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  • We’ll continue to picket TCN despite attacks on our members – TUC

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has vowed to continue to picket offices of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) despite attack on its members by people suspected to be thugs hired by the management to halt the picketing.

    President of TUC, Comrade Bala Bobboi Kaigama who spoke at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday said the attack on its members during the picketing exercise on Monday was illegal as the laws of the land allow workers to picket their employers.

    Kaigama said it is within the right of workers to picket her employer in the case of unresolved dispute, describing as primitive the action of the Managing Director of TCN to hired suspected thugs to attack workers who are on a peaceful protest/picketing.

    Read Also: TCN explains collapse of national grid

    Kaigama said the demands of the workers are that the existing conditions of service be maintain while calling for investigation into the monumental corruption going on in the organisation, stop harassment and intimidation of the union members and release promotion to the deserving workers rather than to only those who are loyal to the Managing Director.

    He said: “We are insisting that the picketing of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) must continue until our demands are met. The Managing Director of TCN is behaving as he is even bigger than the President that appointed him.

    “We also want an urgent investigation into the attacked on our members by suspected thugs at the premises of TCN. What we were doing is legal why should a sine human being hired suspected thugs against peaceful workers.

    “The monumental corruption in the company is alarming; we want investigation into the finances of the company under the MD”.

    Comrade Kaigama said the union has written to the Inspector General of Police, through the FCT Commissioner of Police with a view of bringing the culprits to book, adding that the Managing Director of TCN should be held responsible should anything go wrong with any members of the union.

     

  • Activists task Gov. Bello on LG elections

    Mr Idris Miliki, Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), has called on Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, to urgently conduct elections into the 21 local government councils of the state.

    Miliki made the call at a Quarterly Review Meeting for Media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Anti-corruption, Transparency and Accountability in Elections in Kogi State on Tuesday in Lokoja.

    The meeting was organised by the CHRCR in partnership with Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation with support from MacArthur Foundation.

    Miliki urged the governor to put necessary machinery in place to conduct council elections, to address issues of illegitimacy and under-development at that tier of governance.

    The human rights activist said the usual complaints of lack of funds for the exercise often backed by the state House of Assembly was no longer tenable, in view of the several allocations the state received from the Federation Account.

    “Governor  Yahaya Bello cannot continue to hide behind a finger for his inability to conduct elections at the third tier level of government, inspite of the several allocations the state has received.

    He said that the non-conduct of election had denied the people at the grassroots their rights of participation and good governance.

    He lamented the inability of the state government in the last three years to allocate and appropriate funds for the conduct of local government elections in the state and described the action as illegal.

    Read Also: Kogi poll: Odds against Bello

    Also speaking, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), said there was need to entrench citizens’ rights, adding that to fight corruption, the duty bearers must be put to task.

    He therefore urged the people to always ask questions in case of rights infringement.

    Mr John Amabi, a member of Kogi Non-Governmental Organisations Network (KONGONET), regretted that politicians were taking advantage of a clause in the Electoral Act to disrupt elections where they were not popular, adding that the clause for cancellation of results should be reviewed.

    Amabi enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a review of the provision, if elections must be free, fair, transparent and credible.

    NAN

     

  • Emotions as Christian groups celebrate Leah Sharibu’s 16th birthday

    Emotions, tears and cheers reign supreme in Jos, the Plateau state capital on Tuesday as a coalition of Christian groups gather at the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) to celebrate the 16th birthday of Leah Sharibu, a school girl been held captive by Boko Haram since February 2015.

    The birthday ceremony at the headquarters church of ECWA in Jos was characterized with prayers for the Leah, her parents and churches in the country as well as special prayers for God’s intervention in the security situation of the country.

    The Christian groups which include Leah Sharibu Foundation, Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment (CWEENS), Catalyst for Peace and Justice (CPJ) and Param-Mallam Foundation, took to the streets of Jos to protest the continued incarceration of Leah Sharibu and the inability of the federal government to secure his release.

    The group took their protest to the Plateau state house of assembly where they submitted a letter of protest to the Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Joshua Madaki.

    Earlier in the church activities, Barrister Paul Abache of the Leah Sharibu Foundation, while giving the background of the program said, “On the 19th February 2015, some gunmen stormed Dapchi village and made away with young girls. Some were release but Leah was not just for her refusal to renounce her religious fate.

    “Today mark exactly 16 years of Leah Sharibu, and this is the second time we are celebrating her birthday in the hands of Boko Haram.

    “As Christians, Leah has become a role model, a heroine and we need to celebrate her whether she is alive or not. But we know she is alive because her God in heaven has neither forsaken her of forgotten her.

