This is the Signature TV News Update

Another Strike Looms As ASUU Issues Three-Week Ultimatum To FG

The  Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address all issues in the December 2020 Agreement.

ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this on Monday while addressing reporters in Abuja.

He warned that the union might be compelled to embark on another nationwide strike should the government fail to implement the Memorandum of Action signed with the union prior to the suspension of the last industrial action.

According to him, all the issues, including those of unpaid academic earned allowances and the universities revitalization fund have not been addressed almost one year after an agreement was reached.

The ultimatum is part of the resolutions reached at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of ASUU held in the nation’s capital.

Tambuwal presents N188bn to Sokoto Assembly as 2022 budget

The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal has presented the sum of One hundred and eighty-eight billion naira  2022 budget proposal to the state house of Assembly.

The appropriation bill has fifty-nine percent allocated to capital expenditure and forty percent on recurrent expenditure.

Education received the highest allocation with twenty percent, while the health sector has fifteen percent, the agricultural sector has twelve percent, while other sectors share forty-three percent of the budget.#

Cyber Spying: NCC Raises Alarm Over Group Targeting Telcos, ISPs

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised an alarm over the existence of another hacking group orchestrating cyber espionage known as cyber spying in the African telecoms space.

In a statement on Monday by NCC spokesman, Ikechukwu Adinde, the agency explained that the notification became necessary to keep stakeholders in the country’s telecommunications sector informed, educated, and protected.

According to him, the Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group, has been linked to campaigns that hit Middle Eastern oil and gas companies in the past.

He added that the group now appears to have expanded its focus to the technology sector, and was responsible for a campaign against one of the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Africa.

 15 Killed As Bandits Attack Two LGs In Sokoto

No fewer than fifteen people have been killed by bandits in two local government areas in Sokoto State.

The state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who confirmed the attack on Monday, revealed that the affected local government areas were Goronyo and Illela.

He explained that the locals were killed during the attacks which occurred between Sunday night and Monday morning.

Governor Tambuwal disclosed this while presenting the state’s 2022 budget proposal to members of the Sokoto State House of Assembly.

He said twelve people were killed in Illela and three others lost their lives in Goronyo.

The governor condoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones to the attacks, as well as people of the affected communities.

 IN BUSINESS

Excise Duty: Sachet Water Producers Fear Loss Of 20,000 Jobs

Members of the Water Producers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN) and the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP) at the weekend said about twenty thousand jobs would be lost if the federal government implements the proposed Excise Duty on carbonated beverages.

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance had in August 2021, resolved that it would amend the Finance Act to include levies on all carbonated and non-carbonated drinks.

Reacting to the development, the National President of WAPAN, Eneri Odiri Jackson, told newsmen that the introduction of levies on chemicals for the production of water would have a multiplier effect on the economy.

He advised the government to first consult widely next year before any such decision. The National President of the Association for Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Clementina Chinwe Ativie, said the group’s membership has declined by sixteen thousand owing to various economic challenges even when the price of table water per unit has recorded over one hundred and fifty percent increase in prices in the last two years.

However, the Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hammed Ali, who was represented by the Controller, Lagos Industrial Command, Comptroller Monica Shaahu, noted that bringing the carbonated non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks under excise control will cushion the effects of the over-dependence on oil and import duty revenue.

ON THE FOREIGN SCENE

Trump Organization To Sell Washington Hotel For $375m

The Trump Organization has reached a deal to sell its Washington hotel lease for three hundred and seventy-five million dollars to CGI Merchant Group, which plans to remove ex-president Donald Trump’s name from the luxury property’s facade.

According to reports,  the Miami-based investment fund has struck a separate agreement with Hilton Worldwide Holdings to rebrand the Trump International Hotel as a Waldorf Astoria.

The Trump Organization invested some $200 million in the renovation of the building, which was constructed in the late 19th century and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Several lawmakers and other personalities  expressed concern that the  hotel was accommodating foreign dignitaries visiting Washington.

IN SPORTS

World Cup Qualifiers: South Africa Football Association To Challenge Disputed Penalty

South Africa’s Football Federation on Monday said it will petition both Federation International Football Association, FIFA,  and Confederation Of African Football, CAF,  to probe the performance of match officials during their crucial World Cup qualifying defeat over the weekend.

Ghana was awarded a penalty when the Senegalese referee ruled that Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey had been pushed, but Video Assistant Referee, VAR, in replays suggested the home player dived.

The controversial penalty catapulted Ghana into the African World Cup qualifying play-offs with a bruising 1-0 victory over South Africa.

But the South African Football Association (SAFA) has vowed to challenge the officiating of the match.