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  • Oil jumps 2.4% after attack on Saudi field

    Oil prices rose on Monday after weekend attack on a Saudi oil facility by Yemen’s Houthi forces. Traders also looked for signs that top economies would take measures to counteract a global slowdown.

    The prices were, however,  limited by a downbeat report by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that stoked concerns about growth in oil demand.

    Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, was up 95 cents, or 1.6 per cent, at $59.59 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained $1.34, or 2.4per cent, to settle at $56.21 a barrel.

    An oil price below $60 per barrel is not healthy for the implementation of Nigeria’s  N8.92 trillion Appropriation Act. The budget, assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari  May 27, this year  benchmarked oil price at $60 per barrel and daily oil production and exchange rate 2.3 million barrels per day and N305/$.

    Meanwhile, OPEC has also cut its forecast for global oil demand growth this year by 40,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.10 million bpd. The oil cartel also indicated that the oil market would be in slight surplus in 2020.

    Read Also: OPEC oil production dips on Nigeria, Saudi, others’ cuts

    The rare move for OPEC to give a bearish forward view on the market outlook limited oil gains on the day, but it could set the stage for tighter supplies down the road.

    “Such a bearish prognosis will heap more pressure on OPEC to take further measures to support the market,” Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM said.

    A drone attack by the Houthi group on an oilfield in eastern Saudi Arabia on Saturday caused a fire at a gas plant, adding to Middle East tensions, but state-run Saudi Aramco said production was not affected.

    “The oil market seems to be pricing in again a geo-political risk premium following the weekend drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, but the premium might not sustain if it does not result in any supply disruptions,” oil analyst at UBS, Giovanni Staunovo, said.

    Iran-related tensions appeared to ease after Gibraltar released an Iranian tanker it seized in July, with the vessel sailing for Greece, though Tehran warned the United States against any new attempt to seize the tanker in open seas.

    A rally in equities from growing expectations that global economies would take actions to counteract slowing growth also helped oil, which often follows stock prices.

    “The death of the global economy has been greatly exaggerated and the market is starting to realise that,”  analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago, Phil Flynn, said.

    China’s announcement of key interest rate reforms over the weekend has fueled expectations of an imminent reduction in corporate borrowing costs in the struggling economy, boosting share prices on yesterday.

  • Why Lagos Assembly dropped three commissioner-nominees

    The three commissioner-nominees, who were not confirmed on Monday by the Lagos State House of Assembly, were victims of high-wire politics, it was learnt.

    Three nominees are: Prince Olanrewaju Sanusi, Mr. Obafemi George and Ms Adekemi Ajayi-Bembe.

    A party source said the Assembly could not resist the pressure to deny them clearance, owning to the weight of allegations against them.

    According to the source, the politics of confirmation overwhelmed the Assembly, adding that “the matter was beyond the control of the lawmakers”.

    “It is now evident that nominations and screening were not final. Post-screening hurdles may arise from familiar and strange quarters,” the source stressed.

    The source, who sympathised with the dropped nominees, said the governor may still represent them, if they overcome their challenges.

    Asked to shed light on what he described as “high-wire politics”, the source said: “I suspected that the outcry against them arose from their people; from their constituencies where leaders and critical stakeholders, who cannot be ignored, kicked.

    “I don’t think it was due to poor performance at the screening, although we heard that a particular nominee did not measure up during the exercise and the House  Committee that screened them noted the non-display of competence.

    “They were not confirmed because of politics of preference and rejection. The influence of powerful people, who didn’t want them, dwarfed those of their supporters in their respective constituencies. They did not play their cards well at home. It can happen because it is politics.”

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu to inaugurate Omotoso, Igbokwe, Elegushi, others as exco members

    But, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, also said the governor was at liberty to represent them to the House.

    The Assembly, however, at plenary, confirmed 35 of 38 persons Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu nominated as commissioners and special advisers after the final screening by the whole House.

    The nominees were cleared after the adoption of the recommendations of the ad hoc committee constituted by the lawmakers on the screening.

    The committee’s report, which was read by the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Chief Whip, Rotimi Abiru, recommended that the nominees be confirmed by the whole House, according to section 192 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    Obasa, however, cautioned those confirmed that the House would not hesitate to pass a vote of no confidence on any member of the state exco found wanting after they assume office.

