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  • FG releases final N22.6bn NAL Pensioners entitlements

    The federal government has approved the release of N22.6 billion balance to pensioners of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited.

    Permanent Secretary Special Duties in the ministry of finance, Dr. Mohammed K. Dikwa, made this disclosure while calming the restive pensioners who forced the minister to remain in her office to effect the payment of their entitlements.

    Dikwa said communication lapses between his office, the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) and pensioners led to the embarrassment suffered by the minister and others caught in the pensioners protest.

    Though the verification and data capturing of the NAL pensioners was supposed to start by 10am and terminate by 2pm the exercise eventually started by 2pm after some grumbling from the pensioners.

    The pensioners were worried that the late start of the data capturing exercise might lead to some of them not being captured on Wednesday meaning that some of them might spend another day in Abuja.

    Read Also: I’ll not abuse my office or turn govt into family affairs – Abiodun

    The exercise was however peaceful. Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Nigeria Airways branch, Comrade Sam Nzene who spoke with journalists, alleged that the consultant who was to conduct the screening disappeared claiming that his contract had not been regularised and that government was owing him.

    On Tuesday before handing over, Zainab Ahmed held two meetings first with directors and heads of parastatals under her ministry and later with her Special Advisers and Assistants where she thanked them for supporting her.

  • Ganduje re-appoints SSG, Accountant General

    Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State on Wednesday re-appointed the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Alhaji Usman Alhaji and State Accountant General, Shehu Mu’azu to work with him in his second term in office.

    He commended them for working with him in his first tenure in office which comes to ended Tuesday May 28th, 2019.

    He made the announcement immediately after his official inauguration for the second term in office.

    He urged them to work hard and make the new administration be more fruitful as he promises for the second term in office.

    Read Also: Ganduje declares free education for physically challenged persons

    This came a day after all political appointments were terminated by the administration, a day before today’s inauguration.

    It could be recalled that, all political appointments were terminated with the exception of tenure-based appointments, which government said that would be determined by the laws governing the operations of affected agencies and departments.

  • Photo: Sanwo-Olu unveils official portrait

    Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo Olu has unveiled his official portrait. This is coming minutes after he was inaugurated as the Executive Governor of the state on Wednesday.

  • Pregnant woman, 9 others injured from stampede at Ihedioha’s inauguration

    At least 10 people, including a pregnant woman, were injured from stampede during Imo Gov. Emeka Ihedioha’s inauguration on Wednesday in Owerri.

    A member of the medical team for the inauguration, Dr Francis Igwe, confirmed the figure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri.

    The stampede resulted from a huge crowed which besieged the Dan Anyiam Stadium, venue of the inauguration,

    Igwe said, however, that the victims were revived.

    Read Also: Hoodlums attack, unleash violence at Makinde’s inauguration

    He told NAN that the medical team led by Dr Vin Udokwu were proactive to handle the situation.

    “When we saw the crowed, we suspected that there may be an emergency situation; we quickly put our personnel and equipment together just to get ready,” he said.

    Members of the Red Cross Society were also seen assisting in rescue operations during the stampede.

    Before the inauguration, a woman had fainted and was carried away from the field by the medical personnel with a stretcher.

    Igwe said that all situations were controlled.

  • Breaking: Buni appoints acting SSG

    The newly sworn-in Governor of Yobe State Alh. Mai Mala Buni has appointed Alh. Baba Malam Wali mni as the Acting Secretary to the State Government.

    According to Abullahi Bego who signed the statement as Director General Press Affairs to Gov. Mai Mala Buni said the appointment takes immediate effect.

    Read Also: Makinde appoints CoS

    The acting SSG was until his new appointment the substantive Secretary to State Government under the immediate past Governor Ibrahim Gaidam’s administration.

    Details shortly…

  • How my successor will emerge, by Dickson

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has explained how his successor will emerge in November.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed November 16 for the governorship poll.

    Dickson, in a live media chat in Government House Yenagoa on Wednesday, said his successor will emerge through consultations, consensus-building and prayers.

    He however declared it was not yet time to begin the process because the state was still in a prayer mood to seek the face of God.

    He promised to consult former President Goodluck Jonathan as well as other major stakeholders before arriving at the choice of his successor.

    He said there was a need to sustain the political culture established by his administration in the past seven years noting that there was no report of his team attacking anybody because of political differences.

    Dickson said he directed the religious team and the body of clergy in the state to organise special prayers for the emergence of his successor.

    According to him the issue of the selection of a governor for Bayelsa State was so crucial that it was important for the state to commit the process into the hand of God.

