Ex Education Minister, Iyabo, Kidnap In Ogun

April 27, 2016

Former Nigeria Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, has been kidnapped by gunmen along Igbogila area of Yewaland, Ogun State.

Information reaching us indicated that the former minister, who was also ex Senator, was kidnapped at about 8.30p.m on Wednesday as she was returning from her farm at Shawonjo area via Igbogila area.

The younger brother to Anisolowo, Kola Popoola, who disclosed this on telephone, said that the senator went to her farm which was a daily routine before one of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel attached to her returned home to inform members of her family that the senator had been taken away by yet-to-be identified persons.

He said that vigilante groups are presently combing the nooks and crannies of Yewaland and its environs to rescue the senator.

Information also had it that the driver and the security personnel were dropped off while the senator was taken to an undisclosed destination.

The Ogun state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the kidnap, saying: “Yes, we have the report that the senator was kidnapped this evening by some armed men. The Commissioner for Police, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali has dispatched teams to the area for the rescue operation.

“We want to assure the public particularly her relations and those concerned that we will rescue her unhurt soon and the perpetrators will be apprehended.” [myad]

Labour Unions Want Nigerian Government To Pay Workers Minimum Wage Of N56,000

Greenbarge Reporters

April 27, 2016

The two central labour unions in Nigeria: the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have jointly proposed and presented N56,000 as the new minimum wage to the Federal Government as against the present N18,000.

Ayuba Wabba, who disclosed this to news men today, Wednesday in Abuja, said that both the NLC and the TUC made the formal demand on the proposed national minimum wage to the Federal Government on Tuesday.

“I can say now authoritatively that as of yesterday( Tuesday) we made a formal proposal to the Federal Government of N56,000 to be the new minimum wage.

“The demand has been submitted officially to government and we hope that the tripartite system to look at the review will actually be put set up to look at it.

“Our argument is that, yes, it is true that the economy is not doing well, but the law stated that wages for workers must be review after every five years.

“So, the issue must be looked into by the Federal Government and workers should not be seen as sleeping on their rights, ”he said.

Wabba recalled that the last review of the national minimum wage was done in 2011 and that the setting up of a tripartite committee to review the newly proposed national minimum wage was long overdue.

He said that it is imperative that government should set up the tripartite committee for the review of the new minimum wage.

Wabba said this was the only way the representatives of unions and government would fashion out the negotiation process at a round table.

According to him, the logic behind the new minimum wage is to ensure that no worker earns below what can sustain him or her for a period of 30 days.

“You also know that when we negotiated the N18, 000 minimum wage, the value in terms of exchange rate at that time was almost at N110 to the dollar.

“But as at today, the value of the naira to the dollar has been reduced; and there are the issues of inflation and purchasing power, among others to contend with.

“So, it also about the law of the review of the wage, the law envisaged that within a circle of five years, there must be a review, ”Wabba said.

Wabba called on the Government to ensure that the issue of the national minimum wage was urgently taken on board as way of fighting corruption in the country.

He said that if employers failed to cater for their workers’ welfare adequately, it would be difficult for such an employer to fight corruption.

The NLC president said that workers needed to be empowered financially to have the purchasing power to buy what they would need to survive.

“If manufacturers are producing and nobody is buying, the economy will be at a standstill because people lack the purchasing power to buy.

“So, these are some of the issues we will be pushing forward at the negotiation table and there must be a tripartite committee to look at the challenges.” [myad]

200 Soldiers Complain About None Payment Of Allowances

Greenbarge Reporters

April 27, 2016

No fewer than two hundred soldiers from 158 Task Force Battalion situated in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno, who fought in the African Union Peace-keeping operation in Guinea Bissau in 2015 are complaining bitterly about none payment of their six months’ allowances.

The soldiers told news en today in Yola, The Adamawa state capital that the failure by military the authority to pay the allowances is already generating tension in the affected battalion.

One of the soldiers lamented that ‎the officers and men who have been fighting Boko Haram have been starved of their allowances despite their sacrifices, adding that the development is also affecting the fighting spirit of the affected soldiers. [myad]

Buhari Asks Army To Deal With Herdsmen Who Attacked Communities, Says They Are Terrorists

Greenbarge Reporters

April 27, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, and Inspector General of Police (IG) Solonmon Arase to deal with herdsmen who have been attacking communities in many parts of the country even as he described them as terrorists.

The president spoke today, Wednesday, as Special Guest of Honour at the public presentation of a book: “Who will love my country: Ideas for building the Nigeria of our dream’’ authored by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu

‎”I have directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to secure all communities under attacks by herdsmen, and to go after all the groups terrorising innocent people all over the country. This government will not allow these attacks to continue.”

