DISGRUNTLED POLITICIANS STOCKPILING ARMS TO SCUTTLE 2019 POLLS – SECURITY CHIEFS

Security chiefs have raised the alarm that disgruntled politicians are stockpiling arms to scuttle the 2019 general elections.

They made this claim in their presentation to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday during their National Security Council meeting.

In attendance were all the service chiefs – the chiefs of army staff Gen Tukur Buratai; air staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar; naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, and defence staff, Gen Gabriel  Olonisakin, as well as the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi; the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris; the minister of defence, Mansur Dan Ali, and national security adviser, Gen Babagana Monguno.

The chief of defence staff, Gen Olonisakin, who made the presentation on behalf of the service chiefs, said the country’s security architecture was primed to ensure violence-free general elections next year.

According to him, the security bosses discussed the general overview of the security situation in the country as it relates to the conduct of the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

Expressing concern over the possibility of post-election violence, the security chiefs alleged that desperate politicians may whip up ethno-religious sentiment to create security situation in the country

They recommended the deployment of security agencies to states to ensure the peaceful and smooth conduct of the elections, to douse tension created by the outcome of the political parties’ primaries and to thwart the plan of some desperate persons to sabotage the electoral process.

“The meeting also discussed attempts to put pressure on  the electoral body by some notable personalities through demonstrations, which was brought under control by the combined efforts of security agencies, to avoid it from being hijacked by hoodlums and armed bandits.

“Another area of security concern includes post-election violence, as desperate politicians may whip up ethno-religious sentiments to create security situation in the country.

“Also of concern is the proliferation and stockpiling of weapons by some disgruntled elements with a desire to take the law into their hands at the slightest opportunity,” he said.

Olonisakin further stated that the Council called for the concerted efforts of all security agencies to ensure that 2019 elections are hitch free, just as it stressed the need for continuous sensitisation of the public by National Orientation Agency (NOA) and regular meetings of relevant stakeholders including INEC, international/ local observers and the media ahead of the elections.

WE’RE NOT OPPOSED TO NEW MINIMUM WAGE, SAY GOVS

THE thirty- Six (36) state governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF said Thursday that they were not in any way opposed to new minimum wage for workers in the country.

Governors Forum meeting: Director General, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Asishana Okauru, Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Logo state Governor,  Yaya Belly,  during Governors Forum Meeting in Abuja yesterday. 
Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

Rising from a meeting in Abuja Thursday, the governors who noted that the Organised Labour was right to agitate for salary increase, however said that their concern is the ability to implement it and pay, adding that the problem was not just about agreeing to a figure, but the availability of resources to meet up with the commitment.

Speaking to Journalists after the meeting in Abuja, governor of Zamfara State and Chairman of NGF, Abdulaziz Yari stressed that with the present minimum wage at N18,000, many states were struggling to pay with some of them already hugely indebted.

The Organized Labour is asking for N30,000 whereas the government is offering N24,000.

Yari said: “Like we said, we can do minimum wage on any amount we need but the issue is the ability to pay the minimum wage agreed in the last meeting which the Minister of Labour attended with the negotiation committee and also the committe that we also set up.

“We made it clear that we are not against the upward review of salary, we are in tandem with the NLC to get the minimum wage reviewed but the problem we are having is the capacity to pay what is agreed .

“As at today, most of the states are struggling to pay the N18,000 minimum wage. Some states are paying between 35 to 50% of the minimum wage and some states are owing salary arears.

“If we say we are going to do an upward review of the minimum wage, it is not about only reviewing it but how we are going to get the resources to cater for it.”

">Lago Governors Forum meeting : From left, Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode chatting with Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Silas Agara and Edo state Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu during Governors Forum Meeting in Abuja yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

Meanwhile, the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, was invited to brief the Forum on states’ performance in the use of London and Paris Club refunds.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government disbursed the fund to states with the condition to use larger percentage of the money to pay workers’ salaries.

Speaking further, Yari said, “Also, sometimes ago, London and Paris Club refund was paid and part of the agreement was that we will deal with the issues of workers and it was a serious agreement that we signed with the Minister of Finance and the Federal government that the larger chunk of the money will be channeled to payment of salaries .

“Some states are in the process but one of the conditions critically accepted is to ensure that this funds was utilised acccording to the agreement.

“We invited the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress to give us a details on how some states have performed. Some states that are not up to date have signed an MOU with the NLC and their representatives in states on how they can overcome the issue of salary arears and that has been done and it will be taken to the CBN so that those states will be paid.”

Also speaking to reporters after the meeting, Wabba who insisted that workers cannot continue to provide services on empty stomach, said that even though Labour was prepared to dialogue on the minimum wage issue, but there is limit to it.

Wabba said: “All through history of minimum wage in Nigeria, it has never been given on a platter of gold. We thought the situation has changed, things have improved, and therefore, through collective bargaining and dialogue, we will be able to reach a compromise.

“If we do that, fine and good. Where that is not done, you should also know that no worker can continue to work on an empty stomach. That has been our message. We will continue to dialogue but there is also a limit to dialogue.”

The NLC boss noted that the challenge in the Nigerian economy especially the eroding of the purchasing power of the worker caused by continuous devaluation of the naira, the exchange rate, the increase in pump price of petrol and electricity tariff, have affected the Nigerian worker.

Wabba who observed that by law, the minimum wage ought to have been reviewed as far back as 2016 as previously agreed, said, “All these factors put together necessitated the NLC and organized Labour to demand for a new minimum wage which is in tandem with best global practice.

“What we are telling the Governors is that the minimum wage is due and everybody must be committed to it, committed to it in the sense that every state was given an opportunity to…when the (negotiation) committee finished its work, we wrote individually to the state governments to send in input.

