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  • Five signs your email account has been hacked

    Hackers don’t typically tell their victims they’ve been hacked. Most of the time, when hackers gain entry to mails to do their dirty works, they don’t want anyone to know. That way, they can come back another time to see what else they can do or find.

    So you might not know if your computer has already been hacked. But there are a handful of signs that indicate a hacker may have invaded a network or a computer you use.

    Some are computer-related and some are not. If any of these sound familiar, perhaps you’ve been a victim…without knowing it.

    ·       Your password has been changed

    One of the most obvious signs of your email being hacked is when you find it difficult sign into it. If your email password is rejected as incorrect and you didn’t change it, it’s a strong indication that someone else has altered it. One of the first things many hackers do is to change your password to prevent you from logging in.

    ·       Receiving unusual messages

    Hackers tend to search for personal information such as who you bank with or credit card companies you use. It’s possible that some personal information is revealed such as user name and other identifying data like account numbers.

    Fraudsters will use this information to create messages from your bank or credit card provider. They may even try to call you citing this information. This can make it difficult to determine whether the mail/call is genuine.

    If in doubt, and the messages arrive out of the blue, don’t respond and call the bank to verify that they are trying to contact you.

    Read Also; FBI arrests 29 Nigerians, 54 others in email fraud crackdown

    ·       When your friends receive spam messages from you

    If your friends complain about receiving spam messages from your email address, it’s safe that your mail has been compromised. This also sends a warning that your personal data is a risk.

    ·       Mails in your sent box that you don’t recognise

    It is usually not a custom to check sent mails unless someone complains of not receiving messages from us. Truth is some crimes might have been going on right under your nose without you paying much attention to it.

     It is important to check your sent mail folder to see if there are messages there that you didn’t send. If you do find some, then you know a hacker probably has access to your account.

    5 Have you been receiving password reset emails?

    Another sign to look out for is password reset emails that come from other websites and which you didn’t request. A hacker may use access to your email to try and change your password on other sites.

    Hackers understand that many people use the same password across different web sites and by searching through your inbox they can see which websites you regularly use.

  • What you probably didn’t know about Aisha Buhari

    Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, the First Lady of Nigeria and the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari is a cosmetologist, Beauty Therapist and Author.

    Prior to acquiring her higher degrees, Mrs. Buhari pursued a career in Beauty and fashion. Since the start of the Buhari administration, Aisha Buhari has maintained a stately disposition, bringing back a certain modesty to the office of the First Lady.

    Over the years, she runs a successful business as the founder of Hanzy Spa and Hanzy Beauty Institute, a beauty salon in Kaduna and Abuja.

    She obtained a diploma in beauty therapy from the Carlton Institute of Beauty Therapy, Windsor, United Kingdom. Permanent Make-up, Mesotherapy and Micro-dermabrasion.

    She holds a post-graduate diploma in cosmetology and beauty from Academy Esthetique Beauty Institute of France. She is a member of the United Kingdom Vocational Training and Charitable Trust and the International Health and Beauty Council.

    A beauty therapist is someone who is professionally trained and specialises in beauty treatments of both the face and body. As well as making their clients look beautiful, they are also responsible for making them feel good about themselves.

    She closed her beauty salon when her husband became President in 2015. She is married with 5 children and one grandchild.

    She has since published a book “Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists” which has been recommended as a text for the NBTE curriculum.

    Read Also: Obasanjo to Aisha: draw your husband’s attention to Nigerians’ plights 

    Aisha Buhari is a vocal advocate of women’s rights and children rights and this was a focal point during her campaign for her husband’s election in 2015. She has, on several occasions, emphasised the need for young girls to get Primary and Secondary school education before getting married, saying that she believes no girl should get married before the age of 17.

    In May 2015, on the sidelines of the Global Women Conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aisha stressed the need for Nigerian laws that will protect the women from forced early marriages, sex trafficking and other issues Nigerian girls and women contend with. She raised concerns on Child sexual abuse in Nigeria, sex trafficking and the need for Legislation against early marriage.

  • 10 things you should avoid saying to your wife

    By Praise Olowe

    Words are powerful and can be used to build an amazing relationship or destroy one.

    Here are 10 things you should avoid saying to your wife because women can be quite fragile and emotional.

    “It’s up to you.”

    Ladies generally don’t always like to hear this. If you are trying to come up with a plan or something, and your wife seeks your opinion regarding it, “It’s up to you” can be a very frustrating response and could even make her give attitudes for the rest of the day. Please engage in conversation with her to find a solution that works for both of you.

    “I don’t remember saying that”

    Sir? Why won’t you remember? It is important to know that women are confident in their memory. Be careful how you handle this conversation or it could quickly turn into a fight.
    If you feel confident in your own memory, try something different like “the way I remember it is…” and approach it from a neutral perspective. Saying something like “I don’t remember saying that” can feel like an attack and put your wife on the defence.

    “I don’t know.”

