₦airaland Forum

Singer Aramide is a year older and has released beautiful new photos to celebrate her day.

See another below;

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/aramide-releases-beautiful-new-photos.html

The Federal Government says in spite of the delay in signing the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law, it is determined to ensure effective execution.

Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and Planning, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja at the presentation of the approved 2018 Budget of Consolidation.

The N9.12 trillion 2018 budget was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday after it was raised from N8.61 trillion by the National Assembly.

Giving a breakdown of the allocations, Udoma said capital expenditure would gulp 31.5 per cent of the total expenditure at N2.87 trillion, adding that this was more than N2.36 trillion allocated in 2017.

Recurrent non-debt spending would rise from N2.99 trillion in 2017 to N3.51 trillion in 2018.

Udoma said the Federal Government planned to spend N2.01 trillion on debt servicing (21 per cent of budget), adding that provision to retire maturing bond to local contractors increased by seven per cent from N177 billion in 2017 to N190 billion for the current fiscal year.

He explained this was in view of the ambitious plan to liquidate all contractor debt arrears of the Federal Government going back several years.

He said that the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing had the highest allocation with N715 billion for both recurrent and capital expenditure, Ministry of Interior would get N577 billion while Ministry of Defence was allocated N576 billion.

Ministry of Education was allocated N542 billion, Ministry of Health N356 billion, Ministry of Transportation, N267 billion and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, N203 billion.

Others are Ministry of Water Resources, N155 billion, Office of the National Security Adviser, N123 billion, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, N118 billion, and Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, N116 billion.

He added that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was allocated N112 billion.

Udoma, while highlighting some of the projects to be carried out in the year, said infrastructure, security and human development were the focus of the government.

He said N530.8 million would be used in constructing the terminal building at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu , and N8.32 billion used for the construction of the second runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to him, while N162.28 billion was scheduled as counterpart funding for railway projects, N9.4 billion was set aside as counterpart fund for the Mambilla hydro-power project.

He said that N344 billion was allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of several roads nationwide and N26.7 billion allocated to National Housing Programme.

For health, he said N55.15 billion had been allocated to the implementation of the National Health Act, while N300 million had been set aside for health emergencies and contagious diseases outbreaks.

For agriculture, Udoma said over N25.1 billion was allocated for promotion and development of value chain across more than 30 different commodities to ensure food security,

He also said that N5.30 billion was allocated for National Grazing Reserve Development.

The minister said that procurement of ammunition of various types and calibers would cost N5.3 billion, while construction of new military barracks in five geo-political zones would gulp N2.3 billion.

For mines and steel, he said N644 million would be used for the establishment of mining regulatory agency for the sector and N450 million used to reclaim abandoned mine sites.

For education, Udoma said the Universal Basic Education Commission was allocated N109 billion and N9.2 billion allocated for various scholarship allowances.

He added that N65 billion was allocated for re-integration of transformed ex-militants under the Presidential Amnesty Programme, while N45 billion was allocated for the Federal Initiative for North-East (Pilot counterpart funding contribution).

Udoma said that the goal of the 2018 budget was to consolidate on the gains recorded so far by the administration and ensure that all Nigerians benefitted from the economic progress.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/2018-budget-buhari-govt-gives-breakdown.html

She is super beautiful.

Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji sat pretty in a recent photo uploaded unto her IG page.

The actress donned a floral top paired with a burgundy jacket. She had her hair plaited with wool and finished off with a couple of rings and a simple stud earring.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/this-photo-of-genevieve-nnaji-may-be.html

Asari Mangeta, Governor Seriake Dickson’s Special Adviser on Grassroots Mobilisation on Wednesday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recall that his Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Ibarakumo Otobo, has also resigned.

Mangeta was received by the executive committee of APC at the party secretariat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.

He explained that he left the PDP government because he was denied the right to express his political ideals and add value to the society.

“I am a politician with a passion for service to the people”, Mangeta said.

“They know that I am an asset, they lured me with an appointment but after the elections there was no enabling environment for me to perform.

“So, I have resolved to pitch my tent with APC.”

Speaking, State Chairman of APC, Mr Jothan Amos, noted that the party would take over the state come 2020.

Amos described the sack of 28,000 civil servants in the ongoing public service reforms at a time of economic hardship as regrettable.

“The way the government carried the reforms shows that they lacked ideas and are not capable of managing reforms.

“How can you finish sacking workers and then start holding town hall meetings when the town hall meetings should have been held before reforms,” he said.

A lawmaker, Mr Israel Goli, representing Brass 1 constituency, represented ex-Gov. Timipre Sylva.

He noted that APC would replicate its performance at the federal level in Bayelsa and transform it.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/gov-dicksons-adviser-asari-dumps-pdp.html

Former Cambodian prime minister has been seriously injured in a car crash which killed his wife and injured at least seven others.

Officials said Prince Norodom Ranariddh was in a convoy with other senior figures of his FUNCINPEC party and was heading towards the seaside town of Sihanoukville in southwestern Cambodia when the accident happened on Sunday.

The SUV the 74-year-old politician was travelling in collided with a taxi travelling in the opposite direction, according to a senior party member in the group.

The deadly crash comes ahead of the country's general election next month, in which the former prime minister and his wife were running as candidates.

Police chief General Chuon Narin said Prince Ranariddh had suffered head injuries and was sent to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh for treatment.

The officer said the politician's wife, Ouk Phalla, died in hospital.

