To get his government and policies closer to the residents, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, would turn the four Independent Campaign Group (ICG) offices to consultative offices where citizens could submit policy inputs and demands that would help in achieving the developmental agenda of his administration.

The Governor’s Senior Special Assistant, Political Matters, Mr Peter Ajayi, who inspected the various offices, stated that the essence of the visitation was to assess the campaign offices, as the Governor is keen on making his policies have people’s input.

Ajayi disclosed that each local government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) would have an office in the centre with one representative each.


https://guardian.ng/news/sanwo-olu-to-turn-campaign-offices-to-citizens-consultative-centres/amp

Five of the 21 governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming Bayelsa State governorship election have subscribed to a violence-free poll.

This was contained in a communique issued after a one-day stakeholders’ conference on peaceful and credible governorship election and good governance in Bayelsa.



It was organised by the Ijaw Elders’ Forum, Lagos, in conjunction with Ijaw Professionals Association, Embassara Foundation, Ijaw Women Connect and Ijaw Nation Forum.

The PDP aspirants included Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah (retd.), the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Anthony George-Ikoli; Godknows Igali, Erepamo Osaisai and the Secretary to the State Government, Kemela Okara.

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Diseye Nsirim-Poweigha, also committed himself to peaceful governorship electoral process in the state.

The event was a follow-up to the first edition of the stakeholders’ conference held on May 22, 2019 in Yenagoa during which the Ijaw Charter and Ijaw Nation Code of Ethics, Leadership and Governance, were formally inaugurated.

The communique, which was signed by Efiye Bribena and Denzil Kentebe on behalf of the Ijaw groups, stressed the importance of aspirants and eventual candidates of parties to ensure non-violence governorship polls in Bayelsa.

“The focus of the deliberations was on electoral violence perpetrated in various forms.

“Electoral violence was roundly decried by the stakeholders. Furthermore, deliberations centered on an exploratory basis of possible future sanctions on those who perpetrate electoral violence,” the communiqué stated.

It quoted the keynote speaker and a former Commissioner for Information in Rivers State, Dr. Austin Tam-George, as saying in his paper titled, ‘Electoral Violence and the Superstitions of Power,’ that any leader seeking to serve, should not martial weapons of violence to the citizenry.



He argued that leaders resort to violence because they held the people in contempt.

Tam-George also posited that such leaders had no confidence in the electoral process, perpetrate culture of impunity, and also lack vision and a compelling message.

Among those who were at the sessions were Deputy Governor Gboribiogha Jonah; monarch of Ekpetiama Kingdom and chairman on the occasion, King Bubraye Dakolo; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ijaw Professionals Association, Gen. Paul Toun (retd.) and Austin Tam-George.

https://www.akelicious.net/bayelsa-pdp-apc-gov-candidates-seek-peaceful-poll/

Governor Emeka ihedioha never demolished any monument, The substandard monument falled just like that, hear the truth from eye witness, not this lies some Angry town crier are dishing out

https://www.akelicious.net/video-that-shows-gov-ihedioha-never-demolished-any-monument/




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Kmxr-Xfv0

Bandits last Tuesday night reportedly launched a fresh attack on four communities in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, leaving two soldiers with varying degrees of injuries.

This is coming as the Governors of Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara States are to meet today in Katsina to strategise and strengthen efforts in tackling security issues in their various states.



The fresh onslaught on the communities, according to locals, lasted for over two hours, forcing security personnel in the state to intervene.

The hoodlums, who invaded Wagini, Shekawa, Chambala and Yar-Laraba, were also said to have injured one vigilante, two residents and set ablaze three operational vehicles belonging to the Nigeria Army in the state.

A resident of the areas, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Up till now, we can’t say how many people were killed or injured by the bandits who came in a large number on motorcycles, shooting sporadically to scare the residents as they rustled their animals.

“While engaging security personnel in shoot out, the bandits injured two soldiers, one vigilante and two residents, Nafiu Danwanzam and Hamisu Wagina. They also burnt three of the army vehicles, including some of their personal belongings they left in the vehicles.”

However, as of press time, the state police command was yet to confirm the incident as efforts made by THISDAY to reach the acting spokesman of the command, ASP Anas Abdullahi Gezawa, was futile.

Meanwhile, the Governors of Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara States would
meet today in Katsina to strategise on efforts to tackle security challenges in their states.

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, who made the disclosure in Gusau, said the five governors would review the various approaches so far taken at individual state levels with a view to fine tuning, strategising and strengthening them for enduring peace.

According to him, “This measure has already received the blessings of President Muhammadu Buhari who is pleased with the gradual attainment of peace in Zamfara State under my leadership.

“The peace and reconciliation initiative I introduced in the state has yielded good results which earned us commendation from the president because in the last one month, the state only recorded one attack where sadly one person was killed.

“This peaceful approach is expected to take centre stage at our discussion during the meeting because it is a known fact globally now that through peaceful process, a lot can be achieved.”

Matawalle, who was the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Security, explained that he had brought some of the experiences he acquired from that committee to bear on the Zamfara State situation.

“We met with Boko Haram members in Borno and peacefully agreed on the release of some innocent captives in return for the release of some of their members in custody which paved the way for the 2015 general election.

“In Zamfara State too, the peace initiative which is being headed by the state Commissioner of Police, Usman Nagogo, agreed on a ceasefire with the bandits, and they have been releasing the innocent persons in their captivity.

“Unlike the last administration in the state where N1million was given on every recovered gun, we did not give room for such or any other condition and it has successfully worked, and this is why President Buhari assured us of his support,” the governor stated.

https://www.akelicious.net/2-soldiers-others-injured-in-fresh-attack-on-katsina-communities/

A driver of the Airport Car Hire Association of Nigeria (ACHAN) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Mr. Adeniyi Olayinka, has returned the sum of $2, 400 and an international passport to the owner after it was left in his car.

The driver, who has worked at the airport for 15 years, told journalist at the ACHAN Secretariat in Lagos wednesday, that he did not think twice in returning the parcel back to the owner.



Olayinka added that he discovered the items in an envelope left behind by a passenger on the back seat of the car after he dropped the passenger at his destination in Ibese Ikorodu.

“It never crossed my mind to covert another person’s belonging because it would put another family in sorrow, and it is against the orientation given to every member of ACHAN at the airport.

“At about 1.30 a.m. last Monday, I met this passenger on arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. I negotiated with him and we agreed at N6,000 to transport him to his destination in
Ikorodu.”

