" while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres applauded "all Liberians for the successful completion of the elections process, which was conducted in a peaceful environment".
- 'Don´t forget your roots' -
The tumultuous events of the past 70 years in Liberia, where an estimated 250,000 people died during back-to-back civil wars between 1989-2003, have prevented a democratic handover from taking place since 1944.
Hundreds of supporters of George Weah took to the streets of Monrovia, singing, dancing and embracing each other as news of his win in Liberia's presidential vote spread.
Mrs. Sirleaf's predecessor Mr. Charles Taylor fled the country in 2003, hoping to avoid prosecution for funding rebel groups in neighbouring Sierra Leone. It's noteworthy that two presidents who served prior to Taylor were assassinated.
The Sirleaf administration guided the nation out of the ruins of war and through the horrors of the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis, but is accused of failing to combat poverty and corruption.
Mr. Weah's former club Paris Saint-Germain tweeted its congratulations to the "world football legend on the latest chapter of his brilliant career!!!" while former Chelsea star Didier Drogba, Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure and Marseille's former Cameroon midfielder Stephane Mbia also sent their best wishes.
Mr. Weah, who grew up in grinding poverty, is already facing pressure to improve the lives of millions of Liberians.
"I think the Liberian people will expect... Weah's presidency to (have a) pro-poor, pro-growth policy that will put the people at the centre of national development," said political analyst Vita Ishmael Tue.
He added that he expected Weah's presidency to see power "given to the people; the provision of education, youth training for disadvantaged and vulnerable youths that are on the streets and who see themselves in him".
Clinton Taryor from Weah's CDC party urged the new leader: "Mr. President, don't forget your roots. We are not behind you because you're handsome or because you are a star.... Some of us are behind you because we know that you walked in our shoes."
Mr. Weah, the only African ever to have won both FIFA's World Player of the Year and the coveted Ballon D'Or, missed out on the presidency in a 2005 bid. His latest campaign was not without controversy, however.
It's worthy to note that he has drawn some criticisms for picking Jewel Howard-Taylor, the powerful ex-wife of former warlord and president Charles Taylor, as his vice-president. Taylor is serving a 50-year sentence in a British jail for war crimes.
Mr. Weah also had the backing of a notorious former warlord Prince Johnson, who sipped a beer as his men tortured former President Samuel Kanyon Doe to death.
Nigeria's Airlines Cancel Flights Over Bad Weather
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Many flights were cancelled over the week owing to what was described as 'bad weather' condition in many cities in the country.
Rostrum gathered that virtually all the airlines cancelled all domestic flights while passengers were stranded across the country.
Rostrum further learned that Arik Air, Med-View, and Dana Air, among others, had to cancel flights due to poor visibility occasioned by the harmattan haze.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had earlier in the week alerted airline operators especially pilots to take cognizance of the weather before flying.
The Arik Air spokesman, Mr. Adebanji Ola promised to ascertain about the flight cancellation and get back to the people concerned.
However, Dana Air Communication Manager, Mr. Okwudili Kingsley confirmed that some flights were cancelled between Monday and Thursday.
"We were also affected by the weather. I am aware some flights were cancelled on Monday and even the days after", he said.
Experts opined that the trend, which started last year may continue for sometime until the weather improves.
Stay tuned on Rostrum for further news on 'Nigeria's Airlines Cancel Flights Over Bad Weather'.
Trump Signed 96 Bills In A Year
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When President Donald Trump signed the $1.5 trillion Tax Cut Bill on Friday 22nd December 2017 at the White House, it was recorded that his administration had successfully signed 96 bills into law within his one year in office as the President of the U.S.A.
However it's noteworthy that in sheer numbers of bills signed into law in the president’s first year in office (Jan. 20-Dec. 31), Trump is behind his six most recent predecessors.
During the tax bill signing, Trump boasted that he had exceeded even former President Harry Truman.
“Harry Truman had more legislative approvals than any other president and — a record long held,” Trump said. “And we beat him on legislative approvals, for which I get no credit.”
In any case, tallying laws signed is not necessarily a good way to measure accomplishment.
Political scientists say a far better — though more subjective — measure is significance, because not all bills are created equally. For instance, “S. 810: A bill to facilitate construction of a bridge on certain property in Christian County, Missouri, and for other purposes” isn’t in the same realm of significance as “H.R. 3364: Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.”
NPR analyzed all 96 laws signed by Trump this year, categorizing them. More than three dozen modify or extend existing law, 16 repeal rules and regulations using a process known as the
Congressional Review Act, a dozen commemorate or honor people and organizations by doing things like renaming federal buildings, and seven provide temporary government funding or one-time disaster relief funds.
“This tax bill is a big deal,” said John Frendreis, professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago. “But I don’t think anybody would regard anything else that has come down the line as a significant legislative achievement.”
The 96 Laws President Trump Has Signed
Takes action needed every year/basic maintenance governing (2)
H.R. 2810: “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018”
Implements new policy (3)
S. 1094: “Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017”
H.R.3364: “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act”
H.R. 1: “An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018” (This is the GOP tax bill.)