The prince - a son of the late King Norodom Sihanouk - was Cambodia's co-prime minister for four years in an uneasy power-sharing deal with the current leader Hun Sen after his party won a United Nations-organised election in 1993.

His royal background made him popular despite having a strained relationship with his father.

Prince Ranariddh was ousted in 1997 and fled abroad as tensions between him and Mr Sen boiled over and led to two days of clashes in the capital between supporters of the two leaders. He returned to contest, only to be hit with this tragic incident.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/former-presidents-wife-dies-in-fatal.html

Yesterday, it was reported that the convoy of the Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Kayode Fayemi allegedly knocked down and killed a police officer during the party’s rally in the state. The deceased identified as Inspector Kayode Gabriel of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) – was due for promotion to the rank of ASP next week before he killed in the accident.

Fresh report has emerged as to what led to the tragic death of the policeman.

An eyewitness reportedly recounted what happened. Below is what he wrote;

I was at the scene of this accident that happened in the front of captain cook this morning. It was a Sienna Bus that hit the victims as they were trying to cross from one side of the road to other side. Unfortunately one of the victims could not survive it.lt was the same Sienna Bus that they used to carry the two men involved to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Police Command has refuted claims that the convoy of the All Progressive Candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi knocked down a police officer.

The Command Public Relation Officer, Mr Caleb Nwachukwu, however, told Vanguard that a Toyota Sienna Van with registration number: Lagos X2874 Eky knocked down two pedestrians on Bashiri road just before the newly constructed over head bridge.

Those affected in the accident were one Anayomi Ismailia and a yet to be identified police officer.

He said the convoy of the Vice President and Fayemi came in through the Ikere axis of the State capital around 12 noon, while the incident in question happened around 9am.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/fayemis-convoy-did-not-kill-policeman.html

AN Uber driver who kicked a lesbian couple out of his cab for kissing month has been banned by the company.

Emma Pichl, 24, and Alex Iovine, 26, were at the Pig Beach bar in Gowanus, Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday evening when they hailed an Uber to take them to the city’s East Village.

“We got over the Manhattan Bridge into the city. We were sitting on opposite sides of the back seat. At one point we leaned over and pecked kiss, very fast,” Pichl told The New York Post on Monday.

Five minutes later, the driver, Ahmad El Boutari, “pulled the cab over and said, ‘You should not do that … do not do that,’” according to Pichl.

“He started yelling at us that we were disrespectful and inappropriate and that he wants us out of his car,” Pichl said. “We were going back and forth trying to understand.”

Uber has removed El Boutari’s access to its app, saying it does not tolerate discrimination. It said it is investigating.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/uber-bans-driver-who-kicked-out-lesbian.html

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, and crown-wearing members of the Olubadan-In-Council have disagreed on the monarch’s order barring masquerades from dancing at the home of any high chief during this year’s Egungun Festival,The Nation reports

The Olubadan, in a statement on Sunday, suspended the visit of masquerades to the homes of the high chiefs, citing security reasons for his action.

But in a counter-move, the high chiefs-turned beaded kings described the order as arbitrary and an attempt to fight tradition.

In a statement by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, on behalf of others after their meeting yesterday, the kings insisted that they would resist the directive and host masqueraders in their homes.

The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the directive by our referred father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adetunji, that the usual annual masquerade dance in our homes would not hold this year due to a phantom security threat, a directive we reject in its entirety.

“As far as we are concerned, the directive was an arbitrary use of power and authority; we won’t take it. Our father (Olubadan) wants to distort and destroy the tradition and wants to use us to fight tradition. But we won’t succumb to his antics.

“The same Olubadan solicited for the hosting of the egungun authority from the late Oba Odugade Odulana when he was about five steps away from his present position and his request was granted.

“We, therefore, tend to ask: of what benefits would his outrageous order be to him? Except for extraneous reason, as we just pointed out, how can one explain that security would be threatened only when the masqueraders come to dance in our homes and not when they went to his palace?

“As members of Olubadan-in-Council, we were not part of the decision and we won’t take it and the egungun authority will not likely take it. It was our resolve that the Olubadan is trying to use everything to fight the government because the government has, among its responsibilities, the protection of the people’s tradition. But we will not allow ourselves to be used to either fight the government or the tradition.”

But the Aare Alagbaa of Ibadan, Chief Ojetunde Asoleke, said masqueraders in Ibadan would obey the directive of the Olubadan which barred them from visiting any high chief whose elevation to kingship status generated controversies and court actions

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/ibadan-masquerade-olubadan-ibadan-kings.html

Bobrisky has slammed fashion designer,Toyin Lawani after she called single mums who play role of dads idiotic ,telling them to make it work with dead beat dad’s for the sake of the kids.

He felt she was throwing shade at his bestie,actress,Tonto Dikeh who is open about being a dad and mum to her son.

He also called her a mad dog for saying every man is entitled to 10 women.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/mad-dog-bobrisky-blasts-toyin-lawani.html

Fashion designer,Toyin Lawani has shocked many after her Father’s Day message..She slammed women who think they can play both the roles of a dad and mom in their kids lives,saying every man is entitled to 10 women and even pastors cheat .

She also penned a Father’s Day message to her ex-fiancee and baby daddy, Lord Triggs.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/every-man-is-entitled-to-10-women-toyin.html

She made news after she revealed in an interview with Pulse that her hair costs N40million, a claim many are still teasing her with today.

Model Chika Lann has finally shown off the man behind her N40million hair as she took to her IG to celebrate him on Father’s Day.