“Though it could be tempting for some people to see such money and pocket it, especially when their income is very poor, but it would create sorrow in another family, and so such idea is against the orientation we are given at ACHAN by our leaders,” he said.

Explaining how he realised the item in his car, he said no sooner he arrived and parked his car at the airport, “I discovered that an envelope had been left behind on the back seat of my car. I picked the envelope and opened it.

“What I saw was his International Passport; I looked further into the envelope and I discovered there was another white envelope inside. I opened it, only to discover that something was wrapped in it. When I removed the wrapper, I discovered it contained new notes of United States $100 denomination. I counted them and the money was $2,400.”

Commenting on the ‘noble’ act, the passenger, Dele Ayeni, said that was the advantage of taking cabs from registered point at airports as there are still good people in the country.

According to him, “When I arrived in Lagos from Cairo, Egypt on July 29, 2019, at about 1:30 a.m., my intention was to call an Uber operator to take me home, but as I was coming out of the terminal, I met this polite driver who agreed to take me to my destination at Ikorodu at an agreed price of N6, 000.”

https://www.akelicious.net/airport-cab-driver-returns-2-400-to-passenger/

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that his administration will strive to complete ongoing projects that will impact positively on the lives of the people.

A statement by the President’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday, said the president gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, at the State House, Abuja.

According to the president, his administration is mindful of what infrastructural development can bring to uplift the standard of living of the people.

He also announced that his administration was taking new measures to address the security situation in the country.

While replying to comments that the Itsekiri people gave him massive support during the elections, the President remarked that he appreciated the support, saying, “I have all the figures of votes I got and I know what Itsekiri people did.”

Earlier, the traditional ruler, who spoke through Chief Brown Mene, congratulated the President on his electoral victory.

He commended him for his successes so far in the battle against insurgency and his continued determination to tackle corruption.

While also praising the President for the dredging works on the Escravos and Warri Rivers, the Olu of Warri requested for intervention on some ecological problems in his domain.

He also called for presidential intervention in the resolution of issues surrounding the Ogidigben Gas Revolution Park.

The traditional ruler, who also spoke to State House Correspondents after the closed doors meeting with the president, sought for a quick response to the security challenges facing the nation.

He said: “We advised him that the security situation in the country now is too tensed, that he should do everything to address that, especially on the Benin-Ore express road.

“The riverine areas are peaceful now and we thanked him for that.”

He called on government to create more jobs to positively engage the youth as a way of preventing them from being used to cause mayhem.

“The government should create jobs for our youths and each time I have the opportunity of meeting the President or the Vice President, I have always appealed that the two Ports in my kingdom – Warri Port and Oku Port, are both there underutilised while Lagos Port is over stretched.

“So, they should reactivate the ports and get our youths engaged because if those ports were working, there will be no criminality in the Niger Delta area,” he added.

https://www.akelicious.net/well-complete-ongoing-infrastructural-projects-buhari-assures/

The Nigerian government has approved the formation of a new corps of commissionaires, targeted at giving jobs to retired military personnel, their dependants and other Nigerians.

According to a report by PREMIUM TIMES the new outfit will be a non-profit security firm to provide employment for ex-servicemen willing to earn additional income to supplement their monthly pensions.

By the plan, government may have hijacked the idea of an existing Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires. The corps, from posts on Facebook was created in 2015 and had sought government and legislative recognition and a share of the security burden of the country.

Premium Times reported that the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force have all directed their formations across the country to begin circulating forms for interested persons to join the new outfit.

Corps of Commissionaires is modelled after the British Corps of Commissionaires and other similar establishments across the Commonwealth.

It is created to provide meaningful employment for veterans of the armed services.



The Commissionaires movement traces its roots to 1859, when Captain Sir Edward Walter KCB organized seven disabled veterans of the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny to act as nightwatchmen, a post on Wikipedia said.

The policy was apparently designed as part of Buhari administration’s efforts to contain the country’s acute unemployment, which had been worsened by massive job losses within the last four years while millions of youth also remain perpetually underemployed or unemployed.

Currently, public offices are being protected mostly by police officers, civil defence officers, and other civilian paramilitary officers. Nigerian Army and State Security Service (SSS) also send personnel to several crucial federal offices and assets to provide additional security.

https://www.akelicious.net/buhari-approves-new-corps-of-commissionaires-for-jobs/

The Senate has resumed the screening of the remaining ministerial nominees with the reappointed nominee from Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), appearing before it.

The Nigeria News Agency reports that the exercise resumed on Monday at exactly 10.40 a.m.

It would be recalled that the screening started on July 24, and so far 31 nominees had been screened and currently awaiting confirmation by the senate.

Those scheduled for the screening on Monday included Geofrey Onyema (Enugu State), Maryam Katagum (Bauchi State), Clement Agba (Edo) and Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa State).

Others are Goddy Jeddy-Agba (Cross River), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Sen. Gbemisola Saraki (Kwara), Dr Muhammadu Mahmoud (Kaduna State) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos State).

According to the announcement made by President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, on July 5, when the Senate adjourned, the remaining three will be screened on Tuesday.

He listed them as Sabo Nanunu (Kano State), Saleh Mamman (Taraba) and Lai Mohammed (Kwara).

NAN reports that the Senate Leader, Sen. Yahaya Abubakar (APC-Kebbi State) moved for the exercise to commence, as enshrined in Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

https://akelicious.net/senate-resumes-ministerial-screening-with-fashola/

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, on Saturday laid the foundation for the construction of 26 classroom blocks at Mararaba Gongon, Wanda Local Area, under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) projects.

The governor who spoke, said the SDGs projects would be extended to all the 13 local government areas in the state.

Sule said the projects would be executed in eight primary schools, five junior secondary schools and 13 senior secondary schools.

He explained that the projects also included provision of offices for the staff and head of schools, solar lighting boreholes and toilet facilities.

The governor who reiterated the commitment of his administration to qualitative education, urged all stakeholders to support government’s to succeed

Earlier, Abubakar Murtala, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on SDGs, said that due process was followed in awarding contracts for the job.

Murtala said that the SDG office in the state has put machinery in place to ensure that contractors adhere to contract specification.

He called on benefiting communities to monitor the progress of work and report any shape practice to his office or through the website of the state’s SDG office for prompt action

https://akelicious.net/gov-sule-launches-construction-of-26-classroom-blocks/

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, leader Nnamdi Kanu has released what the system of government would be in the Sovereign State of Biafra when it is finally actualized.

This was contained in a statement released on Monday signed by its Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, with the title, ‘THIS IS FOR THOSE OF US WHO DO NOT KNOW HOW BIAFRA SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WILL BE LIKE.’