    The 38 nominees had before yesterday been screened by a 16-man ad hoc committee set up by the Assembly for the exercise.

    They were, however, called individually on Monday to appear before the whole House at plenary to introduce themselves fully.

    The speaker told the nominees that the House would not fail in its oversight to ensure that each performed his or her responsibility to the people.

    The Speaker added that the House was not concerned about the academic qualifications and oratory prowess of any of the nominees, but readiness and commitment to serve the state.

    “Even after the confirmation, we will continue to monitor whatever offices you are assigned to ensure value for public fund. We will continue to oversight your activities.

    “We will not hesitate to pass vote of no confidence any time anyone is found wanting,” the Speaker said.

    Those cleared as commissioners and special advisers are: Mr. Oladele Ajayi, Mr. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, Mr. Kabiru Abdullahi and Mr. Joe Igbokwe.

    Others are Mr. Bonu Solomon Saanu, Mrs. Lola Akande, Prince Anofi Elegushi, Mrs. Solape Hammond, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, Mrs Shulamite Adebolu, Mr Tokunbo Wahab., Mr. Rabiu Olowo Onaolapo, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Dr. Idris Salako, Mr. Tunji Bello, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka and Mrs. Bolaji Dada

    Included are: Mr. Lere Odusote, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN), Mr. Hakeem Fahm and Mrs. Ajibola Ponle.

    Also confirmed are Aramide Adeyoye, Mr. Segun Dawodu, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, Mr. Sam Egube, Ms Ruth Bisola Olusanya, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Mr. Tunbosun Alake and Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo.

    The rejection and confirmation were done through a voice vote supervised by the Speaker.

    However, the swearing-in and inauguration of the cleared nominees has been fixed for today at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja by 10a.m.

  • Court restrains AGF, ICPC from seizing ex-Zamfara governor Yari’s assets

    Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from seizing or interfering with the assets and properties belonging to former Zamfara State Governor Abdulazeez Yari.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a ruling on Monday, in an ex-parte motion for interim injunctions, argued on Friday by Yari’s lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), also restrained the ICPC and AGF from interfering with Yari’s enjoyment of the rights enshrined in sections 34, 35, 37, 41 and 43 of the constitution.

    Justice Taiwo also directed parties in the case to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    The judge said the orders made are to subsist pending the determination of the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the ex-governor.

    Read Also: ‘Banks should not invest in public assets’

    Justice Taiwo, who on Friday granted the ICPC’s request to freeze Yari’s accounts  in Polaris and Zenith banks, said the orders made yesterday do not affect the earlier one relating to only accounts in the two banks.

    The orders granted in the judge’s ruling on Monday are:

    *an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from seizing, impounding, taking over, confiscating or otherwise forfeiting the assets and properties of the applicant wherever they may be located within Nigeria or anywhere else in the world pending the hearing and determination of the hearing and determination of the motion on notice;

    *an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from unlawfully interfering with the applicants’ rights to Sections 34, 35, 37, 41 and 43 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) until the hearing and determination of the substantive suit; and

    *an order of this honourable court directing the parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    The ex-governor, in seeking the orders granted yesterday, stated that he has been subjected to various forms of intimidation, arrest and detention based on spurious allegations by some powerful elements of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against him to the agents of the 1st and 2nd respondents (AGF and ICPC).

    “These individuals thus decided to carry out a vendetta and revenge against the applicant, including instigating the respondents against the applicant upon their spurious conclusion without evidence that the applicant was guilty of corrupt practices as former governor of Zamfara State and was in breach of the Code of Conduct Act.

    “This witch-hunt is clearly politically-motivated, baseless and has been designed only to discredit and humiliate the applicant in a bid to decimate him politically and this court is statutory empowered to protect any violation against the applicant’s fundamental rights.

    “The 1st and 2nd respondents are determined on a follow up attack upon the applicant and his family by the use of allegations of wrongdoing, which had been concocted against the applicant in 2019 immediately the Supreme Court decided all elected officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should step aside for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as an excuse to arrest the applicant and his wife and to arraign them on trumped-up charges,” Yari said.

  • Court declines request to stop Buhari from inaugurating ministers

    Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request to restrain President Muhammadu Buhari from inaugurating the ministerial nominees recently cleared by the Senate.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a ruling on Monday, dismissed an ex-parte application file by a lawyer, Musa Baba-panya.