The President, who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, particularly condemned the attack on Ukpabu Nimbo community in Enugu state, and sympathized with victims and their loved ones. [myad]

Nigerian Professor Breaks ‘187 Year Record’ At King’s College, UK

Greenbarge Reporters

April 27, 2016

Nigerian academic, Professor Abiodun Alao, will today deliver an inaugural lecture at King’s College, University of London.

This would make him the first ever black African scholar to deliver such lecture since the institution was established in 1829.

Abiodun Alao who is the Professor of African Studies was conferred with a professorial title about two years ago alongside his Nigerian counterpart in the institution’s African Leadership Centre – Professor Funmi Olonisakin.

This was another milestone that made them both the first black Africans to attain the professorial cadre in King’s College since its establishment.

Abiodun Alao’s lecture titled: “Africa: A Voice to be Heard, Not a Problem to be Solved” was expected to be delivered at the Edward Safra Lecture Theatre at the college’s main campus and will be attended by people from different parts of the world including Nigeria, Australia, Kenya, USA and South Africa.

Nigerian academic, Professor Abiodun Alao, will today deliver an inaugural lecture at King’s College, University of London.

This would make him the first ever black African scholar to deliver such lecture since the institution was established in 1829.

This was another milestone that made them both the first black Africans to attain the professorial cadre in King’s College since its establishment.

In an institution that produced 12 Nobel Laureates among its professors, the statement said Alao had distinguished himself, citing about 100 widely recognized 100 academic articles and encyclopedia entries he had published, all of which were assessed to accord him professorial title.

As an academic tradition globally, the statement said the Nigerian academic would today deliver his inaugural lecture, titled, “Africa: A Voice to be Heard, Not a Problem to be Solved” at the Edward Safra Lecture Theatre at the college’s main campus.

The statement said the inaugural lecture, holding at the institution’s Edward Lecture Theatre on the Strand, “will be attended by many people from different parts of the world, including from the United States, Australia, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.”

Aside his academic contributions, Alao joined the long list of globally renowned academics the institution had produced and whose research works had produced answers to different challenges of humanity and society since its establishment. [myad]

PDP Chief Spokesman, Metuh Slumps, Rushed To Hospital

Greenbarge Reporters

April 26, 2016

National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh was said to have fallen from a swivel chair today and was rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja after he was virtually assisted from to stand up.

Metuh was said to have arrived at the National Working Committee meeting at the party secretariat to witness the inauguration of the caretaker committees of the party in Borno and Kebbi states.

The spokesman was said to have fallen to the floor just as he made to take his seat and the swivel chair gave way.

It was gathered that Metuh remained on the floor for about three minutes before he was assisted by two policemen out of the hall. He was said to have been moved to National Hospital where he was placed on observation.

The development caused panic amongst the members of the party present.

Metuh has been under trial in court for alleged corruption and was once led to the court in handcuffs. [myad]

Saraki’s Supporters Stage Counter Protest At National Assembly

Greenbarge Reporters

April 26, 2016

Just as hundreds of youths under the canopy of #OccupyNASS stormed the National Assembly earlier today, Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki among others, supporters of Saraki staged a counter protest in the same National Assembly premises.

The saraki’s supporters, under the banner of #SaveOurNASS, stormed the protesting area with banners of Saraki and of the Speaker of the House of National Assembly Yakubu Dogara. Some other demonstrators carried placards with inscriptions: ‘Presidency, Stop the Harassment,’ ‘Say No! To Executive Impunity,’ ‘Presidency Stop Harassing Saraki,’ and ‘Saraki Must Stay.’

The two opposing groups met one another outside the National Assembly main gate, where the #OccupyNASS protesters had already staged a sit-in.

Their arrival, which upset some protesters part of the #OccupyNASS, resulted in a scuffle and led to #OccupyNASS members tearing the Saraki and Dogara banners into shreds.

It took the intervention of the police to separate the two groups from inflicting injuries on themselves even as #OccupyNASS maintained that they would not allow the sponsored group to tarnish their public image.
#OccupyNigeria continued their sit-in after subduing pro-Saraki protesters and vowed to continue the protests until Saraki resigns from the Senate. [myad]

We Must Be Ambitious In Industrialization Efforts, Osinbajo Tells Industrialists

Greenbarge Reporters

April 26, 2016

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has given a wake-up call to the Nigerian industrialists, saying: “we must be extremely ambitious in our industrialization efforts.”

