Category: Happenings

The Organised Labour has vowed to resume the suspended nationwide indefinite strike if their demands are not met by Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Recall that the workers, under the umbrella of the organs of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), gave the federal government a one-week grace period last Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, June 10, Chris Onyeka, an Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, said: “The Federal Government and the National Assembly have the call now. It is not our call.

Our demand is there for them (the government) to look at and send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly, and for the National Assembly to look at what we have demanded, the various facts of the law, and then come up with a National Minimum Act that meets our demands.

If that does not meet our demand, we have given the Federal Government a one-week notice to look at the issues, and that one week expires tomorrow (Tuesday).

A group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives are seeking alterations to the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the rotation of the Presidency among the six geo-political zones of the country.

They also want an amendment to the Constitution to provide for “A single tenure of six years for the President and Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The lawmakers led by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo), made the call at a press conference at the National Assembly in Abuja on Monday, June 10.

According to him, the reduction in government spending and wastage, efficiency in governance, and national stability by providing a single term of six years for the President & Governors will go a long way in cost-cutting measures.

“We want the creation of the office of two vice presidents from the southern & northern parts of Nigeria. The 1st vice shall be a succession Vice president, while the 2nd Vice president shall be a Minister in charge of the Economy & both shall be Ministers,” Ugochinyere said.

Joint security operatives comprising Special Forces of Guards Brigade, the Nigeria Police Force, and DSS hunters have arrested four suspected bandits accused of kidnapping activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The suspects include 25-year-old Yahaya Abubakar, a resident of Mpape; Mohammed Mohamed, 32 who resides in Zuba and an ex-convict; Umar Aliyu, 20, and another convict, a 32-year-old Nura Abdullahi who lives at Kubwa and Zuba hills.

FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh who confirmed the arrests said the operation a shootout ensued between the bandits and the security operatives, forcing the suspected criminals to scamper to safety and abandon their victims who were later rescued.

The suspects freely confessed to being members of a notorious bandit syndicate with the name ‘Mai One Million’, responsible for a series of kidnappings and other heinous crimes in FCT and its environs.

Businessman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest has claimed that popular singer Flavour could not hold his father’s funeral in Anambra because of the insecurity in the state.

The celebrity barman, who was among those that attended the funeral, called on Southeasterners to collectively address the crisis plaguing the state.

Speaking via his Instagram page, the socialite stated that Flavour had to hold his father’s funeral in Enugu because of the situation.

He insisted that Southeasterners cannot destroy their homeland because they are being marginalized.

According to him, “This amazing funeral was supposed to be happening in Umunze Anambra State but here we are in Enugu managing it. Umunne, we need to come together and fix this, it’s no longer interesting. We cannot destroy our own because we are being marginalized.

“We must uphold our glory by going back to our peaceful nature. We can only fight back if home is in order for proper planning. If this continues that means they have succeeded in disorganising us.

“Oga Adicha ama, nke di na iru ka. RIP, Papa Ijele Igbo Nile, Papa muru African royalty 2niteflavour ebube agu na eche agu.”

Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested One Hundred and Twenty Seven (127) suspected internet fraudsters in Ondo State.

The alleged internet fraudsters were arrested in an early morning sting  operation  at a “Yahoo Party” held simultaneously at Signature and Abah Clubs on Saturday, June 8, 2024 in Akure, Ondo State.

Credible intelligence showed that the alleged party was initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, 2024 but was later moved to Saturday to beat security and intelligence networks of the EFCC.

The suspects have given useful information to Investigators of the Directorate.

Items recovered from them include ten exotic cars, phones, laptops, motor-cycle, wristwatches and many incriminating documents.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Operatives of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested a suspect for vandalizing LED road stud lights on Third Mainland Bridge.

Lagos state government made this known in a statement on Friday.

According to the state government, at the time of the arrest, the suspect had allegedly removed 10 of the LED road stud light screwed to the road to enhance the visibility of road users.

Operatives of Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) around 10:00 a.m on Friday arrested a suspected vandal removing LED road stud light on the newly renovated Third Mainland Bridge,” the government said.

The suspect, Mubarak Abdullahi (18), living in Makoko had, at the time of his arrest, removed 10 of the LED road stud light screwed to the road to enhance the visibility of road users. The suspect was caught red-handed by the operatives on patrol of the bridge around 10:00 a.m today.”

Governors of the 36 states of the federation have asserted that the N60,000 minimum wage earlier proposed by the Federal Government is unsustainable and cannot fly.

It would be recalled  that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) embarked on indefinite strike action on Monday after rejecting the federal government’s N60 000 minimum wage offer. However, organised labour on Tuesday relaxed the strike action for one week to allow room for further negotiations with the federal government, which had promised to increase the wage from N60,000.

The 36 state Governors, in a statement on Friday through the Director of Media and Public Affairs of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Hajiya Halimah Salihu Ahmed, said the N60,000 minimum wage is not realistic and unsustainable.

