GTBANK WINS 2014 EFInA AWARD FOR FINANCIAL INCLUSION

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, has continued to consolidate its position as a foremost African brand through outstanding financial performance and product/service innovation.

In recognition of the Bank’s efforts in promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria, GTBank emerged winner of the 2014 EFInA award for enhancing access to financial services for Nigerians, especially the low income population and being a leader in facilitating an all-inclusive financial system.

OIL SLUMP: BRING DOWN FUEL PRICE IMMEDIATELY - FASHOLA TELLS FG

As the global oil prices slid further downward, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to review downward the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS,  from N97 per litre in the country in tandem with the slump in world oil price.The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, had last Friday, on its website pegged the oil price at $66.27 per barrel.

2015: NMA SEEKS PSYCHIATRIC TEST FOR POLITICIANS

The Nigerian Medical Association has recommended that each of the politicians seeking political offices in the 2015 elections should be made to undergo a psychiatric test to determine their mental state. The NMA, in a communique at the end of the National Executive Council meeting in Jos, said that all psychiatric doctors should register with the Independent National Electoral Commission to supervise such test.

BRIBE AIRPORT WORKERS AND RISK FIVE YEARS JAIL TERM

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Sunday warned airport workers and travellers to desist from illicit transactions, saying the commission had commenced a secret surveillance at the nation’s airports to check corrupt practices.

I WILL NOT DESTROY FASHOLA'S LEGACIES - AMBODE

THE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has promised to build on the legacies of the state Governor, Babatunde Fashola. Ambode, who recently defeated 12 other governorship aspirants of the party at the primaries, said the state would witness increased economic growth, if he won the 2015 elections.

LAGOS PROVIDES N100M LOAN TO TRAINEES

The Lagos State Government says it will be providing a soft loan of N100m to trainees in the state’s special programmes.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, said this on Saturday during the fifth edition of the Youth Stakeholders Forum, organised by the state’s Ignite Enterprise and Employability Project in partnership with the After School Graduate Development Centre. Fashola said the government, in partnership with the Chair Centre, would provide a soft loan of N110m in total for trainees in the photography, agriculture and beauty enterprises.

DASUKI TO REPLACE TAMBUWAL

A member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Abdussamad Dasuki, on Sunday picked the ticket of the All Progressives Congress for the Kebbe-Tambuwal Federal Constituency. If Dasuki wins the February 2015 election, he will succeed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who has been on the seat for the past eight years.

AREGBESOLA OPENS DEFENCE AGAINST OMISORE'S PETITION TODAY

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, will on Monday (today) open his defence against the petition filed by Senator Iyiola Omisore before the Election Petitions Tribunal hearing matters arising from the August 9 governorship election in the state. The petitioner had closed his case on Wednesday after spending 14 days to call 43 witnesses, including expert witnesses, tendering of loads of evidence to prove the allegation of rigging and violence against his supporters during the poll.

WHY JONATHAN IS NOT FIT FOR RE-ELECTION - KWANKWASO

Kano State Governor and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Sunday said President Goodluck Jonathan lacked the moral right to seek a second term. He said the president’s poor handling of Nigeria’s security, rising corruption and impunity nullified the President’s demand to be given a second term.

Kwankwaso said this during a fund raising dinner held in his honour in Abuja. The aspirant raised N1.5bn as donations to his campaign.

211 MINNA PRISON INMATES STILL ON THE RUN - CG

The Comptroller General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ekpendu, on Sunday said 211 of the 270 inmates freed by gunmen that invaded the Medium Prison, Minna, Niger State, have yet to be found while 64 of them have been rearrested. Ekpendu stated this while briefing newsmen on the situation of the prison following the weekend attack by the gunmen during which prison guards were overpowered.

DESMOND ELLIOT CONSOLES KATE HENSHAW OVER DEFEAT

Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, has begun counting her losses following her inability to win at the just-concluded Peoples Democratic Party primary election held in Cross River State. She had applied to represent the Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency at the forthcoming National Assembly elections in the state. The 2008 Africa Movie Academy Award winner stated on Twitter that she was saddened by her loss, but cautioned her fans against blaming the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, for her woes.

WHAT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OWES NIGERIANS BEFORE 2015

There are fundamental issues that should take precedence over others. Without sorting out these issues, the right and enabling environment to engage in other tasks would not be available. Governance to a great extent deals with doing these first things first. For instance, you need a constitution, enabling laws, policies, a political culture, elections and budgets to run the paraphernalia of government. Can anyone imagine that the bill to amend the 2010 Electoral Act is still pending before the National Assembly at a time political parties are organising primaries and less than two months to the general election? We are entering the

COURT STOPS OBASANJO FROM PUBLISHING AUTOBIOGRAPHY

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Wuse Zone II, Abuja, has granted an order restraining former President Olusegun Obasanjo from going on with plans to publish or have someone publish on his behalf, his new autobiography titled, ‘My Watch.’ Request for the order was made by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Buruji Kashamu, in an ex parte application.