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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Egypt beat Nigeria to gold, Tokyo ticket in women

    The comeback of the Nigeria women table tennis team was thwarted by Dina Meshref as Egypt beat Nigeria to the gold medal and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ticket in the team event of the 12th African Games holding in Rabat, Morocco.

    The Nigerian ladies were down 2-0 but spirited efforts from Edem Offiong and Olufunke Oshonaike to put the match beyond the Egyptians were thwarted by Dina Meshref in the fifth match for Egypt to win at 3-2.

    An excited Meshref said: ” We are so excited winning the gold medal and most especially qualifying for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

    Read Also: Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Oshoala, Ordega, Okobi 3 others pull out

    “We really prepared for this match and we knew it was going to be tough even when we were leading 2-0. We had thought we could the match at 3-0 but we had to fight till the end. Nigeria team is not a pushover and we prepared very well for this kind of match because we had expected it. I am so happy that we have now secured our place in Tokyo.”

  • Lai Mohammed: we must work hard

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has urged the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on the need to double their efforts.

    Mohammed, who spoke at the inaugural meeting with the Permanent Secretary and directors of the ministry, said: “My charge to all of us is to please redouble our effort so that we can justify the confidence Mr President has reposed in us. That Mr President has reappointed and posted me back to this ministry is a measure of the confidence he has in me. So I think we all need to work hard.

    “Let me express my joy at the prospect of working again with the Directors that I worked with in the last administration. Whatever success we had achieved was because of the cooperation and collaboration of Directors who worked with us,” he said.

    Mohammed said he would continue to work very closely with the Permanent Secretary and the Directors in order to implement the core mandate of the ministry.

    Read Also: Fashola gets Works as Ngige, Amaechi, Lai retain portfolios

    “There must be synergy between the Minister and the Permanent Secretary and I must say that I have enjoyed a very cordial working relationship with my Permanent Secretary, and I am very glad that that relationship contributed in no small measure to the moderate success we achieved. We need your cooperation because we can’t do it alone,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, expressed delight at the reappointment of Mohammed and pledged the readiness of the management and staff of the ministry to support and cooperate with the Minister to enable him to achieve his mandate.

    “It’s actually been my desire to have you back sir. We are all very glad to have you back to continue where you stopped. There is a lot of work here and I believe that you will surely take this ministry to the next level.

    “I want to say welcome back to your family and all of us are ready to work with you to take this ministry and the whole nation, in areas of information and Culture, to the next level,” she said.

  • Minimum Wage: Negotiations to continue September 4

    The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), and  representatives of the Federal Government will reconvene on Sept. 4 to continue negotiations on the new national minimum wage.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the negotiators adjourned to the new date to allow President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the disagreement of relativity and consequential adjustments on the new minimum wage.

    The meeting, which held in Abuja on Friday, had the Permanent Secretaries of finance and labour ministries, as well as representative of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission in attendance.

    Mr Lawrence Amaechi, one of the Labour leaders in the negotiations, told NAN that both parties had agreed to consider their stance and allow the President to decide on the issue.

    “Both parties are holding on to their different positions on the relativity/consequential adjustment of salaries. We shall submit that stance to Mr President to enable him wade into the matter.

    “We have, however, adjourned till September 4, to get the outcome from the team expected to take our positions to the President,” he said.

    Amaechi, who is also the National President, Nigeria Civil Service Union, said that payment of the new minimum wage was long overdue, urging government to be proactive to avoid arrears which could create another round of agitations by workers.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: no worker should be cheated, says Wabba

    Mr Richard Egbule, the immediate past Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, headed the government side.

    NAN recalls that the new minimum wage bill was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in April.

    However, deliberations continued as the issue of relativity/consequential adjustment of salaries still persisted.

    The federal government, on May 14, inaugurated the Relativity/Consequential Adjustment Committee which, in turn, set up a Technical Sub-Committee to work out the template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

    In July, government proposed a 10 per cent increment for level seven to 14, and a 5.5 per cent increment for workers on level 15 to 17, a proposal Labour outrightly rejected.

    Egbule has, however, insisted that the 30 per cent increase for workers on levels 7-14, and 25 per cent for levels 15-17 demanded by Labour was “unrealistic”.

    NAN

  • Buhari will not fail Nigerians – Presidency

    The Presidency has assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will not disappoint them in this second and last term in delivery of his promises.

    Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity said this, Friday in Abuja, while speaking on behalf of some aides of the President, including himself, who were given a special award of recognition ‘for their contributions in projecting a solid and impressive image of the President in the discharge of their patriotic service to the Nigerian people.’

    The Presidential spokesman said President Buhari was fully aware of the expectations of Nigerians:

    In a statement by the Deputy Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, he said “The President is committed to making life better for the average Nigerian. At the end of the tenure, Nigerians will look back and say that they have no regrets for voting him.”