The Governors argued that implementing the N60,000 minimum wage would force some states to borrow to pay workers’ salaries.

The parents of a 22-year-old female nurse, Ginika Judith Okoro, have called on the Nigeria Police and state government to unravel the cause of the mysterious death of their only daughter.

According to reports, Ginika died in the house of her boyfriend, Charles Ndukwu, in Ezeogba, Awaka, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.

The mother of the late nurse, Mrs Caroline Nneji, who spoke to Punch Newspaper said the incident happened on Sunday, June 2, 2024. “My only daughter died last Sunday when she visited a young man called Charles.

My only daughter who was 22 years old was raised by us. She has a chemist shop where she treats patients and you know as a nurse she goes to patients’ houses sometimes to treat them.

This fateful Sunday, she visited a young man and died in his house. My only eye has gone. What sin did I commit that cannot be forgiven,” she said.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, June 6, 2024, arrested five suspected internet fraudsters in Abuja.

They were arrested following a predawn sting operation at the Ipent 7 Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja, sequel to intelligence and surveillance on their alleged fraudulent activities in the estate.

Items recovered from them include: a white Toyota Hilux, ash-coloured Mercedes Benz GLK 350, 2014 Model and a white Mercedes Benz GLE 43, AMG 2017 Model.

They will be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, on Thursday submitted the estimated cost implications of implementing a new national minimum wage to President Bola Tinubu.

Officials in the know of the matter reported that Edun submitted a proposal of N105,000 to the president as the new minimum wage.

It would be recalled that on June 4, President Tinubu asked that the finance minister, Wale Edun present a new wage template within two days but as of the morning of June 6, which is two days after the declaration, the Labour Congress noted that there was nothing new yet.

There is a disagreement between organised labour and the government. While organised labor is asking for a wage of N494,000, the government said it would pay N60,000.

However, a few hours later, the Finance Minister, Edun, along with the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, submitted the cost implementation of the new minimum wage to President Tinubu in his office at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The US is slowly setting up its infrastructure for a war in Europe with Russia in which China is likely to get involved. 

Alliance prepares for rapid deployment of American soldiers amid fears Moscow is plotting a major war with Europe. 

NATO is drawing up plans to send American troops to the frontlines of Europe in the event of an all-out conflict with Russia, it has been revealed. 

The plans are said to include contingencies in case of Russian bombardment, letting troops sweep into the Balkans via corridors in Italy, Greece, and Turkey, or towards Russia’s northern border via Scandinavia, officials told The Telegraph. 

According to the plans, American soldiers would land at one of five ports across Europe, four allowing access to the western Ukrainian border and a fifth reaching the Russian border via Finland.

NATO already had plans in place for US troops to deploy in the Netherlands before moving towards Poland by train in the event of war.

NASS member, Hon. Paul Haruna, reportedly donates a befitting traditional well to Kogi residents as constituency project.

A member of the 10th National Assembly representing  Bassa/Dekina Federal constituency in the 10th National Assembly, Paul Gowon Haruna has donated a traditional well to his constituency, per a report by Sahara Reporters.

Haruna is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress. He is also a former member of the Kogi State Houses of Assembly. However, some residents of the constituency have kicked against the project.

Sharing pictures with SaharaReporters, one of them said, “This is a project from a House of  Representatives member representing Dekina/Bassa Federal constituency, what a shame, not even a mechanised hand pump.” Another resident said, “It’s glaring these politicians don’t rate us, a federal lawmaker constructing well and celebrating it as achievement.”

The Kaduna State House of Assembly established an ad hoc committee to review all funds, loans, and contracts given under previous governor Nasir El-Rufai and presented its findings to the House.

The chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, presented a report during plenary on Wednesday. The report found that most loans obtained under El-Rufai’s administration were not used for their intended purpose and that due process was not followed in some cases.

Receiving the report, Yusuf Liman, Speaker of the Kaduna House of Assembly, stated that the El-Rufai government took a total of N423 billion, leaving the state with huge liabilities.

As a result, the committee recommended that El-Rufai and other indicted members of his cabinet be investigated and prosecuted by security and anti-corruption agencies for abuse of office through the award of contracts without due process, diversion of public funds, money laundering, and plunging Kaduna State into deep debt.

A 32-year-old lady identified as Funmi Faith has been arrested for maltreating a minor in Lagos State.

She was arrested following a viral video showing a man confronting her for maltr£ating the victim. In the clip, the eyewitness can be heard accusing her of inflicting injuries on the victim’s body as she took her bath outside the compound.

Funmi stood her ground, called the eyewitness unprintable names, and refused to admit that she maltreated the victim. She dared the eyewitness to go ahead after he promised to report the matter to the Lagos State government.

However, in a latest development, Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos State Police PRO, in a tweet on Wednesday,  confirmed that Funmi has been arrested and the victim has been handed over to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development for proper care and shelter.