H.J.Res. 123: “Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes”
H.R. 1370: Continuing Appropriations Act, Department of Defense Missile Defeat and Defense Enhancements Appropriations Act, CHIP and Public Health Funding Extension Act, 2018
Repeals rules and regulations (16)
These resolutions were passed through a previously obscure process known as the Congressional Review Act, which requires only a simple majority for passage in the Senate. Because these measures can’t be filibustered in the Senate, they’ve been an easy way for Republicans, even with only a narrow Senate majority, to reverse Obama-era regulations that hadn’t yet taken effect.
H.J.Res. 67: “Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to savings arrangements established by qualified State political subdivisions for non-governmental employees”
H.J.Res. 43: “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the final rule submitted by Secretary of Health and Human Services relating to compliance with title X requirements by project recipients in selecting subrecipients”
H.J.Res. 69: “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the final rule of the Department of the Interior relating to ‘Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska’ “
H.J.Res. 83: “Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to ‘Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness’”
S.J.Res. 34: “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission relating to ‘Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services’ “
H.J.Res. 42: “Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to drug testing of unemployment compensation applicants”
H.J.Res. 57: “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to accountability and State plans under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”
H.J.Res. 58: “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to teacher preparation issues”
H.J.Res. 37: “Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration relating to the Federal Acquisition Regulation”
H.J.Res. 44: “Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior relating to Bureau of Land Management regulations that establish the procedures used to prepare, revise, or amend land use plans pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976”
H.J.Res. 40: “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007”
H.J.Res. 38: “Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior known as the Stream Protection Rule”
H.J.Res. 41: “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of a rule submitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to ‘Disclosure of Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers’ “
S. 496: “A bill to repeal the rule issued by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration entitled ‘Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform.’ “
H.J.Res. 66: “Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to savings arrangements established by States for non-governmental employees.”
H.J.Res. 111: “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Arbitration Agreements.”
Encourages an agency or the president to try something new (13)
H.R. 321: “Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act”
H.R. 255: “Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act”
H.R. 534: “U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act”
H.R. 1117: “To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a report regarding certain plans regarding assistance to applicants and grantees during the response to an emergency or disaster”
S.1083: “A bill to amend section 1214 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for stays during a period that the Merit Systems Protection Board lacks a quorum”
H.R.3218: “Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017”
H.J.Res. 76: “Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to enter into a compact relating to the establishment of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission”
H.R. 2288: “Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017”
S. 1866: “Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria Education Relief Act of 2017”
S. 652: “Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2017”
S. 544: “A bill to amend the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to modify the termination date for the Veterans Choice Program, and for other purposes”
S.114: “VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017”
H.R. 3819: “Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017”
S. 585: “Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017”
H.R. 1329: “Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017”
H.R. 1616: “Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act of 2017”
S. 504: “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017”
H.R. 4374: “To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize additional emergency uses for medical products to reduce deaths and severity of injuries caused by agents of war, and for other purposes”
H.R. 228: “Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Consolidation Act of 2017”
S. 371: “Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act”
H.R. 624: “Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act of 2017”
S. 178: “Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act”
H.R. 1679: “FEMA Accountability, Modernization and Transparency Act of 2017”
Names something/sites a memorial/encourages flag flying/makes a statement (12)
S.J. Res. 1: “A joint resolution approving the location of a memorial to commemorate and honor the members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield”
H.R. 1362: “To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Pago Pago, American Samoa, the Faleomavaega Eni Fa’aua’a Hunkin VA Clinic”
H.R. 609: “To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs health care center in Center Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as the ‘Abie Abraham VA Clinic’”
S. 305: “Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017”
H.R. 375: “To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 719 Church Street in Nashville, Tennessee, as the ‘Fred D. Thompson Federal Building and United States Courthouse’”
H.R. 873: “Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act”
H.R.2210: “To designate the community living center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as the ‘Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center’”
S.J.Res. 49: “A joint resolution condemning the violence and domestic terrorist attack that took place during events between August 11 and August 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia, recognizing the first responders who lost their lives while monitoring the events, offering deepest condolences to the families and friends of those individuals who were killed and deepest sympathies and support to those individuals who were injured by the violence, expressing support for the Charlottesville community, rejecting White nationalists, White supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups, and urging the President and the President’s Cabinet to use all available resources to address the threats posed by those groups.”
S.J.Res. 30: “A joint resolution providing for the reappointment of Steve Case as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution”
S.J.Res. 36: “A joint resolution providing for the appointment of Roger W. Ferguson as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution”
S.J.Res. 35: “A joint resolution providing for the appointment of Michael Govan as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution”
H.R. 1228: “To provide for the appointment of members of the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance to replace members whose terms expire during 2017, and for other purposes”
S. 84: “A bill to provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as Secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces”
H.R. 3110: “Financial Stability Oversight Council Insurance Member Continuity Act”.
Putin Launches 4th Term Bid As President
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The Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially launched his bid for a fourth term as Russia’s president on Wednesday 27th December 2017, as his main opponent called for a day of protests against the elections.