    Your wife is asking what you’d like for dinner, and you saying I don’t know. Even as a daughter, it gets really annoying when I ask my dad “can I serve your food now” and he says “I don’t know” please what do you not know exactly?

    When your wife turns to you for some insight or help and you reply with “I don’t know” and keep doing what you’re doing, you leave your wife feeling alone. Instead, jump in and make some suggestions. Just say something that will benefit you both please.

    “Nothing”
    The “silent treatment,” is very dangerous to any relationship at all. It creates disconnection and frustration. Instead, tell your wife you need a short time to “cool off,” and then intentionally go back to the conversation later.

    “I’ll do it later”

    Please, what happened to now? Or at least why not specify when exactly. We all know that later could be next year. If you do say it, be the person who does it within a reasonable time.

    “What have you done all day?”

    Personally, I feel like this is the height of it all. This is just a big no, no! Some women stay home to take care of the kids while the husband goes to work, or perhaps works from home. I beg you to please never come home and ask your wife what she’s been doing all day. Maybe the house isn’t perfect or dinner is a bit late, just don’t ask such. It can be really really annoying.

    Read Also; Six ways to win over your crush

    “Get out!”
    Okay, is there a crisis situation?, I mean, is the house on fire? did a tree fall on the house or somewhere near? Please and please, if any of these is not the case then do not order your wife out. She didn’t sign up to be bullied. No matter what the issue is, give it time to cool off.

    “You always….” or “You never…”

    You don’t have to criticize her or at least find a better way of doing it. Instead of discussing all of your wife’s shortcomings, again, be constructive. Simply tell her how you feel and what you would like her to do differently. Yes, you can still do this while married.

    “It’s your fault.”

    Even if it is her fault, you should find a better way of making her realize it. Assigning blame only takes you further into disagreements. It is nonconstructive. Remember, you’re a team, and you can be part of the solution.

    “You’re fat”

    Such a blunt statement will never be seen as helpful but hurtful. Your wife knows it that she has put on weight and she might have already made plans to drop off a few pounds. She might be already under some pressure regarding her weight gain, and saying she is fat will only worsen matters for her. So, please be gentle.

  • Edo, NDDC fight over ‘shoddy jobs’

    There seems to be strained relationship between the Edo State government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Emergency road projects appear to be the bone of contention, writes OSAGIE OTABOR

    The relationship between the Edo State government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has not been cordial since Governor Godwin Obaseki assumed office in Edo State. The strained relationship is connected to the shoddy and sub-standard jobs executed by the NDDC contractors.

    Few months after Obaseki assumed office, he paid an unscheduled visit to some road projects being executed by the NDDC in the state. Obaseki was peeved that the contractors’ jobs were shoddy and the drainage were not linked to any primary drain. This, the governor observed, would make the water stagnant in the drains and make the road easily damaged.

    Obaseki directed the NDDC contractors handling various road projects in the state to stop work immediately. He said the NDDC would not be allowed to execute any projects in the state without meeting the state’s specifications and designs.

    The NDDC contractors were given seven days to submit the design drawings, Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation of their respective projects to the State Ministry of Works.

    After some grey issues were resolved, NDDC resumed construction and rehabilitation of roads in the state. Governor Obaseki entered tripartite agreement with the NDDC and the Edo State Oil and Gas Development Commission (EDSOPADEC) on the repair of the Benin-Abraka Road. The NDDC was to pay 40 per cent of the fund. Construction work has commenced on the Benin-Abraka Road and the NDDC is yet to meet its obligation.

    Crack re-emerged in the relationship between Edo government and the NDDC over who was responsible for the massive repairs and construction of many internal roads in Benin-City and its environs.

    When agents of Obaseki listed roads constructed by the administration, those opposed to second term coming of Obaseki were quick to point out that majority of the roads were constructed by the NDDC but there were counter-arguments that under previous administrations, the NDDC did not execute much projects as it is doing under Obaseki. Former Edo NDDC Commissioner, Hon Saturday Uwuilekhue, published list of roads executed by the NDDC apparently to out a lie to claims by agents of Edo Government.

    However, many of the newly constructed and rehabilitated roads were washed away by heavy rains and developed potholes. Obaseki’s administration was criticised for constructing poor roads. The Apostolic Street in Bénin-City that was just asphalted was washed away and houses in the street were flooded.

    Some roads such as the College Road, Joromi Street, Aiguobasimwin and others recently reconstructed by the NDDC have developed potholes.

    Last week when the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on abandoned NDDC projects visited Edo State, Governor Obaseki opened up on his reservation for the NDDC and why probe into its activities should commence. Obaseki stated that the N20 billion emergency funds allegedly expended by the NDDC on projects in the state in the last six months must be probed.

    Governor Obaseki said his administration was exploring the option of suing contractors handling the Commission’s projects for delivering sub-standard projects, which caused flooding in parts of the state.

    Obaseki, who reiterated his desire to stop NDDC contractors from executing sub-standard projects said there was need for synergy between the state government and the NDDC in delivering quality projects.

