MEDICAL DOCTORS FROM 7 COUNTRIES WRITE PRESIDENT BUHARI OVER EL-ZAKZAKY'S HEALTH

Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

One hundred and eighty six doctors from Pakistan, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq have written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari pointing to Sheikh El-Zakzaky’s physical conditions and asking the Nigerian government to transfer him to a well-equipped hospital as soon as possible.

The letter was published today by Fars News, an Iranian news agency. The report did not indicate what date the letter was written by the doctors or whether it was written after a Kaduna High Court last week approved a leave for El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat, to seek medicare in India.

The Department of State Services said after it was served with the court order that it would comply with it. Zakzaky has been in detention since December 2015, following a clash between his Shiite adherents and the Nigerian military.

About 300 Shiite members including three of El-Zakzaky’s children were killed. Many were buried in a mass grave.

Fars New quoted one of the signatories to the letter, Dr. Pourrahim Najafabadi, as saying that Zakzaky needs to be cured by an experienced medical team of physicians in a specialized multi-specialty hospital outside Nigeria.

“With the current physical condition of the Sheikh, especially the virulent lead poisoning, Sheikh’s life is seriously at risk by delayed treatment.

“Meanwhile, there is a need for special medical care even in case of complete medical treatment. There is serious risk to Sheikh’s life if he is kept under detention,” said Najafabadi, the founder and spokesperson of a group of expert physicians who have volunteered to treat Sheikh Zakzaky.

Here is the full text of the letter:

“In the name of God, The healer

From the community of Doctors

To the President of the Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Buhari.

In the past several months, the world has constantly received troubling news regarding the health of one of the prominent figures in Nigeria, Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky. Both Skaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife are kept in prison and the health status of both of them is very alarming.

We have chosen to be doctors even after knowing that this job is very difficult and troublesome, but we chose to save people’s lives and preferred the health of the society over our personal interests.

According to the medical reports regarding the health status of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky:

1. He is suffering from a total blindness in the left eye, and is also suffering from vision problems in the right eye including glaucoma and progressive macular atrophy. According to the diagnosis of the visiting physicians, Shaikh Zakzaky will lose his vision sooner or later if the current circumstances do not change.

2. He has shown symptoms of Ischemic heart disease which can lead to Myocardial Infraction.

3. He is also suffering from severe cervical spondylosis which has resulted to nerve root compression and symptoms are progressive causing insomnia.

4. The experiments show that he has heavy metal toxicity including Lead and Cadmium. Laboratory tests that are performed on May 31st, 2019 show that blood lead level is 171.94µg/dl. Later on June 18th, 2019 this level was reported to be 231.48µg while in the last laboratory test the blood lead level was three times more than the toxicity level (grade 5 of poisoning).

Based on the points highlighted above, Shaikh Ibrahim Zakzaky should be transferred to a well- equipped medical center that has Neuro-ophthalmologist, glaucoma specialist and low vision expert, cardiologist, orthopedist and neurologist. Also he may need to have a surgery to reduce intraocular pressure.

We, doctors of different nationalities cannot take the health of any human for granted. This is something that is inherent in our obligation as doctors. Ignoring the critical health status of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky can end up in irreparable consequences.

We request the government and parliament of Nigeria to immediately transfer him to a well-equipped hospital to prevent any unfortunate incidents.

A group of doctors from Pakistan, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq

Dr Abbas alahmad, Pediatrician, Syria

Dr Abd alkrim Hariri, Neurosurgeon, Syria

Dr Abd almonaam hsanato, Radiologist, Syria

Dr Abdo salami, Dentist, Syria

Dr Addel maheiri, Maxillofacial Specialist, Syria

Dr Ahmad alrahal, Otorhinolaryngologist, Syria

Dr Ahmaad alzien, Thoracic Internist, Syria

Dr Ahmad nasrullah, Dentist, Syria

Dr Ajmal Farooq, General practitioner, India

Dr Alla Aldrin Hassan, Neurosurgeon, Syria

Dr Allaa allnassan, General Surgeon

Dr Amar kiali, Ophtalmologist, Syria

Dr Anas hellali, General Surgeon, Syria

Dr Asma Khalid, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Bakri dablloni, Orthopedic Surgeon, Syria