The pro-Biafra group said its constitution would be written in local languages with seven nations making up the country called Biafra.

The statement added, “During the interactive session with our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on 12th January 2019, OWEI KEME BRADIKUMO asked a question:

“What is the proposed CONSTITUTION of the upcoming UNITED STATES of BIAFRA. Can we get a draft copy of it in the public domain now that will be necessary before our campaign towards the pending globally accepted BIAFRA REFERENDUM?

“Response from MAZI NNAMDI KANU: Biafra will run a unique political system designed to cater for the needs of our people.

“We are going to have NATION STATES. We will have an IGBO NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have an EFIK NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have ANNANG NATION WITHIN BIAFRA if they so choose. We will also have IJAW NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have ISOKO NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have IDOMA NATION WITHIN BIAFRA. We will have IGALA NATION WITHIN BIAFRA.

“Listen to this: THEY WILL ALL BE AUTONOMOUS. Each Nation State will control the resources in their own land. The only thing that will bind us together will be a COMMON DEFENSE POLICY, COMMON ECONOMIC POLICY, COMMON POLICY IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION. In the rest, let people develop according to the pace that they wish or they decided amongst themselves to go by.

“LAWS WILL BE DONE IN LOCAL LANGUAGES. Igbo Parliament will make their own laws in the Igbo language. Ijaw Parliament will make their own laws in Ijaw language. The same thing applies to Ibibio and others. So that when people are lying to us we will know because you know lying is good in the English Language. But you can’t deceive the people when you are actually speaking in the language that they understand.

“What we are going to have in Biafra will be A BRAND NEW NATION WITH NEW IDEAS AND NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS. Our political arrangements will be geared towards addressing our core needs.

“Igbo Land will have a Prime Minister. The same thing will happen to Ijaw, to Isoko, to Urhobo, to Itshekiri. Everybody will be Autonomous from one another to develop at the pace that they like. That is the type of Biafra we are seeking to have. And that is the type of Biafra we are going to have.”

https://akelicious.net/why-i-will-not-support-or-contest-any-political-post-in-nigeria-nnamdi-kanu/

Security agencies in Abia, including the Nigerian Army, Police and the Department of State Service (DSS), have pledged their continued commitment toward ensuring the safety of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state.

A statement issued on Friday in Umuahia by the Public Relations Officer of Abia NYSC, Mr Omaka Nnachi, stated that the heads of the agencies made the pledge when the State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Bona Fasakin, paid courtesy visits on them during the week.

According to the statement, Brig.-Gen. Solomon Kumapayi, the Commander, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, affirmed the brigade’s commitment toward the security of corps members.

Kumapayi described NYSC as a part and parcel of the Army.

The statement quoted him as saying that the army had increased its surveillance around corps members’ locations because of the increasing security challenges in the country .

He reportedly condoled with the NYSC over the death of the corps member serving with Channels Television, who died while serving his country.

Also, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ene Okon, described the relationship between the police and NYSC as symbiotic.

“The safety of every corps member is the prerogative of the police. We have a standing order to make sure the corps members are secure in their different locations,” Okon said.

The state Director, DSS in the state, Mr Ameen Ibrahim, also assured the state NYSC of the continued support and collaborations of the agency.

He promised that his office would continue to partner with the coordinator to ensure the safety of corps members.

He cited many instances, when the agency had helped to rescue kidnapped corps members and others from armed bandits.

The coordinator thanked them for their support and timely responses to security issues involving corps members in the past.

She also commended them for always deploying their men in time for orientation programmes, noting that they always performed creditably.

She requested for improved surveillance on all corps members’ lodges and locations in the state.

https://akelicious.net/insecurity-army-police-dss-assure-nysc-of-corps-members-safety-in-abia/

The Jasper Ndubuaku-led Imo State Committee on the Recovery of Moveable Assets belonging to the State Government, have made a breakthrough on their job.

Acting on a tip off, the team discovered a massive warehouse Friday afternoon.

The facility, located along Aba Road, is alleged to be belonging to Nkechi, wife of former Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Okorocha is now the senator representing Imo West Senatorial district.

Akelicious gathered that it took spirited intervention to stop the youths from setting the entire warehouse ablaze.

The discovery of the warehouse follows the sealing off of an estate also allegedly owned by Nkechi.

The property is located in the Akachi area of Owerri, the state capital.

The blocks of flat and bungalow were allegedly built with state funds and proceeds of corruption.

Akelicious recalls that EFCC, had on Wednesday confirmed the seizure of assets and properties link to Okorocha, his wife, daughter as well as associates including son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, who served as his Chief of Staff.

A statement by its spokesman, Tony Orilade said “the marking of the properties which is a fall-out of our painstaking investigation, is as a result of the failure of the suspects to honour the Commission’s invitation for questioning on the propriety of their acquisition”.

More photos at https://akelicious.net/photos-imo-govt-uncovers-warehouse-okorochas-family-allegedly-kept-looted-prop/

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc on Friday released its unaudited result for the six months ended June 30 and announced an interim dividend of N2.95 per share to its shareholders.

The company’s unaudited result released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the N2.95 interim dividend would be for eligible shareholders on Aug.16.

The dividend is payable to shareholders whose names appear on the company’s register at the close of business on Aug. 8, while the register closes from Aug. 9 to Aug.13.

The company, during the period under review, posted a revenue of N566.95 billion against N505.67 billion achieved in the comparative period of 2018, an increase of 12.12 per cent.

Its operating profit rose by 39.49 per cent to N190.40 billion in contrast to N130. 50 billion recorded in 2018.

Profit before tax stood at N149. 79 billion compared with N108.35 billion in 2018, representing a growth of 38.25 per cent.



Also, the profit after tax appreciated by 34.80 per cent to N98.93 billion against N73.39 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2018.

MTN Nigeria Communications on May 16 achieved a milestone with the listing of 20.35 billion shares at N90 per share at the nation’s bourse.

https://akelicious.net/mtn-nigeria-posts-566-95bn-revenue-in-six-months/

“I will miss Funke so much, no one on earth can fill the space she has left in my life, that of the children and family.

“She is an easy-going person, good and dutiful, always committed to achieve whatever she wants to achieve, leaving no stone unturned.”

With this dirge amidst sobbing uncontrollably, Mr. Idowu Olakunri yesterday broke his long silence and mourned his wife, Olufunke, who was killed on July 12, 2019 along Benin/Ore/Lagos Expressway by unknown gunmen.