    He faulted claims by the interim management of the NDDC that the sum of N256 billion was spent on emergency project work, out of which N20 billion was spent in Edo State in the last six months.

    “This kind of action is embarrassing to our administration and causing us political problems as our citizens are confused about the roads we are constructing and the sub-standard roads executed by NDDC contractors.

    “I have instructed the state’s Solicitor-General to begin the process to take legal action against NDDC contractors, who execute sub-standard work in the state, particularly the contractor who handled the project on Apostolic Street off Sokponba Road, which led to flooding in the area. We will blacklist them.

    “I am surprised that the NDDC management is here as I invited them months ago when I received complaints about the quality of work done by their contractors but they ignored the invitation. There is no need having NDDC in the state when they have total disregard for the state government.

    “A year ago, barely 10 per cent of the NDDC budget for Edo State was implemented. The immediate past interim management team of the NDDC needs to come and show us how they spent N20 billion in the state.

    “Beyond what the House Committee is doing, there must be a judicial enquiry into the activities of the NDDC. People must go to jail for their corrupt acts. The 13 per cent derivation fund collected from oil-producing communities that was supposed to be used for the development of the region has not been spent by NDDC.

    “We have registered our displeasure on NDDC projects in Edo State and contest the claims of their spending N20 billion in the state for emergency work. We signed a tripartite agreement with NDDC. They were supposed to commit 40 per cent while the state provides 60 per cent. We opened an account but they didn’t remit one kobo into it,” he noted.

    Speaking during inspection of NDDC projects in Edo State by the Ad hoc Committee, Governor Obaseki said the NDDC and its contractors must pay compensation for victims whose properties were affected by flooding at the Apostolic Street.

    He said: “The contractor did the asphalt work on the road without taking into consideration the fact that there were manholes to channel water in the area. When the community advised the contractor not to block the manholes, he disregarded the complaints and blocked them. You can see the devastation that it has caused?

    “We are holding the NDDC and the contractor liable and we will take legal actions to ensure they compensate the victims affected.

    “The NDDC was supposed to contribute 40 per cent, while the state government and its agency would contribute the remaining 60 per cent to the Benin-Abraka Road project but the commission reneged on the agreement.

    “The state government has commenced work on the road and it will be completed with or without NDDC’s counterpart fund because the NDDC is grossly mismanaged.”

    Leader of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee, Hon. Sergius Ogun, stated that they were in the state to investigate abandoned NDDC projects.

    Ogun, who expressed disappointment with the number of NDDC abandoned projects in Edo State, said some projects awarded since 2012 could not be accounted for anywhere in the state.

    “It is obvious that NDDC has not partnered with the state government. We are talking about projects awarded by NDDC in 2012. Seven years after, we cannot see any visible projects. These are some of the things we will take back to Abuja.”

    Uwulekhue berated the Ad-hoc Committee and Governor Obaseki for making what he termed unfounded allegations without asking relevant questions.

    Uwulekhue said he attracted projects worth N20 billion to the state but the money was not paid to contractors as it was the NDDC policy not to mobilise contractors to site.

    He said contractors must finish their jobs and certificate issued before payments are made.

    On why the NDDC did not fund Benin-Abraka Road project, Uwulekhue stated that the contractor should show evidence of job done before money would be released.

    His words: “People are talking without reading the NDDC Act. Once you bid for job, you go to site with your own money at your own risk. If our engineers did not certify the jobs as good, we will not pay.

    “Any NDDC contractor that does substandard jobs will not be paid as files go through 43 offices before payments are made. NDDC cannot go to Treasury Single Account (TSA) account and make payment anyhow.

    “I did my best to attract N20 billion projects but the question is whether the money was released. The Ad-hoc Committee does not have any information. They are just making noise. A right thinking person will not talk like that.”

  • ‘Multiple taxation killing businesses’

    Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are groaning under multiple taxation with the attendant low turnover by the company’s.

    They urged government at all levels to harmonise their tax policies towards reducing the tax burden imposed on various categories of businesses in Nigeria, in other to promote business growth and job creation.

    Speaking at a business forum in Lagos, an industrialist, Managing Director/CEO, Layus Investment Company Limited, Mr. Olatunji Lawal, said multiple taxation has been hindering steady growth of businesses and regretted  that government at all strata have not n shown  genuine concern to address the situation.

    He relieved a scenario where government at all strata harass manufacturing companies and other SME’s operating at various localities within their jurisdiction, demanding all forms of taxes which are not healthy to such businesses and asked them to harmonise the taxes for the growth of businesses.

    The industrialist implored government to encourage business growth through their policies including moderate taxation, and also improve on other enabling infrastructure like improved and regular electricity supply and good road network to facilitate industrial growth and development, leading to more job creation for our teaming masses.

