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The Nigerian Governors’ Forum on Wednesday resolved to re-strategize and dialogue with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issues associated with the proposed N30, 000 minimum wage

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Zamfara, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari, told newsmen at the end of an emergency meeting of the governors on Wednesday in Abuja that payment of N30, 000 wage was impracticable.

Yari, however, said the proposed wage would be paid if labour would agree to downsizing of the workforce across the country “or Federal Government itself accedes to the review of the national revenue allocation formula”.

The forum constituted a committee to meet the president to work out a formula to quickly resolve the issues.

He listed members of the committee to interface with the Presidency as governors of Lagos, Kebbi, Plateau, Bauchi, Akwa |bom, Ebonyi, Enugu and Kaduna.

Yari said: “Situation where our report was not taken or considered by the tripartite committee in the presentation to the president, then, I don’t know how the committee wants us to work.

“We still said that we want to pay but the issue is the ability to pay. If we say no, just pay, I don’t know how this formula will work and I don’t know how we can get solution to the issue.

“Today it is N18, 000. In 2015 when the president assumed office, 27 states were not able to pay, not that they chose not to pay.

“Now you say N30, 000, how many of us can pay? We will be bankrupt.

“So as Nigerians, we should look at the issues seriously.

“Like Lagos that is paying about N7 billion as salaries now, if you say it should start paying N30, 000 the cost of salary will be N13 billion.

“From our calculation, it is only Lagos state that will be able to pay 30,000.

“As Nigerians, this is our country, there is no other country we have and we should be fair to this country.”

He added that it was the same labour leadership pushing for N30, 000 that would turn around to say that governors did not build any infrastructure “and how are we going to achieve that by paying only salaries.”

On resolution, Yari said that the governors would continue to talk with labour leaders to let them see reasons the governors have difficulties in paying the proposed wage.

“Apart from Lagos, even Rivers cannot pay. So, we have been crying out about this since 2011 but no one will listen.

“One critical example is that some states ration their salaries while some others put everything they earn on the table and ask labour to come and see and ask them to suggest how much should go for capital and personnel cost.

“Some say 70 per cent for personnel cost and 30 per cent for capital projects and yet the states cannot pay and they put the remaining as outstanding,” he said.
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/new-minimum-wage-governors-disagree-on.html

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Paris, France, called for stringent actions against perpetrators of illicit financial flows.

He warned that continuous impunity will encourage more pilfering of countries’ resources to the detriment of poor and vulnerable populace.

Speaking at the first edition of the Paris Peace Forum, held on the sidelines of the Centenary of Armistice Day, President Buhari said Nigeria had strengthened its laws and institutions to fight corruption, fast-track recovery of stolen assets and punish offenders, urging more commitment from governments and international institutions.

The President delivered his statement on “Illicit Financial Flows (Iffs) and Corruption: The Challenge of Global Governance’’ during the event, attended by about 70 world leaders and governments.

“We must crack down on safe havens for corrupt assets. I also advocate sanctions by professional bodies against transactional middlemen (lawyers, bankers, brokers, public officials, etc.) who facilitate Illicit Financial Flows.

“I would like to reiterate that the Government of Nigeria remains open and is ever willing to continue to identify and share experiences and strategies to give life to the ideas that will lead to winning the fight against corruption,’’ the President said.

He noted that illicit financial flows pose a risk to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as many countries grapple with the challenge of gathering resources to improve their Human Development Index, while a few privileged individuals continue to explore the weaknesses in financial systems.

“Our experience in Nigeria is that financial crimes, such as corruption and fraudulent activities, generate enormous unlawful profits which often prove so lucrative that the threat of a jail term is not sufficient to deter perpetrators.

“A more powerful deterrent is to ensure that profits and assets generated from illicit financial flows and corruption are recovered and returned to countries of origin.

