The Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi disclosed that all governors in the country have in principle agreed that open grazing was outdated and there was a need to embrace modern livestock management approaches.
Fayemi says the governors have also subscribed to the national livestock transformation plan via the National Economic Council decision that was taken during a meeting chaired by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
He stated that there was a need to balance the position of the southern governors on anti-open grazing legislation with that of the Northern Governors’ Forum by giving support to all states that have subscribed to the National Livestock Transformation Plan through funding from federal government agencies like NARSAL in the same way the Central Bank of Nigeria provided support to rice farmers through funding.

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions have alleged that the federal government was deliberately abdicating its responsibility and refusing to honour signed agreements with labour unions.
The unions lamented that the non-implementation of agreements was responsible for persisting industrial actions in the country.
The Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige says though the federal government would not reject the agreements reached with the workers, its implementation will however depend on the availability of funds.

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has raised an alarm over alleged plans to rig the 2023 general elections.
He says that other countries are talking about how their elections will be transparent but some are talking about how they will plot to rig an election in 2023.
He also raised concerns over why Nigeria is yet to adopt the electronic mode of transmission of election results.
He believes Nigerians should have had a good reason to celebrate the country at 61 if the electoral system is made a little stronger by introducing electronic transmission of results.

The minority caucus in the House of Representatives has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly, claiming Boko Haram terrorists were emboldened under his watch.
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, says the caucus had extensively reviewed the President’s address at the 76th session of the UNGA, noting that it is incomplete disagreement with the ugly reality of the failures of his administration, as well as the economic, security and social ruins that have confronted the nation under his watch.
The opposition lawmakers argue that Buhari did not reflect the closure of schools and crippling of education in some parts of the country neither did it show any empathy towards the victims of terrorism attacks.

The US House of Representatives has approved $1bn in additional funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system after days of controversy around the push.
Legislators passed the bill in a 420 to nine vote on Thursday, paving the way for a significant increase in US support for the system.
The bill will now go to the Senate, where it is expected to pass easily before being signed into law by President Joe Biden, who already has signalled support for the additional aid.
The move came amid the growing number of progressive voices in Congress are calling on Biden to condition US assistance to Israel on the country’s human rights record.

The World Health Organisation has added the Regeneron antibody drug, casirivimab and imdevimab to its list of treatments for people with COVID-19, urging the manufacturer to reduce the price and ensure equitable distribution.
The WHO says Clinical studies showed the drug combination was effective in patients who were not severely ill but at high risk of being admitted to hospital with COVID-19, or those with severe cases of the disease and no existing antibodies,
The antibody therapy secured emergency use authorisation in the United States in November last year after it was used to treat former President Donald Trump when he was admitted to hospital with COVID-19. The United Kingdom has also approved it, while it is under review in Europe.

The United States is shipping another 2.5 million Covid vaccine doses to hard-hit Bangladesh after the Biden administration announced a ramping up of global donations.
A White House official told AFP that the latest shipment of 2,508,480 Pfizer doses will bring the total of US shots to the country above nine million.
The official says they are able to deliver these safe and effective vaccines to the people of Bangladesh adding that there were no strings attached to the donation.

The five permanent UN Security Council members found common ground in Afghanistan with officials saying all the powers would press the Taliban to be more inclusive after their military takeover.
China and Russia have described last month’s Taliban victory as a defeat for the United States and moved to work with the insurgents, but no country has moved to recognize a government that includes international pariahs.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the Security Council powers all want a peaceful and stable Afghanistan where humanitarian aid can be distributed without problems and without discrimination.
He says they seek an Afghanistan where the rights of women and girls are respected, an Afghanistan that is not a sanctuary for terrorism, an Afghanistan with an inclusive government representing all sections of the population.

The US special envoy to Haiti resigned Thursday two months after his appointment, denouncing the Biden administration’s deportation of Haitian migrants from the US-Mexico border back to their poverty-stricken homeland.
State Department envoy Daniel Foote says he will not be associated with the United States inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti.
Foote described Haiti as a place where US diplomats are confined to secure compounds because of the danger posed by armed gangs in control of daily life.
The resignation came after the administration of President Joe Biden began last weekend loading Haitian migrants who crossed into the country from Mexico onto aircraft and flying them back to Haiti.

A UN panel of experts says political, military and business leaders in South Sudan have been illicitly diverting millions of dollars and undermining the stability in the country.
The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan found evidence that linked to the government has embezzled and laundered at least tens of millions of dollars.
The report says the level of corruption undermines human rights and security in the country adding that the figure is only a fraction of the overall amount looted.
Commission Chair Yasmin Sooka says the findings revealing the patterns and trends of embezzlement include the involvement of politicians, government officials, international corporations, military personnel, and multinational banks in these crimes.