    Commenting on the menace of fake and adulterated health products in circulation, Mr. Lawal whose Company manufacture Cacatin, a brand of Skin & Hair care products with Herbal mixture for women, called on the National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to re – engineer it’s product registration policy by establishing a training centre for local manufacturers/producers, where they could undergo training and also subject their products to proper scrutiny before approval.

    He explained that by so doing, sanity would be brought into product registration, control and monitoring. He also advocated  that Herbal Products  producers  should be made to go through the training school for Herbal Medicine practitioners established by the Lagos State government.

    On his company’s projection for growth the industrialist revealed that Layus Investment Company Limited has put machinery and necessary infrastructure  in place to become a full – fledge Pharmaceutical company in a few years time by going into production of drugs like paracetamol, blood tonics, and the likes to generate more employment opportunities for Nigerians.

    He added that he was determined to promote youth employment in the country while also advising parents to encourage their wards to start small scale businesses on a low key rather than being idle away or waiting for huge elusive business capital before venturing into business engagements stressing that government alone cannot provide employment for our teeming youths.

  • Abuja groups take care of the elderly

    In life they say, every beginning has an end and every newborn will someday grow old. With better health care and healthy living, people are beginning to live longer than before. Right now, it is estimated that almost 700 million people are over the age of 60. It is also estimated that by 2020, two billion people, which is over 20 per cent of the world population, will be 60 years or older.

    While most societies care for their elderly ones through numerous initiatives and homes, the elderly in Nigerian are left to their families who sometimes abandon them or can barely take care of their needs due to financial difficulties.

    The Public Relations Officer (PRO), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Abuja branch, Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga, explained that there are several laws that have been promulgated to address issues of older persons but that implementation has remained as serious problem.

    She added that Nigeria has the relevant laws and other arrangements in place, but that there are no structures to get the initiative going. For this and other reasons, Ogunlana-Nkanga said it cannot be said in earnest that the older people in the country are being provided for or are being taken care of by the government.

    As Nigeria joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Day of Older Persons on October 1, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly, a few groups came together to celebrate the elderly in Abuja. The elderly citizens were given free medical treatment, food and supplies.

    Founder and President, Amazing Grace Foundation Abuja, a non-governmental organization (NGO) Dr Ifeanyinwa Obegolu, explained that her foundation was set up in 2004 when the elderly were dying in the streets. Some of them, she said, were found under bridges.

    According to her, most of them were waiting in vain to collect their pensions, which they never got, while a number of them died while struggling to get their pensions.

    Obegolu said it was the plight of the elderly that motivated the Amazing Grace to focus on the elderly poor, leading the Foundation to start fetching them from the streets. Now the Foundation has been providing them with accommodation, food and medical treatment.

    “When most of them recover, they return home and are re-united with their families because this is not supposed to be permanent home”, Obegolu said.

    She added: “The Federal Government is beginning to listen now because we have created enough awareness. Even old people and many NGOs are springing up talking about elderly people. And with that, government is beginning to listen to us and I am sure they will help.

    “That is why we are here to create more awareness that people are not taking care of the elderly in the society. In fact, everything in this country is geared against the interest of the elderly. The roads we walk on are geared against the interest of the elderly.

    For instance, in other countries, you create pathways for the elderly, for those of them who struggle to enter bus. In Nigeria, they are pushed down. Nothing has been put in place for their benefit.

    “There is no foundation for the elderly. There is no medical welfare in this country. No social welfare, no laws protecting the elderly. We have sent this to the National Assembly. In fact, in 2006, under Senate President David Mark, they were able to pass one of the bills saying that parks should be created for the elderly. But the elderly need to eat before they go to the park. So, we want more of that legislation to ensure that the rest of the elderly are protected because in the present circumstance, the elderly have no laws protecting them.

    “Government should make laws protecting the elderly and intervene to help the NGOs like us who are trying to help. If they give us land, we can do something more like building more houses for the elderly and make their lives interesting. The government does not need to do everything for us. If the government is able to provide land, we can get people to help to build old peoples homes everywhere so that the elderly people can become more comfortable and happier”.

    Ogunlana-Nkanga also said: “You can start with widows. Widows are treated badly in some societies. We have seen a case of a widow that came and complained that she was being raped by a neighbour. We are talking a woman of over 80-years -old that was being raped. That is what we go through and nobody is taking care of them.

    “We have to understand that the society itself is already stressful for the young ones to even be able to take care of themselves. Extending that same care to the older persons may not be easy for these young ones. Government has that duty to take care of our older persons. They deserved it, they have paid their dues. Let us create social contract and social welfare package that will take care of these people”.

    She added that what should be addressed by the Federal Government is how to really take care of these older people without putting them through unnecessary stress. If they are told to come and receive their pensions, structures should be put in place to make them comfortable while they wait.

    “Also we don’t have to make it so stressful for them, we have to make sure that whatever policies that are being done are properly implemented. For instance, government should take it upon itself to build old people’s homes and the elderly should not be seen in street corners, in shackles or in bad shape.

