We Are Proposing Law To Punish Election Offer That Declares False Result – Oshiomhole

January 26, 2020

The National Chairman of the All Progress Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has said that the party is proposing a law that will seek to punish any electoral officer,no matter how highly placed, that declares false result of an election in the country.

The APC chairman, who spoke in Auchi, Edo state during a unification rally to receive decampees from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasized that the APC will push for the insertion in the electoral law that any Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official who deliberately declared a loser as the winner of an election should be charged to Court.
Oshiomhole spoke against the backdrop of the circumstances surrounding the declaration of Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP as Governor of Imo State, which the Supreme Court subsequently upturned, returning Hope Uzodinma of the APC as the rightful winner.
Oshiomhole blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recruiting the person he referred to as “a Professor of Crook’ to manipulate the election in favour of Ihedioha.
“Everybody knows that you need one quarter of the votes in at least two third local governments in a state to be declared a winner or governor, but INEC recruit a professor of crook who declared Emeka Ihedeoha of the PDP who scored one third in 12 local governments out of 27, so if the professor go free with his loot another person will try it again.
“That was the mischief that the Supreme Court corrected that they are hiring people to come and make noise. We don’t steal votes, we win votes. So I congratulate the Supreme Court for upholding the constitution of the country.”

Group Wants Court To Compel Buhari, Osinbajo, State Governors To Publish Their Assets

Editorial staff

January 26, 2020

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked an Abuja Federal High Court to order President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and all state governors to publish their assets.

In a lawsuit filed before the court, the group insisted that this categories of leaders ought to “make public details of their assets, specifically property and income, contained in their asset declaration forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) since assuming office.”
In the suit, number FHC/ABJ/CS/65/2020 filed on Friday, January 24, SERAP is seeking: “an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus to direct and/or compel President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, 36 state governors and their deputies to make public their summary of assets; disclose whether they have had any reason to review and update their asset declarations submitted to the CCB, and if the declarations have been made as constitutionally and statutorily required.”
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, in a statement, said that the group is also seeking an order “to compel President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, 36 state governors and their deputies to disclose whether they have received any confirmation of the verification of their asset declarations by the CCB and to disclose whether they have taken any steps to encourage members of their cabinet to also submit their asset declarations to the CCB, and to make such declarations public.”
The suit followed SERAP’s Freedom of Information (FoI) requests dated 3 January 2020, expressing concern that: “The non-public disclosure by public officials of their summary of assets undermines the effectiveness and integrity of the constitutional and statutory obligations to submit asset declarations, especially given that declarations are designed to curb grand corruption, and weakens the public trust in the asset declaration regimes.”
According to SERAP, only two states—Lagos state and Niger state—have responded to its FoI requests. But both states declined the requests to make public the assets of their governors and deputies, on the ground that “the FoI Act is inapplicable to state governments, their agencies and officials, and that only houses of assembly of states are constitutionally empowered to make laws on public records of states.”
Also, while reacting to SERAP FoI request to President Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, had said: “SERAP asking the president to declare publicly, on the basis of what law? The president will do what the law requires of him and what the law requires is that he should declare his asset which he has done. Declaring publicly is not in our laws; it can only be a voluntary thing.”
SERAP is also seeking: “a declaration that the failure of President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, 36 state governors and their deputies to provide SERAP with the requested information on their assets constitutes a breach of SERAP’s right under the FoI Act, 2011, and such further order(s) the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its counsel, Kolawole Oluwadare, read in part: “The advantages that the general public would gain from being informed about the summary of assets declarations submitted to the CCB outweigh any perceived privacy or inconvenience if the court orders the details to be made public as sought by SERAP.”
“By a combined reading of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the FoI Act, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, 36 state governors and their deputies ought to be directed and compelled to make public their asset declarations as submitted to the CCB.”
“The reliefs sought are constitutionally and statutorily grounded and based on Nigeria’s international transparency obligations. The reliefs sought do not clash with the rights to privacy and data protection. Both rights are not absolute and can be restricted provided there is a basis in law and a legitimate public interest justifies the restriction. Prevention of grand corruption and exposing unexplained wealth of officials are serious and legitimate public interests.”
“SERAP and indeed the general public have a legitimate interest in ascertaining and scrutinizing the veracity, exactitude and honesty of the information contained in asset declarations submitted by public officials to the CCB. Without public disclosure of summary of assets, this would have no practical importance.”
“Public disclosure of summary of assets submitted to the CCB would help uncover any irregularities and trigger formal verification of declarations by the CCB and other anti-corruption agencies, be entirely consistent with the government’s expressed commitment to prevent and combat corruption, provide a safeguard against abuse, and serve as an incentive to public officials to provide exact information when filing and submitting their asset declarations.”
“Any perceived claim of interference with the right to privacy are sufficiently foreseeable for the purposes of the legal requirements for asset declarations by public officials, given that public-disclosure of summary of assets would undoubtedly contribute to the legitimate aim of asset declaration regimes to prevent corruption, as it would ensure transparency regarding the details of those assets.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Africa’s Richest Woman, Isabel Dos Santos, Charged With Money Laundering

