Politics, World News

Delta: Ijaw communities protest schoolteachers’ shortage

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The Ijaw communities in Delta State have protested the shortage of teachers in their community schools, calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to as a matter of urgency absorb community teachers.

The protesters who carried placards of different inscriptions barricaded the Government House’s gate and urged the government to incorporate the community teachers into the state workforce

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the President of Ijaw Elite Forum, Mr  Ganagana Francis, stated that the reason for the peaceful demonstration was to set the educational standards in riverine communities.

Ganagana decried the dearth of teaching staff in riverine communities, saying that in most schools in urban areas there were over 130 teachers in a school but only a principal and a teacher could be seen in riverine areas.

He called on the government to employ the community teachers that were being paid by the PTA in order to improve the standard of education in the areas.

Other representatives of the various concerned riverine communities who spoke at the protest said many schools in the riverine areas do not have more than two or three teachers who were employed by the state government.

The representatives include; chairman of Tamigbe community, Mr. Stephen Akameyai; the chairman of Esanma community in the Bomadi Local Government Area, Barr. Theophilus Omoro and their counterpart in charge of Bulu-Elebiri community, Patani LGA, Derek Edih.

“We are calling on the state government to consider our community teachers and ensure they are incorporated into the state workforce.

“For the state government to impact positively on the children of riverine communities in the area of driving its educational policy, government needed to employ the community teachers, since they understood the terrain much better,” the representatives said.

Addressing the protesters, the state Chairman of Post-Primary Education Board, Mrs. Christiana Etaluku, said she had already informed the State Governor on the importance of considering community teachers in the recruitment exercise.

She assured the community that the board would intensify monitoring of teachers in riverine areas as part of strategy to ensure that teachers in the areas took their job seriously.

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Ebonyi debunks alleged killing of woman by herdsmen.

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Ebonyi State Government, on Thursday, debunked allegations on social media that herdsmen were involved in the killing of a young lady in the Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

The body of the young lady, said to hail from Amaporo village, was found along a bush path between Agbebor, Isu and Onicha-Igboeze communities on Wednesday.

The situation caused tension in the area as the youths raised a search party to hunt for the killers.

However, their efforts were not successful as the killers were said to have allegedly escaped.

Pictures of the slain lady soon flooded the social media with unconfirmed allegations that herdsmen were responsible for the attacks.

In the pictures, the victim could be seen lying lifeless on a pile of firewood with her throat slit.

However, the state government in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Uchenna Orji said there was no evidence so far to link the murder to herdsmen adding that there were no herdsmen residing in the area.

He said the victim was believed to have been attacked by criminal elements in the area while she was returning from a neighbouring village.

Orji said, “Our attention has been drawn to a trending social media post over a young girl found dead in a village in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and the impressions created over the circumstances of her death.

“While the state government condemns the ugly incident as unacceptable brutal murder of an innocent citizen by heartless criminals, it is imperative to note that contrary to the claims circulating in social media that Fulani herders were responsible for her gruesome murder, the community has not seen anything linking her death with the Fulani herdsmen, moreso there is no herders’ camp in the area”

“The unfortunate incident is the handiwork of yet-to-be-identified criminals who attacked and killed the deceased on her way, through a track road, back from where she went to process cassava at Agbegbor village in Isu community, Onicha Local Government Area.

“The community together with the security agencies has declared manhunt on the perpetrators. The State Government sends its condolences to the victim’s family and assures them that government will not leave any stone unturned in unmasking the killers of the young girl,” the commissioner said.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi Command of the Nigeria Police Force, on Thursday, confirmed the incident.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, SP Chris Anyanwu, the lady’s underwear was missing raising suspicion by the villagers that she was raped before being killed.

“We have commenced investigation into the incident. People are alleging that she was raped because they couldn’t find her underwear”

“But only a forensic analysis can reveal if anything like that happened,” he said.

Politics, World News

Tinubu’s youth group congratulates new CAN President.

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A political group, Tinubu Youth Disciples, has commended the emergence of Most Rev. Daniel Okoh as the new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria.

The National Coordinator of TYD, Prince Koyoyo Uhrorho, said this in a congratulatory message issued and addressed to the new CAN President on Thursday in Abuja.