Dr Bassel alshaher, Dentist, Syria

Dr Bsam kedeh, Gastroenterologist, Syria

Dr Fadi alaar, Vascular Surgeon, Syria

Dr Farhat, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Fizza Batool Zaidi, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Furqan Ali khan, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Hania Batool Zaidi, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Hassam Saleem, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Hassan alkhatib, Vascular Surgeon, Syria

Dr Hassan Khalil, Internist, Syria

Dr Houda abdalhadi, Internist, Syria

Dr Ibrahim hadid, Urologist, Syria

Dr Idrak Hussain Bhat, General practitioner, India

Dr Iftikar Hussain, General practitioner, India

Dr Kashaf Zehra Durrani, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Mamdoh zitoni, Orthopedic Surgeon, Syria

Dr Manaaf sharbjii, Orthopedic Surgeon, Syria

Dr Mhmmod Nasser, Gastroenterologist, Syria

Dr Mirza Arsalan, General practitioner, India

D.Mohamad mohiedin, Pediatrician, Syria

Dr Mohanad battal, Pediatric Surgeon, Syria

Dr mohanad naasan, General Surgeon, Syria

Dr Mohanad zanoube, Ophtalmologist, Syria

Dr Mohd Yaseen Mir, General practitioner, India

Dr Motaz alhmod, General Surgeon, Syria

Dr Muhammad Ajmal Hussain, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Muhammad Ali Kazmi, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Muhammad ali raseed, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Muhammad Amjad Hussain, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Muhammad Baqir, 4 year resident internal medicine, Pakistan

Dr Mouhamad batikh, General Surgeon, Syria

Dr Muhammad Farhan, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Myllad zahlloq, Vascular Surgeon, Syria

Dr Ossama attar, General Surgeon, Syria

Dr Owais Raza General practioner (MBBS), Pakistan

Dr Owais Siddique, General practitioner, India

Dr Raja Munawa, General practitioner, India

Dr Saman Fatima, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Samer alhames, Thoracic Surgeon, Syria

Dr Samer sharbo, Vascular Surgeon, Syria

Dr Sami bitar, Nephrologist, Syria

Dr Saqib Hussain, General practitioner, India

Dr Sharaf ud deen, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Showkat Hussain Dar, General practitioner, India

Dr Shyar mostafa, Neurosurgeon, Syria

Dr Suhail Ahmad Mir, General practitioner, India

Dr Syed ali kuamil, General practitioner Pakistan

Dr Syed Muntazir Mousavi, General practitioner, India

Dr Syed Wafadar Hussain Naqvi, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Syeada Maimoona Batool Rizvi, General practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Taher farfotli, Neurologist, Syria