    Read Also: Buhari departs Abuja for Japan Sunday

    He however solicited for the support of the media, especially young publications like The Reporters, whose platform presented the awards, in carrying out their responsibilities effectively.

    “We cannot achieve this alone. We count on the support of the citizens. We count on the support of the media, particularly up and coming publications like yours and we are also assuring you of our cooperation when you call on us,” he said.

    The Chairman of the publication, Abdullahi Sabiu, said the awards were given to the Presidential aides after a careful assessment of their roles in the sustenance of the administration.

    Other aides of the President given certificates of recognition were:

    Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity;  Ambassador Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure, State Chief of Protocol; and Bayo Omoboriowo, Personal Photographer to the President.

  • Minister of interior promises adequate funding for fire service

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has promised to provide adequate funding to the Federal Fire Service (FFS).

    Aregbesola said this during a familiarisation visit to the FFS on Friday in Abuja.

    He said that he had been briefed on some of the challenges faced by the agency and was ready to eradicate those shortcomings.

    “I am aware releases are not adequate and you already have some committed expenditure you cannot fund,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FFS had seek special intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari for funds of the sum of N9.20 billion to ensure the delivery of the remaining 32 firefighting equipment.

    Aregbesola promised to attend to the immediate needs of the service by providing adequate support to the agency’s growth.

    “We will ensure we get you to the operations of the best fire service in the world,” he said.

    Read Also: Aregbesola tasks NSCDC on intelligence gathering

    He however reiterated that the agency’s role of ensuring the safety of lives and properties was of paramount importance.

    The minister said that it was important to enforce preventive strategies by being proactive.

    Mr Liman Ibrahim, Controller General (CG), FFS, said that he was grateful the Minister had promised to tackle the challenges faced by the service.

    Ibrahim said that the agency has 32 already manufactured fire fighting trucks in Austria and Turkey but were yet to be delivered by the contractor due to inadequate funds.

    He said that the earlier 12 newly acquired fire fighting trucks had not been delivered because operators and drivers of the vehicles were undergoing training.

    “By Sunday, 25th August, 2019, these vehicles will be moved to various zones across the country,” he said.

    NAN reports that 2 vehicles will be allocated each to the newly established 6 zonal fire service stations: Minna, Sokoto, Yola, Owerri, Asaba and Osogbo.

    (NAN)

  • Minister pledges rehabilitation of Abuja National Stadium

    Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has pledged to ensure the urgent rehabilitation of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja in line with international best practice.

    The minister made the pledge on Friday in Abuja when he inspected facilities at the stadium.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister inspected the main bowl, Velodrome, Media VIP center, Power house, Medical office, Technical building, dressing room among others.

    He said he was impressed with some of the facilities but noted the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the main bowl, especially the football pitch which is in a deplorable state.

    Dare stressed the need to come up with innovative ways to fund and maintain the facilities while hinting on plans to privatise the pitch-side perimeter boards advertising like its done in developed countries.

    “We are going to be innovative to see how we can get extra funding, and how we can privatise the football pitch (Pitch-side Perimeter advertising boards).

    Read Also: Veteran Journalist Sunday Dare is new sports minister

    “I don’t want to put a timeline, but it’s sufficient to say that is right at the top of our agenda,

    “Because we know it’s taking sometime and Nigerians are interested to See Super Eagles play in Abuja, the stadium will be ready soon, ” he said.

    He emphasised on the consistent use of the stadium while pledging to work with relevant stakeholders to make the stadium the hub of sporting activities in the country.

    NAN reports that the main bowl of the stadium has been abandoned for some time, because of the poor state of the pitch.

    The Super Eagles who hitherto played their home matches there have since relocated to Uyo and Asaba because of the poor playing turf.

    NAN

  • Buhari to wade into Minimum Wage impasse

    Nigerian workers would have to wait for the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari before enjoying the new national Minimum Wage signed into law on April 18, 2019.

    Negotiation between the Federal Government and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, which resumed on Friday, once again ended in a deadlock as both parties failed to arrive at a decision.

    The meeting, which held at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, had Permanent Secretaries of Ministries of Finance, Labour and Employment, General Office of the SGF, and Representative of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

    Our correspondent was informed that the government team resolved to take the position of both parties in the negotiation to the President and report back on September 4th for continuation of the meeting.

    A source close to the meeting resolved to adjourn the meeting to September 4 and allow President Buhari weigh into the disagreement of relativity and consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage.

    The source said both parties are still insisting on their position, stressing that nothing has changed from the earlier position of Labour as well as the government team.

    “We are demanding 30 percent for grade levels 07 to 14 and 25 percent adjustment for grade levels 15 to 17.