    Justice Taiwo said he will prefer to hear the substantive suit and give a formal judgment rather than granting interim restraining orders as sought by the plaintiff.

    The judge ordered the plaintiff to effect personal service of the originating and other processes so far filed in the case on the defendants and return for a date for hearing.

    The plaintiff’s contention is to the effect that the President’s non-nomination of an Abuja indigene as a ministerial nominee was a disobedience of a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal.

    Read Also: Buhari’s incoming cabinet concludes day one of Presidential Retreat

    Baba-Panya claimed that the Court of Appeal, in the judgment delivered on March 15, 2018 in Abuja, held among others, that Abuja possesses the status of a state and should be so treated.

    To the plaintiff, since the Constitution stipulates that every state of the federation should produce a minister, Abuja deserves to also be considered.

    President Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) are listed as defendants in the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/878/19.

    Baba-panya, who said he is an indigene of Karu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  argued that the subsisting decision of the Court of Appeal contains a compelling order.

    He said the Court of Appeal has been  served on the President through the AGF, who did not take steps to appeal it.

    The plaintiff, in the substantive suit, wants the court to, among others, that ”the 43 confirmed ministerial appointees now awaiting swearing-in or inauguration as the Federal Executive Council is incomplete, illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

    He is also praying the court to declare the 1st defendant (the President) stands in contempt of law and court for his brazen refusal to comply with the tenor of the Abuja Division of Court of Appeal’s judgment, compelling him to the immediate and forthwith appointment off an indigene of FCT, Abuja as minister of the federation.”

  • Man accused of stealing N190,000

    32-year-old man, Sunday Idikwo, on Monday appeared at an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, accused of stealing N190,000 belonging to a hotel.

    Idikwo, whose address was not provided, is facing a one-count charge of stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Mary Ajiteru told the court that the defendant committed the offence on August 16, at 1, Olatunji Shokefun Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

    Read Also: Court remands 23-yr-old man in prison for stealing biscuits

    She alleged that the defendant stole the N190,000 belonging to Shokis Hotel, an offence that contravened Section 287 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Magistrate Mrs. C.K. Tunji-Careena admitted the defendant to N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She adjourned the case till September 12 for mention.

  • Unions prepare for ‘mother of all strikes’

    Universities across the country are on a five-day recess following an industrial strike, which started yesterday, report Okodili Ndidi, Owerri; Bolaji Ogundele, Warri; Kolade Adeyemi, Kano; Bassey Anthony, Uyo; Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado Ekiti; Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt and Sampson Unamka.

    SSANU President demands N30 billion

    Senior Staff Union (SSANU) National President Samson Ugwoke has accused the Federal Government of complicating the implementation of its agreement with the union and the Non-Academic Staff Union (SANU). He said the government’s failure to agree to their demand for the payment of N30 billion would lead to what he described as ‘mother of all strikes’.

    Speaking on Monday at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he coordinated the implementation of the two unions’ five-day warning strike, Ugwoke said the earned allowances the government was owing would not have accrued if the agreed time table was followed.

    Ugwoke, who is also the chairman, Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the two unions, also said the Committee set up by the government was yet to meet eight months after.

    He said: “We are demanding N30 billion now as part of our old earned allowance. This is part of our earned allowance from 2009 to 2018. Bring N30 billion and pay our members in NASU and SSANU, when they bring it, we will pipe down. The other one is the renegotiation. The agreement says the one of 2009 should be renegotiated every three years. In other words, if the government had complied with that section of the agreement, it implies that the agreement would have been renegotiated three times from 2009 till date. It is over 10 years now, it ought to have been negotiated or reviewed but we are still in one. They have set up a committee good and fine but the committee has not called for a meeting and we are in the 8th month of the year which is august, so are you considering that as a serious committee?

    “On the 7th of this month, we came up with resolutions and up till now those resolutions none of them had been addressed, by then we had already given a 14-day ultimatum; we were expecting that at least some letters referring to aspect of some of these actions must have come to us, in other words, nothing has come to us. It means that the government has not taken any action and that is why we are giving only five days warning strike Monday through Friday. We would come back and reappraise the situation and know whether there should be a need for the mother of all strikes. It will result in an indefinite strike.”

    On some members of the union who were sacked, Ugwoke said the government had the power to recall them.

