"Your Number" Ayo Jay Get Signed with RCA Records

Alot may not know him, but if you know the dupe song "Your Number" then you dont just know him, but have tasted his creativity. Congratulations to Ayo Jay as RCA records signs him

Here is what he shared via Instagram;

Say hello to latest addition to the Sony @rcarecords family. Words really can’t express what this moment means to me, but I’d like to give all the Glory to God for his continuous blessings. It’s been a real journey from recording voice note hooks on my phone, to learning how to record in the studio, to actually making good records. Can’t thank @onenationrecords enough for believing blindly in my ability and for developing me till date. As we move to the next level together, I have no doubt in my mind I’m with the right team. To my family and close friends, I’ll forever be grateful and will continue to make sure you are proud of me. To my new family @rcarecords, thanks for this wonderful opportunity to take what I love doing to the next level. I plan on making history here. And last but not the least my lovely fans, thank you for the LOVE and unwavering support you’ve shown me since I started putting out records online in 2011. Now more than ever, I need your love and support, and I pledge to always give you the very best of me. Love!

Mark Zuckerberg Commends Jobberman Founders as Internet.org Lunches in Nigeria

facebook founder, Zuckerberg has taken to his facebook page to commend Jobberman founders,Olalekan Elude, Ayodeji Adewunmi and Opeyemi Awoyemi as  internet.org  Free Basic is to lunch in Nigeria

Internet.org is a partnership between social networking services company Facebook and six companies (Samsung, Ericsson, MediaTek, Opera Software, Nokia and Qualcomm) that plans to bring affordable access to selected Internet services to less developed countries by increasing efficiency, and facilitating the development of new business models around the provision of Internet access.

The app delivering these services is named Free Basics.

Free Basics and Internet.org has been controversial in several countries such as India, however, many still argue that the benefits outweigh the net neutrality issues.

Mark Zuckerbegrfull statement;

Today we’re partnering with Airtel Africa to launch Internet.org Free Basics in Nigeria.
There’s a lot of innovation across Africa right now, and Nigeria in particular is home to a lot of talented developers.
In 2009, Olalekan Elude, Ayodeji Adewunmi and Opeyemi Awoyemi started a site called Jobberman in their dorm to help connect people looking for work with companies looking to hire. Now Jobberman is one of the top 100 websites in Nigeria, and it gets 5,000 applications every day.
Free Basics offers Nigerians, including 90 million people who are currently offline, the opportunity to access news, health information and services like Jobberman that were built by Nigerians and other developers across West Africa — all without having to pay for data.
Free Basics is now live in more than 40 countries, and half of those are in Africa. Over the next few months, we’ll be doing even more to connect developers with people who can use their apps — and partner with local companies to bring internet to people across Africa who don’t have access to mobile networks.
In the meantime, I’m excited to see what Nigerians build next!

Kalu Backs Buhari on Subsidy Removal

Former Governor of Abia State and entrepreneur, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for removing  subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
He declared yesterday that the subsidy regime was beneficial to only a cabal in the oil sector and greatly disadvantageous to the majority of Nigerians.

“In my congratulatory message to President Buhari, when he was being sworn in, I pleaded with him to jump-start the economy by removing subsidy on petrol as it had been abused over the years by oil barons who capitalised on it to massively enrich themselves to the detriment of the larger society.

“It is gratifying to note that President Buhari has taken the bold step of blocking this outlet that pauperises most Nigerians while making a few others richer and richer and leaving the country’s economy in comatose.
“This is the best thing to happen to the petroleum industry since the advent of this administration.”

In a statement by his media adviser, Mr. Ebere Wabara, Dr. Kalu affirmed he was sure most Nigerians comprehend the philosophy behind the subsidy removal as they had been living with it unofficially over time.

The business mogul said time had come for the country to be realistic on what it wants without pandering to the whims and caprices of a few oil magnates milking the nation dry because of their selfishness.

“I plead with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other stakeholders to understand the essence of the subsidy removal and support it in the interest of the masses. “Even before the removal of subsidy, a litre of PMS sold far above the official price and Nigerians had no choice than to buy. In fact, in most locations nationwide currently, it has become so critical that the issue is no longer appropriate pricing, but, availability.

