The Enugu State Police Command has described what it called, the rumours of herdsmen invasion of Umuchigbo Abakpa Nike community by herdsmen as false, baseless and unfounded.
In a press statement today, Thursday, by the command’s spokesman, Ebere Amarizu, said that the rumours were engineered by those wishing to cause disaffection in the state.
“The attention of the Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to the rumours making the round that some violent herdsmen have invaded Umuchigbo Abakpa Nike.
“The rumour has it that the community and others closed to it have been deserted, but the command wishes to make it clear that this is not only false but baseless and unfounded,” the statement said.
It advised members of the public, particularly residents and people of the state, to go about their normal pursuits without fear even as the police command warned rumour peddlers to desist forthwith.
The statement stressed that the command, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, have fortified security along Umuchigbo axis to prevent any breach of the peace. [myad]
The Nigeria Federal Government has declared Monday, May 2nd as public holiday to mark the 2016 Workers’ Day Celebration.
The Minister of Interior, Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), who made the declaration today, Thursday, on behalf of the government, congratulated Nigerian workers for “their resilience, hard work and commitment to the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari, despite current challenges.”
A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Akpanyung, quoted the minister as asking the workers to continue to support the President in his desire to fight corruption, ensure security of lives and property and stabilize the economy through creation of jobs and diversification of the economy.
Dambazau further called on Nigerian workers to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the nation and remain productive for the growth and development of the country. He added by wishing all Nigerian workers a joyful and peaceful celebration. [myad]
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]
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]
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]
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 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.
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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The Enugu State Police Command has described what it called, the rumours of herdsmen invasion of Umuchigbo Abakpa Nike community by herdsmen as false, baseless and unfounded.