  • ‘APC can’t displace PDP in Anambra’

    Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State. In this Interview with NWANOSIKE ONU, he says the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) cannot defeat his party in future polls.

    THE next governorship election will hold in Anambra State in 2021. How are you preparing?

    The PDP is gearing up for the 2021 governorship election in Anambra State. As you know, we’ve been out of power in this state since 2006. That’s a period of about 13 years now. And we are talking about getting back to power. It’s not just for the sake of power. We want to see that we change the narrative of what is happening presently. Anambra has gone back infrastructurally. We want to go back to where we used to stay. So, we are looking forward to getting back to, reorganising to see if we can get power back for the essence of bringing the governorship seat back to our party and that is the main essence of our reorganisation. Our main focus is how to create a major level of stability in the party, create the enabling environment for those who want to aspire to offices to run for the governorship too, to have a level playing field. It’s one thing to tell someone you will do a transparent primary, but it is important the person sees all the processes as transparent because the primary do not just start and end with the congresses. It starts long before that time. It starts from the period of campaigns going all round the whole state to canvass for support of the party, ownership and leadership. And it needs people to know that the leadership that embraces and that can be trusted. If you observe very well, the last primary of our party held before the last elections. For the very first time in this state for many years, there were no double primaries. All the primaries were held in one center and on the same day and candidates that emerged were candidates that were sponsored by the party for the elections. But, it’s not only shouting that INEC has not done it well, the question is, have you done it well in your own internal party. So, these are part of what we are doing. Again, we are presently galvanising our party rulership at the base. Very soon, you will see that the PDP will be holding seminars, retreats and workshops for our party leadership from the ward level to the local government areas and the state level. The essence is ensuring that those who believe in the party know why they believe in the party and that they are quoted in early enough as to what their role should be.We don’t want a situation whereby INEC says we start to bring in some party agents ahead of time. If you run around and you get the populace to support you and you go and pick some agents who will be there for merchandising purposes, then, all the efforts you’ve made will come to nothing. And so, these are part of the things we are putting in place. Some time ago, we gathered our stakeholders and they showed quick and tremendous zeal to move the party forward.

    Do you think PDP can regain power in Anambra?

    Well, the present APGA government is doing the much they know, but their best is not enough for the state. That’s why I said the environmental strength was backsliding. We are not moving forward. Anambra needs to be better than this. This is the center of the Igbo race. We need to be better than what we are today. The infrastructure is poor. We are going below a certain mark. Go around Anambra now, you will marvel. There are no roads again. All the roads are decaying. We can’t continue to watch and let it go that way. They are in government, but I know by their own actions, people have come to see that it is for the personal interest of the leaders and not for the general interest of Anambra, talk less of the Igboman. If we have five states and four are PDP, why is it that Anambra will not join so that we can speak with one voice and attract what is required for our state.

    Recently, the Vice President came to Anambra and made a proclamation that in 2021, the state will join the ‘next level’ train, is PDP not worried?

    We don’t know the Next Level he is talking about. I don’t know what he is talking about next level. You graduated from primary one to primary two, if you failed primary one, you can’t talk about primary two. It’s not possible. It’s just like going back to kindergarten. So, APC is not in the equation, it’s mere wishful thinking and a figment of the party’s imagination.

    The APC Chairman Chief Basil Ejidike, who was a member of your party toed the same line and you know how powerful he is in politics. Why do you see their plans as mere wishful thinking?

    They are just individuals and not the public. Chief Basil Ejidike is a good man, but that’s where it ends. Once you put yourself in forefront and you are robbed with the power of APC, all your efforts will be in vain. Anambra people know that APC doesn’t know what they are doing and they do not have a place in the politics of the state. The people of Anambra do not belong to APC. The party that has abandoned all the infrastructure in the Southeast. Yes, everybody wants to win, but the fact still remains, what is the interest of the people and community. The people of the state are waiting eagerly for PDP to come back. The result of the last election was a testimony that the people are still in love with our party in the state by voting overwhelmingly up to 96 percent for the party.

    What is the position of the PDP on zoning?

    PDP is a national party. We can’t subdue our calculations on the basis of a party that is so localized, it’s not done. At the appropriate time, all the dynamics of the politics will come out with a policy of positions as a national political party. Again, it all depends where the best material comes from and my party has such people in abundance in the three Senatorial zones in the state. However, we will cross the bridge when we get there.

    We learnt some aspirants have started nursing the ambition to contest the  governorship in 2021 in PDP. Who are they?

    I know that people like Sen. Uche Ekwunife has declared interest, Chief Obiorah Okonkwo, Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation, Azubogu and just few days ago, Chief Godwin Ezeemo, who donated a big brand new bus to the party are all interested. Some others are still being expected because so many of them have interest in PDP. What we have promised them is a free, fair and credible process that will give the party the best candidate.