    He said: “I wish to also mention on this important issue the next person to govern the state I have directed our religious team to come up with a date when we will formally gather to fast and pray in seeking the face of God concerning the person who will take over from me as governor of the state.

    “The team has chosen June and so we will all find time as a party to have that event.”

    He explained that a PDP candidate must have the requisite qualities of courage, commitment, vision and grits to protect the interests of the state and Ijaw nation.

    The governor lamented most aspirants contesting the PDP ticket had shown lack of courage following their inability to speak out against injustices done to the people of the state.

    Observing the aspirants were playing establishment politics with some of them scheming their ways to power, he insisted that a candidate of the PDP should have the consciousness and capacity to play opposition politics in the country.

    He stressed that the stakes in the next governorship poll were too high to be left in the hands of “lily-livered politicians who only play establishment politics and shy away from the realities on ground.”

    On the forthcoming local government election, the governor emphasised women and youths would be given priority for councillorship positions across the state in recognition of their sustained support to his administration.

    Read Also: I’ll put Rivers first, says Wike

    “I desire to see more youths and women being carried along in the forthcoming local government election because of the incredible support they have alway given to my administration.

    “A minimum of 20% should be given to the women in appreciation of their support and as a source of empowerment to their families,” he said.

    The governor also condemned the worrisome increase of kidnapping in the state and along the East West Road and warned the perpetrators to desist from the heinous crime.

    He urged those whose relatives had been kidnapped to resist payment of ransom to those holding them.

    The Governor who appealed to the kidnappers to ensure immediate release of the hostages in their custody warned that the state would go after anybody engaged in kidnapping.

  • Oyo can’t pay N30, 000 minimum wage, says Makinde

    In fulfilment of parts of his campaign promises, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday said he will donate his entire salary as governor to Teachers’ Pension Fund.

    He also proposed staggered salary increment instead of the outright payment of the N30, 000 approved national minimum wage for workers in the state.

    The governor also abolished the N3, 000 annual school fees paid in state-owned secondary schools across the state.

    Makinde made the disclosures while giving his inaugural address at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan as 8th civilian governor.

    The 40,000 capacity stadium was overflowed with people within, outside and around the event venue, leading to heavy traffic congestion around Liberty Road, Ring Road and the adjourning streets.

    Dignitaries from different parts of the states and even the Southwest states attended the event.

    Among them were: Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Saliu Adetunji; Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Soun of Ogbmosho Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi; Representatives of Oba of Benin; former governors Adebayo Alao-Akala and Dr Omololu Olunloyo.

    They were also: Chief Bode George, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, Chief Olu Falae and his wife.

    But former Governor Rashidi Ladoja was conspicuously absent at the event.

    Noting that his plans is to make the state the first state to pay above the national minimum wage, as the machinery has been put in motion, Makinde however stressed such a development would need time to materialise in the face of economic resources of the state.

    Speaking on the new minimum wage, the new governor said he will have what he described as a ‘sincere conversation’ and arrive at the best possible decision which will put the overall interest of the people first.

    He assured the government will set up a committee to look into all cases of those who believed they have been wrongly dismissed from civil service, including those whose cases have been decided in their favour in court who have not been reinstated.

    He promised to reduce government overheads, increase the efficiency in tax collection, simplify the tax payment system and cut down on debt accumulation without concrete repayments plans.

    He said “Recently, the Federal Government announced a new salary scheme in which the lowest cadre of civil servants are expected to earn at least N30,000.

    Read Also: Makinde takes oath of office as police harass journalists

    “I know how access to this type of money will improve the lives of many of the families that I have had direct contact with.

    “However, with the way the Oyo state account currently stands, I will be deceiving you if I said we are capable of taking on this burden.

    “I believe in true federalism. I believe the states should decide the minimum wage of their workforce based on individual realities.

    “All states are not created equal, so it is against the principle of fairness to apply a blanket rule to govern them all.

  • NBA warns Buhari, Govs against influencing post-election litigation

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has cautioned against undue interference in the activities of judges engage in the adjudication of post-election litigation in the various election tribunals across the country.

    The NBA urged those, who took the oath of office on Wednesday, not to compromise the independence of the Judiciary and respect for the principle of rule of law as a way of sustaining the nation’s democracy.

    NBA President, Paul Usoro (SAN) was said, in a statement on Wednesday by the association’s National Publicity Secretary, Kunle Edun, to have noted the inauguration of elected leaders in the Executive arm for another four-year term was a milestone in the nation’s democratic journey.

    The statement reads in part: “The NBA President notes that today is a milestone in the Nigerian democratic experience as the country marks twenty years of uninterrupted civil rule.