“Twenty one states responded in writing. Some quoted figures, some said, whatever is agreed, they are going to pay. Some have made statements that they are going to pay.

“So, for anybody to come under a platform and say ‘well, we have issue with that,’ I think the best thing is to go back to their states, put your workers together and say ‘I will not be able to pay. That is what I think is honourable, that is what I think is supposed to be done.”

However, the Labour leader said that he pleaded with the governors that they should understand that the workers must earn a living from their salary as they provide critical services in the system.

…WE Will RESIST NO WORK NO PAY POLICY – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it would resist any attempt by the federal government to implement a No Work No Pay policy.

NLC president, Ayuba Wabba while reacting to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) white paper on No Work, No Pay policy said workers would also implement a No Pay No Work policy.

He said, “The right to strike is a human and trade union right and can not be wished away, that’s why strike is legalized by our laws, and had been excised since colonial era to date.

“The right to strike is what differentiate a worker from a slave. Just like the right to strike, right to picketing, the right to work”.

He said that it is morally and legally wrong to apply a phrase in a body of law without respecting all other provisions of the same law, adding that the same law provides that a workers wage is due after 30 days, “where this and or any collective bargaining agreement is violated it is legally and morally justifiable for unions and workers to apply “No pay No Work.”

He warned that the threat of no work no pay can not therefore deter workers and trade unions from exercising the right to strike.

“There are clear procedures provided by law to embark on a strike, once the legal requirement is met no work no pay can not apply”, he said.

DRC EBOLA OUTBREAK NOT GLOBAL EMERGENCY YET –WHO

A deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is deeply worrying, but does not yet merit being labelled a global health emergency, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

“Based on the current context… the committee recommended that the current Ebola outbreak in DRC does not constitute a public health emergency of international concern,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“I have accepted the recommendation of the committee,” he told reporters in Geneva following a meeting of the UN agency’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee.

In the WHO’s parlance, “a public health emergency of international concern” is an “extraordinary event” in which a disease may spread across borders and requires a vigorous international response.

Tedros stressed though that the decision not to use the label for the epidemic that has killed at least 139 people in DRC’s violence-torn North Kivu region since August “does not mean that WHO is not taking the outbreak seriously.”

– Over within the year? –

“We will not rest until the outbreak is finished,” he said, voicing hope that the robust response already in place could halt the spread of the virus “within this year”.

Robert Steffen, Chair of the Emergency Committee, also voiced “some optimism” that the outbreak would be brought under control within a “reasonable time”.

He told reporters though that the committee still has great concerns about the outbreak, and stressed that if the situation worsens the WHO could still decide to declare a global emergency.

The latest outbreak — the 10th in DR Congo since Ebola was first detected there in 1976 — emerged in the highly-restive northeastern region of North Kivu, which is home to a clutch of armed groups.

So far, 216 cases have been reported, including 181 that have been laboratory confirmed. A total of 139 people have died, meaning the fatality rate stands at 64 percent, WHO said.

The violence is complicating the response, and making it difficult to track contacts of those infected with the highly contagious virus.

The area, near the Ugandan border, is also densely populated and nine neighbouring countries have been advised that they are at high risk of spread.

Fears and misconceptions about the virus have led to widespread mistrust and resistance to Ebola response workers, including those who come into communities wearing hazmat suits to orchestrate burials.

“The emergency committee had a consensus that this outbreak certainly is not an outbreak of global importance, but they are very concerned for the region,” Steffen said.

The committee determined though that DRC authorities and the international community were already responding robustly to the outbreak, and that Uganda was well-prepared if the virus spreads across the border.

The use of an experimental vaccine is also promising, with more than 18,000 people having received the jab to date, WHO said.

“I think the vaccine is helping,” Tedros said.

(AFP)

RESIGN YOUR SENATE POSITIONS, AKPABIO TELLS SARAKI , OTHERS

Former Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has challenged other senators who have defected from one party to another to quit their leadership positions in the chamber.

Akpabio, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, challenged other defectors to imitate him with his resignation as Minority Leader after leaving the opposition party.

He gave the challenge while answering questions from journalists after the plenary on Wednesday.

The resignation challenge, however, appeared to be in a veiled reference to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who also defected from the APC to the PDP and is the only one left in the leadership of the Senate to have changed political parties.

Akpabio said, “I moved from PDP to APC, to make sure that this government works before the election. It should not be all about the election, it should be first about Nigeria. Let others also move in the national interest.

“I did not just move like that, I was a (Minority) Leader in the Senate. I resigned my position in order to show that, yes, I meant business. Let others who also have positions in the Senate who wish to also cross carpet from one political party to another also resign their positions and take a cue from what Godswill Akpabio did.”

The APC caucus, which had insisted on remaining the majority despite the defections, had asked Saraki to resign as Senate President or be impeached. The impeachment plot has however been suspended.

Akpabio stated that the sitting arrangement in the Senate chamber must be restructured to reflect the party configuration.

MINIMUM WAGE: ORGANISED LABOUR HOLDS CRUCIAL MEETING

NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba

The Organised Labour says it will meet on Thursday to take a final decision on the new National Minimum Wage for workers, following the delay by the Federal Government to announce its figure.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, had said there was no agreement yet by the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum wage figure in the country.

NAN also reports that organised labour and the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage had completed its assignment for onward submission to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Wabba said that the struggle for a new National Minimum Wage for workers was on course, saying that labour was proposing N30, 000 as requested by organised private sector.

“So, we as organised labour will be meeting tomorrow (Thursday) in Lagos after which we will brief newsmen on the outcome of our decision.

(NAN)

DON’T EMBARRASS ME OVER SITTING ARRANGEMENT, AKPABIO TELLS SARAKI

The Senate on Wednesday had a rowdy session as they argued about sitting arrangement.

