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Trump’s Move to End DACA Condemned by Executives

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  • Trump’s Move to End DACA Condemned by Executives

Companies from a broad range of industries, including technology, finance and autos, swiftly condemned the Trump administration’s decision to end a program preventing the deportation of immigrants illegally brought to the U.S. as children — a group known as Dreamers.

“This is a sad day for our country,” Facebook Inc.’s Mark Zuckerberg wrote on the social media service. “The decision to end DACA is not just wrong. It is particularly cruel to offer young people the American Dream, encourage them to come out of the shadows and trust our government, and then punish them for it.”

Businesses underscored the economic contributions made by children of immigrants, many of whom are employed by the largest companies in the U.S. Some called on Congress to pass new legislation, while others threatened legal action.

“Wells Fargo believes young, undocumented immigrants brought to America as children should have the opportunity to stay,” spokeswoman Jennifer Dunn wrote in an email. “DACA is relevant to our team members and the communities we serve.”

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, calling it “an unconstitutional exercise.” Trump will delay the action for six months so Congress can work on legislation to codify the protections President Barack Obama created in 2012. “Congress, get ready to do your job – DACA!” Trump tweeted Tuesday morning.

“Dreamers are our neighbors, our friends and our co-workers. This is their home. Congress needs to act now to #DefendDACA. #WithDreamers” tweeted Sundar Pichai, chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc.’s Google.

Software maker Microsoft Corp. called on Congress to upend its planned fall legislative calendar to address the issue and said it may go to court to defend Dreamers within its ranks. “We need to put the humanitarian needs of these 800,000 people on the legislative calendar before a tax bill,” Microsoft Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith wrote in a blog post.

Many executives had urged Trump not to scrap DACA last week. The tech sector has been particularly outspoken on the issue because it employs many immigrants and their children. Microsoft says it has 39 employees impacted, while Apple Inc. has 250. “I stand with them,” Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote in a recent tweet. “They deserve our respect as equals and a solution rooted in American values.”

Javier Palomarez, CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, resigned from Trump’s diversity coalition, calling today’s decision “inhumane and economically harmful.”

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co., said that when people come to the U.S. to “learn, work hard and give back to their communities, we should allow them to stay.”

Digital music subscription service Spotify Ltd. created a playlist titled “No Moment for Silence” that features immigrant and immigrant-supporting artists sharing messages of support.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Government

Senate Suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for 3 Months Over Budget Padding Allegations

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Abdul-Ahmed-Ningi

The Senate has announced the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi for three months following his allegations of budget padding to the tune of N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget.

Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central and chairs the Senate Committee on Population, had made the claims in a recent interview with the Hausa service of the BBC.

During a plenary session, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a motion to address Ningi’s allegations, citing the urgent need to address what he termed as “false allegations.”

The transcript of Ningi’s interview was read on the Senate floor, prompting deliberation on the appropriate action to take.

Initially, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed a 12-month suspension for Ningi, but Senator Chris Ekpeyong moved to reduce it to six months.

Eventually, Senator Garba Maidoki amended the motion further, suggesting a three-month suspension.

The amended motion was put to a voice vote, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision to suspend Ningi for three months.

Following the ruling, Ningi was escorted out of the Senate chamber by the Sergeants-at-arms.

The suspension comes amidst division within the Senate over Ningi’s claims, with some senators disowning his allegations and calling for a thorough investigation.

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Ekiti Governor Unveils Multi-Billion Naira Relief Programmes Amid Economic Crisis

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Biodun Oyebanji

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has announced a comprehensive relief package aimed at alleviating the hardship faced by the people of the state.

The relief programs encompass various sectors to cushion the impact of the economic downturn.

One of the key initiatives entails clearing salary arrears amounting to over N2.7 billion owed to both State and Local Government workers.

This move signifies the government’s commitment to addressing the financial burdens faced by its workforce.

Furthermore, Governor Oyebanji has approved a substantial increase of N600 million per month in the subvention of autonomous institutions, including the Judiciary and tertiary institutions.

This augmentation is intended to enable these institutions to implement wage awards in alignment with State and Local Government workers’ salaries.

In addition to addressing salary arrears, the relief programs extend to pensioners, with the approval of payments totaling N1.5 billion for two months’ pension arrears.

Moreover, an increase in the monthly gratuity payment to state pensioners and local government pensioners will provide additional financial support, totaling N200 million monthly.

The relief initiatives also encompass agricultural and small-scale business sectors.

The allocation of funds for food production and livestock transformation projects underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing food security and economic sustainability at the grassroots level.

Governor Oyebanji emphasized that these relief programs are part of the state’s concerted efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of the economic downturn and foster shared prosperity.

The comprehensive nature of the initiatives reflects a proactive approach towards addressing the challenges faced by Ekiti State residents.

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President Tinubu Orders Immediate Settlement of N342m Electricity Bill for Presidential Villa

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President Bola Tinubu has directed the prompt settlement of a N342 million outstanding electricity bill owed by the Presidential Villa to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

This move comes in response to the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and the AEDC.

The AEDC had earlier threatened to disconnect electricity services to the Presidential Villa and 86 Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) over a total outstanding debt of N47.20 billion as of December 2023.

Contrary to the initial claim by the AEDC that the State House owed N923 million in electricity bills, the Presidency clarified that the actual outstanding amount is N342.35 million.

This discrepancy underscores the importance of accurate accounting and reconciliation between entities.

In a statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency affirmed the commitment to settle the debt promptly.

Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila assured that the debt would be paid to the AEDC before the end of the week.

The directive from the Presidency extends beyond the State House, as Gbajabiamila urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with the AEDC and settle their outstanding electricity bills.

The AEDC, on its part, issued a 10-day notice to the affected government agencies to settle their debts or face disconnection.

This development highlights the importance of financial accountability and responsible management of public utilities.

It also underscores the necessity for government entities to fulfill their financial obligations to service providers promptly, ensuring uninterrupted services and avoiding potential disruptions.

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