Breaking: Labour suspends planned strike, FG to pay N30,000

The organized labour has suspended planned strike

After prolonged  argument, Vanguard gathered that the Tripartite Committee set up by the Federal Government agreed on N30,000 new minimum wage.

Nigeria Labour Congress President, Ayuba Waba (m) addressing a rally on Good Governance before a delegation took a list of Labour demands to Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 09/02/2017

At the end of the first meeting of the tripartite committee set up to arrive at an agreeable minimum wage template, Chairperson of the committee and former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Ms Ama People had said while the federal government insisted on N24,000, organized labour maintained its earlier stance of N30, 000.

She however said the government pleaded with labour to call off its planned strike

“We have concluded and we have a little challenge with what we call Chapter 5 of our report, that is where we have the numbers and the figures we used for the negotiations and the figures that we concluded with and the committee has two figures: the N24, 000 suggested by the federal government and the N30, 000 given by the organized labour.

“There is no stalemate. We have finished and we have signed it but we are insisting that the strike must be called off. There are still two figures, N24, 000 and N34, 000. You know that labour came up with a figure of N66, 500 but when we put all that together with the figure we got from the states…so, we put all that in a basket plus the initial figure that the federal government recommended which was N20, 700. We put them together in a basket and came up with four scenarios, we worked with one of the scenarios and that was how we agreed on that N24, 000 and N30, 000 respectively”, said Ms People.

Asked on what the committee was going to submit, she said both figures would be forwarded to the president.

On his part, Labour and Employment minister, Chris Ngige said the committee was working to secure an appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that its resolution would be passed to the Federal Executive Council, then the National Economic Council and later the National Council of State after which the president would initiate an Executive Bill to be transmitted yo the National Assembly.

He said; “We are making progress. The governors’ figure should be the figure of the federal government. We are just trying to carry them along. That is why we made the discussions ‘tripartite plus’. It is just because we want to carry them along, otherwise the federal government speaks for governments. Yes, the figures are standing but we know that there are other processes. It has to go through the Federal Executive Council, the National Executive Council and the National Council of State, then an Executive Bill will be transmitted to the National Assembly”.

Asked if the two figures would pass through those processes, he said; “Yes, because the federal government figure is noted and is also weighty because it says that it depends on the ability to pay, affordability and sustainability.

“Labour are quiet satisfied, we are doing the needful, we have passed the rubicon. The only aspect of it now that we need to do is to fix an appointment for the handing over of the report to Mr President. We are reconvening tonight because that appointment has to be gotten because the president has gone home. He is not just sitting down in the office. If we get the appointment now, we will reconvene later and agree on how to proceed.

“The governors have no choice now because they have attached themselves to us because we are the supreme sovereign, they are minor sovereigns”, he added.

On whether the strike would go on as planned on Tuesday, he said, “no”, referring all enquiries to labour leaders.

All the labour leaders at the meeting however declined media enquiries, saying they were on break and the meeting would reconvene later tonight.

Source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/breaking-labour-suspends-planned-strike/

Presidency And WAEC Disagree On President Buhari's Certificate

President Muhammadu Buhari

The controversy surrounding the issuance of certificate to President Muhammadu Buhari by the West African Examinations Council has taken a new twist as Presidency on Saturday, disagreed with WAEC on the reason for the issuance of the Attestation of Results.

According to Punch, while the Presidency insisted that Buhari didn’t apply for the results of the West African School Certificate Examination, which he claimed to have sat for in 1961, the examination body said the document was issued because the President applied for it.

WAEC’s spokesman, Damianus Ojijeogu revealed this in an interview with Punch on Saturday.

Ojijeogu, in the interview said, “We would not have given him the document if he didn’t apply. It is only Buhari or a court that can ask for the results. There is no other person. So he asked for it.”

Also, WAEC said in issuing an Attestation of Results to replace a lost or missing WAEC certificate, the subjects, where the candidate had F9, would no longer be captured.

WAEC Nigeria said these on its Twitter handle, @waecnigeria, on Saturday, while answering questions from several Nigerians on the omission of F9 from Buhari’s attestation.

“That is WAEC Twitter handle. It is correct,” Ojijeogu added, confirming the authenticity of the post on the handle.

The documents were presented to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a courtesy visit by a delegation of WAEC led by its Registrar, Dr. Iyi Uwadiae.