The argument ensued when the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, refused to allow former Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, to contribute to a Point of Order raised by Senator Bassey Akpan.

Akpan had raised a point of order accusing the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom of plotting to cause chaos in the 2019 general election.

Saraki refused to acknowledge Akpabio’s contribution, saying he would not be allowed to speak unless he did so from his seat.

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He said, “Former Minority Leader, you know you cannot speak from there. Go to your seat, when you get to your seat, I will recognise you,” he said.

The Leader of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, was, however, not comfortable with Saraki’s position, and stood up to defend Akpabio.

He said, “As it stands today in this chamber, there is no organised sitting arrangement. If he decides to sit there, let him.

“There is no microphone there. Let us not take the Panadol for his headache. Let me advise that even though we have only six, seven months to go, let’s do what is right.”

In the course of his comment, the lawmakers began to talk at random, thereby throwing the chamber into a rowdy session.

The lawmakers refused to calm down in spite of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu’s intervention.

The situation, however, became relatively calm when Akpabio stood up to explain that the seat was allocated to him by the Clerk of the Senate.

“The seat was allocated to me by the Clerk and I expect that you were notified. The embarrassment I got today was uncalled for.

“I demand an apology, not just written, but verbal too,” Akpabio said.

(NAN)

BREAKING: HENCEFORTH, NO WORK, NO PAY PRINCIPLE TO APPLY DURING STRIKE –FEC

President Buhari presides over the FEC meeting

The Federal Executive Council has approved the implementation of the no work, no pay principle when workers go on strike in the federal public service.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while briefing State House Correspondents after FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the approval was sequel to the adoption of the Draft White Paper on the Report of the Technical Committee on Industrial Relations Matters in the Federal Public Service.

Ngige said that the public service in Nigeria was bedevilled by problems and conflict areas; hence governments over time set up various committees and brought out circulars in a bid to stem the tide of industrial dispute.

The minister said that the technical committee, which was inaugurated on April 27, 2016, did their work and submitted to the FEC in Oct. 2017.

“FEC in turn, empanelled a committee of ten which I chaired to do a government Draft White Paper on those contentious areas that the technical committee had looked at.

“These contentious areas are enforcement of section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act Law of the Federation 2004; this is the section that deals with lockout of workers by their employers without declaring redundancy appropriately.

“Because in some establishments, especially in the private sector, workers are locked out by their employers; so the law there says that if you lock your workers without passing through the normal channel-due process.

“For the period of the lock out, the worker is assumed to be at work and will receive all the remunerations and allowances, benefits accruing to him for the period and that period will also be counted for him as a pensionable period in the computation of his pension.

“But when workers go on strike, the principle of no-work-no-pay will also apply because that principle is enshrined in the same section 43 of the Labour Act.’’

According to Ngige, the section says that for the period a worker withdraws his services, government or his employers are not entitled to pay.

The minister said that under the section, the period for which the worker was absent would not count as part of his pensionable period in the public service.

He said that FEC accepted it as a white paper recommendation that should be gazetted because even the National Industrial Court had made pronouncement on that law and said that it was clear.

Ngige said that another area was the issue of public servants remaining permanently in the executive bodies on trade unions.

“Government realises that some persons in the public service go into trade union executive positions; hold offices; and they do that for life; for as long as they are in the service.

“In doing so, they will refuse postings and deployments under the guise that are doing trade union activities; government says no.

“You have to be a public servant first before you become a trade unionist; therefore, if you are there; the public service rules will also apply to you.

“And in doing so, government says establishments will look at the issues and give it a human face in order not to disrupt trade unionism.

“And in furtherance to this, government has also said that there must tenure stipulations because people stay there without tenure; many organisations give people union positions without tenure; government says there is no office that does not have tenure.’’

Ngige said that trade unions, henceforth, should present constitutions that must have tenures; at least, maximum of two tenures for any elective position.

He said that another aspect of the report discussed by the council was the issue of residence training for medical doctors.

According to him, the residence training for medical doctors has been contentious one as some medical doctors come into this training and become professional unionists and stay there as permanent job.

He said that the Federal Government had fixed tenure for residence training of medical doctors, which was seven years within the trainee was to pass all his exams or quit.

Ngige said that FEC also looked at the Ayere report on inter-professional rivalry in the health sector and directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to present it FEC for deliberation.

On the minimum wage, the minister restated that the Federal Government’s stance was N24, 000 per month.

He said that once minimum wage was fixed, any organisation or state that had the capacity to pay more could do that.

Ngige cited that Edo, Delta and Lagos states paid their workers more than the current N18, 000 national minimum wage.

(NAN).

INFLATION RATE RISES AGAIN, NOW 11.28%

The National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday released the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, with the rate rising from 11.23 per cent in August to 11.28 per cent in September 2018.

This is the second consecutive rise in headline inflation after 18 consecutive months of decline in the rate.

“The Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, increased by 11.28 per cent year-on-year in September 2018. This is 0.05 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in August 2018 at 11.23 per cent,” the NBS said in the inflation report.

It stated that on a month-on-month basis, the headline index increased by 0.84 per cent in September, down by 0.21 per cent points from the rate recorded in August, which was 1.05 per cent.

The bureau said the percentage change in the average composite CPI for the 12-month period ending September 2018 over the average of the CPI for the previous 12 months was 13.16 per cent, a difference of 0.39 per cent from the 13.55 per cent recorded in August.

It said the urban inflation rate increased by 11.7 per cent year-on-year in September, from 11.67 per cent recorded the previous month.

“The rural inflation rate increased by 10.92 per cent in September 2018 from 10.84 per cent in August 2018,”

2019: LAGOS RESIDENTS TIRED OF BEING UNDER ONE MAN, SAYS JIMI AGBAJE

Jimi Agbaje

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Jimi Agbaje, has said that the people of the state are tired of being led by one man.