“In other words, the latest action of government is essentially the standardisation of what had become an informal price regime that gave rise to pump price disparities across the geopolitical zones,” Dr. Kalu said.
On Wednesday evening, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and organised labour, as well as other stakeholders in the oil sector, announced a new price regime for petrol.

Economy Seen Picking Up As FG Begins Capital Release Today

Senator Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning, on Thursday, said that the Federal Government would begin capital releases for the 2016 budget today. Analysts say implementation of the 2016 budget may inject the funds needed to lift Nigerian economyfrom the current level.The minister spoke while giving a breakdown of the 2016 Budget of Change at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.“By tomorrow, some releases would be made. We are ready to start releases as far as the budget is concerned,” said Udoma, adding that his ministry intends to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure cash backing of the capital projects.“The 2016 budget would run concurrently until May next year as government intends to return to the January to December financial year, the minister said in a question and answer session.“We intend to take the budget to where it ought to be, the January to December financial year, which is much better for implementation. So for the next year’s budget we intend to get it to the National Assembly so that it is passed by the year end,” he said.This is even as the budget minister said the 2016 budget would include six strategic areas such as economic diversification, critical infrastructure and reforms in the oil and gas sector.Others, he said, include ease of doing business, policy, environment, national security and governance, and social investment.“The Strategic Implementation Plan forms the basis for the preparation and implementation of the 2016 budget, as it documents the key short-term priorities of the incumbent administration to place the economy on this upward trajectory as it is repositioned for change, inclusive growthand sustainable development,” Udoma said.A breakdown of the 2016 budget projections shows that the fiscal document envisages a net distributable revenue of N5.72 trillion, comprising main federation account revenue of N4.303 trillion and N1.416 trillion from the value-added tax pool account.Of the distributable revenue, net oil receipts amount to N1.48 trillion or 25 percent while net non-oil revenue accounts for the balance of N4.22 trillion or 75 percent.The states and local governments’ share of the distributable pool amount to N3.24 trillion while the Federal Government would receive N2.48 trillion.The Federal Government’s budgeted revenue is projected at N3.855 trillion largely contributed by the internally generated revenue (IGR) of N1.51 trillion, which is 35 percent increase over the N2.855 trillion for the 2015 budget.Federal Government’s revenue is mainly to be derived from the growth in non-oil resources from corporate tax; VAT and dividends from government corporations and independent revenue.A projection of N1.88 trillion was made on corporate taxes in the 2016 budget as against N1.42 trillion in 2015, and VAT collection of N1.48 trillion in 2016 from N1.28 trillion last year.Provisions for expenditure of the N6.06 trillion 2016 budget shows a 35 percent increase over the 2015 budget of N5.067 trillion.Statutory transfer (inclusive of N157 billion-capital component) is put at N352.37 billion, debt servicing including sinking fund of N1.48 trillion, recurrent (non-debt) expenditure is put atN2.65 trillion.Capital expenditure (excluding share of capital in statutory transfers) is put at N1.59 trillion while the capital expenditure (including share of capital expenditure in statutory transfer) is put at N1.7 trillion.Some key allocations in the 2016 budget are Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, N456.93 billion; Transpiration, N202.34 billion; Defence, N443.07 billion; Interiors, N513.65 billion; Education, N403.16 billion and Health, N250.06 billion.Others are Agriculture and Rural Development, 75.80 billion; Solid Minerals, N16.73 billion; Youth and Sports Development, N75.79 billion; Water Resources, N53.30 billion and special intervention programmes of N500 billion.The budget is predicated on an oil production benchmark of 2.2 million barrels per day at $38 per barrel and an exchange rate of N197 to a dollar.Udoma said government plans to actively support the use of public private partnerships in the development of infrastructure and encourages ministers to explore concessioning arrangements for airports, major roads and other infrastructure projects.The government, he said, was working to raise$25 billion for the establishment of an infrastructure fund within three years.Among priority projects listed for implementation by government are dualisation of the Kano-Maiduguri Road (sections I-V) for N13 billion; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (section1) for N40 billion; N1.1 billion for the generation of 700mw from Zungeru Hydro Power Project; N18.3 billion for the completion of Abuja (Idu) – Kaduna 186.5km single track rail line; N60 billion counterpart funding for Lagos- Kano Standard Gauge rail line and N60 billion counterpart funding for Calabar-Lagos Standard Gauge rail line.