“This is not to under-estimate the value of strong institutions. It only indicates that asset recovery represents significant deterrence compared to the traditional focus on obtaining conviction by the law enforcement agencies of the countries of origin,’’ Buhari said.

The president explained that tremendous progress had been achieved through the enactment of global instruments, noting that some fundamental technical issues remain unresolved.

“These revolve around the formulation of policy and regulatory frameworks that cut across different jurisdictions. We must not lose sight of the role played by secret companies, banks and law firms, all too often based in developed economies and their related offshore centres.

“Recent studies reveal that flaws in the global financial system enable corrupt individuals to hide details of their financial dealings under the noses of governments and law enforcement agencies. This underscores the need to urgently address the issue of Mutual Legal Assistance, as well as continental legal frameworks, in the context of safe havens for illicit transfers,’’ he said.

He disclosed that the Whistle-Blowing policy had facilitated recovery of billions of naira from corrupt persons, which had been redirected to the development of critical infrastructure and programmes that will benefit all Nigerians and realisation of the SDGs.
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/corruption-what-buhari-said-in-france.html

Former Nigeria’s Head of State, President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, has described Kaduna state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Ashiru as a grounded politician and leader.

The elder statesman praised the political maturity of Alhaji Ashiru when the governorship candidate and his running mate, Barr. Sunday Marshall Katung paid him a visit in his Minna, Niger state, hilltop residence.

He said, Ashiru was a grounded politician and leader, who had the requisite experience and capacity to take Kaduna State to the next level.

IBB, who said he wished the governorship candidate success at the 2019 general elections, assured him of his blessings.

The elder statesman said, “You are a bright leader and from my observation, your team is also bright. Every leader needs a strong, bright team in order to succeed. And I assure you of my blessings.”

Earlier, the governorship candidate, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Ashiru, told the former President that they were at his residence to seek his fatherly advice and prayers as he goes into the electioneering campaigns.

He told the former President of his desire to ensure unity, security and peaceful coexistence in Kaduna State.

He pledged his desire to treat citizens of Kaduna State with dignity and respect without prejudice to tribe and religion if elected as governor of the state come 2019.
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/ibb-to-ashiru-you-have-my-blessings-in.html

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it was not aware that its online database was penetrated by hackers.
INEC’s Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, stated this on Thursday, while appearing as guest on Channels TV’s flagship programme, Politics Today, which was monitored by DAILY POST in Abuja.
Reacting, Osaze-Uzzi said INEC would have noticed any penetration of its database, if its online security had been compromised.

He added that though the electoral umpire does not conduct much of its activities online, it still maintained a robust security system.

His words: “I am not aware that our database was hacked by anyone. Certainly, not recently.

“I don’t know where that one (allegation) is coming from. We are the custodians of the database. If it were compromised, we would have known it was hacked.

“But that is not to say there hasn’t been any attempt to penetrate our security. But, I can assure that our security is robust. We take it seriously.

“Don’t forget, there are not too many things we do online yet. We probably would (only) transmit results in real-time.”
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/inec-finally-speaks-on-hacking-of-its.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, should be probed and made to face the full wrath of the law over allegations of him receiving bribes during the party’s recent primaries.

Secretary, Edo State chapter of the PDP, Hon. Felix Imoisili, stated this on Wednesday in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST.

Oshiomhole was reportedly grilled by the Department of State Services, DSS, operatives for nine hours after some APC governors alleged that he received bribes during the party’s primary elections across the country.

Reacting, Imoisili said Oshiomhole no longer had the immunity he enjoyed as governor, hence, was not above the law.

His words: “If somebody has committed an infraction of the law, he should be made to face the wrath of law, because the law is not a respecter of persons.

“If in the course of the APC primaries he (Oshiomhole) did certain things that at variance with what the law says; that is, the extant laws, he should be made the full wrath of the law.