He, therefore, said that voters in the state “are gearing up for a change,” vowing that the PDP would win the 2019 governorship in the state.

Agbaje spoke in Abuja on Tuesday when he visited the national headquarters of the party.

He said, “We are getting ready seriously for elections and we just came out of the national convention stronger as a party.

“We have to congratulate ourselves that we now have a Presidential candidate and we also have a Vice Presidential candidate.

“This time round, we intend to take over Lagos in 2019. The campaign for Lagos is set for us. It is clear to us in Lagos that what Lagosians are looking for is freedom from the vested interests that have gripped Lagos for nearly 20 years.

“We have a situation where it had been under the grip of one or two persons and we are tired of that.”

Though Agbaje said Lagos “is doing well” when compared to other states, he nevertheless added that the state could do better.

He said his campaign would centre on how to free Lagos State from the grips of those he said had been holding it in captivity.

He said, “We believe Lagos is doing well compared to other states but it can do much better than is doing now but it is being crippled by vested interests.

“Things that could have been done differently are being done in a different manner and that is slowing down the progress and that is what the campaign is set against.

“Free Lagos campaign is a campaign that Lagos can be better and that the alternative can be a lot better than it is today.

“The structure is being put in place and I am sure that at the end of the month, it is going to be a victory for the PDP in Lagos and at the centre and in most of the states that we lost.”

Agbaje said that the PDP performed well in the 2015 governorship election, adding that those who voted for the party then would be ready to vote for it again.

In 2015, Agbaje, who was the governorship candidate of the PDP, was defeated by the incumbent Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, of the All Progressives Congress.

Ambode will,  however, not feature as a candidate in the 2019 election having been defeated by Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the APC governorship primary.

Agbaje said, “There is a lot of confidence (in the PDP now) and don’t forget that in 2015 and irrespective of what happened, that votes we had in 2015 still remain intact. Those that voted for us are still there for us.

“The strategy is to expand that base in a way that we have every assurance that we are taking Lagos.”

Speaking on a former chairman of the party that was said to have resigned from the PDP, Agbaje said such an action would not affect the fortune of the party.

He said the defected former chairman had nobody to follow him when he joined the APC.

He said, “He left on his own. If you go alone, I don’t know how that will affect the party in any way. If he was really somebody that has a structure or followers, you will expect the followers to go with him but when you leave as one person, it means you are of no effect on the party.

“We have not felt anything with his departure and it will not affect us. We have not had defections from the PDP in the last few years.”

ROW IN NIGERIAN SENATE OVER $3.8bn SUBSIDY PAYMENT PROBE

The Senate has begun a fresh investigation into the alleged illegal subsidy payment on Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The probe, however, divided members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the chamber on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti-South), raised a point of order, urging the Senate to probe the NNPC for paying subsidy on petrol without the approval of the National Assembly.

Olujimi said, “Since 1999, there has always been a budget for subsidy but this has been jettisoned by the current government. What is happening now is that there is a fund named as ‘Subsidy Recovery Fund’, which is being managed only by two individuals at the NNPC. That is the Managing Director and the Executive Director, Finance. This fund is too huge to be managed without recourse to any known law of the land.

“Right now, it is almost certain that the $3.8bn is slush fund, which is being managed by two individuals under a new terminology.

“I want to urge this Senate to cause the Downstream Committee to compel the NNPC to come before the committee and explain why this should be so. The new terminology that is now being used is ‘under-recovery’ rather than subsidy approval.”

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, recalled that when the National Assembly passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill, it requested that the executive should send a supplementary budget that would capture subsidy on petrol and legalise the payment.

Saraki said, “I will want to suggest that in the light of the enormity of the issues before us, where we are talking about subsidy of almost $3.8bn, which, if you remember when we did pass the budget, I said from here that there was the need for the executive to bring before us fuel subsidy item. This has always been the practice. And this money is too huge for it not to be appropriated.

“In the light of the enormity of this, I want to suggest that the Senate Leader, with the Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), should urgently summon those in the NNPC, who are responsible (for the payment), to look into the matter and come back to us with a report that we can all debate.”

The issue, however, became controversial when Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) accused the Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) of being compromised.

Ndume said, “I think the committee – I don’t want to be too hard on them – is not doing its oversight and when all these things happen, the committee is supposed to know. So, I am suggesting that Marafa, being the Chairman of that committee, should be out of this and the committee members too.

“The Senate Leader and other members of the Senate should look at this thing objectively and not be partisan, because by the time you have such amount of money stashed somewhere, it calls for more question. As distinguished Senator Bukar Abba (Ibrahim) said, not I, the committee might be compromised. That is what he said.”

Saraki ruled that an ad hoc committee be set up to conduct the probe, while appointing the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, as its chairman.

Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), who was irked by Ndume’s comment, raised a point of order to demand a retraction of the statement. He said his committee was ready to be excluded from the probe or dissolved.

Responding, Saraki said, “Senator Marafa, listen to yourself. You decided to choose the same offensive words against your colleague. You have to first withdraw what you have just said.”

Lawan subsequently withdrew from the probe.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, however, urged Lawan not to withdraw from the probe.

“While I associate myself with what the leader said, I think he was so angry to listen to what happened. The Leader needs to calm down as we set up the ad hoc committee. He should say he should be excluded from the committee, not that he wants to withdraw when he has not been given the job,” Ekweremadu said.

Saraki insisted that Lawan would lead the ad hoc committee as the amount involved was too huge to be left with the Marafa-led committee.

‘EFCC I’M HERE’ –FAYOSE SAYS VIA CUSTOMISED T-SHIRT

              Ayo Fayose

The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has arrived at the Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Fayose entered into the EFCC office in Wuse 2 in the company of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode.