In the past six days since the killing happened, never had condolence visits been darker and gloomier than the look on the deceased husband’s face, whose marrows were writhing in pains over the loss of a beloved one.


Deeply in grief, his head was downcast, sometimes too weak to acknowledge the presence of sympathisers and crème-de-la-crème of society that came to commiserate with the bereaved family.

Though he was not allowed to talk with journalists, as friends and well-wishers fenced him off any interaction at the moment of grief, his facial expressions, mood and intermittent sighs portrayed emotional gashes that would take time to heal.

With hushed and inaudible tones, Stone, as Idowu is fondly called by his friends and peers, could not stop the torrents of tears that trickled down his cheeks, melting the man in him as he cried, supporting his head repeatedly with his hands, buried in grief.

According to people who know the couple very well, Idowu would sorely miss Olufunke, as they both made a good team in managing the political life and activities of the Afenifere patriarch and nonagenarian.

It was gathered that the monthly Afenifere meetings in Pa Fasoranti’s house, being sort of the national secretariat, over the years, had been a huge success due to the efforts of the deceased and her husband, who has become inseparable from the Fasoranti fold.

Idowu, an indigene of Owo town in Ondo State and younger brother of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) secretary, Pastor Simeon Olusola Olakunri, would no doubt get too much work in the saddle for himself, as his wife embarked on a journey of no return.

Like other sympathisers who had come and gone earlier, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, noted: “This is a massive tragedy, as you can imagine. We have seen it replicated here and there, which is kidnapping, death and killings.”

On his part, National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, and the Zonal Working Committee of the party, said in a statement issued to journalists in Akure, the state capital:
“We note that President Buhari has once again issued another in the series of condolence messages, commiserating with Pa Reuben Fasoranti, father of Olufunke. In the message, he whimsically rationalised this murder as an armed robbery attack.

“We, however, differ and now tell him it was a Fulani herdsmen action, as people in that area of incidence clearly said the location remains the criminals’ major theatre of operation.

“We want to remind the President that he was elected to be our Commander-in-Chief and not mourner-in-chief. It is his responsibility to make our nation safe from all strive and lawlessness, not to excuse and rationalise them.”

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Otunba Gani Adams, during a condolence visit to Pa Fasoranti on Thursday evening, declared that the recurring insecurity in the Southwest was being perpetrated to prod the people to rebel against the federal government.

He added: “We have to be careful not to go into their own trap. We don’t want a situation where we walk into their trap, because we realised that this ugly incident is being coordinated beyond our own scene. There are some forces behind them.

“How can ordinary herdsmen be holding AK 47? In our finding, AK 47 rifle goes for about N1 million and with many bullets. So, we are looking beyond ordinary herdsmen.

“We realised that there are some forces behind them in three phases. Those who strike in the bush, those who issue statement to back them up and those who are strategists and give instructions to those who strike and those who issue statements.”

He lamented that Yoruba people are not prepared and proactive to resist any aggression against their land, but rather preferred to react, despite the warnings and premonitions some of them had in the past.

“When we tell our people to prepare, they are non-challant to it. I have seen this signal, I have the information.”

He, however, disclosed that the region has been discussing with various security agencies in the country to find lasting solutions to the menace of insecurity, adding that Yoruba people are ready to support government at all levels.

“We are having different meetings with different organisations and we are planning to have a synergy with our state governments in the Southwest.

“But I can tell you authoritatively that we are meeting as a group, as stakeholders, to map out strategies that can complement efforts of the law enforcement agencies.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/i-will-miss-funke-so-much-says-husband.html

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, following the confirmation of the killing of five Nigerian soldiers in an ambush along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway.

Also at the meeting is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The Nigerian Army in a statement confirmed that a colonel, a captain and three soldiers were killed in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists on Wednesday.

The army said troops of 212 Battalion deployed at the base killed an unconfirmed number of terrorists who came in seven gun trucks, forcing them to retreat along the Benisheikh-Damaturu axis.

The army explained that it was the ambush laid by fleeing terrorists for troops on transit from Maiduguri to Damaturu, that led to the death of the five soldiers.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/buhari-cds-meet-over-boko-haram-killing.html

Ebonyi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has conducted psychological examinations for the officers of the command numbering over 700.

The exercise, according to the Commandant of the NSCDC in the state, Steve Amoga, was basically to ascertain the mental and physical fitness of the officers in the state aimed at ensuring effective service delivery.

Amoga, who stated that the exercise was being conducted in all the states of the federation, said that it was part of the measures adopted by the NSCDC leadership to ensure that its officers were always fit to carry out their duties effectively.

Amoga said: “What you are seeing today is the gathering of all the officers’ rank and file in Ebonyi State command to do a forensic test. It is a scientific method of analysing the total capacity of the officers geared towards the delivery of service to the state.

“It is aimed at knowing the trainability, and the training executed already being enjoyed by the officers, and the capacity and mental intelligence quotient of the officers. In fact, the totality of the being of the officer is going to be assessed today,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Head of Forensic unit of the command, Mr Eze Nelson, said that any officer found deficient in any area of the test would not be allowed to bear arms.

Nelson said: “The exam is simply to ascertain the mental readiness of the members of staff. As security officers, it is expected that we will be at alert at all times. So, this exam will help us to ascertain that.

“And if at any point, one is found deficient in any area, the organisation will do something about it. If your result shows that you are not fit to handle arms, we won’t give you arms. That’s the essence of this exercise”, he added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/over-700-nscdc-officers-undergo-mental.html

The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR has uncovered 45 illegal petrol stations in Adamawa State used for smuggling of petrol products to neighboring countries.

The DPR Controller in charge of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim A. Ciroma, made the disclosure yesterday in Yola, the state capital, during a tour to checkmate the activities of petroleum marketers in the state.


He said the reason for the tour was to curtail the large influx of petroleum products demanded by major marketers who are aiding the illegal stations to smuggle petrol products to neighboring countries like Cameroon Niger, and Chad.

According to him, despite the three months warning given to the owners of the illegal stations to dismantle them, it fell on deaf ears as they refused to comply.

He said as a result of the development, he has written the names of the illegal stations and their addresses to the security agencies for prompt actions, but still awaiting for them to carry out the action.

Ciroma said such illegal activities could aid the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists and other criminals at the borders of Cameroon where insurgency is more prevalent.

He lamented that marketers demand the products more than the capacity of their fuel stations to sell to the illegal stations at an exorbitant price of N350 to N400 per litre with the intention to smuggle the products to neighboring countries for more gains.

