The Senate on Wednesday set up a committee to probe the alleged assault of a lady by Senator Elias Abbo in May.
The Senator was seen on video assaulting the lady in a toy sex shop somewhere in Abuja last May for allegedly abusing him.
Senate President Ahmed Lawan set up the committe, which has two weeks to submit it’s report.
Details shortly..
Music diva, Yemi Alade has made history as the first female African artist to hit one million subscribers on video streaming platform, YouTube.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this feat comes months after Alade became the second Nigerian artist to hit hundred million views on YouTube for the song, ‘Johnny’.
The ‘Oh My Gosh’ singer took to her Instagram page @yemialade to announce the feat and reflect on her musical journey of six years.
She wrote, “God is the GREATEST, started this journey six years ago. Thanks to everyone streaming / watching my videos and music. Godbless us all.”
With this feat, Alade joins other entertainers who have over one million subscribers, including the defunct P-Square (1.2 million), Davido (1.5 million) and Diamond Platnumz (2.1 million).
Her debut studio album ‘King of Queens’ was released on October 2, 2014, by Effyzzie Music Group.
Alade collaborated with producers such as Selebobo, Sizzle Pro, Shady Bizniz, Philkeyz, Young D, GospelOnDeBeatz, DIL, OJB Jezreel, Mr Chidoo, Fliptyce, EL Mcee and Beat Nation.
The album was preceded by three singles: “Johnny”, “Tangerine” and “Kissing”. It features guest appearances and skits from Bovi, R2Bees, Phyno, Chidinma, DIL, Selebobo and Diamond Platnumz.
She has performed around the world and shared the stage and songs with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Shina Peters, Wizkid, Becca, M.I, Waje and others.
(NAN)
United States technology giant Google has sent gifts to a baby boy named Google by their parents in Indonesia, local media reported on Wednesday.
Google was born in November but his birth certificate went viral recently after his mother posted it on social media.
Some online commentators quipped that he would find it hard to search his name on Google.
“They sent several items as a token of appreciation, including a jumper,” the baby’s mother, Ella Karina, was quoted as saying by Tribunnews online newspaper.
Ella said that Google congratulated them and expressed hope that baby Google would help many people in future.
Google’s mother said she was initially opposed to her husband’s idea to name their second child Google, but now she has no regrets.
“We thank `technology giant Google’ for their attention. We are more confident now,” Ella said. (dpa/NAN)
The Organised Labour have alerted plans were underway to embark on industrial action if the current state of affairs as regards the issue of consequential adjustment arising from the new national Minimum wage of N30,000 per month remains the same.
It is operating under the aegis of the Trade Union Side (TUS) of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC); the eight Unions in the Public Services of the Federal and 36 State Governments.
In a statement in Abuja on Monday, the TUS Acting Chairman, Mr Anchaver Simon and the Secretary, Mr Alade Lawal, expressed disappointment by government’s effort to derail the implementation of a new National Minimum Wage.
“As things are right now, the government side is only prepared to pay peanuts to workers as adjustment under the pretext that it will soon be undertaking general salary review in the Public Service.”
The committee on Consequential Adjustment of Salary agreed to set up a technical body to work out different scenarios in respect of salaries that would be paid to workers who are in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that draw their emoluments from the government treasury.
The technical committee met severally and series of computations that were to be presented for the plenary for consideration were developed.
The labour leaders stated that the TUS had initially proposed that since the minimum wage was increased by 66.66 per cent; from N18, 000 to N30, 000 salaries for officers on Grade Levels 01-17 should be adjusted accordingly to maintain the relativity that exists in the salary structure in the Public Service.
“But when the Government side argued that such increase across board would raise the total wage bill too high, the TUS side reviewed its demand downward and eventually settled for 30 per cent for officers on Grade Levels 07-14 and 25 per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17.
“The Government side on its part was insisting on 9.5 per cent salary raise for employees on Grade Levels 07-14 and 5 per cent for those on Grade Levels 15-17.
“The two sides then agreed to capture the two positions in the technical committee’s report which will now be presented for discussion at the plenary.”
According to the TUS, it received a rude shock at the last meeting of the Technical Committee when the government side began to hold on to a non-existent position that the Technical Committee’s term of reference was to base its assignment in respect of salary adjustment on what was provided for it in the 2019 budget.
It regretted that the implication of Government’s position was that the Technical Committee cannot go beyond what the Government was pushing for which is 9.5 per cent salary increase for officers on GL 07-14 and 5 per cent for those on GL 15-17.
“With this turn of event, it is quite clear now that some fifth columnists in this Administration are hell bent on pushing President Muhammadu Buhari to enter into a collision course with millions of Nigerian workers in the Public Service. This is very sad,” the Union stated.
The TUS recalled after the Ama Pepple committee recommended N30,000 monthly new National Minimum Wage, the Government Side went to the press to announce that the negotiation was inconclusive.
It thereafter sent N27, 000 and N30, 000 monthly National Minimum Wage proposal to the National Council of State and the National Assembly.