Putin, who has served as either prime minister or president of Russia since 1999, filed papers that pave the way for him to rule until 2024.
The former KGB leader, who has dominated Russian politics for two decades, is likely to score a comfortable win — his only serious opponent, Alexey Navalny, was barred from standing against him due to a fraud conviction.
Navalny called for a day protests on Jan. 28. Writing on his blog on Wednesday, Navalny urged his supporters to “refuse to call Putin’s reassignment an election.”
“We do not want to wait another six years. We want competitive elections right now,” he wrote.
The opposition leader’s call to action comes just days after Russia’s Central Election Commission rejected his bid to enter the country’s presidential race, citing a previous embezzlement conviction according to state-run media outlet RIA-Novosti.
The decision to bar Navalny from the race came as no surprise. The 41-year old’s candidacy was unlikely as Russian law prevents convicted criminals from running for public office. Navalny says his prosecution was politically motivated.
Navalny has been instrumental in a political awakening of the country’s youth, tapping into deep seated frustrations among supporters that have grown up in a sluggish economy and under endemic corruption.
Support for the Russian dissident has been mobilized by a robust social media presence, dedicated teams of grassroots campaigners seen across the country, and Navalny Live, a live-streaming companion to his original YouTube channel that has more than 1.6 million subscribers.
Those YouTube videos galvanized supporters to join in on the biggest anti-government protests that Russia has seen in years last March. Thousands joined rallies in almost 100 cities across the country; Navalny was arrested and jailed for 15 days.
In October, thousands of people attended marches in 26 cities against Putin on the leader’s 65th birthday.
At his annual press conference earlier this month, Putin said his aim was for Russia to have a “competitive” and “balanced” political system, but it wasn’t his responsibility to create political opponents.
“I want this,” Putin said, “and I will strive for a balanced political system and that is impossible without competition in the political field.”
The election commission will rule on the validity of Putin’s registration in the next few days, with an election set for March 2018.
PMS Sales At #400 In Kaduna As Scarcity Lingers
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As scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol lingers across Nigeria, residents of Kaduna State now get the commodity at #400 per liter making it the highest price in recent times.
Several of the marketers who hitherto sell at government approved price of #145 per liter were either do not have fuel to dispense to customers, sell at #195 or sold it to roadside black marketers to maximise profit leaving other Nigerians who need the commodity for different purposes at euphoria of uncertainty.
This development has led to sharp upward review of inter and intra-city transportation by commercial motorists with more than 200 per cent.
A resident of Angwan Baro, Chikun Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Yakubu Ibrahim, who was sighted with petrol in a gallon said, he was pressed to buy at #400 from a roadside black marketer after futile efforts to get it from approved filling stations around Sabon Tasha, Kaduna.
According to him, “I bought this fuel up there at #400 per liter. It is unfortunate that we have to experience this hardship this holiday time the only time in a year we do celebrate with our loved ones.
“I have to buy four litres at the cost of #1,600 without bargain to power my generating set since PHCN has decided to compliment fuel scarcity and put us in broad day darkness.
“I don’t really know what the problem is because it has become the tradition of successive governments since we returned to democracy in 1999. How can we be suffering like this in our own country as one of the largest oil producing state in Africa and 9th in the world.
“I want to believe that, government has over the years failed to come up with sincere political will to address the incessant fuel crisis across the country”, Yakubu opined.
Meanwhile people from other part of the state said they buy fuel between N250 and N300 despite the monitoring by department of petroleum service in the state.
However, fuel scarcity did not really stop the locals from going to their various places of worship and visiting their loved ones within and outside the state capital.
The Christendom Exchange Boxes Today
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Today is 'Boxing Day'. It is commemorated annually by the Christian faithful the world over. It is basically set aside for Christians to exchange gifts and pleasantries among themselves as well as with other religions' faithful.
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on the day after Christmas Day. It originated in the United Kingdom, and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. Boxing Day is on 26 December.
In the liturgical calendar of Western Christianity, Boxing Day is the second day of Christmastide, and also St. Stephen's Day. It is also celebrated as Boxing Day in the Catalonia region of Spain.In some European countries, such as Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, 26 December is celebrated as a Second Christmas Day.
The term "Christmas-box" dates back to the 17th century, and among other things meant: A present or gratuity given at Christmas: in Great Britain, usually confined to gratuities given to those who are supposed to have a vague claim upon the donor for services rendered to him as one of the general public by whom they are employed and paid, or as a customer of their legal employer; the undefined theory being that as they have done offices for this person, for which he has not directly paid them, some direct acknowledgement is becoming at Christmas.
In Britain, it was a custom for tradespeople to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older British tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.
In South Africa (a former British colony) as recently as the 1980s, milkmen and garbage collectors, who normally had little if any interaction with those they served, were accustomed to knock on their doors asking for a "Christmas box", being a small cash donation, in the week or so before and after Christmas.
The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown. It is believed to be in reference to the Alms Box placed in areas of worship to collect donations to the poor. Also, it may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era, wherein metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen, which in the Western Church falls on the same day.
