Category: General News

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have resolved to ground activities nationwide from October 3, 2023, following what the Labour Unions tagged as the “failure” of government to successfully implement policies to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, The PUNCH exclusively gathered.

The PUNCH reports that the NLC national president, Joe Ajaero, during a virtual National Executive Council meeting which was held on Zoom, Tuesday told members of NEC that a meeting was held with the officials of the TUC to deliberate on ways forward. Ajaero noted that it was resolved that the two centres work together to make their stance known to the government.

A source who was present at the meeting noted that some members of the NLC initially objected to the development of the NLC working together with the TUC.

“Initially some members did not want us to work with the TUC but as of now, we don’t have a choice. The government has not been proactive. So it is going to be a definite action this time around.”

The he 21-day ultimatum given by the NLC ended last week. The national president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero had complained that “none of the demands put before the Federal Government had been addressed.”

The union first observed a two-day nationwide warning strike on September 5 and 6 to show its readiness for the indefinite strike later in the month.

Among other things, the NLC and the TUC are asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.

President Bola Tinubu had on June 19 set up the Presidential Steering Committee and various sub-committees to discuss the framework to be adopted on the palliatives.

Though the FG made a commitment to restructure the framework for engagement with organised Labour on palliatives, the eight-week timeframe set for the conclusion of the process expired in August with no action taken.

The committees were given eight weeks to conclude their assignment and hasten the implementation of the framework in cushioning the effect of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians but weeks after the timeframe expired, the sub-committees had yet to meet or actualise their mandates, leaving the NLC and TUC leadership frustrated.

Details later…

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has sacked Mr. Anthony Ogah, his Special Adviser to the Governor on Stakeholders Relations with best wishes,effective from September 24,2023.

The Secretary to the State Government,SSG, Dr.Folashade Arike Ayoade,disclosed this in a statement she signed in Lokoja and released to journalists on Tuesday.

She said:”Governor Bello extends his best wishes to Mr. Anthony Ogah for his future endeavors.

“In light of this press release, Mr. Anthony Ogah is instructed to promptly hand over his identity card and any other government property or documents in his possession to the Permanent Secretary, Administration, in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the State.”

By Emmanuel Antswen

Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue on Tuesday said the State was not a dumping ground for criminals.

He urged abductors of his Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism to immediately release him.

Alia said this while addressing his supporters at the IBB Square in Makurdi on Tuesday to celebrate his victory at the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Saturday.

He said those who kidnapped the commissioner had few hours to release him unhurt, adding that the state was not a dumping ground for criminals.

The governor said lines must be drawn between the good and bad in the society, saying that home grown terrorists and bandits have no place in the state.

He commended the family of the abducted commissioner for their patience, and assured that security agencies would leave no stone unturned to ensure that he was released unhurt.

Speaking on his achievements in the first 100 days in office, Alia said that he had already started construction of 16 township roads within the state capita.

He said that other major towns would soon receive similar attention.

Reacting to his victory at the Tribunal, he said that the decision of the tribunal was a reminder that one cannot toy with the mandate of the majority.

He said that God had used him to bring back smiles on the faces of residents of the state.

According to him, lot of things had gone wrong in the state but his government would do everything possible to rebuild and make it better for all.

He said palliatives would soon be distributed to all 23 local government areas across the state, as the trucks of grains have arrived.

On his plans for youths in the state, the governor said the ICT training programme which was slated to commence soon, would afford the youth the opportunity to acquire professional skills.

He said his administration would ensure the return of all IDPs back to their ancestral homes.

Alia said  that banditry and terrorism would not be allowed to have a place in the state under his watch.

NAN

The Federal Government has announced the restructuring of the management team of National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO) to ensure effective implementation of national social investment Programme in Nigeria.

Dr Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by her Media Aide, Mr Rasheed Zubair, in Abuja.

The minister said the move was in line with President Tinubu’s directive to restructure the Social Safety Net Programme, address the expanded mandate of the ministry which included poverty alleviation

She announced new appointments in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to provide durable solutions to humanitarian crises and multi-dimensional poverty in Nigeria.

The statement reported the minister as saying that NASSCO would be chaired by herself while the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Abel Enitan, would serve as Secretary.

Others appointed are Mr Abdulaziz Danladi, as National Coordinator of (NASSCO), Dr Micheal Ajuluchukwu, Head of National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), while Dr Janet Ekpenyong will serve as the Deputy Head of the NCTO Office.

Mr Richard Romanus, National Programme Manager of Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO); Jamalu Kaburu, National Communication Manager, National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) are also on board.

Chidinma Makuachukwu, National Programme Manager, Renewed Hope Shelter Programme for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons and Mr Thalis Apalowo is the National Programme Manager, Grant For Vulnerable groups.

Others include Salia Sanusi Yusuff, Programme Manager, At Risk Children Programme; Dr Joseph Nkang, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme ( MSME Loan Programme).

Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, Programme Manager, N-Power Programme (Renewed Hope Skills Acquisition Programme); Mrs Etcheri Ansa, National Alternate School Programme (Out-of-school children) made the list.

Olubunmi Bello, National Project Manager, Community and Social Development Programme is part of the team.

The minister therefore, charged the new appointees to bring their wealth of experience to bear in driving the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda to success.

While assuring the appointees that their appointments were with immediate effect, the minister said there would not be room for excuses or failure in actualising the mandate. (NAN)

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, escaped death by whiskers in a car accident on Monday,

It was gathered that four men were injured in the road accident and they were taken to a hospital around Oke-Baale, Osogbo, the state capital.

Findings  show that the security attached to the Speaker was mostly affected in the convoy.

The Press Secretary to the Speaker, Olumide Tiamiyu, confirmed the accident.

He explained that the Speaker had gone and the security was rushing to meet up with the convoy when their tyre bust.

Tiamiyu said the injured victims are responding to treatment, saying that the accident was not so fatal.

According to him, two of the injured security have been discharged and the remaining two will soon be discharged

By Yahaya Isah

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Sept. 27, public holiday in commemoration of Eidel-Maulud celebration, the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) .

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo congratulated the Muslim Ummah both home and in diaspora for witnessing the occasion.

He admonished Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, patience, tolerance and perseverance which were deep spiritual virtues that the Holy Prophet exemplified.

The minister also urged Nigerians, especially the youth to embrace the virtues of hard work and peaceful disposition to fellow humans, irrespective of faith, ideology, social class and ethnicity.

He also enjoined them to join hands with President Bola Tinubu’s led administration in its effort to build a progressive and enviable nation that Nigerians would be proud of.

Tunji-Ojo wished the Muslim Ummah a joyful celebration.

NAN

By Adeyemi Adeleye

The Lagos PDP Gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran (aka Jandor ) has rejected the ruling of the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal declared as dead on arrival, the petition by Adediran against Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s re-election.

The tribunal held that evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit.

Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by his party, the All Progressives Party (APC) and, therefore, was not qualified for the election.

Reacting, Adediran, in a statement by Mr Gbenga Ogunleye, Head, Media and Communications JANDOR4GOVERNOR Campaign Organisation, expressed displeasure over the ruling of the Justice Arum Ashom-led 3 man tribunal.

Adediran said: “it is quite unfortunate that the tribunal in its wisdom refused to accept the credible and convincing evidence presented by his legal team on the non-qualifications of the APC and the Labour Party candidates in the election.”

Adediran posited that the decision of the tribunal did not reflect the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral act 2022 on issues bothering on qualification of a candidate in an election.

He, however, assured the residents of the state that Lagos PDP would study the judgment and decide on the next step to be taken.

“This is not the end of the electoral process, it is just another stage. We will study the judgment and take decisions in the best interest of Lagos residents” he said.

Similarly, the Lagos State PDP said that the party would strategise after examining the ruling.

Alhaji Hakeem Amode, the PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Lagos State also said in a statement that the party would know the next step after collecting the Certified True Copy of the judgment.

Amode said: “We urge our dedicated supporters to stay calm and abstain from any activities that may disrupt the harmony and order of our society.

“As a party, we are committed to undertaking a meticulous review of the judgmnt upon receipt of the Certified True Copy, and subsequently, we will issue precise directives to our legal team.

“The tenets of democracy are at the core of our party’s values, and we remain dedicated to fostering an inclusive society that serves the interests of all its citizens.

“We firmly believe that the appropriate avenue for addressing our concerns is through the legal process.”

According to him, the party remains unwavering in it’s resolve to pursue the case until it reaches a just and lawful resolution.

“Our party is steadfast in its dedication to serving the populace to the fullest extent should the opportunity arise,” Amode said.

NAN

By Dorcas Elusogbon

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate will on Tuesday screen former Chairman of the Board of Citi Bank Nigeria, Dr Olayemi Cardoso for the position of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The senate will also screen four nominees for the positions of CBN Deputy Governors, who will join forces with Cardoso to steer affairs of the apex bank in the next five years.

In a statement by the Media Office of the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate will screen all the nominees following its resumption from its annual recess.

The senate had on Aug. 8, adjourned sitting for its annual recess.

The statement reads: “The senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will resume plenary on Tuesday, Sept. 26. We will consider the screening of Dr Cardoso at the Committee of the Whole.

“Cardoso will be screened alongside four deputy governors namely: Mrs Emem Usoro, Mr Muhammad Dattijo, Mr Philip Ikeazor and Dr Bala Bello.

“Besides, the senate has scheduled to screen the ministerial nominees: Dr Jamila Ibrahim and Mr Ayodele Olawande, respectively designated as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth on Oct. 3.”

President Bola Tinubu had on Sept. 15, approved the nomination of Cardoso to serve as the new Governor of CBN.

Tinubu also approved the nomination of four deputy governors for a term of five years each at the first instance, pending their confirmation by the denate.

NAN