“We the Tinubu Youth Disciples are delighted to hear the news of your emergence as the new chairman of the highest Christian body in Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria.

“We are confident of your capability to steer the wheels of the great Christian body and lead the entire Christiandom as the Lord Jesus Christ admonish.

“We pray that the Almighty God gives you the grace and the enablement to discharge your new assignment,’’ Uhrorho said.

It would be recalled that the association’s General Secretary, Mr Joseph Daramola, announced the emergence of Most Rev. Okoh as the new CAN President in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Okoh is the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church, also known as Nation Builders (Odozi-Obodo).

CAN is made up of five blocs: Christian Council of Nigeria, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.

Others are Organisation of African Instituted Churches, TEKAN and ECWA Fellowship.

NAN

Politics, World News

Tinubu is my In-law. He’s 86 and not qualified to become president – Veteran Singer, Tee Mac.

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Renowned flutist Tee Mac has garnered attention on Facebook by sharing his thought on the Presidential Candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli, a former President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), said he and Remi Tinubu are cousins and this makes her husband Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu his in-law but he stopped supporting Tinubu and stopped visiting the family.

He made this known while responding to a Facebook user, Yemi Olakitan, who declared his support for the APC Presidential flag bearer.

Tee Mac also said that Tinubu is 86 years old and not 70.

He wrote: “Dear Yemi. Any body can choose any candidate, but an intelligent person will ask himself the question: do I choose rightly! Is the man qualified! Is he honest! Does he tell us the truth about his age, background and how he made his money! Is this man healthy enough at 86 to take up the task of a totally run down country?

“You see Tinubu is my in-law. His wife Remi is my cousin. Her Itsekiri mother and my Itsekiri mother are sisters. I have know Tinubu since the mid 80s personally and even arranged for him to stay in my stepfather’s house ( Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony) in London when he went into exile.

“I stopped supporting him and stop family visits etc when he sold that Buhari to the nation in 2015. My advise to the nation is that this man is absolutely not qualified to become our next president. Respectfully Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli.”

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Governor Umahi’s brother declines approval of his appointment by President Buhari as RMAFC Secretary.

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Augustine Umahi, younger brother of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has declined his appointment as the secretary of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Augustine declined the appointment just after President Buhari approved the appointment alongside two others on Wednesday July 27. 

Mr Umahi was appointed to serve as the secretary of RMAFC for an initial term of four years with effect from July 6.

Conveying his decision to decline the appointment in a statement on Thursday July 28, Augustine said; 

“I am honestly humbled by this show of love but regret to inform you that I declined the appointment.

“This is because it is best for job seekers, retired civil servants or anyone who loves the job.

“I am also convinced that at my age and work experience, it is not in doubt that I know what I want in life.

“Anyone interested in the position should not hesitate to approach our indefatigable governor to do the needful. This is because to my knowledge, the position is still vacant.”

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N109bn fraud: Court grants suspended Accountant-General Ahmed Idris bail.

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Former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris has been granted bail by an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama on Thursday July 28. 

Idris Ahmed and his co-defendants were granted bail upon terms and condition given by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Delivering ruling, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi ordered that the defendants shall not leave the Federal Capital Territory, and should they want to, they would have to seek clearance from the court or have their bail revoked.

The defendants will also sign an undertaking that they will abide by the bail conditions by the EFCC.

The defendants should not have and shall not procure alternate passports until the case is done with, having deposited their original passports to the commission.

Ajayi added; 

“In line with the due process and supremacy of the law, the defendants are still entitled to bail, irrespective of the enormity of the allegations against them.

“The EFCC did not in any of its processes, stated that the defendants misbehaved while on administrative bail.”

Trial commenced immediately after the ruling on bail application.

This is coming barely a week after the court remanded the former AGF in prison. The court had last week Friday ordered that Idris and his co-defendants be kept in Kuje Correctional facility pending the hearing of their bail applications.

Other defendants are Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Ltd.

The defendants are being prosecuted on a 14-count charge of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109, 485,572,691.9.

Politics, World News

Impeachment of Buhari is belated – Shehu Sani

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Senator Shehu Sani has stated that the impeachment of President Muhammad Buhari is long overdue .