Uwadiae was accompanied by the Head, National Office, WAEC, Olutise Adenipekun; Head, Public Affairs, WAEC, Abiodun Aduloju; and the Zonal Coordinator, WAEC Abuja, Olufemi Oke.

Buhari received the documents amidst the controversy generated over his claim in his details presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission that his credentials were with the Military Board.

The board had subsequently declared the President’s certificate missing, hence the need for him to get an attestation and a confirmation.

Earlier on its Twitter handle on Saturday, the examination body had stated, “You cannot apply for Attestation of Results or any other document if you have not registered and sat for the examination.

“The documents for application are a letter of application, police report on lost or damaged certificate, photocopy of lost or damaged certificate, two recent passport-sized photographs of the candidate, sworn affidavit for collection of attestation of results and administrative fee of N20,000.”

But the Presidency, which spoke through Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the initiative to make the documents available to the President was that of the examination body.

Shehu, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, said WAEC authorities made it clear that they read about the controversy generated by the President’s missing certificate and saw the need to save the council’s integrity.

The presidential spokesman added, “No, the President did not apply for the documents. I made this clear in an opinion I wrote on Friday.

“The presentation of the documents to the President was strictly an initiative of WAEC.

“They said they read about the controversy on the pages of newspapers and saw the need to save the integrity of the council.”

Shehu had, in an opinion, titled ‘President Buhari, WAEC and PDP’s toxic air’, on Friday, quoted the examination body as saying that the controversy concerning Buhari’s school certificate was embarrassing and felt a sense of duty to produce and deliver the documents to him.

He had said, “This is a god-send, with WAEC being a non-political entity. This should put to rest the absurd allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party, brought up again and again, that he (Buhari) did not attend a secondary school.”

WAEC said the controversy surrounding the President’s picture was due to a guideline that the council used the photograph of the applicant for the attestation and not the pupil’s picture as of the time of sitting for the examination.

WAEC also said it did not issue the attestation of results to Buhari in 2015 because there was no application for it.

It said, “WAEC does not record fail in certificates. He (Buhari) did not apply for it in 2015. In August 2015, the council introduced Attestation of Results that can be obtained on request and that can serve as a replacement for lost or missing certificates.

“It should be the passport photo he (Buhari) submitted during the application for Attestation of Results. Attestation of Results carries passport of the candidate’s application when he or she applied. Candidates were first issued Attestation of Results by WAEC Nigeria in 2015.

“What we presented to President Buhari on Friday was a Statement/Attestation of Results and not a certificate. Subjects that a candidate had F9s in are no longer captured in certificates or Attestation of Results.”

Source:

https://www.tori.ng/news/109883/presidency-and-waec-disagree-on-president-buharis.html

New minimum wage: NLC, TUC, others suspend strike, Buhari to announce agreed figure

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) have suspended the planned nationwide strike.

The industrial action was scheduled to commence 12am on Tuesday.

The suspension was announced Monday night in Abuja after a closed door meeting of the Tripartite Committee on new minimum wage.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, explained that the decision was reached after agreements and documents were signed.

“Having reached this position and agreements signed, the proposed strike action is hereby suspended,” he said.

Wabba, however, refused to disclose the exact figure agreed by the committee.

He noted that the amount would only be made public after presentation of the report to President Muhammadu Buhari later in day at 4:15pm.

DAILY POST gathered that the federal government eventually agreed to labour’s demand of N30,000 after union leaders made it clear that anything below that would lead to national shutdown.

Chairman of the Tripartite Committee, Ama Pepple, expressed her excitement that their assignment had been concluded.

“I am happy to report to you that we have concluded our assignment and we will submit our report to the President by 4.15pm on Tuesday.

“We will reveal the figure at the presentation,” she assured.

Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, also said a mutual agreement on the new minimum wage would be made public after a meeting with the president.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, hailed the resolution of the matter by all parties involved.

He added that overriding interest of Nigerians prevailed at the meeting.

Source:

http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/05/new-minimum-wage-nlc-tuc-others-suspend-strike-buhari-announce-agreed-figure/

2019: Again, Tunji Abayomi attacks Oshiomhole, says APC constitutions forbid ‘automatic ticket’

One of the aspirants who contested the Ondo North Senatorial District ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, has again lashed out at the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

Abayomi, who was the preferred candidate of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, at a press conference held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, slammed Oshiomhole for his disregard to the constitution of the party.