Sharing a photo of them together, she wrote;

Happy Father’s Day to the most amazing Man in the World!!! My one and only Sexy Lion…The one that makes my heart go la la…I love you!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ #theloveofmylife #thecutestofthemall#happyfathersd

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/nigerian-model-whose-hair-is-worth.html

Tonto Dikeh’s ex husband,Churchill Oladunni took to Instagram to celebrate himself on Father’s Day. He wrote

Dear Lord, your gifts are many. Am thankful for everyone.one of the greatest gift you have given is the gift of my dear son.Thank you for his life,dear Lord ,watch over him everyday,may he be safe and free from harm,as he goes about each day.Bless him through life’s trial.help him choose right from wrong.An example be,for all to see,standing tall and proud and strong. AM A PROUD FATHER LOVE YOU SON. KING ANDRE OMODAYO CHURCHILL.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/im-proud-father-tonto-dikehs-ex-husband.html

The national chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has said the late Chief MKO Abiola rejected a move by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to free him from detention.

Oshiomhole said the sincere move by labour leaders to free Abiola from the military confinement did not work out as planned because the late politician declined the offer.

Oshiomhole stated that in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Saturday.

He said, “When Abiola was in prison, we made several efforts to see him but the military were blocking it. But finally one day, we went there and (a former NLC President), Paschal (Bafyau) who led us to him, said, ‘sir, we want you to accept the bail with all the conditions attached to it’.

“We told him that these guys are ready to keep him in prison for a long time and ensure that he will not be able to come out alive.

“The late head of State, (Sani) Abacha had asked Abiola to go and make a national broadcast withdraw his earlier statement of pronouncing himself president. But Abiola said, ‘I will remain here in prison; I will not do their bidding’.

“Abacha eventually died and Abiola also died. Today, Abiola’s children can go anywhere and say I am Abiola and they will be respected.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/mko-abiola-denied-nlc-offer-to-free-him.html

A young lady has been declared missing.

The lady pictured above and identified as Egwu Kelly, 20, has been declared missing by her family members.

The 20-year-old according to her family, left the house around 2pm on 14th Of June 2018 to a nearby shop to get recharge card and is yet to return home.

She is said to have just returned to Lagos from Cameroon.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/young-lady-goes-missing-after-going-out.html

Rev. Fr. Lucien Ambunga, Catholic Priest and Pastor for the remote rural community of Itipo celebrated his first Sunday (June 10) mass since he returned to his parish on 8 June, after recovering from Ebola.

When he was diagnosed with Ebola last month, Father Ambunga was taken to the town of Bikoro where there is an Ebola treatment centre in the general hospital. He was given a clean bill of health late last month, but stayed on in Bikoro to recover further.

When he returned to Itipo on Friday he was greeted by a joyous crowd, who carried him on their shoulders and chanted “The hero this year is Courage (Father Ambunga’s nickname).”

He stressed how moved he was to be back.

“I can’t’ explain to you now Madame. It’s too much for me,” said Father Lucien. “What I can say, what is in my heart, is joy. “

WHO’s social anthropologist for the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Julienne Anoko says it’s important to support people who have recovered from Ebola as they return to their communities.

“We need to take care of their reintegration because many of them are being stigmatized by their communities because the communities don’t know, they are afraid.”

Dada was among the first confirmed Ebola patients in the current outbreak to be cured of Ebola. Dada is slowly picking up the pieces of his life.

On 6 June, representatives from the Ministry of Health and Caritas Internationalis came to his home with a care package – a bucket containing food staples such as rice and sardines and household items such as soap.

Dada says he’s feeling good, “For the moment, I feel very, very, strong. I don’t have the virus.”

His uncle is glad his nephew is doing well, “As a family member, I am happy to see my relative alive and doing well.”

With support from WHO, Dada is taking catch up classes and is hoping to pass his baccalaureat exam later this month.

He said, “If I’m lucky and I get my diploma and receive support, I will continue my studies.”

Local health officials say there are 14 people who have recovered from Ebola in the Itipo area and on Monday (June 11), many met with WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Dr Tedros came to Itipo to observe the scaling up of the response in the community, which lies at the heart of the current outbreak.

“Not only have they survived but they are already working to save others,” said Dr Tedros. “It’s great that they are better and now it’s important that they are helping their community. “

The people who have recovered from Ebola created an association on 11 June to provide mutual support and are helping to raise awareness of the community on Ebola prevention.

Dada is working at the Saint Luke Health Facility in Itipo, where some Ebola patients are receiving care from the Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) team in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. He is providing counseling to the patients.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/rev-fr-lucien-ambunga-infected-with.html

A first Republic Minister of Aviation, Mbazulike Amaechi has accused Igbo leaders of betraying the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other pro-Biafra agitators.

In an interview with Vanguard, Amaechi said IPOB members were made to look like law breakers.

“Any aggrieved person, group or organisation has the right to engage in agitations for better condition. There is no law that says that when you are maltreated, you should not complain against or to the person maltreating you. But in the case of IPOB, the Igbo leaders who should have directed them on the best way to follow betrayed them.

“Igbo leaders must not support the IPOB, but at the same time, they should not have betrayed them. If you are my leader and I am doing something you do not support, you should not sell me out or betray me the way Igbo leaders betrayed IPOB and other pro-Biafra groups.

“Personally, I believe in one great country which we fought for its creation and independence, with other notable and patriotic Nigerians who do not have the divisive minds like the present leaders of the country have in today’s Nigeria.

