Anti-government demonstrations that began in Iran on Thursday have now spread to several major cities.Large numbers reportedly turned out in Rasht, in the north, and Kermanshah, in the west, with smaller protests in Isfahan, Hamadan and elsewhere. The protests began against rising prices but have spiralled into a general outcry against clerical rule and government policies. A small number of people have been arrested in Tehran, the capital. They were among a group of 50 people who gathered in a city square, Tehran's deputy governor-general for security affairs told the Iranian Labour News Agency. The US State Department condemned the…

There was anxiety on Thursday over the state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, who was involved in a power bike accident in Abuja Tuesday night. Yusuf, who sustained a head injury and had one of his limbs broken, was said to have undergone a successful surgery at Ceda Crest Hospital, Abuja. It was gathered that he was involved in a power bike race with a friend in the Gwarinpa area of Abuja when he was involved in the crash. Presidential spokesman, Mr Garuba Shehu, had, in a statement on Wednesday, said, “Yusuf Buhari had a bike accident…

Many federal agencies are unable to get releases for their multi-billion naira overhead costs as recurrent expenditure officially ends today. Salaries constitute recurrent expenditure, while overheads are the cost of running the government. Overhead is comprised of payment for utilities, maintenance, security, welfare, stationaries, insurance and training. Dozens of federal agencies recorded huge debt in electricity, water, insurance bills, among others, due to reduction in allocations for overheads. Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Ltd recently decried outstanding debts of MDAs which runs into billions. Under the appropriation law, only capital expenditure will be rolled over to the following year (2018); but…

West African Examination Council, WAEC, has released timetable for 2018 first series private candidates. The Council released the timetable on its official twitter page @waecnigeria on Thursday night. The council has fixed January 12, 2018 as the closing date of registration for the first series of private candidates which was earlier scheduled to close December 29. The council said candidates are expected to pay a registration fee of N13,950 and a commission of N500 to banks and accredited agents. According to the timetable, the examination is scheduled to start on January 29 and end on February 12,2018. PT