Editorial staff

January 25, 2020

The richest woman in Africa, Isabel dos Santos has been charged with money laundering and mismanagement during her stewardship of Angola’s state-owned oil firm, Sonangol.

Documents leaked this week alleged the daughter of ex-president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, plundered state coffers to build her fortune, estimated at $2.1 billion (1.82 billion euros).
“Isabel dos Santos is accused of mismanagement and embezzlement of funds during her tenure at Sonangol and is thus charged in the first instance with the crimes of money laundering, influence peddling, harmful management … forgery of documents, among other economic crimes,” prosecutor general Helder Pitta Gros told a news conference late Wednesday.
Investigations into Isabel dos Santos’s 18-month tenure as Sonangol head from June 2016 were opened after her successor Carlos Saturnino raised the alarm about “irregular money transfers” and other dodgy procedures.
Dubbed Africa’s richest woman, Isabel dos Santos is accused of using her father’s backing to plunder state funds from the oil-rich but poor southern African country and moving the money abroad with the help of Western firms.
She stopped living in Angola after her father, who ruled the country with an iron fist for nearly 40 years, stepped down in 2017 for his anointed successor Joao Lourenco.
Gros said dos Santos was among five suspects, all of whom were currently residing abroad.
“At the moment, the concern is to notify and get them to voluntarily come to justice,” said Gros.
Source: The Guardian

Price Of Brent Crude Falls Below $60, Threatening Nigeria’s 2020 Budget

Editorial staff

January 25, 2020

Brent crude futures fell below $60, posing a threat to Nigeria’s 2020 budget, which put oil benchmark at $60 per barrel, as the spread of the coronavirus in China continues to affect demand due to restrictions placed on travel.

The bearish performance for the Brent crude continued as it further dropped 2.14 percent equivalent to $1.31 to trade at $59.97 per barrel on Friday night at the global market.
Also, the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude further moved down by 2.32 percent or $1.29 to trade at $54.30 per barrel. This performance was the lowest settlement for the American futures since November last year.
During the preparation of the country’s budget, oil prices were pegged at $60 per barrel because global economy issues like the US-China trade deal and the US-Iran conflict had helped prices moved up.
However, with this unforeseen circumstances, the country’s hope of raising revenue to fund the this year’s budget is already under threat because the sale of the commodity is the main source of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria.
This week started on the bullish note for oil prices, after military forces in Libya blocked oilfields which threatened to cut off the entire 1.2 million barrels per day oil production of the African OPEC member.
But on Tuesday, despite the continued blockade in Libya, oil prices started to slip as market faced a new challenge over the deadly coronavirus in China, which, analysts say could cut oil demand as travel restrictions in and around the area of the outbreak are already in place.
The SARS CoV, better known as the SARS Coronavirus, is highly contagious and has put two Chinese cities on lockdown since Thursday as health authorities around the world scramble to prevent a global pandemic.
The coronavirus outbreak has so far killed 17 people and infected more than 800 people and to prevent this, a widespread travel restriction has followed, reducing regional travel meaning that the oil market could see a drop of 260,000 barrels per day in the global oil demand market—170,000 bpd of which would be in the form of jet fuel.
The virus has spread to South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States, among other places. On Friday, the CDC confirmed the second case in the United States and this may further threaten oil prices even with certain trends which normally helped prices took the backseat such as reports by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) that inventory fell by 400,000 barrels for the week ending January 17.
Even despite the disruption caused by the virus, the oil market is also faced by concerns of oversupply, as the International Energy Agency (IEA) said it there is expectations of a surplus of 1 million barrels per day in the first half of the year.
Source: Business Post