“I am very sad that the country I and other nationalists fought very hard for its creation and independence has been betrayed and my side of the people treated as slaves in their country. It is very annoying and saddening.

“Young men have the right to agitate but their leaders have betrayed them. If their leaders do not support them, they should not sell them out or betray them like they have done to IPOB which has been roundly betrayed by Igbo leaders who should guide them.

“IPOB is not a terrorist organisation and they are neither armed nor involved in any kind of violence. MASSOB has been there over the years doing their thing without violence, yet Nigerian government has been after them, but in the North, people are being killed, houses burnt and communities sacked by herdsmen, yet they have not been declared a terrorist group. It is IPOB they declared as a terrorist group.

“When a people as part of a union say they are not happy with the union like the Biafra agitators are doing and embark on protest against the union, the people should be allowed to decide their faith whether to belong or not, it was done in Great Britain,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/biafra-amaechi-reveals-those-who.html

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright has warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against bias ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The UK envoy spoke when he visited the corporate headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “INEC and EFCC should be there to preserve the integrity of the political process, including taking forward investigations without any prejudice on one side or the other, following the evidence and taking action where it is justified.

“We are pleased to see how the EFCC operates, and we are assuring you of the endless support of the British Government in the fight against corruption.

“The UK and Nigeria have evolved and made progress in the fight against corruption, and the EFCC’s achievements have been impressive,” he added.

Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, thanked the British Government for its support.

“I assure you that there is no political interference in what we do. We will continue to work with stakeholders like INEC who we have an agreement with to ensure that there is no interference to ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria and we will stop people using money to buy votes,” he said.

On investigations, Magu said, “We do not invite anybody here if he is not found to be involved in one offence or crime and that is why when you come here, it takes a lot of efforts to be off the chain. Whatever case that comes to the EFCC is investigated to a logical conclusion. We take the case to court which gives the final decision.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/uk-warns-efcc-inec-over-2019-election.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says conviction of All Progressives Congress (APC) prominent members has vindicated it against accusations of being selective in its fight against graft.

Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

Uwujaren was referring to Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye, both former two-term governors of Taraba and Plateau, respectively.

Uwujaren stated that the convictions had “put a lie to the often repeated charge by critics and cynics that the EFCC (the prosecutor) is lukewarm in prosecuting chieftains of the ruling party for corruption’’.

He said, “Both trials had been ongoing for 11 years and towards the end of the proceedings, the two convicts changed their political camps, moving from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling APC.

“Dariye, who won election into the Senate on the platform of the PDP, decamped to the ruling APC at a critical phase of his trial, when the prosecution had called all its vital witnesses and conviction appeared imminent.

“Not surprisingly, this fuelled speculation that the gambit was a calculated move to stave off imminent conviction.

“But rather than slow proceedings, his trial accelerated, forcing the defence to close its case, thus setting the stage for the judgment of June12.”

The EFCC spokesman said Mr Mohammed Dakingari, a former Accountant-General of Kebbi and member of the APC was also convicted of corruption and sentenced to 70 years in prison.

He added that former Gov. Orji Kalu of Abia was still undergoing prosecution in court by the EFCC even after crossing to the APC.

The commission, according to him, has closed its case in that matter after calling several witnesses.

“But, rather than open his defence, Kalu elected to file a ‘no case submission’.

“It will be up to the court to determine whether the commission has presented enough evidence to warrant him to enter his defence.

“From these cases, Nigerians can now appreciate the fact that the EFCC is apolitical, blind to the political colours and affiliations of crime suspects.

“It will be foolhardy for any politically-exposed person under prosecution to think that mere change of political affiliation will guarantee immunity from prosecution.

“Rather than entertain idle gossips who thrive on haranguing the EFCC with charges of selectivity, these two recent convictions offer Nigerians the opportunity to better appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of the commission.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/we-jailed-apcs-nyame-dariye-kalu-still.html

By Nnamdi Ezekute in Russia:

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has admitted that he has total respect for Croatia but claimed his young team will not be overrun by them when both teams meet in their Russia 2018 World Cup Group D clash on Saturday at the Kaliningrad Stadium, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.

The Croats have a number talented individuals in their team with the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and Mario Mandzukic expected to lead the assault against the Super Eagles.

Nigeria on the other hand will be parading a number a young guns who will be playing at the World Cup for the first time.

“We admire this team (Croatia) but we do not plan to watch them when we play against them, we hope to fight. They are all wonderful players, playing in biggest teams in Europe. On paper with their names, they are much better than us,” Rohr stated while addressing reporters on Wednesday at his team’s training base in Essentuki.

“But sometimes on the pitch, it could be different. We don’t have their big stars, but we try to play collectively with our young team.”

The German coach also provided updates on right-back Tyronne Ebuehi who suffered a nose bleed in Tuesday’s training and also passed a clean bill of health on the other players.

“He’s fit and there are no injury problems in the team,” Rohr stated.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/rohr-super-eagles-dont-fear-croatia.html

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar-led Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has enjoined Muslims across the country to look for the new moon of Shawwal on Thursday 14 June, 2018.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the council, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said in a statement that this was sequel to the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee, NMSC.

Abubakar told the Nigerian Muslim Ummah “to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1439 AH immediately after sunset on Thursday, 14th June, 2018 equivalent to 29th Ramadan 1439 AH. If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, His Eminence (Sultan) would declare Friday, 15th June, 2018 as the first day of Shawwal and the day of ‘idul fitr.