    So, what you are saying now is that PDP can defeat APC and APGA…

    The trust of our assurance is that the people of the state have showed interest in our party. In the National Assembly, we were able to score 6 over 11 and we are still expecting more from the tribunal because in some local government areas, a lot of things happened. If you look at the state Assembly, despite all the pleas and cries from the governor that, if any other person wins that they might remove him from office. Today, we have six members and also have two senators. Honestly, 2019 had shown a pattern of interest of the Anambra people in the PDP, notwithstanding that we are not in power now at the center or in the state. All we need to do is to continue to show the people that our party is out to do the right thing. For me as the Chairman of the party, I want to assure transparency. Zoning is a matter of convention, it’s not a legalistic promo, any body who is qualified that wants to run an election should run an election. I believe the zonal leadership had said the contest is an open one, we are still two years away from the governorship election. As things unfold and open up, nothing is cast on stone. If there are reasons tomorrow to reflect and retain zoning, so be it. If at the end of the day, the party sees that it is in their best interest to throw it up completely, so be it. APGA is a localised party, it has no bearing root of dynamics in PDP, they should be following us not us following them. They know they have no other thing to cling on to, that’s why they are talking about this zoning thing instead of talking about good governance.

  • Minimum Wage battle shifts to states

    With the enactment of the National Minimum Wage Act and take-off of implementation, the battle for the new wage has shifted to the states, TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

    The presidential assent given to the minimum wage bill may have laid to rest several months of agitations and controversies over a new national minimum wage. However, another floodgate of struggles may have opened over its implementation by state governments. That is, the new minimum wage may not realise full-scale implementation without some disappointments.

    While some governors are ready to pay the N30,000 minimum wage,  some have spoken of low funds and opted to increase tax.

    For instance, Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said the state lacked the funds to pay the new wage, uring workers to pray for an improvement in the economy to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

    Ugwuanyi said: “In as much as the government will remain true to its obligations, I will tell you the nation’s economy is not robust.

    “I have taken notice of the new national minimum wage as signed into law, but workers should pray for improvement in financial resources of the state.

    “We will ensure that these issues are comprehensively and satisfactorily addressed in concert with other relevant government agencies and departments.”

    Similarly, Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi said he would neither be the first nor the last to pay the new wage.

    He said workers should prepare for an increase in tax, if they wanted to receive the new minimum wage.

    “You see, this issue of minimum wage, I will not be the first nor the last to pay it, but I will pay. Civil servants and others should be prepared to pay tax in Ebonyi State,” he said.

    It will be recalled that the Chairman,  Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, who canvassed the position of his colleagues in response to the report of the tripartite committee on minimum wage, said the governors were against the N30,000 minimum wage. According to him, the states are going through difficult times and, therefore, lacked the capacity to implement the new wage for workers.

    He said the payment of N30,000 was impracticable and may lead to retrenchment of workers in the states.

    Yari, however, said the states could only take up the challenge of paying the minimum wage, if Labour would agree to downsizing of the workforce across the country or Federal Government itself acceded to the review of the national revenue allocation formula as well as other measures that would boost the revenue profile of state governments.

    The governors, in the heat of negotiations with the Labour movement, set up a committee headed by Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, to assess the state of finances of most state governments.

    The agitation by the Labour is being spearheaded by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which rejected the governors’ position, insisting that states are capable of paying the new minimum wage if only state chief executives would allow the prudent management of resources.

    However, analysts believe that the real hurdles facing the governors over the implementation of the N30,000 National Minimum Wage are more of political issues than economic.

    They said governors should be ready to reduce their large number of political aides, cut down the amount spent on servicing political machinery and ignore certain political considerations to implement the new wage.

    A Professor of Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Jonah Onuoha, said lawmaking in Nigeria had been bedevilled by poor implementation.

    Onuoha said: “Otherwise, how can you explain the fact that even the N18,000 that was approved many years ago has not been implemented and you are approving N30,000? While we commend the President for assenting to the bill to become law, the question is: how do you implement it?

    “There must be a way to compel the state governments to implement the law; there must be a way the Federal Government will prevail on the states to implement the law. The institution is so weak that every governor behaves the way he wants without regard to the law.

    “The Federal Government cannot compel the states to employ anybody but when you employ people, pay them according to the law. That is what we are saying, even if it means cutting down on their (governors’) lifestyles,” said Onuoha.

    Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said state governments had failed to set their priorities right.

    Mumuni said: “Let me say straight away that at any level in the Nigerian polity, if priorities are ordered right, if we put our focus where it should be, there is no basis for any government not to be able to pay the new minimum wage. Look at what they pay their political hangers-on.

    “You cannot say any of those governors do not pay more than N30,000 to political hangers-on. So, I believe that it is a question of cutting our coat according to our cloth and ordering our priorities right, then everything will be okay

    He added, “The reason they (governors) will say they cannot pay is because monies are diverted for inanities and frivolities, rather than meeting the needs of the people of Nigeria. I don’t even know what they say they spend on security, especially when, from state to state, there are security challenges.

    “You then ask yourself what the security monies they collect are used for. I believe that the issue of security votes is another nomenclature for mismanaging resources and I don’t think it is needed in the current dispensation.”