    Read Also: Chibok Girls, Leah Sharibu can still return, says Buhari

    We call on the whole world to join us in celebrating Leah Sharibu for her bravery, her unshakable faith in Jesus Christ and for standing as a symbol of Christianity”

    In a word of exaltation, Mr. Dayo Tella said, “Leah is been celebrated worldwide today because, at her age, she was able to hold on to her faith eve at the point of death. We give it to her mother and her church for raising her the way she is. The girl must have been filled with the Holy Spirit for standing against evil doers and her refusal to give up her faith even at the point of death.

    “Only God know why he allow Leah to remain in captivity, it is not that it is beyond God to secure her release”

    Tella enjoined Christians to keep praying, “Let keep praying and glorifying God for the life of Leah, because we know Leah will be an instrument of honor at the end. The parents should not weep because they have faith; have faith in God because God is at work. Let’s keep praying, let’s continued to belief in God

    He called on the FGN to ensure they do justice for the weak against the strong. He also called on Nigerians to join hands with government to fight the prevailing insecurity across the country.

    Another leader of the church, Dr Dan Sumaila said, “It’s not a time to mourn, Nigerian is at a cross road where no one is secured including security agencies, traditional rulers, politicians. Let all Christians emulate Leah not to deny the God that you serve. Let all parents teach their children the way Lear. Let us remain as Christians in words and in action”

  • Ganduje trains 300 youths on automobile mechanic

    No fewer than 300 youths have benefitted from a training workshop on automobile mechanics sponsored by Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    He reiterated his commitment to create job opportunities for the teeming youths in the state.

    This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Information, Youth and Culture Malam Muhammad Garba while declaring open a workshop on heavy duty vehicles maintenance, organized by the office of special adviser to the Governor on Automobile.

    Read Also: Cabinet shake-up imminent, says Ganduje

    The Commissioner, who represented Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said the training programme was initiated to create job opportunities for our teeming Youth as the state government and private organizations in the state cannot employ the large number of youth in the state.

    He explained that the present administration initiated various empowerment programmes including over 300 youth trained in automobile mechanics at Peugeot Automobile Nigeria learning centre Kaduna aimed at producing enough indigenous mechanics.

    Turning to the beneficiaries who are mechanics on heavy duty vehicles, he urged them to use knowledge acquired during the training workshop to improve their businesses as government will provide them with working materials and certificate at the end of workshop.

    Earlier, the special adviser to the Governor on Automobile Engineer Idris Hassan commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his foresight in initiating the training workshop which will enhance their skills in heavy duty vehicles maintenance as well as improving their living standard.

    In his remarks, the Training Manager, Industrial Training Funds Malam Umar Ibrahim stated that about 60 youth who are sponsored by the state government to participate in the training workshop are mechanics who need more training to meet the global standard in mechanism.

  • Obiano lauds Buhari over Emefiele’s reappointment as CBN governor

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the reappointment of Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The governor who spoke through his Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, said both the government and people of the state were delighted at the reappointment.

    He said, “We are happy because it is based purely on merit and an appreciation of the values of policy consistency, national interest, financial system stability and a strong desire for rapid national economic growth.

    “One thing which Mr Emefiele’s reappointment signifies is that President Buhari has started in earnest the implementation of the new policy of inclusiveness which he assured the Nigerian people after his reelection last February and an issue which he and I have been discussing in private.

    “Though Mr. Emefiele was appointed the CBN Governor five years ago by erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, President Buhari saw the need for him to continue in office in the overriding interest of the nation.

    “The president deserves commendation for standing firm on his decision on Emefiele’s reappointment, unlike a former President who was enamoured of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s brilliance, foresight, energy, patriotism and accomplishments as the CBN Governor, but at the end of the day succumbed to pressures from those who didn’t want Prof. Soludo back for parochial reasons.

    Read Also: Insecurity: No sacred cows in Anambra – Obiano

    Describing Emefiele’s policies as courageous, sound and in the interest of the Nigerian people, the governor maintained that the appointment was pathway to national greatness.

    He said: “Rather than pander to dictates of those who prescribe unrestrained market forces in economic policy to developing nations, Emefiele placed on a foreign exchange embargo on 43 items which are not critically needed here or can be provided in Nigeria.

    “The embargo helped to shore up the naira against international currencies when it was under severe pressure following the crash of crude oil prices and a drastic reduction in the volume of crude oil exported from our country.

    “It also helped the Government and people of Anambra State in the rice production drive, as the embargo made smuggled foreign rice more expensive and less effective to compete with the famous Anambra Rice which has been growing in leaps and bounds.

    According to Obiano, the nation should expect more balanced appointments from Buhari in his second term.

    “Massive economic progress can come about only when we choose the best candidates for key public offices, regardless of their ethnicity or the faith they profess.”