Nduka Obaigbena: The Man Who Owns The News, By Oma Djebah

January 25, 2020

It was late afternoon in September, 2000, when my colleague, Waheed Odusile, then Group politics editor of THISDAY Newspapers, came to meet with me at the ever busy Rutam House, the seat of The Guardian newspaper. At that time, I was on the political desk of The Guardian. I had just returned from Uyo, where I had gone to explore some unsettling developments, and I was about taking off on another reportorial trip to Katsina, when Odusile came calling.

Halfway through our meeting, Odusile offered flattering compliments about my journalistic trajectory which had caught the attention of Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of THISDAY, and Eniola Bello, then Editor of THISDAY. Creditably, Obaigbena has a firm grasp of the role and power of the media, and created the flourishing institution, and ambience for positioning the media to accomplish its noble tasks. I prevaricated for a month. This was understandable. The Guardian and THISDAY occupied parallel verses in the world of journalism: the former was conventional and the latter reformist. At the heart of my vacillation was also the question: Why would I quit a formidable organization, such as The Guardian with a promising career path well defined to enlist in a newspaper that was a few years old in an industry with high mortality rate?
If you ever wondered why I eventually opted to join THISDAY you need go no further than read Michael Wolff’s excellent book, The Man Who Owns The News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch. The theme of that compelling book resonates perfectly with this subject matter. Obaigbena represents what Wolff calls “the man with the vision”, a concept that encapsulates Obaigbena’s brand of journalism which has changed Nigeria’s media landscape for good, and demonstrated how tenacity, knowledge, and the audacity to confront stereotypes, triggered a revolution in our media industry. I’m delighted that I’m part of the team Obaigbena calls the visionaries.
Obaigbena’s goal extended beyond building a media empire. More crucially, he was committed to help develop journalists as distinguished professionals who could be called to public service. And within a short period, THISDAY has established its prime reputation as the newspaper that breaks the news, and Obaigbena, has distinguished himself as the publisher that owns the news. Like Murdoch, the Australian-American media mogul, today Obaigbena sits atop his THISDAY Group with presence in Washington DC, New York, London, Johannesburg and Nigeria. But unlike Murdoch, Obaigbena’s progressive credentials are striking, and pervasive.
If there is a Nigerian media entrepreneur that firmly understands the global media environment, it’s certainly Obaigbena. As publisher of THISDAY Newspapers and founder of Arise Television, he acts with speed and dispatch that often leave his admirers and critics stunned by the gripping results of his exploits. If you worked at THISDAY in its early years, chances are that you certainly have been schooled in the Obaigbena style of journalism and media dynamics. He doesn’t take a no for an answer, and his interventions often bring out the best in many situations.
If as his editor, you attempt to rationalize efforts you made to authenticate a story, his usual question would be: And what did you do? I recall an incident about how a reporter had apparently appeared in a manner that was less than salutary. At that meeting of editors, staff waited with bated breath, to see how Obaigbena would pounce on the reporter! Surprisingly, the publisher made a fleeting presence with a charge: As the editor, the buck stops on your desk! Though those weren’t his exact words, but they were the substance of his reproach! He buoyed, and upbraided his team when the need arose. Little wonder THISDAY soon became a major reference point in politics and business reporting.
Obaigbena has awesome capacity for recognizing talents and nurturing them. Like many of my colleagues, my professional breakthroughs came while at THISDAY. Within three months of my joining the company, I was elevated to the position of Group Politics Editor while Kola Ologbondiyan, current PDP publicity secretary was appointed as my deputy. Two years later, I was promoted to the position of deputy editor with Segun Adeniyi as the editor, while Lanre Issa-Onilu, presently APC publicity Secretary succeeded me as Group Politics Editor. I later advanced to the Editorial Board. Obaigbena doesn’t suffer fools gladly. He teaches you to exude confidence and infectious surefootedness. The Duke, as he is fondly called, is straightforward, generous, but occasionally bristles in displeasure like everyone else.
There is more to Obaigbena than THISDAY. He has personal effects: He has recommended many for various roles with the result that THISDAY has produced countless top government functionaries, professors, accomplished businessmen, among others. That is partly why at 25, the company has experienced stellar accomplishments, prospered in tough waters, and flourished in fiercely competitive industry. Obaigbena distinctly understands the intersection between entertainment, music and journalism, hence he introduced THISDAY music- festivals. He remains one of the most outstanding Nigerians whose exceptional contributions to promoting Nigeria’s brand globally is matchless. He deserves a befitting national honor.
On a lighter side, one remarkable feature of the Duke is his penchant for casting headlines that bear the imprimatur of standards-gripping, engaging, compulsive, morbidly educative but sometimes too long to us! Obaigbena is a man of many firsts; the first to introduce colour newspaper, and the first to print simultaneously in major cities with digital technology. When he started procuring new cars for his editors, many news organizations followed suit. I recall as a beneficiary of that generosity, I had a brand new Polo car in 2000 and upon my return from post-graduate studies in Sweden, I was allocated the latest brand new Audi A4.
Obaigbena, the media mogul utilizes the power of his media group to conceive and build a new world for all! On reflections, I thank God I accepted the offer to join THISDAY, an awesome clan. Thank you the Duke, a phenomenal entrepreneur for the excellent opportunity. Happy 25th Anniversary to THISDAY family!