“If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Saturday, 16th June, 2018 automatically becomes the first day of Shawwal, 1439 AH and the day of ‘idul fitr. Muslims all over the country are hereby enjoined to be on the lookout for the directive of His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA, on the termination of this year’s Ramadan fast.”

Abubakar, who felicitated with the entire Muslim Ummah (community) in Nigeria and all over the world on this year’s Ramadan Fast, also prayed that Allah accepts it as an act of Ibadah (worship).

While reminding the Ummah of the necessity of paying Zakatul-Fitri with the intention of lifting the hearts of the indigent members of the community, the council urged all to ensure its delivery to the appropriate recipients (that is the poor) and guard against its diversion by any agent or intermediary.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/ramadan-2018-sultan-abubakar-tells.html

Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district has said that the late MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election once told him that the Emir of Zazzau was close to him than anyone else in the north.

In a post on his facebook, the lawmaker said, Abiola personally told him years back that the Emir was the only confidant he has in the whole of the northern region of the country, stating that the late politician’s relationship with the Emir was personal.

“In the whole of Northern Nigeria, the closest to Abiola and his close confidant was HRH, Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.”

“Their relationship was not political, but personal, a truth, I was told by the President-elect, Chief MKO Abiola.”

Shehu Sani was in the struggle for the declaration of the late politician, MKO Abiola as president of Nigeria after the 1993 presidential election.

The election which was adjudged the fairest was annulled by the then Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/what-late-mko-abiola-told-me-about.html

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday reviewed the activities of the Senate under his leadership in the last three years and expressed happiness that it was able to unravel high level corruption in government.

He also said the eighth Senate passed 213 bills and cleared 138 petitions brought before it by the public since its inauguration on June 9, 2015.

In a statement issued yesterday from Saudi Arabia where he is on lesser hajj, Saraki emphasised that “we exposed high level corruption in the management of the North-east relief efforts and passed the North East Commission Bill which has now been signed into law.”

According to him, “In three short but eventful years, we have worked assiduously and diligently to meet the demands of Nigerians and a changing economy that experienced a recession just a year after we assumed office.

“We have passed 213 bills, cleared 138 petitions submitted by the public. We are happy to say that this Senate is the most productive since 1999. It has surpassed the fifth Senate which with 129 bills in four years had the highest number of bills, as against the sixth Senate with 72 bills, and 128 passed by the seventh Senate. The number of petitions we have successfully treated to the satisfaction of Nigerians who filed them dwarfed the eight and six treated by the sixth and seventh Senate respectively,” Saraki explained.

Saraki further posited that the Senate has worked to grow the country’s economy by passing bills like the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, the Credit Bureau Reporting Act and the Warehouse Receipts Bill, Nigerian Railways Authority Bill and National Transportation Commission Bill, “which are aimed at providing significant reforms to our business environment and strengthening our lending legislative frameworks to allow SMEs to access capital.

“We are particularly glad that the impact of the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act and the Credit Bureau Reporting Act became apparent immediately after they were signed into law as they form the basis for which the World Bank upgraded the rating of Nigeria in its Annual Ease of Doing Business rating. We expect that when the new CAMA which we just passed becomes law, it will yield an even more significant result in helping small and medium scale entrepreneurs to access capital, grow and multiply,” he said.

“We have also passed bills like the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Bill, the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, the Witness Protection Bill, the Whistleblower Protection Bill and the Federal Audit Service Commission Bill to support the fight against corruption. It should be noted that the National Assembly quickly rose to the occasion to prevent the expulsion of Nigeria from the global community on the exchange of financial intelligence by expediting the passage of the NFIU bill,” he added.

“With the support of the Nigerian public, we were able to break the PIB jinx, by passing the Governance Component of the Petroleum Industry Bill, and now, we have successfully conducted the Public Hearing on the Administrative, Fiscal and Host Community Components of this Bill — taking it to its farthest stage since 1999,” Saraki stated.
He said: “Also of note is our passage of the constitution amendment bills, some of which will change the landscape of governance in Nigeria. Some of the Bills like the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ bill, the Financial Autonomy for Local Government Bill, Financial Autonomy for Houses of Assembly among others are aimed at improving governance and ensuring that government serves our people better.”

Saraki also highlighted some of the interventions of the Senate since June 9, 2015, stating that the impact of the work of the legislature in Nigeria’s system of governance was starting to be understood.
“The legislature as the youngest of the three arms of government still has a lot of catching up to do in ensuring that Nigerians understand its role in our democracy. This is why we have been attentive and responsive to the needs of Nigerians by intervening where it counts.

“We will like to reiterate the fact that this Senate has taken deliberate measures aimed at opening up the institution for better understanding by members of the public. These measures include providing details and breakdown of the annual budget of the National Assembly, holding of public hearing as part of the budget preparation process, the proposed Open National Assembly Week aimed at engaging with other arms of government and civil society groups and the frequent discussions with a view to resolving issues involving labour unions, government and other stakeholders.

“We have also engaged stakeholders on the drug epidemic that is ravishing a significant demographic of our population and we are set to pass new bills that will help to address the mental health aspect of drug abuse and the law enforcement component that has to do with ensuring that all agencies of the federal government are working in-sync to tackle this menace with clearly defined legal structures in place. We equally intervened in the human trafficking and illegal migration crises plaguing the youthful segment of our population.

“We have also been working to ensure that healthcare remains the right of every Nigerian and this is why with the passage of the One per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to establish the Basic Healthcare Fund in the 2018 budget, primary healthcare will be within reach for all 180 million of us.