    “It is a government that is complicating the matter; it is straight forward. If the government wants to recall our people, a circular will come up, the same circular that disengaged them from the school is the same circular that can come and reengage them again and then pay them their arrears of 2013, 2014 and 2015 when they were disengaged, you pay them their arrears of the salaries, those due for promotion within 2014 and now they should also be given opportunity for their promotion. The government can do this, it is simple,” Ugwoke said.

    Ugwoke told NAN in an interview that members of the unions had been fully mobilised to ensure total compliance to the five-day warning strike.

    “We are fully ready for the strike, and there is no going back on that. The strike is going to be total from Monday, Aug. 19, to Friday, Aug. 23.

    “We had given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to meet our demands, but it elapsed with nothing coming forth from the side of government.

    “From Monday, therefore, we shall embark on this warning strike, and if nothing meaningful comes out of it, we will strategise to embark on an indefinite, comprehensive and total nationwide strike,’’ the unionist warned.

    According to him, our members are still open to further negotiations with the government before the end of the warning strike.

    Ugwoke, also the President of the JAC, appealed to education stakeholders to prevail on the Federal Government to meet JAC’s demands.

    “We have got judgment over the staff school issue in our favour. This judgment was got since Dec. 6, 2016, but up until now, none of our members who were affected has been reinstated. This is not going to continue,’’ he said.

    NASU Chairman, UNILAG chapter, Comrade Ajibade Kehinde, told The Nation the strike was to draw the attention of the Federal Government to some unresolved issues.

    “If nothing is done, our national body will call an emergency meeting and review the warning strike and take decisive action,” said Kehinde.

    FUTO SSANU joins strike

    The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) yesterday commenced a five-day warning strike to press home their demand of  N30 billion as Earned Allowances.

    The FUTO branch Chairman of SSANU and JAC, Franklin Matthews, said the strike “is expected to be total and comprehensive involving the school bursary, drivers, cleaners as well as security operatives of the school who are members of the union”.

    The NASU branch chairman, Samuel Iwuala, said a task force has been set up to ensure strict compliance.

    Partial success in DELSU, FUPRE

    The strike was partially observed at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), as some members of the unions were at work yesterday.

    A member of one of the unions, who spoke to The Nation in Warri yesterday, under anonymous conditions, said: “All non-academic staff of Nigerian universities are meant to be on strike now, but as you can see, we are still in the office.”

    On the reason for the non-compliance by the institution, he said: “Our university is a special one and a lot of political considerations are factored into how things are done here”.

    The Secretary of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), FUPRE chapter, Comrade Dan Ijeh, said: “The effect is not that felt here because we don’t have NASU. Instead of NASU, we have NUPENG and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), you remember this is not a regular university. However, the SSANU has joined the strike.”

    At the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, the fact that students are on vacation weakened the effect of the strike.

    Attempts to get to speak to the DELSU chapter chairman of SSANU, Comrade Monday Izu, was unsuccessful.

    AAU, UNIBEN in total support

    Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) in the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and the University of Benin joined in the nationwide warning strike.

    At the University of Benin, the monitoring team of labour unions made sure offices were not closed.

    The offices that were already opened were shut down. Some of the university employees were seen at various places in the institution.

    Only one gate at the main campus of the university in Ugbowo was open for vehicles to go in. This caused heavy vehicular traffic that stretched into the Benin–Lagos road.

    At UNIBEN Ekenwan campus, the situation was the same as many offices were locked. The Chairman of the UNIBEN chapter of NASU, Comrade Anthony Igbinosa, said he was satisfied with the compliance level.

    “So far, so good, it has been successful. We expected our members to comply and they did. If you go round the campus, you will see that everywhere is sealed up and this will continue till Friday 23rd of August 2019, until we get directives from the national. So far, if we have a hundred, I would rate it ninety-nine per cent,” he said.

    Some students complained of lack of water in their hostels because there was no one on duty to pump the water.

    Academic activities were on in AAU but the concerned labour leaders ensured their members stayed away from work.

    BUK students allay fear

    The Bayero University, Kano arm of the NASU yesterday joined the one-week warning strike. The SSANU, Bayero University, Kano branch also joined its non-teaching staff union counterparts.

    The Chairman of SSANU, BUK branch, Comrade Haruna Aliyu, said the strike followed a directive given by the JAC of the two non-teaching staff unions.