“There is nobody above the law. The rule of law must be obeyed. We are not looking at his office. The position he currently occupies does not give him immunity. Nobody is bigger than the Nigerian legal system.”. https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/pdp-reacts-to-alleged-detention-of.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

He gave his approval while receiving the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

With the approval, a bill is expected to be sent to the National Assembly to effect the change from N18,000 to N30,000.

Recall that the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, United Labour Congress, ULC, https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/president-muhammadu-buhari-has-approved.html

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) have suspended the planned nationwide strike.

The industrial action was scheduled to commence 12am on Tuesday.

The suspension was announced Monday night in Abuja after a closed door meeting of the Tripartite Committee on new minimum wage.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, explained that the decision was reached after agreements and documents were signed.

“Having reached this position and agreements signed, the proposed strike action is hereby suspended,” he said.

Wabba, however, refused to disclose the exact figure agreed by the committee.

He noted that the amount would only be made public after presentation of the report to President Muhammadu Buhari later in day at 4:15pm.

DAILY POST gathered that the federal government eventually agreed to labour’s demand of N30,000 after union leaders made it clear that anything below that would lead to national shutdown.

Chairman of the Tripartite Committee, Ama Pepple, expressed her excitement that their assignment had been concluded.

“I am happy to report to you that we have concluded our assignment and we will submit our report to the President by 4.15pm on Tuesday.

“We will reveal the figure at the presentation,” she assured.

Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, also said a mutual agreement on the new minimum wage would be made public after a meeting with the president.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, hailed the resolution of the matter by all parties involved.

He added that overriding interest of Nigerians prevailed at the meeting.
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/new-minimum-wage-nlc-tuc-others-suspend.html

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The United States Institute of Peace, USIP, has predicted that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari may win the 2019 presidential election.

USIP said this in a report it published on the forthcoming general election in Nigeria.

The report also claimed that having peaceful election in Nigeria will depend on the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The report said though Nigerians feel their expectations were not met by the current administration, it would not cost Buhari his victory.

The USIP report contradicted the two predictions by The Economist magazine, which stated that Buhari would be defeated in the February poll.

Part of the report read, “Many Nigerians feel their hopes have not been met. Some respondents suggest the electorate is sufficiently disappointed that voter apathy will be greater in 2019 than it was in 2015, with the unifying narrative of change that helped elect the APC in 2015 much less compelling as a factor in mobilising the electorate, and perceptions that another defeat of the presidential incumbent is less likely to happen in 2019.

“Of all the state’s institutions, most respondents felt that peaceful elections in 2019 are contingent on the performance of Nigeria’s INEC,” the report stated.

“Given the relative success of the 2015 elections, they (Nigerians) felt that INEC ought to be able to deliver credible elections again in 2019.

“They feared, however, that any regression from the level of performance achieved in 2015 could lead to violence because some would view the failings not as a result of incompetence but as deliberate attempts to frustrate the will of the voters.

“INEC should at least match the standards it set in 2015, and any regression could set the stage for violence.”
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/atiku-vs-buhari-us-institute-reveals.html

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has stated that it will be illegal for states to determine what they can pay as minimum wage.

According to him, the minimum wage was deliberately placed in the exclusive legislative list, to ensure uniformity in application.

Falana stated this at a tweet conference/roundtable to mark the International Day to end Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) 2018.

“I have heard arguments that every state should be allowed to determine what they can pay. But all the governors earn the same salary apart from allowances and security vote.

“All legislators earn the same no matter where they come from. Every Senator earns about N15million per month. So on the ground of equality, that argument cannot be sustained.

“Secondly, labour and industrial matters are in the exclusive legislative list, deliberately so. Otherwise, you’ll have starvation wages and state government that will not pay salaries at all,” he said.

Falana also stated that it was only when it involved addressing the terrible living conditions of the poor, that the government talks about inflation.

“You must also understand that this is a class matter. The members of the ruling class, regardless of political parties, are one and the same when it comes to addressing the problems of the poor.