“The One Per cent Basic Healthcare Fund is an intervention we made out of our conviction that all Nigerians, no matter their station in life, deserve access to qualitative and affordable health care. This is a move we made for the ordinary Nigerians and we believe it will help to create a more vibrant, healthy and patriotic citizenry,” Saraki explained

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/saraki-senate-exposed-high-level.html

The Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Jos (UNIJOS), Prof. Dakas C. Dakas, has revealed that the University awarded First Class degrees to about 20 graduands in error.

The error, which occurred on the university’s convocation ceremony web portal, saw several graduands of the department’s 2015/2016 academic session bagging First Class degrees.

The 2015/2016 set of Law students at the university produced only one First Class graduand, Olusegun Pelumi Adewunmi, but several other graduands from the Law Department said they logged on to discover they had been awarded higher class of degree.

About 20 graduands from the Department of Law at the University were said to have been erroneously awarded First Class degrees by the university.

Reacting, Prof. Dakas told newsmen in Jos on Monday that the incident was due a technical error from the ITC department.

“The degrees were awarded to the graduands in error. It was an internal problem that would be resolved soon. The students have attested to the fact that their class of degree was awarded in error,” he said.

Prof. Dakas said the university authority was working round the clock to resolve the problem ahead of the 29th and 30th Combined Convocation coming up on June 23.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/unijos-wrongly-awards-first-class.html

Bobrisky is a Nigerian internet personality, cross dresser, actor and entrepreneur who is known for his social media skill most notably with the use of Snapchat, a social media application.

He was born in 1992 in Ebutte-meta, Lagos state. He also attended graduate school at the University of Lagos.

Bobrisky became a known name over his controversial lifestyle. He is known by almost everyone but not everyone can identify his family members.

The cross dresser has siblings that may be able to sit down to talk sense into him. These are the family members of the popular Nigeria cross dresser, bobrisky.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/see-photos-bobrisky-family-mother-and.html

Popular singer, Iledare Oluwajuwonlo, aka Jaywon, has opened up on why men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, invaded his birthday celebration in Lekki, Lagos.

Reports emerged on social media that the singer’s house at Lekki, Lagos State was invaded as he wined and dined with his music colleagues.

There are also viral videos showing SARS officials disrupting and causing havoc in the house party.

However, Jaywon told Punch that contrary to reports, SARS came for his media friend who had issues with them.

He said, “It was a media friend that had issues with them. After identifying himself, they still wanted to take him away. I was upstairs when my attention was called to the incident and I quickly came down.”

The singer further stated that he didn’t want them to take the victim away because he was afraid it could turn to a different story once they left the venue.

He said, “You know police will want to harass and threaten you with their guns. We all came together and made sure they didn’t leave the place with the guy. I actually don’t know what the journalist did to them but it created a lot of noise and drama.

“I had the party in a private house and I had promised them we would not make any noise. I was not happy with the way things ended because it was supposed to be a quiet party. I visited two motherless babies’ homes that same day and I wanted my birthday to be about that.”

“I still tweeted about the operation of SARS some days ago. Arresting people has become a business venture right now. They know that once they arrest you, you will give them money. It is getting frustrating and no one is doing anything about it.

“It is so bad on Lagos Island now, Lekki precisely. We were much; so, there was no way the four of them could attack us. We cannot be giving them money every time.

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”If people keep giving them money, they will never stop harassing people. It was obvious that they wanted money, but I was not ready to give anyone money,”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/jaywon-explains-why-sars-police-invaded.html

The governorship aspirant of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Osun State, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, has declared that his education agenda for the state would rest on three strong pillars.

The pillars, according to Ogunbiyi, are the provision of functional educ
ational system, with facility and resources made available; attainment of education for every child in the state; and a programme anchored on technological advancement.

He said the pursuit of this agenda would ensure that no child is left behind as good and sound education only engenders a society that is at once vibrant and progressive, insisting that the stifling environment and lack of basic tools of education continue to deprive Osun State and, indeed, Nigeria, the benefit of harnessing the potential greatness of the Nigerian child.

The aspirant made this known in a press statement titled, ‘Creating a Conducive Environment for Educational Advancement of Children in Osun State’.

According to him, “the frustrating environment in Nigeria is the reason why some of us have decided to change the process and contribute our quota.

“There’s a young man in my community who has become a wonderful role model in dedication, steadfastness and perseverance. He was in the past wrongly described as a fanatic, religious bigot and extremist but far from that, he’s not. I found him to be a devout Muslim and a very responsible young man. It was these qualities that propelled our foundation to work with him pursuant to going overseas.

“A brilliant chap, we are recommending him to the youths in our community and will be an ambassador for the state, to let our people know how far you can go with education – he had a distinction in Architecture from the University of Ife, won nine awards; he now has a PhD and lectures at a UK University. Almighty Allah will continue to guide and guard him and, even without appointment, he’s by dint of hard work, a worthy ambassador for our community and our state.

“The importance of education cannot be over-emphasised. With good education, you’ll have an enlightened populace; an enlightened populace with good skill set and knowledge lead to development; and development leads to progress, economic prosperity and political stability. Those are the outcomes you get with good education.