“The federal government spent huge amount to refine the products, l don’t see the reason for some unpatriotic Nigerians to smuggle the products to others countries for more gains thereby aiding all forms of criminalities in border areas,” he said.

Ciroma said the DPR was collaborating with other security agencies to curtail the activities of smugglers who illegally smuggled the products outside the countries.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/dpr-uncovers-45-petrol-stations-used.html

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has declared July 30th every year, starting from 2019, as a public holiday for the planting of one million trees in a ceremony known as the Green Carnival.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita on Wednesday in Calabar, quoted the governor as explaining that setting aside a day for tree planting “underscores our readiness for the REDD+ and commitment to forest conservation and management.”

REDD+ is Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

It is also an essential part of the global efforts to mitigate climate change, while FAO is supporting developing countries in their REDD+ processes and in turning their political commitments, as represented in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDD), into action on the ground.

The governor, who disclosed that one million trees would be planted during this year’s Green Carnival, said the exercise was also aimed at addressing the challenge of urban deforestation.

He said the event which is to take place simultaneously across the 18 local government areas of the state “is one of the measures to tackle global warming, deforestation and climate change”.

He expressed the optimism that the state’s forest cover, which represents 58 per cent of Nigeria’s forest cover, would, through the Green Carnival, grow to 68 per cent.

The governor said that the event would also drive home the state’s commitment towards the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the 275km Superhighway project in the state.

Ayade expressed optimism that the state’s forest cover, which represents 58 per cent of Nigeria’s forest cover, will through the Green Carnival, grow to 68 per cent.


He pledged that the Urban Green Canopy Calabar initiative would sustain Calabar as the greenest city in Nigeria and Cross River as the greenest state.

“Consequently, all schools, homes, ministries, government agencies and departments, banks, hospitals and all business premises must plant new trees.

“Subsequently it will be an offence not to plant a tree on that day,” he added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/gov-ayade-declares-green-holiday-for.html

Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has emerged brand Ambassador for a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Citizen Journalists Network (CJN).

The President of CJN, Mr Michael Edem-Duke, who made the disclosure on Tuesday in Lagos, said his unveiling held on July 7, in Enugu.

Edem-Duke said that the NGO was a humanitarian community of regular citizens given to the investigation of sustainable solutions to social-welfare challenges for people.

He said this was by giving ordinary citizens a platform to tell their own stories and advocate for their own kind of solutions.

“Yul Edochie has officially signed on the project as our ambassador after a two-day meeting which ended on July 7, in Enugu.

“This move will make Yul work with me on the project for the next one year.

“In the coming weeks, CJN will be unveiling other ambassadors also given to the vision,” he said in a statement.

Edem-Duke said that the NGO had introduced another humanitarian initiative called “Brother’s Keeper”.

“Brother’s Keeper is the first-ever national humanitarian competition where participants embark on a task to impact lives and develop their local communities for the chance to win a personal grand prize of N5 million.

“The winners will also be rewarded with resources to establish a major community project to meet the needs of their localities.

“They will be scored by their ability to initiate campaigns that improve the lives of people which does not have to be a big or genius idea but as long as it can impact lives.

“This is the first-ever competition where participants are rewarded for their contributions in giving back to the society and judged squarely by their passion for humanity,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/actor-yul-edochie-becomes-brand.html

The State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chinkwe Udensi’s faction, said it has suspended Dr. Alex Otti.

The committee said Otti, the 2019 governorship candidate of the party was suspended indefinitely, pending hearing and determination of his case by a disciplinary committee to be set up by the party in the state.

This was contained in a statement issued by the SWC of the party and signed by 22 out of 28 members, after a meeting, in Umuahia, Abia State.

The committee advised members of the public to note and desist from having any dealings with Dr. Otti in any capacity as an APGA member, and or as representing APGA in any capacity in the state or elsewhere.

The grounds of his suspension were stated as follows: that he established, operated, retained, trained and equipped his political group called Abia First for purposes of using same to display physical force, harass party members and create division.

Another allegation levelled against Otti is that he was promoting his selfish and personal political objectives against the interest and objectives of the party.

Reacting, Publicity Secretary of APGA, Nkem Okoro’s faction of APGA, Chief Ebere Uzoukwa, who spoke to Daily Sun on phone, said the people who laid the claim lacked the authority to suspend Otti. He said the only authentic APGA in Abia is led by Chief Nkem Okoro, and that other groups laying claim to the leadership of the party in the state were agents of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“Okoro is the state chairman of the party, who emerged through genuine congress, we don’t know these people. How can a person say he is a member of a party and wants to frustrate the efforts of his governorship candidate, who is at the tribunal seeking for justice. We are not bothered about their antics, Ottii is focused and cannot be distracted, we know who their pay masters are and we are not moved,” Uzoukwa stated.


The SWC also accused Otti of indulging in illegal and unconstitutional activities, which have serially undetermined the principle of party supremacy, and have divided members in the state.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/apga-suspends-alex-otti.html

Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned hearing on the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Isa Ashiru, challenging the election of Governor Nasir El Rufai.

In a short ruling, Justice Ibrahim Bako adjourned hearing on the petition to Thursday.

Earlier, counsel to the first respondent, Mr. Aliyu Umar, told the tribunal that his witnesses were not in court.

Mr.Umar who is the lead counsel to Governor El Rufai, told the tribunal that the respondent had listed ten witnesses, including nine INEC officials and a handwriting expert.

However, he apologised for the inability of the witnesses to appear before the tribunal, “due to circumstances beyond the control of both counsel and witnesses.

“They are absent because INEC is in a process of reviewing the 2019 elections. But I have been able to talk to the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Kaduna State and I have been assured that my witnesses will be in Kaduna on Wednesday,” Mr. Umar pleaded with the tribunal.

Counsel to both the second and third respondents did not object to the application. Although Mr. E. Y Kurah, lead counsel to the petitioner did not object to the application, he, however, asked the court to adjourn hearing to 12 noon on the said date.

In a short ruling, Justice Bako adjourned hearing to 10 am on Thursday, warning that the days allotted to the first petitioner to open his case had started counting.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/el-rufai-vs-ashiru-kaduna-election.html

Everyday, there are more than one million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections among people aged 15-49 years, according to data released by the World Health Organisation.

This amounts to more than 376 million new cases annually of four infections–chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis and syphilis.

“We’re seeing a concerning lack of progress in stopping the spread of sexually transmitted infections worldwide,” said WHO’s Executive Director for Universal Health Coverage and the Life-Course, Dr. Peter Salama.