Fayose, who wore a customised T-shirt emblazoned with “EFCC I’m Here” over a pair of jeans and a face cap, went into the Commission with a bag pack.

Addressing journalists at the Commission, Fayose alleged that the EFCC deployed its men in his home, even when he had shown willingness to honour the Commission’s invitation.

Also speaking, Wike and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), asked the Commission not to abuse the former governor’s rights.

Fani-Kayode, who also spoke with EFCC detectives, joked that he was a regular customer of the Commission and asked them not to maltreat Fayose.

FRESH TROUBLE FOR MINIMUM WAGE

Dr Chris Ngige.

When the organised labour suspended its strike action over declaration of negotiation of minimum wage on Sunday, 30th September 2018, it was believed that a new minimum wage would soon be announced. 

But another announcement by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige that negotiation was inconclusive and that no agreement had been reached over a definite figure even after the tripartite negotiation committee rounded off its deliberations, has thrown up fresh agitation in the labour circle.

The Guardian gathered that at the October 4th and 5th meeting, both the organised private sector and organised labour agreed on N30, 000 while the Federal Government team led by Ngige pressed for N25, 000.

The conclusion was that since the organised labour and organised private sector are in agreement and in the spirit of tripartism, two against one was a done deal.

The meeting then adjourned to await the date for presentation to the Federal Government.

With these achieved, labour said it was at a loss at what transpired within government circle within one week.

Indeed, Ngige made unveiled his new position after the first the FEC meeting that preceded the conclusion of the committee’s negotiation.

Were new facts presented to Ngige at the FEC meeting that influenced a change of stand? Labour said they think so.  

Indeed, according to the Convention 131 of International Labour Organisation (ILO), which has always been erroneously cited by Dr Ngige on the ability to pay, nothing can be further from the truth. 

The convention, which ILO adopted in 1970 titled ‘Minimum wage fixing convention, 1971 (No 131)’ remains the most adopted convention by the ILO member states, encourages members to establish a machinery to fix and adjust minimum wages from time to time; wages that are based on the principle of full consultation with social partners (tripartism); involves social partners, on an equal footing, as well as independent experts in the design and operation of the system; sets the minimum levels that take into account the needs of workers and their families, as well as economic factors and include appropriate measures to ensure the effective application of minimum wage.

It is therefore a pure mischief by the Minister to declare that the ILO convention 131 speaks to ability to pay by employers.

The centrepiece of the convention is that the tripartite bodies must reach a common figure, which labour said was achieved before the committee was legitimately adjourned.

The agreement on N30, 000 by both labour and the organised private sector indeed signalled that majority (labour and employer body) had their way while minority (government) had its say.

Labour also said the Minister did not oppose the N30, 000 figure at the meeting and that the committee on figure that made the submission was chaired by Ngige himself. 

The argument of labour is that N30, 000 monthly (which is less than 100 dollars) is grossly inadequate to take care of a man, his wife and four children as stated in one of the strands of the ILO convention 131, which states that a minimum wage must take into account the needs of workers and their families.

The present scenario seems to lend credence to insinuations within labour movement that the present government is not committed to implementing a new minimum wage.

Speaking at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Ngige said the Federal Government proposed N24, 000 as the new minimum wage for civil servants.

Ngige claimed that when the committee reconvened on October 5th, after the NLC had suspended its nationwide strike, “the organised labour came down to N30, 000 the organised private sector came down to N25, 000 while the state governments proposed N20, 000.”

He said the Federal Government is still ‘consulting’ and that the negotiation is on going.

He said in accordance with Convention 131 of the ILO, the most important thing to consider in fixing the new minimum wage is the ability to pay.

In his reaction to the development, President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba said the entire labour movement was dumbfounded by the latest argument of the Minister. 

He added that the organised labour would not hesitate to declare yet another strike action that would be debilitating to the nation’s economy should the Federal Government delays the promulgation of a new minimum wage within the shortest period of time.

PRESIDENCY HAS ORDERED EFCC TO DETAIN FAYOSE INDEFINITELY, PDP ALLEGES

The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the Presidency has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to detain the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, indefinitely.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said information at the party’s disposal and all over the social media indicated that the Presidency had put the Commission on alert to arrest the governor at midnight of Monday (today) and detain him.

He said that the alleged directive by the Presidency was not unconnected with the plot to use the EFCC and other security agencies to incarcerate the governor owing to his persistent criticism of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress government.

The statement read in part, “The uncompromising stand of the outgoing governor against the present administration was the reason Ekiti State was invaded and taken by force during the last governorship election.

“By 12 midnight, the governor’s residence is expected to be surrounded by armed men of the EFCC under the pretext that they had information of his plot to escape.

“This is to achieve their plan to humiliate the governor and portray him in bad light to the public by dramatising his arrest.

“Nigerians can recall that it was the governor who offered to submit himself to the EFCC, despite the Commission’s clear display of bias and partisanship, as demonstrated in its various actions, especially its tweets and putting the governor on security watch-list.

“The EFCC even unprofessionally showed its bias in deriding the governor, making light of a very serious matter by mocking him and asking him to come before his tenure elapsed, which the governor declined — in line with the constitutional immunity.”

Ologbondiyan said it was obvious that Fayose was not planning to run away from the country.

“It is now beyond dispute that Governor Fayose is not a scoundrel running away from justice. Whatever the EFCC, APC, and the Presidency’s spin doctors may say, it is also clear to everyone that Fayose is not a coward; neither is he afraid of the EFCC,” he added.

According to him, “Since the EFCC said it had dusted up Fayose’s files, it should be ready to take him to court once he presents him at the agency’s office on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists, however, Fayose said he was ready for the Commission.