“So the legislators who earn N15million believe that if you increase minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000, there will be inflation. So, the government can pay if it wants to pay,” Falana said.
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/new-minimum-wage-falana-reveals-why-its.html

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President Muhammadu Buhari, Friday, in Abuja received the attestation and confirmation of his 1961 West African School Certificate (WASC) Examination result from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The documents were presented to the President at State House during a courtesy visit by a delegation of WAEC led by its Registrar, Dr Iyi Uwadiae, accompanied by Olutise Adenipekun, Head, National Office, WAEC, Abiodun Aduloju, Head Public Affairs, WAEC and Olufemi Oke, Zonal Coordinator, WAEC Abuja.

The President thanked the examination board, established in 1952, and which conducts the WASC examination for University and JAMB entry examination in West African countries, for upholding its integrity over the years, adding that he did not expect anything less from the institution.

He said it would have been impossible for him to have attended the Defence Services Staff College, India (1973) and thereafter, United States Army War College, as a Nigerian military officer, if he didn’t sit for the WASC examinations in 1961.

Buhari recounted that during his secondary school days, it was very difficult to commit examination fraud, even though it was not impossible.

”My colleagues and I who spent close to nine years in boarding school both in primary and secondary, including Gen. Musa Yar’Adua, when we intended to join the military we had to take a military examination.

”We were examined in three subjects, English, Mathematics and General Knowledge because English is the language for general instruction throughout the country because of our colonial heritage.

”Mathematics in the military was necessary, coupled with Geography. We were trained how to be dropped off in the bush, given only a pair of compass and since we were not astronomers, you have to learn to find your way, calculate, using the Pythagoras Theorem and others to work out your position,” he said.

In his remarks, the Registrar said it was possible for candidates to lose their examination certificates through fire and any other unfortunate incident.

”We don’t issue certificates twice but we can issue attestations or duplicate copy of the certificate.

”We also have what we refer to as confirmation; usually, universities were using this in those days when Information Technology was not in vogue.

”Whoever sat for WASC exams in whatever year, we have the records in our database, and Mr President, we have the records of the examinations you sat in 1961.

”We have the attestation of results which we issue to candidates who lost their certificates and confirmation of results,’’ Dr Uwadiae said.
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/what-buhari-said-while-receiving-his.html

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Lalasticlala mynd44

The United States has reacted to the clashes between Nigerian security agencies and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shittes.

The US Government expressed concern over the rate of killings caused by the crisis.

It further called on President Muhammadu Buhari government to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take appropriate action.

The US said this in a statement issued by the Information Office, Public Affairs Section, Embassy of the United States of America, and made available to reporters in Abuja on Thursday.

This call followed recent repeated clashes between the Shiites and security forces, especially the Nigerian Army, over the demand for the release of its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

“The United States Embassy is concerned by the deaths resulting from clashes between Nigerian security forces and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in areas surrounding Abuja.

“We urge Government of Nigeria authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the events and to take appropriate action to hold accountable those responsible for violations of Nigerian law. We urge restraint on all sides,” the United States said.
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/11/us-breaks-silence-on-army-shiites.html

Former Juventus midfielder, Andrea Pirlo, has named Liverpool and Manchester City, among five clubs that can win the Champions League this season.

The Italian legend also tipped Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern Munich to challenge for the title.

Asked to name the favourites to win the competition this season, Pirlo told Sky Italia: “There are four or five teams, including Juve.

“Then there are Liverpool, Barcelona, Manchester City and Bayern Munich. The teams are more or less those.

“While the championship is a thing in itself, Juventus has shown and is proving to be a step or two steps above the others.”. https://softworkconcept..com/2018/10/pirlo-names-five-clubs-that-can-win.html

Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has dismissed the threat posed by Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

After meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, Tinubu was asked if he is jittery about the strategy meeting convened by Atiku in Dubai, to unseat Buhari.

“We don’t fear. Whether it is in the jungle, or it is in Dubai or it is in Abu Dhabi, people are free to meet and strategise in anyway they want but we are not going back to the illusion of the PDP.