“But when you play politics, play to the gallery using education, then we will keep getting it wrong as is the case now in Osun.
“Even without being in government, we have an education road map on which we spend over N50 million annually and we try to help as many as possible to get good education both in Nigeria and abroad. Our Foundation seek and elect brilliant but indigent children for scholarship both here in Nigeria and sometimes abroad

“For instance, imagine the allocation to this state, as well as the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, and compare that to the allocation to education annually, you’ll see where the problem is coming from”, he added.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/osun-guber-educationll-be-devt-enabler.html

A former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife has warned against alleged plans by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to frame-up former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

This is sequel to the outcry by Obasanjo in a statement released on Friday alleging that Buhari was trying to frame him up and prosecute him on false charges.

Ezeife in a statement on Friday said Buhari’s attempt to pull down Obasanjo will fail.

According to him, attempts to frame Obasanjo would turn out to be a final bus stop for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Government.

He, therefore, urged Buhari to take caution towards Obasanjo.

His statement read in part “Buhari will not, should not and cannot harass former President Obasanjo for his political position. There are boundaries to everything we do in life, there are boundaries.”

On what could happen if Obasanjo is arrested, he said, “It means that the system has completely broken down. They were doing it to Igbo people. Pull Igbo down.

“They started with Ibeto, they went to Capital Oil, they went to Innoson, then they went to all those who were importing container, their containers were being seized.

“So, when they were doing pull Igbo down, we only lamented but if he wants to pull Obasanjo down, he will pull himself down.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/former-anambra-governor-arresting.html

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday raised the alarm over alleged sinister plans being hatched against him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He alleged that his life is on President’s Buhari’s watch list and that the security of his life can no longer be guaranteed.

Obasanjo, who made this allegation in a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Friday, explained that the Buhari-led administration intends to use fake documents and witnesses against him.

Noting that he would not have bothered himself about the information, the former President however said that those who hinted him of the supposed sinister plot against him were not people who’s talks one could ignore.

“Impeccable security sources have alleged Chief Obasanjo’s name is on their Watch List and that the security of his life cannot be guaranteed. According to these informants, many of who are in the top echelon of the Nation’s security management and close to the corridors of power, the operatives are daily perfecting how to curtail the personal liberties of the former President and hang a crime on him.

“Ordinarily, we would not have dignified these reports with a response but for the fact that many of these informants are not known for flippant and frivolous talks. Secondly, this Government has demonstrably exhibited apathy, and in some cases, encouraged by its conduct, daily loss of lives and property in many states of the country, the office cannot be indifferent.

“We are currently in a nation where the Number Three citizen is currently being harangued and the Number Four citizen is facing similar threat within the same Government they serve. There is a groundswell of our nationals that live in fear that they could be hounded, harassed, maimed or even killed as the battle for 2019 takes this worrisome dimension.

“For Chief Obasanjo, this is a joke carried too far and being someone who do not act on unofficial information, he had cautioned all informants and adopted a wait-and-see attitude to the bestial propositions allegedly being contemplated to cow, cage and embarrass him.

“The content of the alleged beastly designs, it was learnt are two-fold for now. One, to seize his International Passport and clamp him into detention indefinitely, in order to prevent him from further expressing angst on the pervasive mediocrity in the quality of governance, economic management and in the protection of lives and property by the Government.

“But, since that could expose the government to a swath of international condemnation, embarrassment and outrage, it is said that another plot being hatched is to cause the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to re-open investigation into the activities of Chief Obasanjo’s administration using false witnesses and documents. This will be a re-enactment of the Abacha era in which Chief Obasanjo was one of the principal victims.

“The same EFCC that had conducted a clinical investigation on the activities of Obasanjo in and out of Government, it was said, would now be made to stand down the existing report that gave Chief Obasanjo a clean bill of health on the probes are now to get him indicted, fair or foul for possible prosecution and persecution like it is being done to real and perceived opponents, enemies and critics of this government.

“Dissent is a fundamental principle on which liberal democracy is predicated. A true democrat must be ready to live with and accommodate dissent and opposition. While it is regrettable how the government has sunk in its shameless desperation to cow opposition, a resort to blackmail, despotism and Gestapo-tactics being employed by the goons of this Government would not hold water. And no government ever remains in power forever.

“For the record, Chief Obasanjo reiterates his readiness to face probe again after that of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the ICPC, and the EFCC, but before an independent, objective and credible panel of enquiry to account for his stewardship in Government and beyond.

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“Chief Obasanjo reiterates that he has taken a principled position to ensure that the ship of the Nigerian State does not capsize and he remains steadfast in his resolve to turn the tide of maladministration, poor economic management and rudderless governance model that has tore Nigerians apart on account of religion and ethnicity which is a great threat to our democracy’.

“We would like the government and its supporters to understand that no amount of campaign of calumny, no matter how well contrived, orchestrated or marketed would deter Chief Obasanjo from calling a spade by its name. Chief Obasanjo is a patriot whose sole agenda is to ensure that the country’s unity, progress and democracy are not negotiated on the altar of incompetence and provincialism and mediocrity.

“It is important to point out that Chief Obasanjo is one former President and Head of State who has engaged the current administration privately and in a bilateral manner on several issues of direct interest to the government and other matters of national concern. That channel of private engagement remains open and continues. However, should there be the need for public engagement, the right to free speech will always be exercised and jealously guarded, again in the best interest of Nigeria and the government,” the statement read in part.

Obasanjo had in 2015 abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to support President Buhari presidency. However since Obasanjo’s letter accusing Buhari of incompetency and advising against seeking re-election, the relationship between the two former military leaders has remained soured.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/buhari-want-to-kill-me-obasanjo-cries.html

A chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo says he and other leaders are not impressed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration that June 12 will henceforth replace May 29 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in honour of the late Chief Moshood Abiola.