Google Becomes Most Valuable Company as Apple's Shares Hit Two Years Low

Apple shares on Thursday fell to a two year low of $90 amidst concerns over the slowing sale of iPhones.Google’s parent firm, Alphabet, has overtaken Tim Cook’s Apple as world’s most valuable company as a result.Apple’s stock price fell 3.3% to $89.47 in the afternoon, leaving its market valuation at$494bn. However, it recovered slightly later on, closing 2.4% down at $90.34.Sales of iPhone, especially in Asia, has slowed down and there are no major new product releases scheduled. In addition, Apple’s shares had been on the decline since its Q1 result showed slowing demand.Apple is vying with Alphabet for the spot of the most valuable firm in the world.Alphabet claimed the spot in February after reporting its 2015 financial results, but had fallen back below Apple in the following weeks.BBC

Obama to Issue Transgender Restroom Guidance to Schools

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration will tell every U.S. public school district on Friday to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that match their gender identity.

The letter, signed by officials from the Education and Justice departments, does not have the force of law but contains an implicit threat that schools which do not abide by the Obama administration's interpretation of the law could face lawsuits or a loss of federal aid.

"There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex," U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

"This guidance gives administrators, teachers, and parents the tools they need to protect transgender students from peer harassment and to identify and address unjust school policies," she said.

The move comes as the Obama administration and North Carolina battle in federal court over a state law passed in March that limits public bathroom access for transgender people.

By passing the law, North Carolina became the first state in the country to ban people from using multiple occupancy restrooms or changing rooms in public buildings and schools that do not match the sex on their birth certificate.

"No student should ever have to go through the experience of feeling unwelcome at school or on a college campus," Education Secretary John King Jr. said in a statement.

The Obama administration letter will say schools may not require transgender students to have a medical diagnosis, undergo any medical treatment, or produce a birth certificate or other document before treating them according to their gender identity.

Americans are divided over which public restrooms should be used by transgender people, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, with 44 percent saying people should use them according to their biological sex and 39 percent saying they should be used according to the gender with which they identify.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that the administration would not take action to withhold federal funding while the matter played out in courts, a stance applauded by the state's governor and a top Republican lawmaker.

"Today the Obama administration admitted what we have said all along - that their threat to withhold funding and bully North Carolinians into accepting their radical argument that men have a 'civil right' to use women's bathrooms and shower facilities would have to be settled in court," state Senate Leader Phil Berger said.

(Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Sandra Maler and Kim Coghill)

Tinubu"New Fuel Subsidy a Much Better Deal for Nigerians"

The President’s decision to reallocate funds once earmarked for the fuel subsidy and commit these to other more socially productive services and undertakings was a difficult decision. It was also a necessary one. Politically, it would have been easy for the president to sit back and let the subsidy remain in place, yet in the art of governance, the easiest policy is rarely the best one. As originally envisioned, subsidy formed a basic part of the social contract between the people and government. It was a benefit all were to enjoy. Yet, because past governments were not for and of the people, the true meaning and objective of the subsidy policy became lost.

Over the years, the operation of the measure was distorted to where it no longer functioned for the benefit of the masses but for the undue enrichment of a small club of businessmen, some legitimate in their work, some not. Instead of remaining a positive aspect of the social contract, subsidy was transformed into an opaque haven of intrigue and malfeasance. It was turned into a shadowy process from which the unscrupulous extracted large sums of money without providing the services and products duly paid for. Fake businessmen became true billionaires over night as if by supernatural force. They paraded themselves as such. Meanwhile, the rest of the nation, the innocent people, where left to face erratic supply and were made to groan in the misery of long fuel queues and the high costs and loss of time attendant to this situation.