“It is not possible, Nigerians will not do that. They say slow and steady wins the race. We inherited that from our forefathers and knowledgeable people. We can’t go back to the pit that we inherited for 16 years. They can strategise from anywhere but a leopard cannot change it skin,” he told State House correspondents.

He said the meeting with Buhari was about “the nation, the country, our people, peace, stability and economic progress”.

Asked if he was in support of the call for Adams Oshiomhole’s removal as APC national chairman, Tinubu said: “No. We all have to respect party supremacy. You were all here when we had the congress, we elected the new executives, the convention we had it, the NEC was formed and we surrendered to avoid conflict, to avoid domination, to avoid abuses of power, we surrendered our rights, all rights to the national working committee headed by Adams Oshiomhole.

“That the national working committee should set up electoral bodies to supervise various state congresses and elections. We signed for it. So, if it is not in our individual favour, so be it. We gave three options: consensus, where there is no consensus because if you are more than two or three and you cannot agree to one candidate, you go to the next level.

“The next level is the stakeholders’ delegate election and you have to be supervised by the national working committee of the party, national election committee of the party. That shows party supremacy.

“We had the freest option, the less cumbersome is to open direct primary, line up and count the number, 1,2,3. If you win, you win and if you fail, go home. Then appeal committee was set up to listen to all appeals, internal mechanism for conflict resolution. It was there, you cannot turn round against that, you cannot turn against all of that.

“No. Party is supreme, party must be respected, abuses will not do it and anger will not do it. It is party politics, somebody will win and somebody will lose… too bad.”
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/10/what-tinubu-said-about-atiku-oshiomhole.html

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday met with six state governors over the minimum wage demanded by the organised labour in the country.

The meeting held behind closed-doors on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

One of the governors, speaking with Channels after the meeting, said it ended inconclusively.

He said the governors were willing to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage demanded by workers but that they lacked the capacity to do so.

The governor disclosed that an emergency meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum would be convened on Tuesday.

According to him, the meeting on Tuesday will focus on finalising agreements on an exact minimum wage the states are willing to pay their workers.

The meeting which ended in deadlock was also attended by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.

State governors present at the meeting were Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aragbesola; and Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong. https://softworkconcept..com/2018/10/new-minimum-wage-outcome-of-osinbajo.html

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The Bishop of Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, yesterday said the inability of the government to arrest killer herdsmen in some part of the Middle Belt zone was because the killers were agents of the government.

Speaking in Ota, Ogun State, at the Church’s Sunday Service titled ‘Covenant Day of Settlement and Thanksgiving’, the clergyman stated that it was absurd for the government to fail in arresting some self-confessed killer herders in Jos, Plateau State.

Oyedepo said: “Help me ask them how many mosques have been destroyed by these people? You can also ask them how many of those who have destroyed the church has ever been caught? How many of the destroyed churches has government ever added a dime to rebuild?

“I have said it, let us remove the mask from the masquerade and nobody will fear it anymore. Government is part of this thing; you don’t need to go to school to know that.

“If people claimed responsibilities to the killings in Jos and were not arrested, the question is who is to arrest them? Is it the citizens or government? It’s the government, but they cannot arrest them because they are their agents.”

While stating that every leader is a caretaker and God remains the creator and owner of every nation, including Nigeria, he added that Nigeria would have peace when they understand that God is in control of everything, including the land.

“When a caretaker starts behaving like a landlord he will be removed. God is the permanent landlord of the earth.

“Too many arrogant foes who pose to own this nation, be warned because the day of God’s judgement is here.

“Those who sponsor and perpetrate killings and also offer covering for killers to keep killing, God will lead them to rest. God will give us peace in this country by all means.

“God enthrones kings and removes kings,” he said.
https://softworkconcept..com/2018/10/bishop-oyedepo-reveals-sponsors-of.html