    “The strike is total and comprehensive as all our members are directed to comply, even the health centre is not spared,” said the Chairman.

    Students were, however, told not to panic. According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union Government, Mahraz Muhammad, said: “We wish to let BUK Students know that it is just a warning strike and as such there would not be a total shut down of the system.

    “During this one week of warning strike, power and water supply will be given to various halls of residence as usual while academic activities will continue at our various faculties. BUK students are therefore enjoined to disregard any speculation telling them to go home.”

    The statement added: “Members of the union, heads of various halls of residence and security personnel will be fully on ground to ensure students are okay. If there is any new development, it will be communicated to everyone by the union. Let us, therefore, stay calm as we hope for the best.”

    Many stranded as UNIUYO shelves admission screening

    Many admission seekers into the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State were stranded yesterday as the university failed to conduct the admission screening.

    The development followed the strike embarked upon by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), which has crippled academic and administrative activities in federal universities nationwide.

    Our correspondent, who was at the main and town campuses of the university, saw hundreds of candidates waiting hopelessly at various faculties of the institution yesterday.

    UNIUYO chapter chairman of NASU, Comrade Ime Edigheyong Edet, explained that the warning strike became necessary following the Federal Government’s refusal to pay arrears of Earned Allowances since 2013.

    He listed the cumulative debt arising from these earned allowances to include overtime, travel allowances and other entitlements, saying “the refusal of the Federal Government to listen to the voices of reason has forced NASU at the national level to call members out on this warning strike”.

    UI records 95 per cent compliance, says SSANU chair

    The Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Ibadan, Mr Wale Akinremi, has said there was 95 per cent compliance on the five days warning strike directive by its national body.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Akinremi made this disclosure in Ibadan on Monday while speaking on the resolve of SSANU and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) determination to get government attention on their three points demand.

    “The non-teaching staff in the federal universities in Nigeria are on strike because of the failure of the government to listen to our plea and our position on the welfare of staff as well as the development of the universities.

    “Specifically, we have three issues that we are dragging; one is on our agreement with the government since 2009 on the monetary aspect, but the government has not been attending to our request.

    “Secondly, on the issue of the university staff school teachers, they were erroneously sacked by the government; we protested at that time, the government took us to court and we got a judgement in favour of the teachers but till date, the government has yet to implement the judgement.

    “These teachers are languishing in penury; the pupils don’t know what becomes of their future. The staff schools have produced ministers, senators and professors among others. The onus is on us to make sure that our institutions thrive.

    “Thirdly, in that agreement, it is stated that we should be meeting every three years to review the position to know how far we have gone or if we are not moving at all and what we can do to move forward.

    “It is not all about money, the whole world should know that we are not only asking for money”.

    Also, Mr Malachy Etim, the NASU chairman UI, said all members of NASU are eager to comply because their welfare needs to be improved upon.

    “If there is any lecture going on, it is the work of the lecturers as teaching is not our responsibility. We have locked some classrooms but some lecturers have the key, so they can open them.

    “But offices are under lock. We are telling the federal government that failure to call us to a roundtable, we will declare an indefinite strike and close down all the universities,” he said.

    NAN reports that the University of Ibadan gate was heavily guarded by security agents both by the men of the Nigerian Police Force and that of the Department of State Services.

    NAN also reports that there was no vehicular movement into the campus as the gate was partially barricaded with mats spread across the road by the unions on strike.

    No strike in RSU

    The chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, Barry Jonah, yesterday said his members will not be part of the strike.

    He spoke when he featured on a radio programme.

    Jonah said his Institution did not receive the circular from the national office, informing them to join the strike.

    Activities in the institution were not disrupted yesterday, although they had just concluded semester examinations last week.

    The chapter leader said: “Our union is not part of the nationwide strike. We did not receive any formal letter to that effect from our national secretariat, Abuja, so we held a congress and our members decided not to be part of the strike.”

    Need for industrial harmony

    A former Minister of Education, Prof. Chinwe Obaji, and the Second Deputy National President, National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, have called for a lasting industrial harmony in universities.

    They made the call as the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Unions (NASU) began a nationwide warning strike on Monday.

    Obaji said universities, together with the Federal Government and the general public, must seek ways to ensure production of quality graduates to boost the country’s economy.

    “I think this infighting between labour unions and the Federal Government must be reviewed now to give room for serious work in re-engineering and repositioning academic activities in our ivory towers,” he said.