    “The NBA President states that the experience of the last twenty years has evidently shown that there is no substitute for democracy, but for citizens to reap the full benefits of any democracy, government must be consciously dedicated to the observance of the rule of law at all times.

    Read Also: Buhari has performed well, says Kalu

    “The NBA President further states that one of the indices of respect of the rule of law is the strengthening of the independence of the judiciary.

    “The Nigerian Bar Association shall not hesitate to always call on the other arms of government not to weaken the judicial arm of government. It is pertinent for government at all levels to obey and abide by orders of courts.

    “In this light, the NBA President brings to fore the pending election petitions challenging some of the elections that heralded the inauguration the nation is witnessing today.

    “It is the hope of the Bar that the heads of governments being sworn in today shall not unduly influence the Bench, as doing so would be a contravention of the oaths of offices taken today.

    “The NBA President congratulates the heads of governments, charges them to engage in masses-friendly policies and wishes Nigerians a memorable inauguration day.”

  • Igbo leaders endorse IPOB’s sit- at- home

    Igbo leaders under the aegis of Professor Uzodinma Nwala -led Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) have called on all Igbo citizens where ever they may be, as well as their neighbors to observe May 30 as BIAFRA DAY.

    In a communiqué after a joint meeting with Association of South-East Town Unions (ASETU), the leaders said the day is set aside to remember the spirit of those killed during the Nigeria Civil War.

    “All those who died for the sake of our freedom during the worst pogrom in history in which Ndigbo and their neighbors lost millions of their citizens and several trillions of naira especially before, during and which has continued since after the Biafra war.

    “The observation may take various forms according to Igbo tradition and culture without violating any statute. These may include church services, candle-light processions, Sit-at-Home, Wearing of black uniform and black bands, lectures and symposia, etc.”

    In the communiqué by the ADF President Prof. Uzodinma Nwala and ASETU President, the leaders agreed to establish a joint-machinery for regular consultations and activities to promote development Peace and Security in Igboland.

    Among other decisions the groups agreed to work together in order to promote the Development, Peace and Security in Igboland include:

    “To hold regular consultations and joint activities in order to promote the Development of Alaigbo and also ensure the promotion of Peace and Security in Alaigbo.

    “Call on the Governors and the law enforcement agencies in Alaigbo to ensure the protection of the lives and property of the citizens of the region.

    Read Also: Bala Muhammed declares appointments, promotions null and void

    “To call the citizens in Alaigbo not to neglect their responsibilities to use available means in ensuring the protection of themselves and all those put under their care by God, especially their wives and children as Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

    “Call on the Governors, State Assemblies and all local authorities to ensure all necessary enabling environment for investment in Alaigbo in order to promote the flowering spirit of the AKURUO ULO Movement throughout the region.

    “Call on foreign agencies to assist both government and private organizations in Alaigbo with necessary grants to promote youth empowerment.”

  • Fintiri pledges prompt salary payment, yearly increments

    The Adamawa State Governor, Rt Hon Ahmadu Fintiri, has pledged to make a priority of prompt payment of salaries and annual increment of same.

    The governor who made the pledge following his swearing-in at the Ribadu Square in Yola on Wednesday, also said he would make Adamawa a state to be respected worldwide.

    Fintiri who earned himself the alias ATM following his government’s generosity towards workers in the brief period he served as acting governor of the state in 2014, said payment of salaries would be similarly accorded a pride of place now that he is back.

    “Payment of salaries, pension and gratuity on time shall be my priority, as well as yearly salary increment and promotion. We shall strive to build a robust government-labour relationship,” he said.

    On his desire to make Adamawa a model state, Fintiri said, “True change has come to Adamawa State. I pledge to provide leadership that is required to make things work for the good of all.

    Read Also: Certificate of return: Appeal Court orders prompt hearing of Okorocha’s suit

    “My aspiration for Adamawa is for it to be listed among the committee of respected states not only in Nigeria but the world as a whole. The central message is that we will bring development and make Adamawa State a standard to copy.”

    He said he knew the task would be difficult but that it is achievable. “It is not what resources you have but how you manage them,” he said.

    He also made commitment to security of lives and properties and was emphatic that Shilla Boys, a group of youths that specialize in stealing and abducting people for ransom mostly around the state capital, Yola, would not be condoned.

    “Let me sound a note of warning to the local cult group currently terrorizing our neighbourhood not to test our resolve but to stop it or ship out. The so-called Shilla group have two weeks from today to embrace civility or face the full wrath of the law,” he said.