He also stated that they were also not excited about the conferment of the award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, on the late businessman.

The elder statesman said this in a chat with Punch.

He said: “But if he (Buhari) has now done it because the presidential election is coming, well, he cannot bamboozle anybody with that. What we are saying is that if he wants to honour the memory of Abiola and June 12, he should implement what June 12 stands for, which is good governance and democracy.

“He should restructure the country before the elections to show his genuineness and not just be playing to the gallery. This is because all that June 12 stands for is democracy and good governance. It is not about people being killed right, left and centre and pretending that you don’t know what is happening.

“It is not people being killed every day and after three months, you now wake up and say you are beefing up security. People have been complaining about the awkwardness of the lopsided appointments of heads of security agencies since you came into office, but it was not until now that the vice president (Prof. Yemi Osinbajo) said, “Oh yes, we are going to review it” – because election is approaching.

“We are no fools in this country. He should know that many of us have not got cattle brain, we are well educated and we know what we want. Nobody can come and bamboozle us because elections are coming. It is just like he said in 2015 that he was a born-again democrat. Now, he has shown us that he is a dictator. We are not moved by it. It is a welcome idea and yes, it is a thing that ought to have been done. But that he is now doing it because elections are coming, I am not excited by that at all.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/mko-abiola-why-buharis-declaration.html

According to a shocking story which is making the rounds online, a Nigerian man identified as Emeka Okafor a.k.a Oracle, has committed suicide by drinking battery acid, after allegedly going broke.
It was gathered that the sad incident occurred, yesterday, in the Johannesburg area of in South Africa.
The deceased who is reportedly an old student of Command Day Secondary School in Lagos, left behind a daughter and fiancée.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/nigerian-man-who-lived-luxurious.html

The Nigerian Government has scrapped the award of Higher National Diploma (HND) by Polytechnics in the country.

This was decided at the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday, 7th June,2018, where the approval of a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s tertiary education system was made.

In lieu of the recent development , the award of HND will be limited to only the students currently admitted for the programmes.

In addition to that, all the programmes currently being run by polytechnics, which are not technology-based, and which are about 70 per cent, will be scrapped.

Under the new rule, the polytechnics will now become campuses of the proximate universities with the Vice Chancellors of those universities appointing provosts for the polytechnics, subject to the ratification of the Universities Councils.

The polytechnics will now be limited to award of the National Diploma (ND) while those desirous of further education will be awarded the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) by the proximate university.

To kick-start the new policy, the nation’s two most prominent polytechnics – Yaba College of Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic – will henceforth be known as City University of Technology, Yaba and City University of Technology, Kaduna.

And to give legal teeth to these approvals, the FEC approved the submission of two Executive bills to the National Assembly for enactment.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, told journalists after the weekly meeting of the council that under the reform measures, his ministry would, however, continue to license private polytechnics and colleges of education for the award of qualification at ND and National Certificate in Education (NCE) levels.

He said;
“There will be no more award of HND.

“After we have exhausted the current students under the programme, there will be no more award of HND. This means that there will be no fresh admission for HND programmes. And in addition, any programme that is not technical will be out of the polytechnics.

“About 70 per cent of polytechnic graduates are in the non-technical courses. It is going to be a rigorous implementation programme.”

A ministerial committee to ensure the smooth implementation of all that is required for the take-off of the reform initiatives is to begin work immediately.

Adamu added;“The HND certificate will remain a legal tender in Nigeria and holders of such certificate will continue to be recognised as the equivalent of first degree holders without discriminatory remunerations and limit to progression in the work place.

“The NCE certificate will be retained as the minimum teaching qualification at the basic level of education. Any higher qualifications by these private or state-owned polytechnics will be only affiliation with a university. So, HND is no longer in existence, but existing HND will be respected and considered legal tender.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/federal-government-scraps-award-of-hnd.html

A political pressure group under the aegis of Ekiti Recovery Movement(ERM), has asked Mr Ayodele Fayose to account for how he spent a whopping sum of N251.99b being the amount that accrued to the state as federal allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) under his reign.

The group, which accused the Governor of misappropriating the said sum, also asked him to explain the true wage bill of the state, which he claimed was N2.6 billion instead of N1.8 billion allegedly contained in all the documents from the office of the Accountant General of the State.

The group advised Ekiti electorate to vote massively for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Dr Kayode Fayemi in the July 14 election, regretting that the state has lost its values under the present government.

Addressing a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, its Coordinator, Mr Olalekan Soyombo, said available statistics from the Federal Ministry of Finance revealed that Ekiti had received an aggregate of N223.99 billion as allocation in the last 43 months after tax and debt deductions, querying why Fayose had found it difficult to pay salary and pensions for the past eight months.

Soyombo said it was so pathetic that the State has made an aggregate of N17.2 billion on an average of N400 million monthly under Fayose as IGR, lamenting that the governor allegedly kept the accrual secret

He said: “Putting the IGR and federal allocation together in the last 43 months, the PDP government has managed N251.19 billion, outside the Paris Club refunds, capital funds, 13 month budget support funds, excess crude oil among others that this government got under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

“verifiable facts indicated that the state wage bill is N1.8b inclusive of political appointees on consolidated salary structure . This equals N77.4b only for 43 months. When you subtract the wage bill from the allocation and add to IGR, the state is left with N173.7billion.

“If we may ask, what then is making the state government to deny civil servants and teachers their salaries and wages in spite of all these huge resources?”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/explain-how-you-spent-ekitis-n252bn.html