    ‘’We came down to 29 and 24 respectively. But they have not even moved from their earlier position of 9.5 and 5 percent respectively.

    Read Also: Buhari departs Abuja for Japan Sunday

    “We are saying they should make a substantial movement in their offer but they have refused to do that and that has not gone down well with us.

    ‘’If they make a substantial movement, we will go back to our principals who are the workers. But they have not.

    “So, we have asked them to report back to their principals; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the President so that the President can intervene and for us to put this thing behind us once and for all.

    “So, we have agreed to meet again on the 4th of September so that we can resolve. We want them to shift ground because they have not even moved from 5 percent to 5.5 if we see reasonable movement, we will go back to the workers and get further mandate.’’

    A member of the Labour group in the negotiating council, Lawrence Amaechi, confirmed that both parties have agreed to consider their stances and allow Buhari to decide on the issue.

    He said: “Both parties have agreed on their different positions on the relativity/consequential adjustment of salaries and it will be submitted to Mr President, let him weigh into it.

    “We have however adjourned till September 4, to get the outcome from submission to the President.”

    Amaechi, who is the National President, Nigerian Civil Service Union, said the payment of the new minimum wage was long overdue, adding that government must be proactive in order not to accumulate arrears which may create another round of agitations by employees.

     

  • Just in: Anglican Bishop’s wife kidnapped in Imo

    Barely 24 hours after unknown gunmen killed five people in a pre-dawn attack on Imo community; suspected kidnappers abducted the wife of the Anglican Bishop of Ikeduru Diocese, Anuri Maduwuike.

    It was gathered that the victim was abducted on her way home from Owerri.

    According to an eyewitness, the Prelate’s wife was ambushed at a bad spot by Ekemele and whisked to an unknown destination.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Thugs fire dynamite in failed bid to stop Bayelsa PDP congress

    According  to the source, “wife of the Anglican bishop of Ikeduru Diocese Mrs. Anuri Maduwuike was kidnapped by unknown gun men. We need prayers for God’s intervention for the safety and freedom of the God’s handmaid”.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the development.

    The Police spokesperson told our correspondent that her abductors were yet to establish contacts with the victim’s family.

  • BREAKING: Thugs fire dynamite in failed bid to stop Bayelsa PDP congress

    Thugs suspected to be loyal to some governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State on Friday threw dynamites close to the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa in their failed bid to stop the ward congress.

    It was gathered that the dynamite exploded on the main road some kilometres to the the PDP Secretariat and that nobody was injured.

    Sources said the hoodlums, who could not have access to the secretariat because the area was cordoned off by armed police operatives, decided to throw the explosive along the road.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said persons at the secretariat heard the sound of the dynamite adding that the thugs also fired some gunshots.

    “Where they threw the explosive was a little far from the PDP secretariat. They could not beat the security around the secretariat because there were policemen everywhere.

    Read Also: Suspected thugs ‘assault’ woman for refusing forcible eviction 

    “They were on a fast-moving vehicle. The area they discharged their weapons was lonely because most party people were clustered around the PDP secretariat.

    “Some persons are simply planning to create an atmosphere of violence to discredit the Congress. But the Congress had already concluded and it was a massive success”, he said.

    Loyalists of some aspirants led a protest to the party secretariat where they expressed their grievances to the congress committee and demanded the cancellation of the exercise.

    A PDP Ward Congress Committee headed by the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi, arrived the state on Thursday to conduct the ward Congress.

    They held meetings with the governorship aspirants at the Government House and later met with other PDP members at the Secretariat where the declared the process open.

    Umahi told the protesters that there was no need to demand the cancellation of the conagress since it held peacefully within the laid down rules and regulation of the party.

    Though  the Police Commissioner, Uche Anozia, could not be reached, a senior police officer confirmed the incident and said the explosion occurred far from the secretariat of the PDP.

    He said it occurred in an empty space far away from the secretariat because security was tightened around the PDP building

  • Woman dies after being ‘hit’ by policeman

    A widow hawking near the Aba Central Police Station, Aba, Abia State, identified as Mrs. Peace, has been allegedly killed by a policeman.

    Sources told our reporter that the deceased, until her death, hawked second-hand clothes in the vicinity.

    It was gathered that she was hit by a Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) allegedly driven by a traffic officer identified as Supol Innocent.

    Another account has it that the police personnel was trying to reverse before he lost control and hit the widow, who was passing by.

    Read Also: Police arraign dismissed cops for alleged extrajudicial killing 

    She was reportedly taken to the Police Clinic at the Aba Area Command by sympathisers.

    Efforts to save her proved abortive, as she was said to have died a few minutes later.

    Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the incident, said the body has been deposited in a mortuary, adding that the officer is being detained.