Sani made the statement after opposition lawmakers on Wednesday, July 27, stated that they would commence impeachment proceedings against Buhari over the declining security in the country.

 “impeachment of the President is belated, it should have started months ago, NASS has the constitutional right to summon the President” Sani told Arise TV


He said that the opposition “may not be able to get required number to impeach Buhari, because members of the ruling party are hiding their faces from such actions.”


“The opposition is on a moral high ground. Nigerians may see them as their voice and representative of the plights of the Nigerian people.” He added 

Sani then added that security challenges are not about money as INEC and defence agencies are well-funded.


 “in the last 7 years, over N4.2 trillion was appropriated and funded, but this has not translated to security”, adding “It is clear to us that either the funding has not been used for the purchase of hardwares or we are buying the wrong hardware for the situation on the ground.” he said

 “This protest should continue and we believe if the govt is sensitive to the yearnings of Nigerians, it should solve this issue.”


 “Their protest is a struggle to save public education, to save the future of Nigeria and to save the futures of the youth who cannot afford private universities or to go abroad.”

 “We have a budget of N16 trillion, if the government can fund subsidy with N7 trillion, they can allocate more of the budget for education.”

 “ASUU have articulated their demands to reactivate and upgrade Nigeria’s university system; refusing to address these issues will come with a lot of repercussions for the whole country.”

Politics, World News

Shame! – Oby Ezekwesili lampoons House of Reps Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, for posting photos from his class in Harvard.

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Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has lampooned the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for sharing photos of himself receiving lectures at the John F Kennedy School of Government at the Harvard Business School.

Gbajabimila posted photos of himself receiving lectures at the university on Tuesday, July 26, the same day members of the Labour union where engaging in a solidarity rally in support of the strike members of the Academic Staff Union of University ASUU.

Reacting to the photos, Ezekwesili described it as a ”shame”

See her tweets below;

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Lawyer Inibehe Effiong alleges that a judge sentenced him to one month in prison after he asked that armed policemen in the court room be sent out because he didn’t feel safe.

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Popular lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong has alleged that a judge sentenced him to one month in prison.

The lawyer said this occurred after he asked that the armed policemen in the court room be sent out because he didn’t feel safe.

Effiong said Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot sentenced him to one month in prison while defending one Leo Ekpenyong in the libel suit filed by Governor Udom Emmanuel, even though he allegedly didn’t do anything.

He tweeted; 

I have just been sent to Uyo prison by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, for one month for defending Leo Ekpenyong in the libel suit filed by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The Chief Judge of Akwa Akwa Ibom ordered a Premium Times reporter to leave the court. I said my lord, we were thinking that since the proceeding is public, that members of the public should be allowed to observe the proceeding. My Lord asked me to proceed with cross examination.

I obeyed. I informed the court that I was not feeling comfortable and safe having two armed mobile policemen seated inside the courtroom, that it was strange and that I felt unsafe. I applied for the judge to excuse the armed policemen from the courtroom.

The Hon. Chief Judge then ordered me to step out of the Bar, that she was sending me to prison. She then ordered the policemen to take me to Uyo prison. And that I should be in jail for one month. I am waiting inside the courtroom for them to bring the conviction warrant.

I will be going to the Uyo Correctional Centre now. I have not done anything. I wasn’t even opportunity to say anything before the “conviction”. Two lawyers in court appealed to the Hon. Chief Judge but my Lord insisted that I must be jailed.

I will be going to the Uyo Correctional Centre now. I have not done anything. I wasn’t even opportunity to say anything before the “conviction”. Two lawyers in court appealed to the Hon. Chief Judge but my Lord insisted that I must be jailed.

Meanwhile, there is already a pending application for recusal asking the Hon. Chief Judge, Justice Ekaette Obot, to recuse Himself. We filed it since 23rd June, 2022. The motion is still pending.

Politics, World News

ASUU strike: NLC, others intensify protest in Abuja

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The Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliate unions on Wednesday in Abuja continued their solidarity protest in support of the five-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, among others are currently leading the Day 2 protest in solidarity with ASUU in Abuja.