He said, “That is their stock in trade. I heard about the plot as well, but I don’t care what they do. The Commission is not above the law

“How can they say I want to run away and as such, they want to come and invade my residence when I left Ado Ekiti on my own to come and see them? Anyway, I don’t expect better than that from the Commission.

“I don’t care how long they will decide to keep me, but my voice will not go down. I represent the voice of the common people of Nigeria, I appreciate our party, the PDP, for their prompt reaction; but this nonsense will come to an end one day

“I am aware of that operational order on my arrest. Let them come; nobody can intimidate me. I don’t need their soft landing;Nigeria belongs to all of us. They are not God and they should stop playing one.”

We have no time for your games, EFCC replies Fayose

In response, the EFCC said it had no time to play games with Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a message while reacting to Fayose’s statement.

The EFCC said, “The EFCC has no time for frivolity. Instead of this ‘mind game,’ Governor Ayodele Fayose should conserve his energy, as the Commission is ready for him.”

FAYOSE WEEPS AS HE LEAVES EKITI GOVT HOUSE, HEADS TO EFCC ABUJA OFFICE

Ayo Fayose

There was drama at the Ekiti State Government House on Sunday as outgoing Governor Ayo Fayose wept profusely while vacating the state’s number-one seat.

Fayose shed tears shortly after attending a thanksgiving service to mark the end of his tenure held at the Government House chapel.

The governor betrayed emotion as he made for his official vehicle on his way to catching a flight at the Akure Airport.

He was believed to be on his way to Abuja in readiness for an appearance at the head office of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

As the thanksgiving service ended at about 11.00 am, tears had welled up in the eyes of the governor who sauntered towards his Lexus SUV.

His wife, Feyisetan, who sensed that her husband was weeping, moved closer to him and consoled him.

The outgoing first lady was heard saying “please take heart, please take heart.”

After being consoled by his wife, Fayose bade farewell to few aides and other admirers who were watching the drama.

Fayose’s voice was laden with emotion as he addressed the congregation.

The outgoing governor said he was leaving the state number-one seat a contented man.

Fayose said: “I’m contented, I’m happy and I say thank you. Don’t be disparaged, don’t worry about me, I will come back. I will rise to the glory of God. I have enjoyed uncommon grace; I will never complain but
thank God.”

Mrs. Fayose assured that her husband would come back to Ekiti a triumphant man.

She said: “We are coming back, I don’t know how but I have 200 per cent assurances.”

In his sermon entitled, “Affliction shall not rise the second time,” the Chaplain of Government House, Pastor Seyi Olusola, said a man must be ready to face affliction, if he must rise.

Olusola said: “Don’t allow anything to trouble your mind, always come to God.”

As he left the Government House premises, Fayose displayed a wooden board with the inscription “Ekiti Kete, thank you all and good bye.”

The thanksgiving service was attended by traditional rulers led by the Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Obas and Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.

The outgoing Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola and his wife, Janet; the Chief of Staff, Dipo Anisulowo; Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka and the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Modupe Alade also attended the service.

ATIKU BOMBS BUHARI OVER TRAVEL BAN

     Atiku

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Sunday lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari for banning fifty (50) prominent Nigerians from travelling outside the country.

In a statement obtained by Thecable, issued on his behalf by his campaign organization, Atiku averred that the ban was ‘a throwback to Buhari’s evil Decree Number Two of 1984 which criminalised truth telling if it did not please Buhari, proving that dictators can grow old, but they can’t grow into democrats.’

Atiku and Buhari

Recall that some Nigerians like the former aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode, former aide to ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri and other legal giants have frowned at the order given by Buhari.

Citing the 1999 constitution and its provisions on the right to free movement, Atiku  said, “The Nigerian Constitution guarantees every Nigerian citizen freedom of movement and freedom of association. This Constitutional right cannot be taken away except by a court order”.

Part of the statement reads thus

“We must be unequivocal in saying that we abhor any act of criminality, financially or otherwise, but the rule of law must be our guide at all times or society will descend to anarchy.

“Thus, we find it most undemocratic that in a nation governed by the rule of law, a President who swore an oath to abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, does this.

“The Nigerian Constitution guarantees every Nigerian citizen freedom of movement and freedom of association. This Constitutional right cannot be taken away except by a court order.

“This sudden dictatorial act is a throwback to Buhari’s evil Decree Number Two of 1984 which criminalised truth telling if it did not please Buhari, proving that dictators can grow old, but they can’t grow into democrats.

“It is precisely this type of draconian orders that have chased investors away from Nigeria and it is precisely why Nigerians will chase this recession friendly government away from power on February 16, 2019, so we can begin the job of Getting Nigeria Working Again.”

FESTUS KEYAMO DROPS THE MOTHER OF ALL BOMBSHELLS .

Fetus Keyamo, SAN

I asked him when most of you were analyzing that heretic message that “Jonathan is fulfilling prophecy”. I asked a simple question: “Which prophecy is Ex- President Jonathan”? Pastor Bosun went ahead to say “even if the Islamic party (APC) presents a Christian Governor in Lagos, you must not vote for him, you must vote for the other party (PDP). Wait, who was using religion?

Ex- President Obasanjo removed Senate Presidents at will, removed any opposing voice, removed Fayose for a small insult, and removed Ladoja with thugs in Ibadan. Who are you calling “DICTATOR”? BUHARI.

Ex-President Obasanjo withheld Lagos State fund for 3 years, not minding how Lagosians would eat, Yaradua got there and released the fund.

NASS members were abusing President Buhari openly, messing up everything at will; Gov. Fayose has been abusing President Buhari for 4 years now. Not a single State in Nigeria has been denied their constitutional rights because of politics till date, all their funds, Paris fund and bail out, FAAC etc. But who is the DICTATOR? BUHARI.