. Djebah, a former Delta State Commissioner for Information, has served on the United Nations Secretary General’s Panel on Governance in Africa, and was a Senior Editor at THISDAY. He is currently at the School of Communications, McMaster-Syracuse Universities, Canada and USA with a research focus on Crisis Management Strategy & the Gulf of Guinea Energy Crisis

Centre For Disease Control Confirms Death Of 29 In 11 States From Lassa Fever

Editorial staff

January 25, 2020

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed that 29 deaths have been reported in 11 states out of the 195 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in those states.

A statement today, January 25 by the agency’s Director General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said NCDC had activated a National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate response activities.
“As at the 24th of January 2020, 195 confirmed cases and 29 deaths have been reported in 11 states. Of the confirmed cases, 89% are from Ondo, Edo and Ebonyi States. The increase in the number of cases at this time of the year is not unusual due to ecological factors.”
The National EOC includes representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, World Health Organization, UNICEF, US Centers for Disease Control, and other partners.
According to NCDC, it will continue to support states in strengthening their preparedness and response capacity.
It said that over the last three weeks, NCDC had deployed Rapid Response Teams to support five of the affected states.
The statement said that the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire had led a high-level delegation to Kano State on Saturday following the deaths of two health workers infected with Lassa fever.
In addition, NCDC said it had rapidly increased risk communications and community engagement activities to ensure that Nigerians are aware of the risks of Lassa fever and measures to protect themselves.
The NCDC statement claimed that there had been a decline in the fatality rate of reported Lassa fever cases from 23.4% in 2019 to 14.8% this year.
“NCDC continues to support treatment centres across states in the country to effectively manage Lassa fever cases.
“In addition, five laboratories in Nigeria have the capacity to diagnose Lassa fever in Nigeria. These laboratories are critical to reducing turnaround time between identifying a suspected case and confirmation. This ensures prompt case management and other response activities, thereby reducing the number of deaths,” it said.
It further said that Nigeria was contributing to research and other activities for the development of a Lassa fever vaccine.
The agency said NCDC and the three main treatment centres in the country- Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Owo and Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakalilki- were set to commence Lassa fever epidemiological studies that will provide data to guide research and response activities.
Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and cases are recorded all year round. The Lassa fever virus is transmitted by rodents which can be found in in environment.
Lassa fever is largely transmitted through contact with items or surfaces contaminated with urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats. It can also be transmitted from person-to-person through contact with blood, urine, faeces and other body fluids of an infected person. To minimise the risk of infection, members of the public were advised to ensure their environment was always kept clean to avoid contact with rodents.
Early symptoms includes fever, headache, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, sore throat etc. It is in very severe cases that the patient bleeds from body openings. If a patient does not respond to treatment for malaria or other febrile illnesses after 48 hours, it is important to test immediately for Lassa fever, the agency said.