The PUNCH had reported the unions defied warnings by the Federal Government and took to the streets of major cities in the country on Tuesday to protest against the failure of the Federal Government to resolve the five-month strike by ASUU

Specifically, the NLC said the money the two major political parties – the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party – generated from the sale

The university lecturers had shut down public institutions on February 14 over the inability of the Federal Government to implement the agreements it made with ASUU in 2009 as well as the refusal of the current administration to exempt lecturers from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

ASUU had also asked the government to increase funding of tertiary institutions and pay outstanding allowances.

On Wednesday, the protesters converged at the Unity Fountain and continued with the two-day protest in Abuja over the prolonged strike by university workers across the country.

This comes a day after a similar demonstration was held in various states of the Federation, except for the Federal Capital Territory.

The protest began at about 9:30 am after members of the NLC leadership and leaders of various affiliated unions, as well as members converged on the Unity Fountain in the nation’s capital.

Among those physically present were Wabba, Sowore, ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, and the immediate past President of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, among others.

PUNCH Metro observed a heavy security presence at the venue of the protest comprising officers of the Nigeria Police, DSS, NSCDC, among others.

Our correspondent gathered that the protesters planned to march down to the National Assembly where the NLC president would deliver a message from the labour unions to lawmakers.

Politics, World News

FG must address insecurity before 2023 – Anglican bishop

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The bishop of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Owo Diocese, Stephen Fagbemi, has called on the Federal Government to address the issue of security challenges and other issues threatening the existence of the country before the 2023 general elections.

The cleric warned that failure to resolve the issues may not augur well for the country.

Fagbemi gave the warning while reading the Bishop’s Charge at the first session of the 14th Synod of Diocese of Owo Anglican Communion, held at the St. Paul’s Church, Ifon, headquarters of the Ose Local Government. The synod was themed “Chosen to proclaim”.

According to him, Nigeria has found itself in a most unfortunate state, to the extent that some were beginning to suggest that it is becoming a failed state as a result of the inability of the government to address the country’s problems.

He called on churches and individuals to commence a process of self-defense mechanism in the face of the present security threat to the country, adding that if urgent action is not taken by the government, the country may explode.

He said, “What we heard from those who have been released from kidnappers’ den is that a particular ethnic group of this country is responsible and they have a plan to take over every part of the country. We have heard this line of claim several times. A responsible government ought to have investigated this by now and come up with a clear strategy for dealing with this trend.”

On the forthcoming general elections, the cleric said Nigerians need leaders with the necessary aptitude and courage to lead the country out of its quagmire.

He also noted that until the country recognises the rights of every Nigerian to practice the faith of their choice without any intimidation and discrimination, peace, progress and justice will continue to elude the country.

“Going for the 2023 elections without defining these issues and many others that threaten our collective existence is to defer the evil day. I appeal to all civil, religious, and political leaders of this country to abandon all selfish interests and deal with these urgent national issues,” he charged.

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U.S. Department of Justice investigating Trump’s actions surrounding January 6 as part of criminal probe into his bid to overturn the election.

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The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly investigating former President Donald Trump’s actions as part of its criminal probe on the January 6 Capitol attack,

According to The Washington Post, federal prosecutors have interviewed witnesses before a grand jury and asked them about conversations between Trump, his lawyers and members of his inner circle regarding a plot to replace Electoral College members with pro-Trump alternate electors in states President Joe Biden won. 

They are also examining the actions surrounding Jan. 6, when thousands of Trump supporters, many armed, overran the Capitol on the day that Congress was to count the electoral ballots and affirm Biden’s victory in the 2020. 

Sources told the publication that prosecutors have asked detailed questions about meetings Trump held in December 2020 and January 2021, gathering information on his campaign to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election results, and what instructions – if any – Trump gave his team about the fake electors scheme.

That scheme was led by Trump’s election lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, but prosecutors wanted to know the extent of the now ex-president’s involvement, The Post said. 

They want to know what Trump told his allies to do as he sought to overturn the 2020 election result.  

The Post also reported that investigators received the phone records of Trump’s former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. 