“The latter approved N30, 000 as the new monthly National Minimum Wage before President Buhari signed it into law on April 18.
“It is indeed perplexing that political office holders whose monthly take home pay runs into millions of Naira are the ones working behind the scene to ensure that Public Service employees especially core Civil Servants continue to receive starvation wages.
“This is why the eight Trade Unions in the Public Service have resolved that enough is enough and that if the Federal Government fails to call its officials to order and direct them to negotiate openly the issue of Consequential Adjustment arising from the new National Minimum Wage, millions of workers at the Federal and 36 States Public Services will have no other alternative than to take some necessary Trade Union actions to seek redress.
“The time for President Buhari to act is now,” the Union emphasised.
Meanwhile, a meeting of officials of the TUS of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council across the Federation is being arranged with the sole aim of setting the records straight.
At the same time TUS is preparing for appropriate Trade Union measures to be deployed to get justice for public service employees. (NAN)
The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Moddibbo Kawu was re-arraigned with three others on Monday before a Federal High Court in over alleged fraud in the handling of N2.5 billion, part of seed grant for Digital Switch-Over (DSO) project of the Federal Government.
Modibo was re-arraigned with Pinnacle Communications Limited, its Chairman Lucky Omoluwa and the firm’s Chief Operating Officer, Dipo Onifade on Monday on an amended charge filed by the prosecution.
When an amended charge was read to the defendants on Monday, they pleaded not guilty.
They were earlier arraigned on May 3, 2019 on a 12-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to which they equally pleaded not guilty.
After their re-arraignment yesterday, Justice Folasade Giwa-Ogunbanjo allowed them to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them.
They were, each granted bail at N100 million and two sureties at their first arraignment.
Yesterday, Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo noted that the prosecution was yet to file a report of its verification of the information supplied by the sureties presented by the defendants in respect of the earlier bail granted them.
The judge noted that, even though the prosecution was, on May 5, this year, ordered to file the report within five days, it failed to comply with the directive.
She consequently halted proceedings and insisted that the prosecution comply with the order made by the court before further proceedings could be conducted in the case.
The judge stood down the case and insisted that the prosecution, represented by Henry Emore and E. Shogunle, must comply with the court’s order.
When proceedings resumed some hours later, Emore said the motion, reporting verification of the bail conditions has been deposited in the court’s registry.
Upon going through a copy of the motion, the judge drew the attention of the lead defence lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN) to paragraphs 3d and 3e, where the prosecution raised issues about addresses of the sureties.
Izinyon said the issues raised in both paragraphs had been addressed in a subsequent motion filed by the defence.
Justice Giwa Ogunbanjo subsequently adjourned till Thursday for the hearing of a motion by the defence, challenging the additional proof of evidence filed by the prosecution, where it indicated its plan to call additional two witnesses.
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, on Monday said that the controversy over the establishment of Ruga settlements for the Fulanis was uncalled for.
According to him, it was the same thing with ranching.
He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Noting that Plateau State has nothing like Ruga, but Livestock business, he said that there was nothing different between the Ruga project and the Ranching under the chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
He said “I think, the Ruga thing should not be anything that should bring controversy with the level of sensitization we have already made.
“I am a member of the food security committee, I am a member of the herdsmen/farmers committee, we have gone a long way on this issue and we have said that the only solution that can address some of these insecurity issues between herdsmen and farmers is the ranching policy.
“You remember that one time we have gone far when some people called it colony and called it this and that, and it created controversy.
“Again, we have gone far under the leadership of Mr. Vice President, and then we are hearing other terms, what they are talking about it’s the same thing that we are talking about.
“But I think when they mentioned Ruga, it may be particular to a particular tribe but what we are doing is all encompassing, it’s for the benefit of Nigeria. I have said particularly in my state that animal husbandry, live stocks rearing is not a prerogative of one tribe.
“Everybody must get involved in it and that is what we have done in our state when we registered for it. We said we are going to put these structures to enable us to encourage youth, train youth.
“Right now we are training permanent secretaries, retired civil servants who would also get involved in it so that we can address some of the insecurity that we have in the nation.” he said
The governor went on “So when somebody mentioned another word, people would not wait to question and find out who and who are bringing those words, that is just the simple fact.
“But if you go to what we have done because they have mentioned some states which are included, yes, those states applied, those states said we have land for it. It’s not federal government that is imposing it on any state.
“To the benefit of Mr. President, the president has not imposed that on any states, it was voluntary. And they said any state that is prepared to do that to address insecurity in his state should come and apply.
“So some of the states applied and we are at the level of the pilot scheme and some mischief makers would start bringing terms to cause confusion in the country. It’s very unfortunate.” he said.
Asked if the Ruga project controversy was politically motivated, he said, “I don’t know whether it is political. Of course I am a member of the committee, by the time we addressed that issue some people said yes we would prefer to do open grazing in our state, some said we would prefer to do ranching in our state and some said in our state we would call it Ruga model.