According to Abayomi, a constitutional lawyer, he is in “serious pain” for the alleged substitution of his name with that of the incumbent senator representing the district, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the party’s candidate in 2019 by the National Working Committee, NWC.

“With regard to the present issue, the constitution of APC forbids “Automatic ticket”.

“A candidate, according to the constitution “means any person who has been nominated at a primary or party election to contest at a general election”. You must first be nominated at a primary election under APC constitution to become a candidate.

“In section 20 of the APC constitution “Nomination of candidates for Senate shall be through direct or indirect primary election to be conducted at the appropriate level”. No option is given to APC Chairman of NWC to force any direct primary on any state. It is not like a pool that can be fixed.

“The APC Chairman and his National Working Committee have become very notorious for false claims, wrong assumption of power and unconstitutionalism.

“They have become government of persons and not of the law. They have become an unregulated government over the members of the party.”

Abayomi further accused the party’s chairman for allegedly screening him out of the primaries which according to him, he emerged the winner.

He, however, stated that Oshiomhole must do the needful by adhering to the party’s constitution.

“On October 6, 2018, I participated in my ward in the APC primary with other senatorial aspirants and came first and was declared winner by the party.

“It is therefore strange that my brother Senator. Ajayi Boroffice, who did not win in the APC primary, will wrongly, improperly, unlawfully, unjustly and unconstitutionally be declared a candidate for the Ondo North Senatorial Zone by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

“I found it also disappointing that Senator Boroffice would accept an unjust and unfair victory.

“In my view, power to propose granted to the NWC of APC defeats, power to declare, assume or enforce. So it is today that my party APC is headed by a chairman that cannot even obey APC constitution. Do you then wonder why we have crises everywhere?”

Abayomi also hinted that he will contest the 2019 election on another platform.

“Oshiomhole and his NWC’s have blocked my right to political participation as a winning candidate.

“In consequences, I will not relent in demanding immediate remedy that conforms with the constitution of the constitution of Nigeria and that of APC.

“In the meantime, I have begun consultation with the party members in Ondo North Senatorial Zone to explore all remedies that are available and allowable, taking into consideration the interest of our people,” he stated.

Source:

http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/05/2019-tunji-abayomi-attacks-oshiomhole-says-apc-constitutions-forbids-automatic-ticket/

South West governors seek FG’s help on Apapa port gridlock

Oyo  State Deputy Governor, Otunba Moses Adeyemo (left); his counterparts, Idiat Oluranti Adebule (Lagos); Otunba Grace Titi-Laoye Tomori (Oyo); Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Osun State Governor-elect, Gboyega Oyetola and Secretary to the State Government of Ekiti, Abiodun Oyebanji, during the Western Nigeria Governor Forum at the Government House, Osogbo …yesterday.

• Buhari restates commitment to transport, power infrastructure
The Southwest Governors’ Forum has expressed concern on economic and security challenges posed by gridlock in the Apapa port and urged the Federal Government to create alternative routes.The forum said the planned alternative routes linking Tin Can Island through Tomoro Island to Ibafo in Ogun State should be revived urgently. In the interim, it suggested that government should enhance the capacity of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to evacuate goods from the port to alternative terminals.

In a statement at the end of its meeting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, yesterday, the forum reiterated its commitment to regional integration as a key to sustainable development in western Nigeria.The statement, read by the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government Biodun Oyebamibi (who represented Governor Kayode Fayemi), urged the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) commission to initiate processes to tackle decline in critical sectors in the region.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu were absent from the meeting and were not represented.Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode, was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Idiat Adebule. The Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, was also represented by his deputy, Moses Adeyemo.

The forum said the recent report by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on out-of-school children in Nigeria should be addressed properly. It urged the Odu’a Investment Group to champion food security in the region. The forum also asked the DAWN commission to engage institutions and development partners in accessing soil features in the region to boost agriculture.

“A realistic balance between governance, competing local interests and profitability must be of utmost consideration in factoring Odu’a Investment Group’s presence in states. Regional integration as a model for sustainable development is in the enlightened interest of Western Nigeria and the people should eschew divisive elements and actions,” the forum said.

The host, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola urged the forum to show greater commitment to regional integration. He said this was key to creating a formidable front to enhance development.He re-echoed calls for restructuring of the country and urged member states to remove barriers to quick development. His deputy, Titi Laoye Tomori, urged the forum to use agriculture as a means to engaging youths and women in the region.