Two subpoenas obtained by The Post issued to two Arizona state lawmakers who posed as fake electors asked for communications with ‘any member, employee, or agent of Donald J. Trump or any organization advocating in favor of the 2020 re-election of Donald J. Trump, including “Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.”‘ 

On Monday, ABC News reported that Pence’s former Chief of Staff Marc Short was spotted leaving D.C. District Court on Friday, alongside his lawyer. 

Sources told the network that Short testified before a grand jury, compelled by a subpoena, as part of the DOJ’s probe. 

Additionally, Pence lawyer Greg Jacob also appeared before a grand jury, The Post said. 

In an interview that aired Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland did not rule out prosecuting Trump. 

‘We intend to hold everyone, anyone who was criminally responsible for the events surrounding January 6, for any attempt to interfere with the lawful transfer of power from one administration to another, accountable,’ Garland told NBC’s Lester Holt. ‘That’s what we do.’ 

The DOJ probe is separate from the investigation being conducted by the January 6 House select committee – which may make criminal referals to the Justice Department as well, the top Republican on the panel, Rep. Liz Cheney, said in an interview last month. 

‘The Justice Department has been doing the most wide-ranging investigation in its history and the committee is doing an enormously wide-ranging investigation as well,’ Garland said on NBC’s Nightly News. 

Politics, World News

Bomb scare in Kogi as loud explosion rocks Lokoja.

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A loud explosion rocked the ever-busy post office area of Lokoja, the Kogi state capital today July 26.

Daily Trust reports that the said explosion actually took place around the premises of the office of the Secretary to Kogi State Government, Ministry of Women Affairs and Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs. The explosion which made workers and many residents scamper for safety happened around 8.30 am when workers were resuming in their various offices and shop owners were out to open their shops for daily business.

Eyewitnesses say an object like a bomb was sighted around the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which has in its opposite and adjacent, offices of the secretary to the state government and Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, including the newly completed Muhammadu Buhari event centre that is awaiting Commission at the far opposite.

Confirming the incident, the state commissioner of police, CP Edward Egbuka, said;

“Yes, what happened was, we were informed of a package that looked like a bomb, left on the premises and I immediately, deployed the bomb disposal unit there to assess the object.

The object was immediately blown up, the explosion you heard was the handwork of our bomb disposing unit brought about by their efforts to blow up the object.”

He added that an investigation has commenced to ascertain the character of the object to measure the motive behind its presence in the areas

Politics, World News

Terrorists assembling weapons to attack Buhari’s state – NSCDC

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has raised the alarm over a planned attack on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s (retd.) state, Katsina, as well as Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, among others.

The NSCDC stated that Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province terrorists, from the intelligence it gathered, have mobilised their fighters and had equipped themselves with dangerous weapons like Anti-aircraft guns, general purpose machine guns, among others, in preparation for the attack on the state which the president of the country hails from.

These were contained in a leaked report addressed to all commands dated July 25 and sighted by our correspondent on Tuesday.

The report titled, “Re: Heightened plots by terrorists to stage coordinated attacks in parts of the country” was signed by the Deputy Commandant General Controller in charge of Operations, DD Mungadi.

It read, “We have received credible intelligence that Boko-Haram and the ISWAP terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons particularly Rocket-propelled Grenade launchers, Anti-Aircraft guns, and General Purpose Machine Guns which they intend to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.”

The report also hinted at other attacks by bandits groups in Lagos, Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, and Zamfara states.

It added that the Commandant General had directed the state Commandants to put up measures to avert the attacks.

“In another development, two separate bandits groups are plotting coordinated attacks on North-West, North Central and South West (Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, FCT and Lagos respectively).

“Consequently, the Commandant General has directed you to scale up deployment in all strategic places including Schools, Worship Centres, and Critical National Assets in your respective states, to checkmate any possible threats by these criminal elements. Please treat as urgent,” the report added.

When contacted for reactions, the spokesperson of the NSDC, Shola Odumosu, promised to get back to our correspondent but he was yet to do so at the time of filing this report.

The PUNCH reports that the president’s state has not been spared by the bloodthirsty terrorists who have attacked the state. Recently, his advanced team was attacked, and two policemen were killed.

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ASUU: Expect nationwide strike, NLC tells FG.