  • Buhari tasks varsity administrators on frugality

    As part of his anti-corruption drive, President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked university administrators across the nation to ensure “frugality” in their use of available resources.

    President Buhari’s who was visitor at the second convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta state, held weekend, explained that following the frugal policy of his administration will help prevent waste and allow fruitful use of the meagre funds made available for institutions.

    The president, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Onwuka also directed the release of the varsity’s take-off grant.

    Emphasizing that government will not tolerate any form of corruption, he said, “I admonish university administrators across the country to imbibe our policy of frugality in order to avoid wastages and manager fest of corruption.

    “I therefore sound this warning that we will not condone corruption in whatever guise. The very scarce resources that are made available must be judiciously utilized to give value to the system.”

    Further challenging FUPRE to be innovative and take the lead in technological revolution in Nigeria, the president said, “no doubt, energy is critical to nation building and also a major challenge to our nation at this time.

    “Nigeria has continued to be a net importer of refined Petroleum products in addition to its poor levels of electricity generation. I task the university and other agencies to rise and surmount these daunting challenges through the establishment of modular refineries and sustainable power generation to take this country to the next level.”

    Commending the varsity’s management for the recorded achievements in the past two years despite the “paucity of funds,” Chancellor of the University and Emir of Zamfara, HRH Attahiru Ahmad, assured of his continuous support to ensure the training of high level manpower for the petroleum industry.

    Read Also: APC Coalition petitions Buhari,Tinubu

    He commended the host monarch, Ovie of Uvwie, HRM Emmanuel Sideso Abe 1, and the Delta state government for their peaceful disposition and support towards the school.

    On his part, the Pro-chancellor, Professor Shehu Zuru, in his address appealed to the federal government, including the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board and other stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to support the varsity.

    Noting that the council is committed to taking the institution to its ‘next level’, he stated that a “deliberate funding policy” through implementation of all sections of the University Establishment Act is “urgently” required to propel the needed growth and development of FUPRE.

    The vice Chancellor of FUPRE, Professor Akii Ibhadode has charged the federal government to saddle universities with relevant tasks in its development plans.

    In his address which was presented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof (Mrs.) Prekeyi Tawari-Fufeyin, he explained that such tasks, as peculiar to the varsities, will enable them contribute “to national development, in real terms, thus creating wealth and employment for the nation, export of Nigerian technology,” among other benefits.

    Congratulating the graduands, the VC urged them to “develop other potentials” and continue to seek opportunities to better the society and humanity.

    Two personalities Hon. Prince Chinedu Nwoko and Mr. Abiola Oyedotun bagged honorary doctorate degrees, the former announcing a N1 million naira go ft to students graduating with first class honours.

    However, the best graduating student, Abel Okojunu, from the Department of Mathematics, made a 4.95 GPA and was among three others who were recipients of the vice chancellor’s prize.

     

  • Senate Presidency: Lawan’s kinsmen beg Ndume, Goje to step down

    Two prominent title holders from  Bade Emirate in Yobe and kinsmen of Senator Ahmed Lawan have appealed to Senators Ali Ndume and Danjuma Goje, to step down and support the endorsement of Lawan for the President of the ninth senate come June, 2019.

    Alhaji Mamman Suleiman and Alhaji Mohammed Gagiyo, who spoke on behalf of Bade  Emirate, where Sen Lawan hails from  said the endorsement of Senator Lawan  by APC  leadership was in the best  interest of the North east and Nigeria in general.

    According to Suleiman, “as fellow compatriots of the region, we expect the two senators to support the senate leader following his endorsement by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Nigeria in the last four years had suffered from unnecessary political conflicts between the executive and National Assembly which must not be repeated.”

    Read Also: ‘How Lawan can become Senate President’

    The Emirate urged all APC senators to remain united in the interest of the party and the country.

    Alhaji Mohammed Gagiyo, in his view said the experience of the senate leader in the National Assembly makes him more prepared and qualified for the office of the senate president.

    “As a region, we should exhibit the spirit of unity we are known for and support one of our own, Sen. Ahmad Lawan.

    “The people of Bade Emirate are solidly behind Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan for Senate President and, we call on our brothers, Ndume and Goje to step down for Lawan,” he said.

  • We need N1bn to produce war vehicles, says Buratai

    The Nigerian Army is sourcing for N1billion to boost capacity of its vehicle manufacturing company to produce more combat vehicles to counter terrorists and other insurgents, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has said.

    Nigeria has recently been bedeviled by different forms of insurgencies; Boko Haram, kidnapping, armed banditry, armed robbery and cattle rustling. But demonstration of locally made bullet proof ballistic vest, NA Armoured Light Tactical Vehicle and mine sweeper produced by the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company (NAVMC) showed that the military will soon be better equipped to stem the challenge.