President Muhammadu Buhari meanwhile restated his administration’s commitment to developing the country’s transport and power infrastructure. He spoke when he received members of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) led by their president, Oladapo Fafowora. Buhari, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told the retired ambassadors that Nigerians will never forget the “lost opportunity between 1999 and 2015,” when the nation had huge resources at its disposal.

He said: “There is no part of the country I haven’t been to, having attempted to be president four times. I know the condition of our roads. The rails were literally killed. There was no power despite the admittance by some previous leadership that they spent $16 billion on the sector.

“Today, we are getting our priorities right and we believe that of the three fundamental issues we campaigned on – security, the economy and fighting corruption – we have remained very relevant and Nigerians believe we have achieved something.”Buhari also used the occasion to appreciate the People’s Republic of China for financing some of the rail and power projects in the country through concessionary loans.

“I will do my best to see that where there are possibilities of making a quick improvement on infrastructure, we will do it,” he said.The president took note of some concerns raised by the retired ambassadors including an appeal for the adjustment of their pension entitlements, retention of diplomatic passport for retired career ambassadors, allocation of land for ARCAN headquarters in Abuja and adequate funding of the foreign affairs ministry.

Source:

https://guardian.ng/news/south-west-governors-seek-fgs-help-on-apapa-port-gridlock/

Wenger close to AC Milan move

Former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, is close to finalising a deal to take over at AC Milan, France Football reports.

It is believed that Wenger has been negotiating with the Serie A side for some weeks and talks have almost reached a conclusion.

If the deal pulls through, the Frenchman will replace Gennaro Gattuso as the club’s manager.

Wenger will also have additional responsibilities in the inner workings of the club, alongside sporting director Leonardo.

Last month, Wenger claimed he will return to management in the New Year.

Source:

http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/05/wenger-close-ac-milan-move/

Why APC senators refused to remove Saraki as senate president — Shehu Sani

Abuja—The senator  representing Kaduna Central who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Shehu Sani, has revealed why his colleagues in the ruling APC backed out of a plot to remove the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Sani, who is now a stalwart of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) after he lost out in getting the senatorial ticket of the APC, said the senators were unable to remove Mr Saraki because it was “constitutionally impossible.”

The vocal lawmaker, who spoke with reporters in Abuja also said the ruling party did not have the number of lawmakers required (two-third majority) to carry out its plan.

Shehu Sanni

Following the defection of the senate president from the ruling party to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the APC leadership and some of its senators called for his resignation or removal.

Saraki’s defection to the opposition was to seek the presidential ticket of the party which he eventually lost.

Breaking: Senate passes Electoral Act amendment bill

The APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, was particularly vociferous in his threat to ensure Mr Saraki was removed if he did not resign.

Saraki, however, vowed to remain in office, saying he enjoys the support of majority of the senators.

The senators of the APC eventually dropped plans to remove Saraki when the house finally resumed from a 10-week recess as nothing was said or done about it.

Mr Sani explained why the plan failed.

“It is technically impossible to remove Saraki because the APC does not have two thirds majority in the National Assembly. Secondly, Saraki has been able to carry everybody along and provide a leadership to the extent that he is able to accommodate those who are critical of him.”

“I can tell that APC backed out from plot to remove Saraki because they don’t have the number to do that and it is impossible to do that through constitutional means,” he said.

Sani, who is now seeking re-election on the platform of PRP, said the opposition party, PDP, “where Mr Saraki now belongs to is more united than the ruling APC senators in the National Assembly.”

“The opposition are more united and more formidable in their resolve to keep the senate president than the ruling party in their plot to remove the senate president.

“So, I can tell you that removing Saraki through constitutional means is very much impossible because the APC is not united to do that. The APC is not having the number to do that and the APC does not have the kind of support it needed to be able to carry out

Source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/why-apc-senators-refused-to-remove-saraki-as-senate-president-shehu-sani/

Herdsmen say ‘All lands belong to Buhari,’ attack, rape, chase Delta women from farms

By Perez Brisibe

EWU—WOMEN of flood-ravaged Ewu-Urhobo community, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have cried out  that suspected herdsmen attack, rape and chase them away from their farmlands.