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The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, has said that the workers’ union will embark on a three-day nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to accede to the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities after the ongoing two-day warning protest organised by the NLC.

Wabba, who spoke in an interview with Channels TV ‘Sunrise Daily’, also stated that the workers’ union embarked on a two-day protest against the ongoing ASUU strike not just as a show of solidarity, but because the strike directly affected the NLC.

He said, “The two-day warning strike is to call for attention for the issues to be resolved promptly. The next level is a three-day national warning strike if nothing has happened after the protest, to show our grievances.

“We are not on a solidarity action, we are affected directly.”

The NLC had organised the two-day protest after a series of failed negotiations between the FG and ASUU to resolve the strike action.

Wabba, who stated that the ongoing protest was a democratic norm which was constitutional and supported by the international charters, added that it was not illegal to carry out such demonstration on the streets.

He said, “These are democratic norms everywhere in the world. Even as an individual, you have the right to air your grievances.

“It is within the provision of our law. It is backed by the United Nations charter for human and peoples rights, African charter for human and peoples rights, and it is there in our constitution — sections 39 and 40.”

Since plans for the ongoing protest was announced by the NLC, the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, had alleged that the protest was illegal and would create anarchy in the country.

The Minister for Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had also taunted the workers’ union, claiming erroneously that the protest was against international labour practices.

The Nigeria Police Force had also in its bid to defend the regime, demanded that the NLC should get a permit from the Force before embarking on the two-day warning-protest.

Responding to the claims by the authorities, Wabba said the court of law had pronounced that citizens did not need permission from the police or any authority to carry out protests.

He said, “Even the court has pronounced that you don’t require any permission. It is legal and within your fundamental human rights to protest issues.

“When people say it’s illegal, I think people should remember that no condition is permanent. We have had some of our current politicians join the NLC to press for similar actions in the past.”

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Kogi NLC joins nationwide solidarity protest

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The Kogi state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress, on Tuesday, staged a solidarity protest with the Academic Staff Union of Universities in line with the directive from the national body of the union.

Speaking at the Government House Lokoja, the NLC Chairman, Onuh Edoka, represented by his vice, Simeon Opaluwa Eleojo, said as parents who are paying the school fees of their children, they are feeling the pains of the federal government’s insensitivity which has caused untold hardship on parents and their children.

They also pointed out that the insensitivity on the part of the federal government to keep the students at home has worsened the nation’s insecurity.

He urged the federal government to quickly meet the demands of the tertiary institutions’ workers.

The NLC said that as the nation’s future leaders, keeping the students at home has added to the security threat the nation is currently facing, pointing out that an idle mind is usually the devil’s workshop.

He described the decision to keep mute over the workers’ demands as wicked and insensitive.

The union called on the federal government to immediately return the nation’s children who have been at home for six months to the classrooms, saying, “Enough is enough”.

The chapter disclosed that the strike action began on 14th February, 2022, requesting the intervention of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to call on the federal government.

The union explained that the strike action by the tertiary institutions workers was owing to the failure to meet the agreement reached and the dismay and reluctance of the Federal Government to meet with the agreement.

One of the highlights of the peaceful protests was a march through the Stella Obasanjo Library to the Government House, where a letter was handed over to the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, for onward delivery to the Federal Government.

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Ganduje laments ASUU strike, promises governors’ intervention.

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Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, on Tuesday, assured the Nigeria Labour Congress that the Nigeria Governors Forum would do everything possible to ensure an amicable resolution to the lingering crisis between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

He gave the assurance when he received members of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, who were at the Government House, protesting in solidarity with ASUU.

The governor, who lamented the prolonged crisis, said the NGF would prevail on the Federal Government in the area of advice so as to resolve the crisis with a view to saving the entire system from total collapse.

“We will prevail on the Federal Government in the area of advice because the crisis must be resolved to save the system.

“This crisis must be resolved to help save the system. We don’t want system collapse in this country at all,” Ganguje said.

He noted that the striking university lecturers “are in the strike action to save the system from collapsing.”

While lamenting the plight of students across the country for being idle all this while, he revealed that, “Myself and my colleagues from all the 36 states, irrespective of our party differences, are concerned about the prolonged strike action and we will put our heads together to bring an end to the crisis.”