EU Supports Victims Of Insurgence In Northeast With €26.5 Million

Editorial staff

January 24, 2020

The European Union on Friday announced the sum of €26.5m to support victims of insurgency in the North East of Nigeria.

The amount, which was announced by the visiting European Commissioner for Humanitarian and Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, is the EU’s first emergency package for the year 2020, which is expected to increase as new challenges emerge and it also formed part of the EU’s new strategy for Africa.
Lenarcic spoke today, January 24 at a joint Press Briefing with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, just as the United Nations (UN) condemned the increasing attacks and killings of aid workers in the North East Area of Nigeria.
The EU Commissioner said that the aid package wIII provide food aid, access to clean water and sanitation facilities, shelter, basic primary healthcare and education for children caught up in the conflict.
“The EU is one of the leading donors of humanitarian and development aid In Nigeria With more than £830 mIIIIon provided since 2014”, he said.
The envoy disclosed that he chose to visit Nigeria first on assumption of office because Nigeria is a top priority to the EU.
He assured that the EU was ready to partner with the new ministry so as to improve humanitarian assistance to Nigeria.
He however harped on the need for Nigeria to create access to millions of people in the North East area ravaged by activities of the Boko Haram.
“I saw first-hand today the suffering that conflict has brought to people’s lives and how crucial humanitarian aid Is to people’s survival.
“What matters most is that humanitarian organisations can reach all the people in need, without restrictions, including in areas under the Influence of non-state armed groups.
“It is vital that all States and parties to armed conflicts respect their obligation to allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief.
“It is also key to implement in parallel a comprehensive strategy in the region, exploring political tracks while addressing the root causes of the conflict.”
Also speaking, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, noted that the visit was timely as it came at a critical time when the people of Borno State were facing increasing challenges.
“We are extremely worried about the challenges faced by civilians and aid workers in the northeastern states of Borno. Adamawa and Yobe.
According to him, the area in recent weeks, has seen an upsurge in violent attacks from non-state armed groups and an increasmg trend of illegal checkpoints on major supply and commercial routes directly targeting civilians, authorities and aid workers in Borno State.
“Over the past year, 180,000 civilians have been forced to leave everything behind in search of safety and basic services, some of them for the second or third time. Over 1.8 million people, across the three crisis-affected states which is almost the equivalent of the entire population of Slovenia, the country Commissioner Lenarcic comes from – are still living in camps or hosted in other communities, who are themselves becoming extremely vulnerable”, he said.
Kallon noted that people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states who had started to recover from the crisis, are hit once again by violence or confronted With the impossibllity of reaching the resources they need to provide for their families.
He said the situation was worsened because those who were providing assistance are directly targeted for attack in violation of international humanitarian law.
“Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, we are extremely worried that aid workers who are mostly Nigerians working to deliver critical lifesaving humanitanan assistance to fellow compatriots, have increasingly become direct targets of attacks and abductions by non-state armed groups.
“In 2019 alone 12 aid workers were deliberately and brutally murdered by non-state armed groups. And we must remember our fellow aid workers Grace Taku, who was abducted on July 26, 2019 and Alice Loksha. who was abducted on March 1, 2018. They are Nigerian women. They are sisters. They are daughters. They are Still In captivity and we must do our utmost to ensure their safe release and return to their families.”
He however noted that the ability to provide humanitarian assistance to millions of people affected by the crisis will depend on a secured and safe envnronment and urged Nigeria to do all within her powers to end the crisis.
He called on Nigeria to continue to work with the international community in trust building, even as he called for a political resolution.
He added that the crisis is rooted in developmental issues, poverty, poor governance as well as climate change challenges.

With My Experience In War, I’m Confident We’ll Get Over Boko Haram Insurgency – Buhari

Editorial staff

January 24, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that an end to Boko Haram insurgency and remnant of terrorists will come sooner or later, drawing from his personal experience of war as a military General.