To allow this unfairness to continue would have been a breach of the promise made by this government to the people. While we all have an emotional and sympathetic attachment to the ideals upon which subsidy was founded, we all must recognise that the institution was hijacked years ago. Instead of a bonus to the masses, it became a factory of corrupt enrichment, so imbued with trickery deceit and theft, it stopped serving the interests of the people. It became a weapon of profiteering. The machinery of the subsidy had become so polluted that it was no longer feasible to talk about reforming it. Either it had to cease or we would have to surrender to the corruption now inherent in it. This administration entered office with a mandate of CHANGE. The government could not forever sit back and allow this dire inequity to continue, less it forfeit the essence of its mandate.

We all want fuel at a cheaper price. Under subsidy, we got the right price but not the fuel. Meanwhile, some were getting rich on the common man’s predicament. They were laughing to the bank while the rest of Nigeria waited on the petrol line. This is not the way to democratic development. It is a recipe for creating a class of economic predators that would feed off the people and in time gain such power and wealth that they would seek to buy and control, if not own, government as well. President Buhari has with this decision put an abrupt and just end to the assault against our economy and political system. He has made a courageous and prudent decision. It is time to end fuel subsidy and begin to subsidise the true needs of the people.

To Mr. President, I say congratulations for having the courage to remove subsidy. The president has taken this tough decision in the interest of the present and future generations of Nigerians. For some time, I have been a proponent of this action. I believed the ending of subsidy was the only sure way to put to sleep the myriad demons that had invaded the subsidy process, sucking the blood of Nigeria, swallowing much of our needed money. The rentiers will no longer be able to make free money at our common expense. They will no longer be laughing to the bank while you languish on endless fuel queues. Nigeria has taken the historic step needed to create a competitive environment that that will eliminate smuggling, provide incentives for private refineries and attract foreign investments in the downstream sector and create employment. Instead of just shipping off oil and having the more expensive finished products sent back to us, Nigeria will move closer to realising its potential to become the plastic centre of the continent by manufacturing numerous by products. Nothing can stop Nigeria from being the net exporter of fertiliser from the bye products of the oil industry.

I am hopeful but also realistic about this measure. I am also mindful of the situation of our people. This change will mean higher fuel costs in generally, and I would be lying if I said this will cause no pain or dislocation. However, it will lead to better supply and end the hidden substantial costs associated with long waits and delays for fuel. The days and hours of waiting for fuel will be a thing of the past. In a perfect setting, I wish we could have sanitised the subsidy regime and thus continued with it. However, I believe that President Buhari correctly understood that there are to many malefactors and flaws in system for that hell to be turned into heaven. Better that we remove it. But I believe he is removing it not for the austere purpose of saving money but for the nobler purpose of putting those same funds to fairer, more equitable use in order that government might better serve those of us who are truly in utmost need. Now that the subsidy is being phased-out, we should simultaneously phase in social programmes benefiting the poorest and most vulnerable among us. Programmes such as transportation grants, school feeding, improved basic medical care and coverage for the poor, and potable water projects are profound social objectives that can be funded with the money that was once going to rentiers and speculators. This way we can use government funds to ensure that fruits go to the hungry, not the already well fed. Thus, I ask everyone to take a step back to coolly and objectively assess what has been decided.

We must not make the mistake of allowing our political and sympathetic attachment to subsidy blind us to the hard fact that the purpose and benefits of subsidy had long ago been taken from the common man to reside in the purse of an elite few. We cannot persist in this imbalance and think it will help us to develop. Instead, it is better to end subsidy and use the funds to establish well-targeted anti-poverty programmes that actually assist the people in need. True, this measure will increase fuel cost in the immediate term, and government must be vigilant to ensure that market forces are allowed to work properly and bring about a fair balance between supply, demand and longer-term favourable pricing. Collusion and manipulation of the market must never be allowed. If government sets the system fairly, it will ensure better supply and with it economic certainty. Over the longer term, it will boost investment that can spur employment across several sectors. Perhaps more importantly, it will liberate money that government can now use to lower the social costs of living for our brothers and sisters who really need the help. While this may not be perfect, it is a much better deal than they

one the subsidy offered us. Bola Ahmed Tinubu is National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).