The governor commended the labour members, students and others who participated in the protest for exhibiting maturity and high sense of responsibility in conducting the protest peacefully.

Ganduje also promised to forward the letter he received from the labour leaders to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, for onward submission to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd.) .

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Kano branch of the NLC, Kabiru Minjibir, said the protest was in compliance with the directive from the National Headquarters of the union to compel the government to do the needful.

He commended Ganduje for not joining some of his colleagues in no work no pay resolution against university lecturers.

“We really appreciate the state government under your able leadership, the people’s governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, for your magnanimous approach in not stopping the salary of the lecturers of the state universities.

“This shows you are an education-friendly governor,” Comrade Minjibir said.

Among those who took part in the peaceful protest were ASUU members, student bodies, civil society groups, youth organisations and human right activists, among others.

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Osun: Adeleke sets up 37-member transition committee

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The Governor-Elect of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has constituted a 37-member Transition Committee to facilitate a smooth transition between the incumbent and the newly elected administration in the state.

The Media office of the Governor-elect disclosed that the transition committee comprises seasoned technocrats, present and former public office holders, and experts from diverse fields.

This was contained in a statement by Oladele Bamiji, the Media Director of the Peoples Democratic Party, Osun State chapter, made available to our correspondent on Tuesday.

Titled, ‘Adeleke constitutes Transition Committee’, the statement partly read, “The Committee is to be Chaired by a Doctor of Nuclear Medicine and a Fellow of the Euro Institute of Reticulo-endothelial Biology & Medicare, Dr Muyiwa Oladimeji while the Director-General of Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation Hon. Sunday Bisi, will serve as Deputy Chairman.

“The Secretary of the Transition committee is a serving member of the House of Representatives who is also a legal practitioner, Representative Bamidele Salam, and will be assisted by a Project management expert, Sir Adekunle Adepoju.

“The Transition Committee will be inaugurated by the Governor-elect on Thursday.”

Adeleke, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, defeated the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Adegboyega Oyetola, to emerge as the winner of the July 16 election.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Adeleke scored 403,371 votes and won in 17 local government areas to defeat Oyetola, who scored 375,027 votes and won in 13 LGAs. No fewer than 15 political parties participated in the election.

Politics, World News

ASUU: Expect nationwide strike, NLC tells FG

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The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, has said that the workers’ union will embark on a three-day nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to accede to the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities after the ongoing two-day warning protest organised by the NLC.

Wabba, who spoke in an interview with Channels TV ‘Sunrise Daily’, also stated that the workers’ union embarked on a two-day protest against the ongoing ASUU strike not just as a show of solidarity, but because the strike directly affected the NLC.

He said, “The two-day warning strike is to call for attention for the issues to be resolved promptly. The next level is a three-day national warning strike if nothing has happened after the protest, to show our grievances.

“We are not on a solidarity action, we are affected directly.”

The NLC had organised the two-day protest after a series of failed negotiations between the FG and ASUU to resolve the strike action.

Wabba, who stated that the ongoing protest was a democratic norm which was constitutional and supported by the international charters, added that it was not illegal to carry out such demonstration on the streets.

He said, “These are democratic norms everywhere in the world. Even as an individual, you have the right to air your grievances.

“It is within the provision of our law. It is backed by the United Nations charter for human and peoples rights, African charter for human and peoples rights, and it is there in our constitution — sections 39 and 40.”

Since plans for the ongoing protest was announced by the NLC, the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, had alleged that the protest was illegal and would create anarchy in the country.

The Minister for Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had also taunted the workers’ union, claiming erroneously that the protest was against international labour practices.

The Nigeria Police Force had also in its bid to defend the regime, demanded that the NLC should get a permit from the Force before embarking on the two-day warning-protest.

Responding to the claims by the authorities, Wabba said the court of law had pronounced that citizens did not need permission from the police or any authority to carry out protests.

He said, “Even the court has pronounced that you don’t require any permission. It is legal and within your fundamental human rights to protest issues.

“When people say it’s illegal, I think people should remember that no condition is permanent. We have had some of our current politicians join the NLC to press for similar actions in the past.”

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