Friday, May 1

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Inflation: Device ways of reviewing minimum wage law annually-Ajaero tells FG
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Inflation: Device ways of reviewing minimum wage law annually-Ajaero tells FG

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to device ways of reviewing minimum wage law annually due to the inflationary trend in the country. Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this the 2nd National Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum, organised by the National Employers Consultative Association (NECA) on Tuesday in Abuja. The theme of the forum is, :Strengthening Tripartitism and Social Dialogue (including alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms) for a Sustainable Industrial Relations System in Nigeria. Ajaero said that the government should have a rethink as the five year cycle was not favourable to the Nigerian workers due impact of the high cost of living effecting workers salaries. According to him, no matter what amou...
Industrial harmony: NECA calls for consistent engagement in social dialogue
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Industrial harmony: NECA calls for consistent engagement in social dialogue

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the employers, employees and the Federal Government to consistently engage in social dialogue to improve Industrial harmony in the country. Mr Taiwo Adeniyi, President of NECA said this at the 2nd National Labour Adjudication and Arbitration Forum on Tuesday in Abuja. The theme of the forum is, ”Strengthening Tripartitism and Social Dialogue (including alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms) for a Sustainable Industrial Relations System in Nigeria”. Adeniyi noted that the country had witnessed several Labour upheavals in recent times. According to him, we firmly believe that maintaining a healthy employer-employee relationship is vital for fostering a thriving economy and creating a stable...
Trader Bags Life Imprisonment For Defiling Friend’s 12-Year-Old Daughter
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Trader Bags Life Imprisonment For Defiling Friend’s 12-Year-Old Daughter

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Monday, sentenced a 53-year-old rubber trader, Kenneth Mba, to life imprisonment for defiling a friend’s 12-year-old daughter. Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his judgement, held that the prosecution proved the charge of defilement against the convict beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge handed down the verdict after finding Mr Mba guilty of the offence of defilement of a minor. Mr Oshodi said the convict’s confessional statement that he defiled the survivor in his room three times and gave her N200 each time after sex was corroborated with the survivor’s testimony. He, however, said his oral evidence to deflate the charge did not hold water. Mr Oshodi referred to the convict as a pathological liar whose testimony was an af...
EFCC Nabs Four Brothers, 30 Others For Alleged Internet Fraud
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EFCC Nabs Four Brothers, 30 Others For Alleged Internet Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested four brothers and 30 others for alleged internet fraud. EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja. He gave the names of the siblings as Chukwuebuka Egbo, Chibuike Egbo, Francis Egbo and Victor Egbo. According to him, the other suspects include Great Eze, Ani Callistus, Ekpe Chigbo, Eze Eric, Nnaemeka Gabriel, George Tochukwu, Uche Divine and Chiamelie Ede. Others are Enenta Ebube, Treasurer Osinachi, Ejiakor Chidiebere, Kingsley Olisa, Ugwuanyi Ekpere, Uzor Godson, Tochukwu Firminus, Ebuka Comas, Okwudili John, Samuel Otti, Agada Olema, Odoh Nnabuike, “The other suspects include Okeke Harrison, Oriasotie Meshack, Ekperechi Ebube, Ugwu Sebastian, Eli Ogbonna, Martins Ugwu, A...
2009 NSF Football team winners decry non-fulfillment of promises
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2009 NSF Football team winners decry non-fulfillment of promises

The Football team and winners of 2009 National Sports Festival (NSF), have decried nonpayment and fulfilment of promises made to them by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and organisers of the tournament. The Spokesperson of the 2009 and winners of the Football team, Mr Joel Tadanyigbe who disclosed this in a press statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, described the situation as worrisome.  "We the football team and winners of 2009 National Sports Festival were promised a plot of land in Abuja and till now the promise has not been fulfilled. "We filled FORMS for the Lands and later we hered that the Sports Director is trying to claim the lands for some group of people and that we are not included. "Those that took 2nd position of the FCT Football Team ha...
Declare state of emergency on security, NUT urges FG
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Declare state of emergency on security, NUT urges FG

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security given the spate of insecurity in the country. Comrade Audu Amba, National President of the NUT, made the call at the union's 6th Annual Solemn Assembly on Monday in Abuja. According to him, Nigeria has experienced unprecedented security challenges such as Boko Haram Terrorist attacks, Banditry, Herders and Farmers clashes, vandalism, militancy and kidnappings in recent times. "There was a report from the Joint Security Forces of Nigeria that 24,816 victims were killed while 15,597 were abducted since the beginning of the kidnapping to date. "It is, therefore, my humble plea that the Federal Government declares a state of Emergency as far as the security situatio...
Tinubu Mourns Wigwe, Ogunbanjo, Other Helicopter Crash Victims
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Tinubu Mourns Wigwe, Ogunbanjo, Other Helicopter Crash Victims