Herdsmen on rampage

Mashomi lauds Okowa for payment of LG workers’ salaries

The women alleged that the armed herdsmen often claimed that all lands in the country belonged to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The women, who laid siege to the Ewu-Edjokota Road, penultimate Monday, as early as 6.00 am, alleged that the armed herdsmen, who take turns to defile them and maim those that refuse to yield to their lustful desires, feed their herds with their farm produce.

President Buhari, WAEC and PDP’s toxic air – Garba Shehu

Besides attacking them in the farms, they further alleged that  the herdsmen usually laid ambush and robbed traders going to local markets of their goods and flee into the bush.

Herdsmen grazing their cows in my farm attacked me — Atigogo

Recounting her ordeal to Vanguard, Madam Felicia Atigogo stated that she was attacked at her farm by two herdsmen when she tried to stop them from grazing their herds on her cassava farm.

“Owing to the flood that ravaged our community, I acquired another plot of land on lease only for the farm to be invaded by herds that were shepherd into the farm by these herdsmen.

“When I accosted them and tried to stop them from grazing their herd on my cassava, they brought out daggers and machetes and attacked me. I was lucky to have fled away.”

What triggered protest

One of the ladies in the community was not as lucky as Madam Atigogo as she died from wounds inflicted on her by herdsmen, who attacked her in her farm and tried to rape her.

A villager simply identified as Mama Ufuoma told NDV that her death sparked the latest protest.

“She was at her farm with one of her children weeding unknown to them that a group of herdsmen were within the vicinity. The herdsmen immediately pounced on her and tried to rape her.

“While trying to resist them amidst screams, they attacked her with their machetes leaving deep cuts on her and fled into the bush when people came to the scene. She was rushed to the hospital after losing a lot of blood, but died at the hospital,” she said.

They impudently claim Buhari owns all lands

– Woman leader

Woman leader of the community, Mrs. Queen Dieseruvwe, stated that the herdsmen now operate with effrontery, telling them that “all lands in Nigeria, including our communal lands belong to President Muhammadu Buhari.”

“They also claim that we have no rights to prevent them from grazing on our farms because President Muhammadu Buhari owns all the land in Nigeria, hence we cannot claim ownership of the land.

“They uproot our cassava, feed it to their herds and when you try to resist them, they attack you with machete and maim you if you are lucky as some others, or even shoot you.

“So, this is the reason we have barricaded the road as all efforts to reach the governor, police and other security agencies to evict these evil herdsmen from our community have been  futile,” she explained.

…accuse Delta govt of neglect

Dieseruvwe also accused the Delta State government of allegedly neglecting the community, especially when their farmlands were destroyed by flood, saying, “This is not about politics of PDP or APC as we are here for the benefit of our community and we won’t leave until these herdsmen are ejected from our farms.”

“We have a government, but we do not feel its impact. How will representatives of the government feel if their wives, sisters and daughters are raped by herdsmen?

“Our farmlands and crops were destroyed as a result of the increase in water level, now we decided to get new locations in the upland only for us to be attacked by these herdsmen, who have been a big problem to us for the past 15 years.

Vehicular movement grounded

Findings by NDV showed that all forms of vehicular movement on the Ewu-Edjokota Road, the only access route linking over 14 communities in Ughelli North and Ughelli South local government areas were grounded as a result of the protest.

The women erected a barricade across the road with woods and set bonfire on both sides of the road, making it impossible to go around the blockade, while three canopies were assembled on the road, where they sat and danced to music blaring from a Disc Jockey.

Commuters were forced to abort their journey at the spot and trek long distance after maneuvering the blockade to the other side of the road where they board commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada to continue their trip.

…resist LGA chairmen, Army’s efforts to clear barricade

Efforts by the Ughelli South local council Chairman, Dr. Richard Kofi, his Ughelli North counterpart, Godwin Adode, the Ovie of Ogor kingdom, HRM Okiemute Igere I, and military operatives from the 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor to dismantle the barricade were fruitless, as the women insisted the only condition to evacuate the road was immediate eviction of all herdsmen from the area.

We’re doing everything to fish out perpetrators—Muslim community

Condemning the attacks on the women, leader of the Muslim community in Ughelli South, Imam Muhammad Okotie, said: “The Muslim community condemns these attacks and we are doing everything to ensure that these bad herdsmen are brought to book. We are also trying to make sure that Muslims in the area leave in harmony with the locals.”

Source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/herdsmen-say-all-lands-belong-to-buhari-attack-rape-chase-delta-women-from-farms/

Never give up. keep trying until you get there