    But a Professor of Political Science at the University of Lagos, Derin Ologbenla, warned that defaulting governors would have to brace for industrial actions with the attendant consequences.

    Ologbenla noted that rather than depend on federal allocations to meet the workers’ remuneration, states must be innovative to increase their internally generated revenue.

    The don explained: “The idea behind the N30,000 is that the prices of goods have gone up, the naira has been devalued and the workers are suffering in penury. Therefore, something has to be done.

    “The government, Labour and owners of businesses met and negotiated the N30,000. Having been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is a law at the federal, state and local government levels.

    “Now, any governor that refuses to pay will have himself to blame in the sense that there will be labour unrest in that state and the governor will not be able to achieve his aims and objectives. The N30,000 minimum wage is not even adequate for the workers.

    “The prices of things have gone up; the governors who say they cannot pay must find a way of generating ideas, they must attract investors to their states.”

    Ologbenla said the new minimum wage law had provided an opportunity for the governors to reduce their spending and channel their security votes to people-oriented purposes. He supported the call for the revenue sharing formula review.

    “The security votes of each state can be better applied. How are the security votes utilised? They are not monitored or accounted for; they are spent anyhow.”

    Also, responding to some of the comments by state governments on their inability to pay the new wage, Comrade Agnes Funmilayo Sessi, Lagos State Chair of NLC, said any governor that said he could not pay the new wage had failed the people and should resign.

    She said: “Any governor that cannot pay the salary of the workers should resign. That means they have failed in their duties and they are incapable of holding that position.

    “If they can reduce corruption and bogus spending, there is no state that will not be able to pay the workers the new wage. When they are electing them, did they promise the people that they will starve them?”

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba  punctured the excuses of the governors that their revenue profile cannot support the implementation of the minimum wage. He accused them of being extravagant.

    Speaking with The Nation, Wabba, said governors who were not ready to implement the new national minimum wage should brace for confrontation with organised labour.

    Wabba said governors should remember that they swore an oath to abide by the laws, adding that the national minimum wage is a law which they must implement.

  • Day okada riders stabbed man to death

    Tosin Stephen Abikoye, a surveyor, had no inkling that death was awaiting him that Thursday night. He was returning home after the day’s work at his Leisure Court office. Time was a little past 6pm and as he drove home, he was probably thinking of his wife and two lovely boys, a five-year-old, and the other just a little over five months.

    For the Kogi State indigene, death came through some wrongheaded commercial motorcycle riders, commonly referred to as Okada riders. Many still wonder what anyone could have done to warrant such unnecessary and needless “execution”. For, that was how Abikoye’s senseless killing is being perceived by people that witnessed the dastardly act. It was a painful death in the hands of people that are largely seen as incapable of any rational thought processes.

    An eye witness, while narrating the incident, said that Abikoye was returning from work, and had parked the car at a car wash near I.K Supermarket in Lugbe, a satellite town in the FCT. He had left the car to get something nearby when suddenly a commercial motorcycle rider who had a break failure rammed into the car. The usual argument ensued and Abikoye eventually told the bike man and his passenger to go take care of their injuries. Another eyewitness said he even gave the motorcyclist some money for medication even though he (the bike rider) was at fault. Without making any fuss about the dent left on his car by the errant cyclist, Abikoye got into his car and headed his way.

    At this point, the motorcyclists had mobilised some of his colleagues, in a typical fashion during disagreements with motorists. The bike rider and some of his colleagues chased after Abikoye for reasons no one could fathom, and shouting “barawo, barawo” (thief) as they pursued the driver and the car. Looking back and seeing the horde of bikers pursuing him, Abikoye probably got scared. Apparently thinking that he would be safe if he got to his street where he was well known, he headed in the direction of his house. But that turned out to be a big mistake.

    A security man told The Nation that when bikers passed a nearby new site gate of the Federal Housing estate, some of their other colleagues joined in the chase, even without finding out what transpired. However, the fleeing Abikoye drove past his house and headed for a nearby hotel owned by someone he knew very well. He was said to have taken cover in one of the hotel rooms, having shaken off his pursuers. Unfortunately, a suya (barbecue) seller who was watching the unfolding drama from a distance, gave Abikoye away. The mob confronted the hotel manager, who they ordered to produce the man or risk having the facility burnt down. Left with no choice, the manager gave him up. And in a twinkle of an eye, daggers of different shapes and sizes started creeping out from under the filthy garments of the bike riders. And one after the other, the beasts stabbed Abikoye until he lost consciousness. He died as he was being rushed to the hospital.

    Being a well known and well liked person in the community, there began an immediate uprising against all commercial motorcyclists in the vicinity. In retaliation, angry residents descended on any motorcycle in sight. And within a few hours, charred remains of burnt motorcycles littered the neighbourhood. In addition, the residents placed immediate ban on the activities of the commercial bike riders in the area till further notice. Residents of the area are now faced with the challenge of trekking long distances to get where they could get bikes to their destinations. A security man in the New Site estate  informed our correspondent that the ban is permanent. “We are thinking of bringing Keke (tricycles) to start operating here”.