Professor Osinbajo who spoke today, Tuesday, at the foundation laying ceremony of Kam Steel Integrated Complex at Jimba Oja, Kwara state, regretted that despite that Nigeria is ranked the 12th largest iron ore resource country in the world and the second largest in Africa, about 70 percent of the deposits are yet to be proven.

He said that the federal government is well aware of this issue and is currently looking at options to solve the challenge, including synergizing government capacity and private sector competencies for certifying existing deposits.”

He said that steel is the world most important engineering material; even as he made it clear that the Buhari presidency is determined to bring about a faster industrialization process in the country through the active development of the steel sector.

According to the Vice President, Nigeria has about 2 billion metric tonnes of iron ore reserve which he said Nigeria needs for increased levels of investment in Nigeria.

Professor Osinbajo emphasized that steel plays an important part in the Buhari administration’s economic agenda, and therefore called on other operators in the steel industry in the country to ensure Nigeria “becomes a net exporter of steel within the shortest possible time”.
The Vice President who was accompanied by the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Solid Minerals Development Minister, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, among others, spoke to a gathering of captains of industries, financial experts, political leaders and stakeholders at the foundation laying ceremony, disclosing that as part of demonstrating its commitment to the industrial development of the country, President Buhari had directed that everything be done so that Nigeria can make progress in respect of ease of doing business ranking this year.
He said that the federal Government has been putting in place the right macro-economic policies and is working to ensure an enabling environment for business to grow in line with the Change Agenda of the Buhari administration.
“This is why the President has given clear instructions that we must make significant progress in the ease of doing business ranking this year. Diligent efforts are being undertaken to ensure this goal is achieved, including the setting up of an inter-ministerial committee, which has since commenced work with a very keen presidential oversight.”
Vice President Osinbajo commended Kam Steel Integrated Company Ltd for its achievements, saying that the commitment of the company is in tandem with the vision of the government to diversify the nation’s economy by encouraging the growth of local industries.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi who also spoke at the occasion, said that the achievement of the company could galvanize the development of the sector as a whole, saying that the company had the single-largest private investment in the nation’s steel industry. [myad]

FCT Minister To Students: You Disappoint Me

Greenbarge Reporters

April 26, 2016

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has expressed disappointment over the performance of students in public examinations.

The minister is particularly shocked by the poor performance of the FCT students in such examinations as the National Examination Council (NECO) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
Muhammad Bello spoke today, Tuesday, when he received a delegation of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), led by its Director General, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
The minister recalled:“a few weeks ago, we sat down and looked at our overall education system here and the statistics we saw in terms of performance of the students at the primary and secondary school level was really very disappointing in terms of successes in the two major examinations of WAEC and NECO.”
He said that for the reason of uplifting the standard of education in the capital city, his ministry would partner with the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) to develop the capacity of teachers in Primary and Secondary schools.

The Minister said that the partnership would also improve the capacity of teachers in public schools to effectively deliver quality-teaching services in line with their professional callings.
He said that the history of the NTI is a very positive one, saying that it is one of the government institutions in this country that is a success story.
Muhammad Bello advised the management team of the Institute to continue to build on the legacy of its founding fathers, which has made the Institute a success story.
Speaking earlier, the Director-General of NTI, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu commended the FCT administration for making available to them facilities in its public schools to be used as training centres for the prospecting teachers in the zone.
He asked for more cooperation between the administration and the Institute in order to enable the organization to perform the functions for which the Federal Government established it. [myad]

We’ve Located Chibok Girls In Sambisa Forest And Going For Them -Nigeria Army

Greenbarge Reporters

April 26, 2016

The Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Leo Irabor has said that the abducted Chibok girls are being held in Sambisa forest and that his men and officers are heading there to free them. He said also that some of the girls are being held in a location close to the Chad-Niger border.

“We think, from the intelligence available to us, that the remaining areas that we are working to move into, that are where we are hoping to be able to rescue the Chibok girls.”

The Commander maintained that while his forces advance in the Sambisa Forest, they are also running down other leads on the whereabouts of the Chibok girls.

“It’s a belief, but beyond that, we’re also getting some intelligence that they may be somewhere on the Niger-Lake Chad border areas,” he said.

Irabor who spoke in a CNN report on the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations by the Nigerian military said that the intelligence surrounding the current location of the Chibok girls points to the Sambisa corridor, adding that there is need for more international support.

“The question of the Chibok girls remains a sore point in our history. The biometrics as it were of the Chibok girls are not known to us. Those are the issues which I believe are among the challenges.

The Commander assured that the military is working assiduously to ensure the rescue and safe return of the girls back to their families, saying: “we are working assiduously so that all of them are rescued and brought back to live in their communities.

“I think that the light is beginning to shine and in a short while we’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Irabor said. [myad]

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