Ex-President Jonathan ensured that NASS opposition members were locked out including Tambuwa the Speaker of the house. They had to climb gate to gain access.

Jonathan empowered OPCs in Lagos and they were destroying anything in Ikorodu to Ojota that looked like opposition party. Orga of DSS was used to invade APC secretariat, Journalist arrested and Newspapers siezed, we forgot all these….

Ekiti was militarised, Fayose was given power from Aso rock to order Military guys at will. Fayemi the incumbent at that moment was rendered powerless that he was shouting when Police commissioner was used by PDP and a guy was shot…All these videos and pictures are still here (google is your friend). But who is the dictator? BUHARI.

Ex-President Jonathan met FX+ECA at $62 billion+. He DEPLETED it to less than $30 Billion in 5 years Jonathan sold crude oil for 5 years at an average of $100 per barrel of 2.2 million daily (2010-2014). Did he add a DIME to Nigeria purse in 5 years? NO.

Buhari the ILLITERATE sold oil at an average of $50 of less than 700,000 barrel at some points because of militancy, yet had moved that FX to $47 Billion in 3 years.

Don’t say how much did he borrow if you don’t even have the figure borrowed between 2010-2015 without adding a dime to FX.

Who is the ILLITERATE? BUHARIIII. Jide Omokore, Aluko and oil goddess Alinson made an oil deal of N1 trillion and chose not to remit to Nigeria under GEJ. Did anyone raise eyebrow?

INTEL of Ex-Vice President Atiku refused to remit to Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), not until last year that “ordinary” Hadiza the NPA boss challenged INTEL and insisted the funds must be remitted.

A Christian Professor had been leading JAMB all through Obasanjo to Jonathan yet for 40 years of JAMB; only N52 Million was remitted to FG.

A Muslim Professor who was appointed just in two years of handling JAMB remitted over N15 Billion. FIFTEEN BILLION. So who is following after righteousness?

For five years of Okonjo Iweala was paying over 45,000 ghost workers unabated, yet just within 3 years, “ordinary” Kemi Adeosun removed such nonsense…I ask again who is more effective?

Ordinary Abuja metro lane took 11 years from OBJ period that he INITIATED it…Ordinary intra-city metro lane o, but President Buhari that finished is within 3 years is the failure abi?

“Which project did President Buhari INITIATE and COMPLETE in 3 years yen-yen-yen”.

Mention any major project INITIATED AND COMPLETED in 3 years of Ex-President Obasanjo, or Ex-President Yar’Adua or Ex-President Jonathan?

So on what parameters are you using to judge 3 years of President Buhari INITIATING AND COMPLETING? Even PDP can’t finish their own secretariat let alone that which belong to NIGERIA.

Lagos-Ibadan road since Ex-President Obasanjo era till Ex-President Jonathan could not be finished. In 3 years of President Buhari, the road is receiving serious attention. Ask those who ply that road and those who go for Holy Ghost Congress monthly about

the difference in pace of work. Wait, even Otuoke road in Bayelsa had to wait till President Buhari now starts to do the road. Who is the failure? Can it be BUHARIIII.

What about “Almajiri School in the North? WHERE exactly are these Schools SITUATED in the North? OK, show us the picture.

Emm, 2nd Niger Bridge? Lol, they completed it on the MAP, yet Fashola is on it PHYSICALLY now.

Did Buhari fail on security issue in Benue? YES. Did others before him fail on the same security issue in Benue? YESSS. So where did you get all these noise of “Fulani President” is helping herdsmen?

Who was the President during Jos crisis, herdsmen killing people in Zamfara in 2013, Odi massacre, Kaduna crisis? You think death suddenly started because President Buhari was a Fulani man? That he failed in that is one thing, but that YOU are making a narrative of “Fulani President” is giving herdsmen power is funny.

January 1, 2018 in Omoku, Rivers State, Christians were coming from Church; cultists from the South South killed their own people. You know why there was no serious noise by CAN and you? You could not link it to President Buhari’s herdsmen or Fulani herdsmen. The same WIKE that did not drop a million to support the families of those bereaved in his constituency (State) went to Benue State to donate N20 Milliion and you hailed him

Kidnapping of School children in Lagos; Badoo issue in Lagos; Crisis in Kaduna. Who did you call on? Ambode the Governor of Lagos and El-Rufai of Kaduna. When crisis happened in River State and Benue State, who did you shout about? President Buhari the herdsmen. What about your Bishops, Pastors and Imans that made Aso Rock their abode between 2010-2015? What did they negotiate for the body of Christ or common citizens? Yes, they got their jets; they got waivers and Universities all PERSONAL. Now that the tap to fuel their jets and lifestyles had stopped, all they tell you from the pulpit is “LIES and Prophelying“. Your anointed ones keep saying ANNOYING THINGS, yet you can’t query their lies?

Wait, I remember again your problem with President Buhari fighting corruption selectively. So, mention ONE name among those in EFCC case without a case to defend. If your hero Presidents had fought corruption with one leg, by now shebi it is the second leg that President Buhari will be fighting.

So what is your problem with the corrupt facing the music? Oh, how about blablablabla. If President Buhari did not catch them, somebody else will. But stop crying in defence of the corrupt being asked to face the music. If your uncle is corrupt, tell him to face it, and stop shouting how about other thieves.

I know you lost your job because Ex- President Jonathan lost out and your job with Mama Patience was terminated. But stop using your personal loss as a yardstick for Buhari’s achievement.

Under your hero, several young Nigerians were SCAMMED by Boro collecting money from them for Job, in the process killing many young Nigerians. Ex-President Jonathan cannot even sack him. So what do you want the families of those who died when Ex-President Jonathan scammed them of Jobs to do? Stop crying and face life.