“With my experience personally in the civil war, I am sure we will get over it.”
President Buhari, who spoke today, January 24 when he received in audienc, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, at the presidential villa, Abuja, said: “if we were capable to fight a 30-month civil war and reorganised our country, I wonder why people are thinking that Nigeria cannot do it.
“I assure you of Nigeria’s commitment to enhance and deepen cooperation with the EU in all areas. Our priorities in the next level is to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are rehabilitated so that livelihood should be established and the children should not lose the opportunity to go back to school, which is very important for the future of that area and Nigeria generally.
“We have the experience of the civil war. I could recall the role of the military, the army, each commander had in his pocket how to behave himself and how to allow international bodies like yourself to go round and see for themselves that people are treated in the most humane way. We have this experience and I assure you that we also have this confidence in your organisation. That is why I feel that Nigeria is capable of handling this crisis, it may take long but we are capable of handling it.”
The Nigerian leader also appreciated the recent meeting in Germany which deliberated on the happenings in Libya.
“The important thing really is weapons reaching the Sahel; the instability it is causing. Look at the casualties in Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali; Libya has a direct impact on the stability of the Sahel. As for Boko Haram, we try to disabuse the mind of the people and I think our people now understand the basic dishonesty in it. With my experience personally in the civil war, I am sure we will get over it.”
President Buhari further assured that the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, will do a splendid job of managing the various humanitarian issues evolving from the Northeast:
“I assure you that we are aware of these problems and we will continue to do our best. The newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is coordinating NEMA and others, to make sure that whatever resources we get are well utilised. The ministry will be accountable to the government instead of having too many bodies doing the same thing. We are also reaching out to foreign countries explaining to them our position, and we are confident we will get over it.”
The EU Commissioner emphasized that Nigeria plays a big role in the African continent and globally in economic, social and other spheres and asked for the development of a plan between the EU and Nigeria concerning the issues in the Northeast. He said he had visited Borno State and appreciates government’s efforts to end the conflict there.
“We would like to support your efforts. We believe all relevant actors; military, civilian as well as humanitarian should come together. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is suggesting such high level dialogue.
“In situations such as what we have in the northeast, international law and international humanitarian law should apply. We believe in your efforts to end the conflict; military effort alone probably will not be sufficient without identifying and addressing the socio-economic factors causing it.”

Christians Asked To Observe 3-Day Fasting For Security In Nigeria

Editorial staff

January 24, 2020

The leadership of the Christian n Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked Christians to observe special Fasting and prayer for Nigeria in all Churches between January 31 and February 2 for the Killing of Nigerians by Boko Haram insurgents,bandits and other criminals to stop.

A statement today, January 24, by the chairman of CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle said that the fasting is also to seek for God‘s intervention so that the government would develop the capacity to overcome the criminals that are troubling the nation.
The Christian body also declared a special prayer walk which would take place on the 2nd of February 2020.
“Sunday 2nd February 2020 is declared a Special Prayer Walk by Christians in all the States of the Federation in the form of a procession to be led by States CAN Chairmen in their CAN Secretariats and pastors of churches in all churches in Nigeria.”
The statement advised churches to conduct the procession round their areas, pray for God’s permanent intervention and help from all over the world so that all Christians might not be consumed one by one.
Dr. Ayokunle said that it looks as if the government is completely overwhelmed with the brutality of Nigerians, even as he further asked all Bloc Leaders, Zonal and States Chairmen, Leaders of Denominations and all Christians and concerned Nigerians to support and come out en-mass for the program.

Gov Zulum Pays N30,000 Minimum Wage To Borno Workers

Editorial staff

January 24, 2020

The Borno government began the payment of N30,000 new minimum wage to civil servants in the state today, January 24.

According to the State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bulama Abiso, who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Maiduguri, the organised labour in the state appreciated the governor, Babagana Zulum, for keeping to his pledge that “workers welfare is his priority.
“The minimum wage and its consequential adjustments were implemented to all grade level and consolidated salary structure across the state civil servants.“Labour appeals to his Excellency to direct the immediate implementation of the minimum wage at the local government and the local education authorities.
“We urge all civil servants to reciprocate the gesture by re-dedicating themselves to duty and assure them that all shortfalls due to implementation will be squarely looked into.”
Ali Goni, a civil servant who spoke to NAN in an interview, expressed joy after he received his new and enhanced salary.
Goni lauded the organised labour and the government for making the welfare of workers a top priority and urged them to do more in the area of pension and gratuity.

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