    When The Nation, visited the late Abikoye’s house, the wife of the deceased, who is said to be nursing a five months old baby, had been relocated by the husband’s family. The house, which wore a sad and forlorn look, was being guarded by a team of six armed policemen who told the reporter they were from the Force Headquarters

    The Mai Angwar (chief of the community) Called Joseph, was not around when The Nation’s correspondent visited his house on Monday. Neither was he at his hotel (where Abikoye was killed).

    A lawyer, Steve Nwigwe noted that since it is a mob action, it would be difficult to isolate a single person for punishment. He however blamed the police in Lugbe division for not doing enough. “The Police are not doing anything. They must deploy three vans in different places along the axis. But this does not change the fact that the man is dead.

    “I expected that bikes would be registered, at least before being allowed to function in the FCT. If they are, if they can’t get the rider, they can get the owner who will then fish out the rider”. According to the lawyer, the law in Nigeria forbids anyone from carrying arms of any kind. “But these bike riders carry daggers and the police know this and still allow it”. He wondered if there are two sets of law governing the country, which allow some to carry weapons while others cannot.

    Mr Adaralegbe Akintayo, the Managing Director of T. Pumpy where most people erroneously believe that Tosin worked, said it was unfortunate that a little accident could result in the death of an innocent person.

    Akintayo said, “I know him because his boss is my friend, in the person of Segun Ajibola. But many people think he is one of my staff. But I know him through his boss. When the incident happened, I went to the hospital to see him, and I have said we should push so that the matter should not be swept under the carpet. He is generally know as an easy going person”.

    Abikoye’s immediate boss, Mr. Segun Abolaji, said the deceased was a well loved person in the community and a hard worker. “He’s just like a brother to me. His death, which was caused by a minor misunderstanding, was unnecessary. Well, there is nothing we can do now as we can’t reverse his death”.

    Abikoye’s cousin, Bayo Alfred, who works as a carpenter in the area, while speaking with our reporter, said he was known for his  kindness and was willing to help anyone in distress. Even if it’s the last food stuff in the house, he will give it out and say ‘God will provide’. And the irony of the issue is that he had totally escaped the Okada people that were looking for him as they didn’t know where he had entered and they had started leaving. But a Mallam that sells suya around the area called them back and pointed at where he had entered. That was how they brought him out and killed him. These are people we usually give jobs when available. The ‘informant’ had his shop burnt in retaliation.

    Bayo said the wife had been moved to mararaba to be with the husband’s family. She’s deeply traumatized, he said.

    Speaking on the issue, the Divisional Police Officer of the Lugbe Division, Chief Superintendent of Police, Raymond Anyim, said his division was aware of the matter. He however said any information required can only be sourced from the Police Public Relations Officer.

    According to him, they have spoken with the headquarters verbally, and “we have sent our report”.

  • NUPENG accuses IOCs of flouting labour laws

    The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has decried the imposition of indecent work condition by International Oil Companies (IOCs) and their labour contractors in the country.

    Lamenting that the situation was getting worse daily, the union alleged that the statutory institutions and agencies saddled with protecting workers’ interests were twiddling their thumbs.

    NUPENG canvassed a stop to the trend in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.

    In a communiqué issued at the end the union’s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lagos, NUPENG President Williams Akporeha urged institutions and agencies saddled with protecting workers’ interest to address the exploitation of workers.

    He noted that the unhealthy contract cycle in the industry could further impoverish workers.

    Among other issues critical to the sector, the oil workers said, is the granting of contracts without recruiter’s licence. The union expressed worry that it has impacted negatively on the conditions of work of those being recruited.

    He said it was obvious that many labour contractors being engaged by oil and gas companies were not registered as recruiters in violation of the laws.

    According to him, there is a massive exploitation and abuse of workers’ rights to the extent of eloping with contract workers’ severance benefits by the contactors to these oil companies.

    Akporeha noted that the union has resolved to activate the instrument of the law and other legitimate means as recognised by the labour laws and conventions to fight inhuman treatments of workers.

    “Some of these cases include Virtual Travel Network that eloped with terminal benefits of 48 NAOC contract workers since 2015 and Logistics Facility Affairs (LFA), a contractor with Chevron Nigeria Limited that also ran away with workers’ final entitlement.

    “A Nigerian would work under harsh and hard conditions for several years receiving peanuts and yet when the contract ends, the worker’s severance benefits are stolen away by contractors and hired by an international oil companies.

    “Most times when confronted, these IOCs feign ignorance of the whereabouts of these portfolio contractors and recruiters,” he said.

    On the deplorable state of roads across the country, NUPENG called on the Federal Government to expedite action on repairing bad roads within the six geo-political zones to assuage the sufferings of Nigerians, who are use the dilapidated roads.