President Bola Tinubu has described the death of Herbert Wigwe, his family members and Abimbola Ogunbanjo as a rude shock. Presidential aide Ajuri Ngelale disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, saying Mr Tinubu had received official confirmation of the incident. Mr Wigwe was the chief executive officer of Access Holdings Plc. and founder of HOW Foundation, while Mr Ogunbanjo was the former group chairman of the NigeriaExchange Group Plc. Ngelale said Mr Tinubu mourned the Nigerian business leaders and described their passing as “an overwhelming tragedy that is shocking beyond comprehension. “The president commiserates with the Wigwe and Ogunbanjo families, the business community, and all those impacted by this harrowing incident. “President Tinubu prays for the p...
Adequate Security Measures In Place For Remi Tinubu’s Visit To Kano- Official
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Adequate Security Measures In Place For Remi Tinubu’s Visit To Kano- Official

The Kano state government, on Sunday, said it had made adequate security arrangements to ensure hitch-free activities during the visit by the first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to Kano on Monday. The director-general of media and publicity to the state governor, Sanusi Bature, announced this while speaking with reporters in Kano. The first lady is expected in Kano to inaugurate the Faculty of Law Building named after her at the Maryam Abacha University, Kano. He said that the state government, alongside the police, had drafted a compressive security network on how to provide the required security at each of the places that the first lady would visit. The government, therefore, appealed to residents of the state to conduct themselves peacefully and come out en masse to receive the fir...
NDLEA Unveils New Strategies To Combat Drug Abuse, Trafficking In FCT
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NDLEA Unveils New Strategies To Combat Drug Abuse, Trafficking In FCT

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has unveiled new strategies and measures to address increased, constant abuse of drugs and illicit trafficking in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). NDLEA FCT commander, Kabir Tsakuwa, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Tsakuwa said that one of the strategies the agency was working on was to establish new Area commands and outposts in the FCT for effective drug control. He said the agency would also explore the existing relationships with all security agencies, particularly in information sharing, as this would curtail illicit drug trafficking in the territory. He added that the agency would improve its joint operations with a view to dislodging the identified black spots within the FCT. ...
Housing Minister tasks FMBN on identifying opportunities for housing development
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Housing Minister tasks FMBN on identifying opportunities for housing development

By Perpetua OnuegbuThe Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, has tasked the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to identify innovative opportunities for housing development in the country. Dangiwa gave the charge in a Keynote Address at the 2024 Management Retreat of FMBN on Saturday in Niger State, with the theme: “Transformational Innovation for Sustainable Development in Uncertain Times”. He said that FMBN must transform, innovate and lead a new era of massive housing development and delivery even in difficult times of high construction costs and lower incomes. “This requires a radically new mindset, thinking out of the box and identifying the opportunities that these challenges present. Housing finance institution that delivers on the maxim that ‘Ev...
Access Holdings CEO Wigwe, Wife, Son, Others Die In US Helicopter Crash
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Access Holdings CEO Wigwe, Wife, Son, Others Die In US Helicopter Crash

Billionaire banker, Herbert Wigwe, the immediate past Managing Director of Access Bank and current Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, is dead. Wigwe alongside his wife, son and three other passengers were said to be onboard a chopper that crashed in California, United States of America. They were reportedly heading for Las Vegas to watch Super Bowl, the annual league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States. The New York Times has confirmed the incident but kept the identities of the passengers.
Newly elected Sarkin Samarin of Nigeria harps on youth creativity
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Newly elected Sarkin Samarin of Nigeria harps on youth creativity

Inauguration By Diana Omueza The newly elected as the Sarkin Samarin of Nigeria, Mr Abdulhamid Haliru has harped on unity, peace and youth creativity for sustainable development of the country. Haliru, made the call on Friday in Abuja at his inauguration by the Council of Traditional Youth Chiefs Forum of Nigeria. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sarkin Samarin is the leader of traditional youth chiefs. He said that the title conferred on him was a call to service and a heavy responsibility that he must carry out diligently with focus on youth development. “This is a heavy burden, and a heavy responsibility that I have looked forward to and am excited that with God’s grace and all the support of the people and the government I will succeed. “Part of my pl...
Oluwo Recommends Death Penalty For Looters Of Nigerian Treasury
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Oluwo Recommends Death Penalty For Looters Of Nigerian Treasury

Oluwo of Iwo in Osun, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Akanbi, has advocated capital punishment for corrupt leaders in the country. Mr Akanbi, while speaking with journalists in his palace on Thursday in Iwo, said with such capital punishment, corruption would be reduced to the barest minimum in Nigeria. The traditional ruler, who noted that Nigeria was blessed with both human and material resources, decried the suffering experienced by Nigerians amid plenty due to corruption. What we can do now to nip corruption and kidnapping in the bud in the country is by introducing capital punishment, as it was done by the governments of Saudi Arabia and China. “When capital punishment is put in place and implemented, people will be afraid of looting our commonwealth. I believe that is the way to go,” ...
Four Killed In Lone Accident On Sagamu-Benin Expressway
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Four Killed In Lone Accident On Sagamu-Benin Expressway