    According to her, it is high time the `embarrassing’ quality of graduates churned out annually by universities should bother education stakeholders.

    “We should stop all these back and forth issues and concern ourselves more with how to produce quality graduates that will one day be leaders of this country.

    “Quality education remains the key driver of any country’s economy, and this can only work if we come together as a people and find a way of achieving this, rather than this strike all the time.

    “Perhaps it should worry us the more that it was discovered recently that some persons who ought to be mobilised for the NYSC were allegedly unable to read the English alphabets,” she said.

    Obaji told NAN that Nigerians must task themselves on quality service delivery in their various capacities.

    Ogunbanjo said strikes in the university system had become too many, urging urgent interventions to save the system from collapse.

    According to him, the Federal Government should adequately tackle issues relating to strikes in the education sector.

    He said strikes had impacted negatively on the entire university system, noting that students were at the receiving end.

    “The moment it tries to seek a way out to reach a common ground with one labour union in the system, it is only natural that the other one will feel cheated, and so tries to make its demands.

    “So, if the government feels that only a certain labour union in the system deserves something, it should come out and defend its action, and if not, it should tell them as it is, once and for all.

    “Should there be the need for a negotiation, it should be done with parties concerned, with all commitment and sincerity of purpose,’’ the NAPTAN boss said.

  • How to avoid religious crisis, by experts

    The government should tackle hate speech to avert religious crises, International Centre for Law and Religious Studies Director Prof Cole Durham has said.

    He urged Nigerians to respect others’ rights and dignity.

    Durham spoke at the opening of the West African Regional Centre for Law and Religion Studies (WARCLARS) Conference.

    It was hosted by the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), and organised in partnership with the International Centre for Law and Religion and J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, Utah.

    The three-day event had the theme: Law, religion, culture and human dignity in west Africa.

    Durham said: “Nigeria faces a lot of polarisation along religious lines and what is critical to solve those problems is to learn to respect the dignity of each other. People have to be passionate not only about protecting themselves but also others.

    “To avert religious crises, the government must not allow people get away with hate speech. Sometimes people need to know that their rights will be protected.

    “The government needs to train the police officers with practical trainings so that they can defuse situations instead of letting them blow up.”

    The guest speaker, Prof Edward Quashigah, who is the president, African Consortium of Law and Religion Studies (ACLARS), noted the excesses of some religious institutions and practitioners.

    He disclosed that WARCLARS research hub would be domiciled at the Nigerian Institute for Advance Legal Studies in UNILAG.

    According to the former Dean, Faculty of Law and WARCLARS coordinator Prof Akin Ibidapo-Obe, the institutions are trying to establish a hub of research for teachers, researchers and religious leaders who have an interest in law and religion.

    “WARCLARS is an intellectual research base. Very soon, we will be hosting universities in West Africa to come and do research here.

    “We are looking at the interplay of law, religion, culture and to emphasise that they are central to human dignity.

    “The purpose of religion is to enhance human dignity. If we achieve access to religious information for research and paper presentations and use them to address societal issues, conflict and other vices will stop,” he said.

    Dean, Faculty of Law, UNILAG, Prof Ayodele Atsenuwa added that the conference would emphasise the need for more research and interactions.

    This, she believes, will give Nigerians knowledge that helps them not to submit themselves to abuses, and to make informed decisions and hold on to belief that supports human dignity.

     

  • How we investigated INEC officials, DSS tells tribunal

    The Directorate of Secret Service (DSS) has explained to the National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City how it investigated some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the February 23rd House of Representatives election in Ikpoba-Okha/Egor.

    It said it contacted the Nigeria Communications Commission to do proper confirmation of the phone numbers quoted in its statement of oath.

    The DSS was testifying in the petition filed by Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonyinma against the election of Hon Jude Ise-Idehen for the Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency seat.

    Hon Ehiozuwa is asking the tribunal to declare him winner of the election.

    At the last hearing, the tribunal listened to audio tape of an INEC staff making statement on how he manipulated figures for the PDP in Ward Six.

    An operative of the DSS, Friday Nwinudee Dumka, who appeared on behalf of the body, tendered statements obtained from some ad hoc staff INEC, statements they gave, and the charge sheets with which they were charged to court in Abuja.

    During cross-examination, Friday said the DSS investigated the INEC official in charge of Ward six Ikpoba-Okha local government, Suleiman Ikhuoria.