He added: “This is a wake-up call for concerted effort to ensure everyone, everywhere can access the services they need to prevent and treat these debilitating diseases.

Published online by WHO Bulletin, the research showed that, among men and women aged 15–49 years, there were 127 million new cases of chlamydia in 2016, 87 million of gonorrhoea, 6.3 million of syphilis and 156 million of trichomoniasis.

“These STIs have a profound impact on the health of adults and children worldwide.

“If untreated, they can lead to serious and chronic health effects that include neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, and increased risk of HIV. They are also associated with significant levels of stigma and domestic violence,” the bulletin explained.

Syphilis alone caused an estimated 200,000 stillbirths and newborn deaths in 2016, making it one of the leading causes of baby loss globally.

STIs remain persistent and endemic health threat worldwide. Since the last published data for 2012, there has been no substantive decline in either the rates of new or existing infections.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/over-1million-get-sexually-transmitted.html

Immediate past Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani and the Publicity Secretary of Coalition for United Political Parties (CUPP), Alhaji Salisu Shuaibu Dawaki, have said it is possible that a politician from Kaduna State is the sponsor of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2023 presidential campaign posters.

They, however, said the campaign might be for positive reasons.

It was reported on a national daily newspaper that a Kaduna politician was allegedly behind the “faceless groups” responsible for pushing the Asiwaju 2023 presidential agenda, to sow a seed of discord between the President and Senator Tinubu, which could ruin his chances of running for Presidency.

Kaduna APC has distanced itself from sponsoring any campaign to create disunity between President Buhari and Tinubu.

The State’s APC Assistant Publicity Secretary, Salisu Tanko Wusono, said he knew nothing about the campaign.

Wusono said: “I am not aware. Maybe the newspaper, which published the story is in the best position to know who is who…’’

Senator Sani said: “ Yes, it is possible, and it may be positive.”

Similarly, Dawaki said the chances of the campaign coming from Kaduna State, was high, as Governor Nasir el-Rufai has many enemies, who are ready to frustrate him.

“I don’t think they did this to cause problem between Buhari and Tinubu. They did it because they want to get something from Tinubu and to provoke el-Rufai because of his presidential ambition for 2023.

“El-Rufai has been provoking Kaduna citizens and people are now ready to provoke him too. Everybody knows that el-Rufai is not in good terms with Tinubu for now. So, people will do whatever they can to frustrate him, make him irrelevant in Nigerian politics, because he did the same thing to them,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/tinubu-2023-items-its-possible-sponsor.html

Aggrieved members of the Edo State House of Assembly have narrated how the state government under Governor Godwin Obaseki forcefully abducted some of them and compelled them to participate in what they call “an illegal inauguration of the state Assembly”.

Recall that the governor, Godwin Obaseki allegedly inaugurated the state House of Assembly on June 17 without duly communicating the entire members as demanded by the constitution.

Narrating his ordeal before the Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas-led House of Representatives ad-hoc committee set up to investigate the issue on Wednesday, one of the abducted members, Hon. Eric Okaka said himself and three others were taken against their will to take part in the swearing in of 17 June involving 9 members by the assembly clerk on the instructions of the governor.

He said: “I was part of the 19 who briefed the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benin chapter on the 17th and then my Leader, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Aliyu, called me to his hotel and I told my colleagues that my Leader called and I had to go.

“On getting there, my Leader told me that he was asked why he didn’t bring his member to join the group of five for the inauguration and he told them that the man is matured to make his decision, and they said, no, he must be loyal to you. Otherwise, you will lose your leadership position.

“Then I said I couldn’t do that because I have integrity and can’t join the other five. Then my leader asked that we go to the Deputy Governor’s house and I drove him in my car. And on getting there, I was told to issue a retraction denouncing the other group which I declined,” he said.

Okaka added that he saw the Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shuaibu who invited them to his dining room and had their phones taken away from them.

He said, shortly after, to his surprise, they started bringing in members of the G-19, adding that he was taken to another room where he saw the house clerk seated in a manner that suggested he was under duress.

“Then others came in and the Deputy Governor asked that bags of money be brought in and he said in the bag was N5m each and if they did what he wanted them to do, they would go home with the money, asking if anyone had any objections, and I raised my hand to say that inasmuch as I don’t know what they wanted me to do, I wouldn’t take any money to do something against my wish. I reminded him that I’m a pastor and can’t get involved in shady deals.

“The Deputy Governor asked that I forget about being a pastor and play ball. Then we were taken to the house of Assembly and forcefully sworn in by the clerk”, he said.

Asked if something must have happened to make the governor do what he did, the leader of the group, Hon. Washington Osa Osifo said the 24 of them are APC members just like the governor and his deputy and that there was a cordial relationship between the assembly and the executive.

But Hon. Christopher Okaibe from Oredo Constituency reacted saying that the issue was about the leadership of the house. He said the 6th assembly was an embarrassment to the state as it became an appendage of the executive to the extent that the Governor compelled members to vote against their own autonomy.

“Since then, we swore to come back and redeem the image of the legislative arm and after winning elections, we resolved to liberate the assembly from the stranglehold of the governor which was why they moved against us”, he said.

He disclosed that the governor is already mobilizing people to commence protests against any intervention by the House of Reps, adding that going to Benin tomorrow (today) may not be conducive for the Reps members.

The panel chairman, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa), had earlier in his welcome address informed the members that due to lack of time, his team would be visiting Benin, the Edo state capital to interface with the governor as well as pay homage to the Oba of Benin.

“As a matter of fact, we are going to invite the other party who are members of the House, and we will tomorrow head to Benin to meet with the governor, as you all know,…the Constitution requires the executive governor to issues a proclamation notifying members-elect of the date and time for the inauguration of the assembly after which we will also visit the Oba of Benin as we can’t just visit his kingdom without paying him the respect of going to say hello to him rather than he saw us on TV,” Namdas said.

The panel members, however, thanked the aggrieved Edo Lawmakers for the information, insisting that they are duty-bound to carry out their constitutional responsibility as directed by the House.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/how-gov-obaseki-abducted-forced-us-to.html

Six men have landed themselves into trouble after they were convicted of performing money ritual popularly known as “mubobobo” in Zimbabwe, with 63 pairs of women’s panties in a graveyard.

The ring leader of the group Handerson Chiwondo fled from the court leaving his disciples to bear the brunt of the judgment after Chief Makope’s traditional court in Nzvimbo village, Chiweshe, Zimbabwe, gave its ruling.