At least four persons were confirmed dead on Friday in a lone accident involving a Toyota Camry car at Area J3 on the Sagamu-Benin expressway. Florence Okpe, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) spokesperson in Ogun, confirmed the incident to journalists in Abeokuta. Ms Okpe explained that the accident occurred at 11:40 a.m. and was caused by excessive speed on the driver’s part, leading to loss of control. She said the vehicle marked BDG 184 FY veered off the road and somersaulted into a swamp. “A total of four persons, three men and one woman, were involved, and they all died from the lone crash. “The suspected cause of the lone crash was excessive speed, which led to loss of control, and the vehicle veered off the road and somersaulted into a swamp,” she said. Ms Okpe...
FCCPC To Punish Wholesalers, Retailers Hiking Food Prices Indiscriminately
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FCCPC To Punish Wholesalers, Retailers Hiking Food Prices Indiscriminately

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned participants in the food chain sector over indiscriminate price hikes. In a statement on Friday, the acting executive vice chairman of FCCPC, Adamu Abdullahi, said the commission would not tolerate price gouging. Mr Abdullahi said legal consequences would be swift and severe. He said the FCCPC’s surveillance efforts suggested that distributors and retailers engaged in conspiracy, price gouging, hoarding and other unfair tactics and strategies. Mr Abdullahi added that participants in the food chain sector were taking advantage of consumers’ anxiety and vulnerability to inflate prices. He said the action restricting and distorting competition was obnoxious, unscrupulous, exploitative, and illegal. ...
Strike: FG pledges full implementation of agreements with labour
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Strike: FG pledges full implementation of agreements with labour

By Joan Nwagwu The Federal Government has assured its commitment to expedite full implementation of the 16-point agreement reached with organised labour. Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment gave the assurance at a news conference on Friday in Abuja. It would be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), issued a 14- day ultimatum to the federal government to implement all the agreement reached on Oct.2, 2023. Reacting to the ultimatum, Onyejeocha said the federal government acknowledged the challenges faced by Nigerians and had demonstrated sincerity in its ongoing negotiations with the trade unions “We wish to reassure Nigerians that this government is fully committed to honouring its obligati...
States account for 50% health insurance enrollees- says Forum
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States account for 50% health insurance enrollees- says Forum

By Emmanuel Kutara The Forum of CEOs of State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIA) has reported a notable achievement in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), disclosing that within just five years of its establishment, 50 per cent of citizens are now enrolled in the scheme. Dr Simeon Onyemaechi Chairman, Forum of CEOs of SSHIAs in Nigeria, stated this during the forum's first quarter review meeting in 2024, in Abuja. He said the enrollment rate signifies substantial progress in expanding health insurance coverage and underscores the effectiveness of the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA) in reaching and enrolling a significant portion of the population. He said that the SSHIS, introduced by the Nigerian government, was designed to address the long-standing ...
Minimum wage: What is in it for workers as negotiations begin?
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Minimum wage: What is in it for workers as negotiations begin?

Joan Nwagwu By Joan Nwagwu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) It is no longer news that the take home of the average Nigerian worker can no longer take him or her home. The purchasing power of workers in the country is seriously eroded by the high rate of inflation, and free fall of Naira against foreign currencies, thus causing hardship for workers and other citizens. The N30, 000 minimum wage which has been around for about five years now has been thoroughly diminished to the extent that workers now leave from hand to mouth. The purchasing power of the average Nigerian worker is at all-time low, exacerbated by fuel subsidy removal which has tripled the cost of transportation and food items has not helped matters. President Bola Tinubu says he is aware of workers predicamen...
AFCON 2023: Super Eagles fully focused on Sunday’s final, says Chukwueze
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AFCON 2023: Super Eagles fully focused on Sunday’s final, says Chukwueze

Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze says he and his colleagues are fully focused on Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against hosts Cote d’Ivoire. Chukwueze told newsmen after the team's training session that the team had put the semifinal victory behind them and are now focused on the final. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria booked a berth to the AFCON final after a dramatic penalty shootout win against South Africa. The Super Eagles prevailed 4-2 on penalties following a captivating 1-1 draw at the end of 120 minutes. Hosts Cote d'Ivoire, on their part, booked a ticket to the AFCON final after beating DR Congo 1-0 thanks to Sebastien Haller's goal. "We are no more in a celebration mood at the moment. "We are trying to recover from the se...
Supreme Court Verdict : Eggon nation congratulates Gov. Sule
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Supreme Court Verdict : Eggon nation congratulates Gov. Sule

"••• urges Gov. Sule to be magnanimous in his victory••••" Eggon Cultural and Development Association ( ECDA) Worldwide, has congratulated Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on his Supreme Court Victory. The association also urged Gov Abdullahi Sule to be magnanimous in his Supreme Court victory by carrying everybody along while discharging his duty. Mr Mandy David Abuluya, the President ECDA, Worldwide made the call today while congratulating Gov. Sule on his victory at the Supreme Court, Abuja. Abuluya, who is also the Proprietor, Nacabs Polytechnic, Akwanga, Nasarawa State said that the victory of Gov. Sule at the Supreme Court was an affirmation of the mandate the people of Nasarawa State freely gave him on March 18th, 2023. " On behalf of the entire Eggon nation, I ...