    Addressing the closing ceremony of the Nigerian Army Combat Arms Training Week on Saturday at the shooting range of Nigerian Army Infantry Corp, Jaji, Buratai noted that Nigerian Army new inventions and acquisitions are force multipliers, hence the fund will improve the equipping and capacity of the Army.

    “The innovations by the Nigerian Army in the areas of equipment production, localizing and bringing back vehicles and equipment that are hitherto abandoned, is another major achievement that we recorded.

    “You have been promised by the group managing director of NAVMC that in the next three to four months, we should have brand new vehicles originally produced by the Nigerian Army for use in the Army and the general public that may find it useful, especially the paramilitary agencies. This we believe will transform the Nigerian Army and Nigerian industrial companies, when we start mass production.

    Read Also: Terrorism, a complex war – Buratai

    “We are already sourcing for the sum of N1billion to support the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company. We a have a number of investments in the Army that have been generating huge amount of money and we will take a loan from there to support Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company to realize our dream of producing indigenous armoured fighting vehicles and to continue to maintain our existing equipment.

    “Military equipment are never obsolete, with maintenance culture of the military globally,  vehicles and equipment of the Second World War are still useful in other parts of the world. The firepower demonstration today is the last activity of the combined Combat Arms Training Week (CATWEEK) and the Chief of Army Staff 1st Quarter Conference.

    “This Conference has brought us together to assess what we have so far achieved in the the first quarter of 2019,” the COAS added.

    The Acting Governor of Kaduna state, Arch. Barnabas Bala Bantex commended the military and the police on their efforts to ensure peace in the state. ‘The Nigerian Army and Police have helped to keep Nigeria and Kaduna safe. They have helped in combating terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity.”

    Bantex, who admitted to enjoying the show of force and display of prototype vehicles and fire power, added that with what he saw, “the Nigerian Army is in better position and capable of containing all forms of threat both from within and outside our territory.”

     

  • Kogi traditional ruler, Obobanyi dies at 116

    The Obobanyi of Ohionwa in Ihima, Okehi Local Government of Kogi State, Chief Jeremiah Akaava, has died at the age of 116.

    A statement issued by the Ohionwa clan in Lokoja on Saturday said that the monarch died in the late hours of Friday.

    It said the deceased spent 36 years on the throne.

    Read Also: Kogi guber: Bello faces tough battle

    The statement, signed by Mr Yusuf Itopa on behalf of the Ohionwa Clan, described the late monarch as a man who stood for peace, unity and progress of Ohionwa, Ebiraland and Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.

    The clan expressed its gratitude to men and women of goodwill who appreciated the late Obobanyi’s role as a unifying force in the land and consequently showed love and respect to him while alive.

    The late monarch has since been buried.

    NAN

     

  • JAMB to release 2019 UTME results from Monday

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has assured candidates of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) that results would be ready from April 29.

    The Board’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Bwari.

    Benjamin said that screening of the results would soon be over and the result released.

    “We are still screening but hopefully, anytime next week, the results will be ready,” he said.

    Speaking also on the board’s readiness to screen results of UTME candidates from 2009 to 2018, Benjamin said this would begin after the release of the 2019 results.

    He said this was part of the board’s effort to address the issues of malpractice in the system.

    The board had stated that it would only release the 2019 UTME results after undergoing thorough screening to identify and apprehend examination cheats.

    The process would identify those involved in multiple registration through biometric capturing and also address group registration by some elite schools, who end up mixing candidate’s data.

    Read Also: JAMB cancels results in two centres in Abia

    The board said: “Normally, results are expected to be out within 24 to 48 hours as obtained in previous examinations held in 2017 and 2018.

    “However, the board does not want this to be business as usual.

    “Hence the programmed delay, which is part of its deliberate effort to properly scrutinize, identify and address all forms of examination malpractice.

    “The board will continue to act decisively with regards to any irregularity discovered even after results are released.

    “However, the board has made it a point of duty to screen all activities at all centres via CCTV recordings, to ensure that it does not release results of compromised examinations.”

    The board, while regretting all inconvenience caused in the process, reaffirmed its commitment to providing equal opportunity to all candidates in order to articulate their aspirations.

    JAMB said that effective from when it would officially release the results, all candidates can simply send RESULT, via SMS, to 55019 using the same number that was used for registration.

    The result, it said, would be replied as an SMS shortly after.

    This process, the board explained, was simplified to eliminate exploitation by business centres and cyber cafés who often take advantage of candidates.

    It also urged candidates to ignore all messages in circulation on how to check the results as they were all products of deceit.

    The 2019 UTME was conducted from April 11 to April 18 and over 1.8 million candidates registered for it.

    NAN