“So, different states with their different approaches, but Ruga term is not general to everybody. In my state we call it livestock something, it’s not Ruga and we have explained it to people.”
Also asked if he was not worried over the allegation that the federal government was funding the Ruga project, he said, “No, I was here one time when people asked why is the federal government subsidizing agriculture, subsidizing ranching. And I also asked why the federal government subsidizing agriculture is?
“This is a policy that we felt that it is not only for economic sense, but it would also address the issue of security. So if it is going to address insecurity in a period the country is confronted with serious security challenges then federal government would come and assist those who want to do it.
“They are not imposing it on any state, I am a member of this committee under the chairmanship of the Vice President, the federal government has not impose that on any state.
“They said if you have land for pilot scheme they can assist, and donor agencies are coming from all over, it is not a federal government project, the World Bank is involved, the African Development Bank is involved.
“So if you have a scheme like this that can take poverty, bring revenue and also address insecurity, you will need to go into it but with due consultation from your state.
“We did a lot of sensitization, in my state it took me three months to do sensitization and we all agreed that we should bring this concept to empower people. It is not meant to empower one tribe it is for everybody and that would address the issue of insecurity because we don’t want people moving from one place to another looking for grasses.
“The fact that federal government is to bring the subsidy was a request from the committee chaired by Mr. Vice President Goodluck Jonathan did it and he budgeted about N10 billion but we didn’t see the money. If he has done that at that time, we would not be fighting insecurity between herders and farmers today,” he said.
Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong on Monday disclosed President Muhammadu Buhari was shocked by the alleged non-payment of allowances to the Super Eagles players in the ongoing African Cup of Nations football competition in Egypt.
He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to him, Buhari had approved the allowances before commencement of the tournament.
He said: “I came to see the President on behalf my state and on behalf of the 19 northern states as chairman of Northern governors’ forum.
“I came in to have a discussion with Mr. President, of course many of you know that I just came back from Egypt where we went to cheer our Super Eagles and I also brought him the concerns of our players over there and he promised to handle the matter immediately.
“Because football is a unifying factor in Nigeria and we shouldn’t joke with it if they bring back the cup it will cement our relationship and that is one of it.”
On the concerns of the Super Eagles, he said: “Well, many of the concerns raised were that their allowances were not paid and Mr President expressed surprise that he signed these allowances and wondered why they are not paid to them.
‘I was a footballer, it’s not like before when you play football out of patriotism, now it’s combined with the economic aspect.
“When you bring people, definitely from the ministry, you must ensure that their allowances are paid.
“We went there for the joy of it and the day we were there they won their match but when we left yesterday, I understand they lost to Madagascar.
“Defeating Guinea and allowing Madagascar to defeat us is a surprise, but I think with good motivation, these boys would bring back the cup.” he added
Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has slammed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its unfair treatment of the state.
Ayade voiced his disapproval of the Commission’s attitude towards the state in Calabar when the management of the Commission led by its acting Managing Director, Professor Nelson Brambaifa, paid him a courtesy call.
He said the story of the state in the NDDC “has been that of melancholy. We have been reduced to want in body, soul and spirit.
“In sociology, any child who has very little and the other one has more, a mother is allowed to take from the one that has more and give to the one that has little.
“In NDDC, it is the states that have more money that are allocated bigger projects. It is not African. It is inhuman and inconsistent with the core principles of Kantianism that I know. In all honesty we have structured a society for aggressive rebellion.”
He pleaded that the state be treated fairly, especially “when one considers the fact that we have a land mass of over 21,000 square kilometers, larger than the entire Niger Delta. Connecting two local government is larger than any state in the Niger Delta with international boundaries to over four countries with its attendant challenges. We have been excluded by the NDDC from its original philosophy of making a prosperity agenda for the region.
“It is so sad that at the height of kidnapping and all the criminality in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe was mobilized to all the states except Cross River.
“So, all the militants now found Cross River a safe haven. This once peaceful, beautiful state suddenly became safe haven for militants and kidnappers to inhabit and distort our complete sight.
“The basis was that there were no pipelines in Cross River. So, as a government we now place premium on oil over blood. Africa has never shown this kind of disdain to a weaker brother.”
Dozens of people have been burnt to death after a fuel tanker exploded in Ahumbe, village Gwer East local Government area in Benue state.
Ahumbe village is located on Makurdi – Enugu road about one hour drive from Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
An eye witness Terna Torbee Told the Nation that a tanker conveying fully loaded PMS, otherwise known as petrol had an accident and tumbled into the bush.
Torbee said fuel spilled on the ground as the result of the accident and shortly after some villagers started schooling.
Accounting to the eye witness in the process of scooping fuel the tanker exploded and ignited fire which roasted many people alive while others who sustained various degrees of injuries were taken to hospital for treatment.
Police spokesperson Kate Anene, a DSP warned members of the public to stop scooping fuel from fallen tankers on highways.