For your information, all those lies about “hidden agenda” can only fly on you because they know you are biblically illiterate. I even saw somebody hailing Femi-Fani Kayode for being the voice for the Church. Haaaaaa, abomination. Abeg make I stop, come dey collect your abuses in packs. After all your abuse, na President Buhari I go still vote for. #

Fetus Keyamo, SAN

Please all true buharists should share this until wailers are silenced

ATIKU’s ROAD TO ABEOKUTA AND THE PRANKS OF THE OLD FOX

Whoever is celebrating Obasanjo’s comment on Atiku at their recent meeting in Abeokuta does not understand or have a good knowledge of the Old Fox.

Doing a content and contextual analysis of his speech, I find it more indicting of Atiku than exonerating. There is a lot in that speech to use as ammunition against Atiku.

Judging by Atiku’s countenance from the photographs that have emerged from the meeting, I could see he was not comfortable with the presentation by his former boss. Perhaps, with the mode of conveyance. Or even with the presence of ’eminent witnesses. How could one easily stomach all that Obasanjo said of a man that proudly aspires to lead Nigeria in the full glare of the world? What kind of ‘endorsement’ was needed? What agenda on the table?

To me, the endorsement Atiku sought was served with a bagful of humiliation, seeing that Obasanjo carefully picked his words with telling effect. Let’s examine a few:

1. ” …my former Vice-President has re-discovered … himself

2. … it is not so much what you did against me that was the issue, but what you did against the Party, the Government and the country.

3. I took the stand I had taken based on the character and attributes you exhibited in the position you found yourself. I strongly believe that I was right. It was in the overall interest of everyone and everything to take such a position.

4. There are still areas, nationally and internationally, where you have to mend fences and make amends. You will know how to handle what is already out and what may yet be put out by the opposition

5. With Nigerians voting for you, it will mean that you secure their forgiveness and regain their confidence. It will be with the hope or assurance of a Paul on the road to Damascus Conversion. After all, change and conversion are of man. I believe that with a contrite heart, change is possible in everybody’s life and situation.”

Without any doubt, the Old Fox cleverly exonerated himself of any wrong positioning in all he ever said concerning Atiku. He firmly established his case against his former deputy, leaving the latter no room for rebuttal. He pushed Atiku’s case to the court of public opinion and, like Pontius Pilate, washed his hands clean. How peacefully Atiku slept after that visit may never be known, perhaps, until he writes his memoirs. One thing that is sure is that the sequel to Obasanjo’s trilogy — My Watch — will contain juicy details of how he exacted his pound of flesh from the man to whom he was compelled to prostrate to secure a second term in office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

What is more, the Sermon on the Presidential Library, Abeokuta, has further revealed the quality of trade-offs that imperil the soul of our nation.

We must ask questions, for, as Pilate famously asked: ‘ What is the truth?’ So, too, must Nigerians now ask Obasanjo before they decide to cast any vote for Atiku. Let the people ask:

1. What, as Obasanjo proclaimed in his speech, did Atiku do against the country that he has to correct?What should he show contrite for?

2. What are those things he did that were not approved of by the International community, which Obasanjo wants to help him remedy? We shouldn’t accept parables in this case but a full disclosure.

3. We knew the sins of Paul before he got on the road to Damascus. What are the sins of Atiku before he got on the road to Abeokuta?

Obasanjo needs to tell us. He can only forgive Atiku for the sins committed against him and his government, certainly not the ones against the country and against Nigerians. Obasanjo should allow Nigerians to decide that.

4. In his several publications in which he indicted Atiku, Obasanjo has made public those ‘characters and attributes’ his former deputy exhibited. We are not sure a single trip to Damascus, or Abeokuta in this case, by Atiku accompanied by the Jonathan clerics could overnight have changed all that.

By the way Atiku’s ‘trip to Damascus/Abeokuta’ has revealed to us where some ‘revered’ “men of God”belong on the issues confronting our nation — especially in respect of graft.

We also now know that our erstwhile hero and Awo associate, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, was not just a worshiper at Jonathan’s altar but is a full blown PDP apologist. We are watching as the game kicks off.

May Nigeria succeed!

Senator Babafemi Ojudu wrote via Facebook

ABA PIPELINE FIRE: NNPC RESORTS TO TRUCKING TO AVERT FUEL SHORTAGE

Following the massive fire that engulfed its pipeline at Osisioma, in Aba, Abia State, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has ordered its subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, to resort to trucking of products to avert shortage of products in the region.

The NNPC had on Thursday night, reported that its oil pipeline along the Osisioma axis near Aba Depot was on fire. The fire affected its System 2E pipeline network.

The corporation suspects the incident might have been caused by oil thieves who had hacked into the line to intercept flow of petrol from Port Harcourt to Aba.

NNPC group general manager, group public affairs division, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, confirmed fatalities and loss of properties in the ensuing inferno, but did not give figures.

Ughamadu said the corporation’s safety experts, along with men of the Abia State Fire Service, had swung into action to contain the situation, saying updates on the situation would be provided as events unfold.

Reacting to enquiries late yesterday, Ughammadu told newsmen that several buildings and lives were lost and actual figures are being compiled in collaboration with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence, NCSDC.

Ndu said as an interim measure, the corporation has ordered PPMC to resort to trucking of products to ensure it has minimal effects on distribution efforts.

NNPC group managing director, Dr Maikanti Baru, expressed shock at the wanton willful destruction of lives and properties occasioned by the incident.

The GMD prayed that God reposes the souls of the innocent ones that perished in the incident, even as he warned members of the public against tempering with oil and gas facilities, many of which he said were inflammable.

Dr Baru called on host communities to create avenues to moderate criminal tendencies of a few bad eggs living among them.