News on the Go: 5 things that should matter to you today

• NAFDAC warns against fake drinks during festive season
• Reduce ministers to 37, Reps tell Tinubu
• Syrian rebels oust Assad, end 60-year family rule

We have highlighted the five most important developments in the news today, Monday, December 9, and present them below.

5 issues in the news that should matter to you today

1. NAFDAC warns against fake drinks during festive season: As the festive season approaches, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has advised Nigerians to avoid consuming fake and adulterated drinks, which tend to proliferate during the Yuletide.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, gave the warning during her appearance at the News Agency of Nigeria Forum in Abuja.

2. NCDC urges increased testing as 43 countries record new COVID-19: On December 8, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention allayed fears over the newly detected COVID-19 XEC variant reportedly circulating in Australia and 42 other countries.

While stating that the National COVID-19 Technical Working Group was on alert, the NCDC urges “all health facilities, both public and private, to increase the testing for COVID-19 on suspected patients.”

3. Reduce ministers to 37, Reps tell Tinubu: The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution review is considering a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to limit the number of ministers appointed by the president to 37.

Sponsored by the members representing Darazo/Ganjuwa and Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal Constituencies of Bauchi and Borno states, respectively, the bill seeks to amend Section 147 (1) of the Constitution to read, “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation, not exceeding 37, as may be established by the President.”

4. FG tasks NIPR on fight against fake news, disinformation: The Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, has charged the Nigerian Institute for Public Relations (NIPR), to help develop strategies to curb the spread of fake news and disinformation. 

The minister, who was represented by the Director of Public Relations and Protocol in the ministry, Suleiman Haruna, said this during the induction of 421 new members of the NIPR at the Federal Ministry of Information in Abuja on December 7.

5. Syrian rebels oust Assad, end 60-year family rule: In a historic turn of events, Syrian rebels seized the capital, Damascus, unopposed on December 8, bringing an abrupt end to President Bashar al-Assad’s 13-year rule and the six-decade-long dominance of Assad family.

The lightning advance has sent Assad fleeing to Russia, which granted him and his family asylum.