Latest Evening News Updates of Monday, June 8th 2020

1.Doctors to begin strike June 15 amid COVID-19

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a nationwide strike starting from Monday, June 15.

In a notice issued on Sunday in Abuja by Aliyu Sokomba, president of the association, and Bilqis Muhammad, the general secretary, the doctors said the decision was taken after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum given to the federal government to address their grievances.

The association said its members working at COVID-19 isolation and treatment centres will also be withdrawn from providing services.

“Consequent upon the 14 days ultimatum duly served the Federal Government for indefinite strike action, in accordance with the resolution of the Ordinary General Meeting of the Association on the 29th of May 2020, we hereby notify you that All Resident Doctors, Medical Officers below the rank of Principal Medical Officer (PMO) and House Officers across all the Federal and State hospitals in Nigeria, shall be embarking on a total and indefinite strike action effective 12:01 am on Monday, 15th June 2020,” the association said.

“It is important that you make alternative arrangements for the care of the patients as the strike shall be total and indefinite. No service of any kind, be it emergency, care at COVID-19 isolation and treatment centres shall be exempted. We sympathize with the patients and Nigerian populace.

2. SDGs in Nigeria: N23bn allegedly traced to staff account - Daily Post Nigeria

The Offices of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) are to explain how N23billion was allegedly

The same was used to open several companies accounts where different amounts were found.“The personal BVN of the said officer was tied to the slush account of one of the companies being used,” a highly-placed source said.The officer reportedly admitted to investigators that retained N1.8billion of the money for personal use.

Another source said: “Those involved have been trying to bury the scandal. It is unfortunate that such a huge sum will be laundered in a country where many people cannot feed.“We want the Presidency to get to the root of this scandal. All the suspects are trying to bribe their way through in order to stall investigation of this fraud.”

3. Atiku will contest for president in 2023, says son 

Atiku Abubakar's son, Adamu, said his father would run for president in 2023.

Former Vice President Atiku has been running for the highest office since 1993.

In 2019, he was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

According to The Punch, on the first anniversary of the election of Governor Ahmadi Finitiri as governor of the state of affairs and power in Adamawa State, his father continued to be a master politician and said there was nothing wrong with re-contesting.

“Personally, I don't see anything wrong with running for presidency. In 2023, my father will take over the first office on earth as he has been a clever, strategic and master politician for nearly four decades, ”he said.

4. Buhari and Chief of Army Staff Buratai in a closed door meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday held a closed door at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with Army Chief and Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the agenda of the meeting between the President and Burati was unknown at the time of filing the report.

However, NAN gathered that the Chief of Army Staff will use the opportunity to update the president on his recent mission to the battlefield in the North East.

Buratai relocated to the northeast in April to coordinate the ongoing war against Nigerian forces Boko Haram and Islamic State's West African province.

5. Six NDDC staff test positive for COVID-19

Six staff of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have been confirmed positive for COVID-19.

The commission disclosed this on its Twitter handle on Monday.

The six staff were said to be attached to the office Cairo Ojougboh, executive director (projects), of the agency.

But Ojougboh was said to have tested negative for the disease.

“As NDDC headquarters staff undergo isolation and Covid19 screening, six of 33 staff members in the Office of the Executive Director (Projects), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, have tested positive to Covid-19. However, Dr Ojougboh tested negative,” the tweet read.