The culprits pleaded guilty to the charges and exposed 70-year-old Handerson Chiwondo as their leader who then fled before the judgment.

The syndicate was only caught after traditional leaders summoned Bulawayo prophet Rutendo Mapurisa, also known as Madzibaba Sejiby from Umguza district to expose the criminals.

Chief Makope confirmed the incident and said six of the culprits pleaded guilty to the charge but one of the accused distanced himself from the allegations and called for a different set of prophets to prove his innocence.

“After the prophet from Bulawayo (Madzibaba Sejiby) identifying the culprits five of them said they were initiated into the “mubobobo” syndicate by the villager who fled after they were given small sticks which they used when going to bed.

“Five of the culprits wept in court, pleading guilty to witchcraft so I fined them 16 cattle and four goats since they were initiated unknowingly,” Chief Makope said.

Chief Makope is appealing for prophets who are not from his jurisdiction to come and prove the innocence of the villager who pleaded not guilty.

The traditional leader said if the villager is found guilty, he will be judged harshly for wasting the court’s time.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/money-ritual-63-female-panties.html

African leaders last weekend named Ghana as the host of the future headquarters of the continental free trade zone which is expected to unite 1.3 billion people, and create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc that would usher in a new era of development.

The launch, which came after four years of talks, saw the 55-nation trade bloc signing to collapse their existing tariff and customs barriers for a united economic trade bloc that would enable it engage the rest of the world in international trade.

It is hoped that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – the largest since the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1994 – will help unlock Africa’s long-stymied economic potential by boosting intra-regional trade, strengthening supply chains and spreading expertise.

“The eyes of the world are turned towards Africa,” Egyptian President and African Union Chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said at the summit’s opening ceremony. He further added that “the success of the AfCFTA will be the real test to achieve the economic growth that will turn our people’s dream of welfare and quality of life into a reality,”

With Intra – regional trade at just 17 per cent of exports in 2017 as against 59per cent in Asia and 69 per cent in Europe, observers believe that Africa has much catching up to do having missed out on the economic booms that other trade blocs have experienced in recent decades.

Economists say significant challenges remain, including poor road and rail links, large areas of unrest, excessive border bureaucracy and petty corruption that have held back growth and integration.

Members have committed to eliminate tariffs on most goods, which will increase trade in the region by 15-25 per cent in the medium term, but this would more than double if these other issues were dealt with, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates.

The IMF in a May report described the free-trade zone as a potential “economic game changer” of the kind that has boosted growth in Europe and North America, but it added a note of caution. It argued that “reducing tariffs alone is not sufficient,”.


Africa already has an alphabet soup of competing and overlapping trade zones – ECOWAS in the west, EAC in the east, SADC in the south and COMESA in the east and south. But only the EAC, driven mainly by Kenya, has made significant progress towards a common market in goods and services. These regional economic communities (REC) will continue to trade among themselves as they do now. The role of AfCFTA is to liberalise trade among those member states that are not currently in the same REC, said Trudi Hartzenberg, director at Tralac, a South Africa-based trade law organisation.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/ghana-named-afcfta-headquarters-as-au.html

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) will soon storm the National Assembly to press for more funding for the Nigeria Police Force, an official of the student’s body says.

Comrade Chidi Ilodebe, NANS Vice-President (National Affairs), disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in reaction to recent police efforts.

He said NANS action would further be in appreciation of police intervention in the country’s security situation and their demonstration of professionalism in tackling conflicts in the country.

“With the last Senate (the Eighth Assembly) passing the Nigeria Police Reform Bill and with the commitment and patriotism demonstrated so far by the Police management team led by Inspector-General Abubakar Adamu, Nigerians are confident that there is a ray of hope.

“They believe that with more funding, motivation and training of our policemen and women in line with best global practices, we will be proud to have a Police Force we will be proud of and call our own,” Ilodebe said.

He added that NANS was of the view that any lover of the Nigerian project must join Nigerian students’ call for better Nigerian police, that is well funded and motivated.


“As much as the government is initiating policies to attract foreign investment to Nigeria, we must also secure our country first.”

The NANS official then appealed to the National Assembly leadership to support the initiative as “all hands must be on deck towards a better reformed, trained and motivated Nigeria Police Force”.

He also called on all state, zonal and national executive members to start mobilising other members for this Nigeria Police Support Rally at the National Assembly.

“Doing so will help Nigerians to see Nigerian students demonstrating patriotism as usual because policemen and women are our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and in-laws.

“So, it is something NANS is doing for our selves and a better Nigeria,” Ilodebe said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/police-funding-nans-to-storm-national.html

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Adedamola Kuti, on Sunday said that materials being imported for replacement of expansion joints on the Alaka Bridge in the state had arrived Nigeria.

Kuti told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the materials were currently being cleared at the port for the contractor to immediately mobilise to site to begin second phase replacement of damaged expansion joints.

“Important materials for the repairs of the expansion joints has arrived and we are at the point of clearing them at the Wharf.

“We would look at the very critical expansion joints and change them. The contractor has replaced two of the joints just recently,” he said.

The controller said that materials needed for replacement of expansion joints were not available locally hence the delay in fixing the bad portions and appealed for understanding by motorists.

On the damaged expansion joints causing discomfort on the popular Long Bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, he said that the joints had been repaired before.

Kuti however said that the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing was carrying out a “review” of the work done on the bridge to tackle new faults.

He added that he had given a directive to Julius Berger to speed up action on reducing discomfort to motorists on the highway.

He however said that progress was being made on construction works by Julius Berger in the ongoing reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project.

“Rain is slowing us down but work is going on and we are making progress. As at the last report, section one which spans from Lagos to Sagamu Interchange is about 42 per cent completed,” he said.

Speaking on the trailer park in Apapa, Kuti explained that trailers were already using the park while the contractor was completing some facilities there.

“We have finished one borehole and we are doing some electrical works also,” he said.

He said that the entire trailer park project has achieved 98 per cent completion while the shoreline protection of the park was 70 per cent completed.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/fg-to-resume-expansion-joints.html

When on April 18, this year, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Minimum Wage Act, it was believed that every issues pertaining to new wage has been resolved.

Workers in public and private sectors of the economy heaved a sigh of relief in the hope that better days have arrived with expected increase in their take home pay, which would equally translate to better standard of living.

The then Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige jumped up for joy as he praised the administration of President Buhari as the best thing to have happened to the Nigerian workers.

He gave assurance that at any point in time the government is ready to pay the new minimum wage, the workers would get the arrears from the day the bill was signed into law.