    Read Also; ‘Presentation of certificate to INEC not mandatory’

    Friday said Suleiman personally wrote the statement tendered.

    He said he didn’t visit INEC office during investigation but wrote to the Commission.

    Hon Agbonyinma, however, closed his case with the testimony of the DSS operative.

    Counsel to Ise-Idehen, G.C Igbokwe requested for time for him to give his exhibits to the petitioners for them to view.

    He said he would call only four witnesses.

    Counsel to INEC and the PDP, Akahomhe T.A and A.I Osarenkhoe respectively said they would call eight witnesses.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O Ogundana, complained about time and adjourned hearing to August 20th, 2019.

  • 42-yr-old man defiles 9-year-old daughter

    An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered that a driver, Sulaimon AjigbotAllah, 42, who allegedly defiled his nine-year-old daughter, be remanded in prison, pending legal advice.

    Chief Magistrate O.O Adisa, who did not take the plea of AjigbotAllah, ordered that he be remanded in Agodi prison.

    Adisa ordered the police to send a copy of the case file to the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

    He adjourned the matter until Sept.27, for mention.

    Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Sgt. Folake Ewe, told the court that Ajigbot Allah allegedly defiled his nine-year-old daughter on Aug. 11, at about 9 p.m. at Atipe Oke – Ofa , Ibadan.

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    She said that the matter was reported to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyagañku, by the suspect’s neighbour.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State 2000.

    News Agency of Nigeria reports that section 218 stipulates life imprisonment with or without cane for defilement if defendant is found guilty.

  • My suspension by Kogi APC of no effect, says Sen. Kadiri

    Senator Alex Kadiri has described his purported suspension by the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as inconsequential.

    Report had it that the party suspended Kadiri over what it described as anti-party activities and attempt to sabotage the November 16 governorship election in the state.

    “This followed a letter addressed to the Chairman of the party in Dekina Local Government Area by executive members of Odu Ward I of the APC, signed by the ward chairman, Yakubu Echiye, the vice-chairman, Ademu Hussein and other exco members of the word”, it said.

    Reacting to the said suspension, he said it was of no effect, adding that he committed no offence to warrant such, more so, that he had not been summoned to answer any form of infringement.

    He said those involved were working under the directive of the state government, who according to him, corralled them into so doing.

    His words: “My answer is yes. I have seen it (news of expulsion), but I do not attach any importance to it. It’s of no effect, because anywhere, even among thieves, there should be some guidelines as to how things are done, not to talk of party members.

    “If I have committed any offence against the party, the least they can do is to call me to come and defend myself. I have not been accused of any offence; I have not been invited. I mean, how can you gather some persons in a private residence and say you have suspended Alex Kadiri?

    “What has happened to the concept of fair hearing? And, that is why I say that even among thieves and corrupt people, there must be a code of conduct.

    “Among thieves; those who steal, and thugs, there must be a code of conduct. You cannot just drag my name in the mud for no just cause. I am not on the payroll of the APC, anywhere in Nigeria. I am just a loyal party man, and anywhere I see wrong, I believe with my experience and age, I should be able to speak truth to power. That’s all I have been doing in the last four years, and that is known to every Nigerian, except maybe (Governor) Yahaya Bello and his gang.

    “What is Important is that the APC executive in my ward were all invited to a nocturnal meeting in a private house, which is not the party headquarters or office, by people who said they were sent to get me suspended from the party.

    “At a point, the members of the executive walked out on them, because all of them who convened this meeting were not even from my ward. In fact, one of them is not even from local government (Dekina), but all of them are functionaries of Yahaya Bello’s government, one way or the other.

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    “After the members of the executive of my ward walked out- after they were given the letter to sign; that I have been suspended, because they said I have done nothing wrong to warrant my being suspended. So, these same fellows pursued my (ward) executive outside the house, and begged them to return inside, where several sums of money were now given to these executive members, to sign for my suspension.

    “In fact, if I must tell you the truth, one member of the executive of my ward was never invited to this meeting, because of his previous attitude towards fighting injustices. So, they knew he will never sign the paper; they never wanted him to be part of this rubbish.

    “In any case, almost all of the members of the executive who were present phoned individually, to tell me how much was disbursed that night. And, that is the tragedy of the politics of Kogi State”.