A transgender inmate with a beard has been transferred to a male prison after he allegedly raped a female cellmate.

51-year-old Tremaine Deon Carroll’s removal from the Central California Women’s Facility came after he was indicted on 2 charges of rape & one charge of “dissuading a witness from testifying.”

One of the female inmates Carroll is accused of raping was identified as Jane Doe. She said she was in the shower when Caroll raped and attacked her. The suspect has since been transferred to the male-only Valley State Prison in Delano in the U.S.

In an interview with Daily Mail, Jane Doe said Carroll’s January 2024 assault in the shower was “fully penetrative”, adding that he was her new cellmate at the time. In the wake of the alleged sexual assault, Jane Doe suffered trauma & could not take a shower for days.

Jane Doe became cellmates with the biologically male prisoner & two female inmates after she requested a transfer from her initial cell.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God has urged Nigerians experiencing hard times to call on God for help.

Adeboye spoke at RCCG headquarters in Ebute-Metta on Sunday during the June thanksgiving service with the theme, ‘Lifter Up of My Head’. According to Adeboye: “If you need provision, if things are hard and I know things are hard for quite a few of us, call on the one whose name is Jehovah El-Shaddai, the God who is more than enough.

Call on Him – the one who is more than enough & He will meet your needs…He has many ways, depending on what is your need. When all ways are blocked, call on Him who is called the way when you don’t even know what’s going on.”

The organized labour had  embarked on the strike to push for an improvement in the minimum wage of workers. While the organized labour is proposing N494,000 as new minimum wage, the Nigerian government is insisting on paying N60,000.

Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, suspended their strike for five days, TVC News is reporting.

This is coming  after a six-hour meeting with the leadership of organised labor in Abuja, the Federal Government expressed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to raising the N60,000 offered as the minimum wage.

The agreement stated, “The President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000; and the Tripartite Committee will convene daily for the next week to finalise an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”

The organised labor also agreed to “immediately hold meetings of its organs to consider this new offer, and no worker would face victimization as a consequence of participating in the industrial action.”

Claudia Sheinbaum has been elected as Mexico’s first female president in a resounding win, achieving a historic victory.

According to Mexico’s official electoral authority, preliminary results indicate that the 61-year-old former mayor of Mexico City secured between 58% and 60% of the vote in Sunday’s election.

This gives her an almost 30-point lead over her closest competitor, businesswoman Xóchitl Gálvez. She is set to succeed her mentor, outgoing President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on 1 October. Sheinbaum, a former energy scientist, has pledged to maintain continuity, promising to further the “advances” made by López Obrador.

“I won’t fail you,” she said assuring the people in her victory speech. Her supporters are celebrating in the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square, waving banners that read “Claudia Sheinbaum, president.”

Before her presidential bid, Sheinbaum served as the mayor of Mexico City, one of the country’s most powerful political roles, often seen as a stepping stone to the presidency.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has directed its members to comply with the indefinite nationwide strike ordered by Organised Labour.

The strike is slated to commence on Monday. NUPENG General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale, in a statement on Saturday, said the union was committed to ensuring total compliance with the directive.

The strike is to express Nigerian workers’ anger at the refusal of the Federal Government to adopt the proposed new minimum wage.

Afolabi said the union was concerned and disturbed by the insensitive attitude of the Federal Government “to the very critical issue of negotiating a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers”. “This is given the various socio-economic policies of this administration that have impoverished the working people of this country.

Leaders of our great union at all levels, from the units, zones, and branches, should immediately put all processes in place to ensure total compliance with this directive,” he added.

The CBN said the action became necessary due to the bank’s breach of Section 12 (1) of the Banks and Other Financial Act BOFIA, 2020.

The apex bank also said the board and management of the bank have not been able to improve the bank’s financial performance, which it noted to have constituted a threat to financial stability.

CBN’s spokesperson, Hakama Ali, in a statement on Monday, said the withdrawal of the bank’s operational licence is in accordance with the apex bank’s mandate to promote sound financial system in Nigeria, and in exercise of its powers under Section 12 of the Banks and Other Financial Act (BOFIA) 2020.

It noted that the CBN had engaged with the bank and prescribed various supervisory steps intended to stem the decline.

“Regrettably, the bank has continued to suffer and has no reasonable prospects of recovery, thereby making the revocation of the license the next necessary step,” Ali said.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has joined the ongoing strike embarked up from Monday, by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC.

Organized labor began the industrial action after the federal government failed to meet the unions’ minimum wage demand.

In a statement addressed to the branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators of ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, has directed lecturers in universities across the country to join the strike as an affiliate of the congress.

“The NLC has declared an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, June 3, 2024, as a result of the failure of the government to conclude the renegotiation of minimum wage for Nigerian workers and reversal of hike in electricity tariff.

Our branches are hereby enjoined to join in the strike action as an affiliate member of Congress.

Consequently, branch chairpersons are to mobilize all members to participate in the strike action. Yours in the struggle,” it read.