He had led the government delegation to the negotiation table of the tripartite team of Organised Labour and the Organised Private Sector, which eventually arrived at N30,000 as minimum wage for the lowest paid worker in the country.

But three months after the law was birthed, workers are beginning to be weary of the commitments of the government to implementing the new wage.


The reasons for the delay in the implementation of the new minimum wage by the government, which was not communicated to the workers and union leaders, is already threatening the smooth relationship between the government and the labour movement.

It was after President Buhari signed the minimum wage bill into law that a technical committee was raised to workout the modalities for payment.

Facts on ground showed that the percentage of increase from the N18,000 old minimum wage to the new wage of N30,000 was 66.66 per cent.

Workers are expecting that salaries for officers on Grade Levels 01-17 should be adjusted accordingly to maintain the relativity that exists in the salary structure in the public service.

But from the government point of view, such increment would be unwise as it would jack up the total wage bill to an amount, which the 2019 Budget was not envisaged.

Reasoning along the government stand, labour had to review its demand by accepting a downward review and eventually settled for 30 per cent for officers on Grade Levels 07-14 and 25 per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17.

Sunday Sun reliably gathered: “This ratio was still reduced to 9.5 per cent salary raise for employees on Grade Levels 07-14 and five per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17, but the technical committee returned to the argument that the 2019 budget can not sustain it.”

The implication of the government position now on the minimum wage is that workers would be paid peanuts at the end of the day.

This was why the organised labour has alerted Nigerians of new plan to embark on industrial action if the current state of affairs on the issue of consequential adjustment arising from the new national minimum wage of N30,000 per month remains the same.

“As things are right now, the government side is only prepared to pay peanuts to workers as adjustment under the pretext that it will soon be undertaking general salary review in the Public Service,” the Secretary General of the Senior Staff Association of Civil Servants, FCT Chapter, Comrade Femi Olorunfemi, said.


He claimed it was obvious that the government is playing on the intelligence of the Nigerian workers by foot-dragging on the commencement of the payment of the new wage.

“Our people are fed up, we are running out of patience, this is not what we expected from this government, having employed all manners of delay at the negotiation table, now they have embarked on the same tactics.

“Government is dancing on our head, and very soon they would hear from us, you can’t fool us twice. The template they are talking about is not an issue because it has been there even before the advent of this administration.

“So, they should stop deceiving us because this salary structure thing is not caste in stone, the template can be worked out within one week after the president has signed the law, but look at what we have now, almost three months after, it shows the level of seriousness and commitments on the part of government,” he said.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba had foretold the readiness of the organised labour to return to the trenches for government to implement the new minimum wage.

He warned during the last congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) that whoever does not want to pay the new minimum wage should be ready for war, particularly the state governors.

His warning drew applause from the workers, signalling that the peaceful industrial relations may be heading for the rocks.

“We are going to fight them tooth and nail. It is already a law and they have sworn to uphold the sanctity of our laws. We have enough in this country, especially when there is prudence,” Comrade Wabba said.

On the delay in the commencement of payment, he said during a telephone interview that Labour is waiting for what the technical committee would bring to the table.

“We are waiting for them, we are ready and our people’s patience is running out, but we are waiting, we expect to hear from them in few days and we shall respond appropriately,” he said.

President Buhari had used the occasion of the TUC congress to reassure the workers of the readiness of government to pay the new minimum wage.

In his goodwill message read on his behalf by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Buhari insisted that the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage was ongoing and tasked the state governors and the private sector to pay their workers a decent living wage.

Sources at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment disclosed that the technical committee headed by the SGF would soon come out with its final recommendations.

“We are hopeful and with assurance and understanding that all issues concerning the new minimum wage will be settled for once and payment will start,” the source said.

Only time will tell when the rigmarole over the minimum wage would be resolved.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/new-minimum-wage-implementation-delay.html

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar on Friday tendered a total of 26, 175 additional documents to challenge the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the February 23, 2019, elections.

The documents which were admitted in evidence as exhibits include results sheets of the election obtained from wards, polling units and local government areas in the affected states.

The states are Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Borno, Jigawa, Gombe and Bauchi.

The electoral materials were tendered through his lead counsel, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

On Thursday, Atiku opened his case by tendering a total of 5, 196 documents to establish fraud and malpractices in the February 23 election that returned Muhammadu Buhari as president.

The breakdown of the documents tendered on Friday indicated that, 3,378 of such document came from Katsina, 2,106 from Kebbi, 3,472 from Borno, 3,162 from Jigawa, 1,912 from Gombe, 3,539 from Bauchi, 3,335, from Kaduna while 5,271 came from Kano.

Atiku’s lawyer, while tendering the documents, told the tribunal that the remaining ones from Kano State would be brought on Monday, the adjourned date.

Counsel to INEC, Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN); that of Buhari, Mike Igbokwe (SAN), and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Charles Edosomwan (SAN), all objected to the admissibility of the documents.

They, however, reserved reasons for their objections in line with the agreement contained in the pre-hearing report.

The proceedings were witnessed by the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP in the election, Mr. Peter Obi, who represented the petitioners, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu stood in for Buhari while Dare Oketade was there for APC.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has adjourned further hearing in the petition till Monday, July 8, 2019.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/atiku-tenders-additional-26-175.html

The immediate past governor of Adamawa State, Muhammed, Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, has congratulated his former counterpart, the Osun State governor, Oyetola Adegboyega, over his victory at the Supreme Court, saying that the victory was a testament to the party’s popularity and of the people’s endorsement of APC Leadership in the country.

Bindow made this known in a press statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Martin’s Dickson, and made available to newsmen on Friday.

The statement said: “Muhammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow congratulates the Governor of Osun State, Adeboyega Oyetola, on his victory at the Supreme Court.

“The victory is well deserved and a strong statement of how popular the APC is and how acceptable it’s agenda of transforming Nigeria has been well accepted by the people.

“It is also a relief for the governor who can now concentrate on governance as he implements the party’s manifesto in the state.”

Jibrilla added: “Governor Adegboyega will now concentrate on his primary functions as governor devoid of the distractions associated with court cases.

“I applaud the majority decision of the apex court delivered by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour.”

The former governor also congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC ) family and President Muhammadu Buhari over the victory saying: “The judgement is an indication that the APC was genuinely voted for across Nigeria looking at the number of victories the party has recorded in court recently.”

The governor also called on all APC loyalists in the country to remain resolute and committed to the party and expect victory in all pending cases of the party in courts across the country.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/ex-gov-bindow-congratulates-oyetola-on.html