Dr Tahssin hmidi, General Surgeon, Syria

Dr Waael akari, General Surgeon, Syria

Dr wisaam dieb, General Surgeon, Syria

Dr Yamen yousuf, Neurosurgeon, Syria

Dr Yassin alrahal, Orthopedic Surgeon, Syria

Dr Yousef sabsabi, Orthopedic Surgeon, Syria

Dr Zaher and allaziz, Vascular Surgeon, Syria

Dr Zaher batal, Nutritionist, Syria

Dr Zaid Jeelani, General practitioner, India

Dr Zeeshan Hadier, Liver transplant surgeon, Pakistan

Dr Arezoo Mohtasham, Radiology Resident, Iran

Dr Azadeh Hashemi, Radiology Resident, Afghanistan

Dr Abolfazl Mohammadi, Orthopedic Surgeon, Iran

Dr Amanollah Karami, Ophtalmologist, Iran

Dr Amir Rahmanian, Emergency Medicine Resident, Iran

Dr Amirhossein Izadyar, General PractitionePractitioner, Iran

Dr Aniseh Aliabadi, Dermatology Resident, Iran

Dr Hamed Abdi, Internist, Iran

Dr Hojjat Madarshahi, otorhinolaryngologist, Iran

Dr Hasan Boskabadi, Pediatrician and Neonatal Specialist, Iran

Dr Hasan Rajabi, Iran

Dr Hasan Sezavar, Iran

Dr Hossein Amirzargir, Urolohist, Iran

Dr Hossein Mohaddes Ardebili, Psychiatric Resident, Iran

Dr Hamidreza Safaei, Radiology Resident, Iran

Dr Hourieh Soleimani, Radiology Resident, Iran

Dr Rahil Daghmagh, General Practitioner, Lebanon

Dr Rose sadat Shamsa, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Reyhaneh Aminorroaya, Elderly Medicine Specialist, Iran

Dr Zahra Behnam Rasouli, Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, Iran

Dr Zahra Jafar, General Practitioner, Lebanon

Dr Zahra Joshaghani, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Iran

Dr Zahra Khalili Matinzadeh, Pediatrician, Iran

Dr Zahra Movahedinia, General practitioner, Iran

Dr Zahra Moaddab Shoar, Dentist, Iran

Dr Zeinab Babasafari, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Sajedeh Mousavi, Physical Medicine Resident, Iran

Dr Saiedeh Khatami, Dentist, Iran

DT Soleiman Heidari, Toracic Surgeon, Iran

Dr Samaneh Rahmani, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Seyed Javad Hosseininezhad, Neurologist, Iran

Dr Syed Zaker Hossein Naqvi, General Practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Syed Omran Hyder Zeidi, General Practitioner, Pakistan

Dr Seyed Mohammadreza Parizadeh, Biochemistry Ph.D, Iran

Dr Seyed Mohammadsadegh Mirzaei, general Practitioner, Iran

Dr Seyed Moadkazem Mozaffari, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Seyed Naser Emadi, International Dermatologist, Iran

Dr Seyedeh Afsar Sharafi, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Iran

Dr Seyedeh Zeinab Hashemi Javaheri, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Saeb Aliabadi, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Seddigheh Ayati, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Iran

Dr Tahereh Labbaf, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Iran

Dr Arefeh Edalatian, Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, Iran

Dr Atefeh Kermanshahi, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Abbas Shojaei, Otorhinolaryngologist, Iran

Dr Azra Rashidnezhad, Neurology Resident, Iran

Dr Afraalshahrstani, Pediatric Resident, Iraq

Dr Atieh Mohebbi, Radiology Resident, Iran

Dr Atieh Mohammadzadeh Vatanchi, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Iran

Dr Ali Ebrahimzadeh, Iran

Dr Ali Anjomshoa, Anesthesiologist, Iran

Dr Ali Taghiparvar, Epidemiologist, Iran

Dr Ali Rezazadeh, Internist, Iran

Dr Ali Fazli, Anesthesiologist, Iran

Dr Ali Madarshahi, Internal Surgeon, Iran

Dr Fatemeh Ouchi Ardebili, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Fatemeh Taghizadeh, Physical Medicine Resident, Iran

Dr Fatemeh Joshaghani, Dentist, Iran

Dr Fatemeh Dadelahi, Radiology Resident, Iran

Dr Fatemeh Mehrparvar, Dentist, Iran

Dr Fouzieh Takhari, Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, Afghanistan

Dr Ghasem Amini, Surgery Resident, Iran

Dr Kamal Heydari, Dentist, Iran

Dr Leila Moaddab Shoar, Radiotherapy and Oncology Specialist, Iran

Dr Majid Habibzadeh Moghaddam, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Majid Abdollahi, Emergency Medicine Specialist, Iran

Dr Majid Ghayour Mobarhen, Nutritionist, Iran

Dr Mohammad Ebrahimi, Iran

Dr Mohammad Sajjadi, Psychiatrist, Iran

Dr Mohammad Sadeghi, Iran

Dr Mohammadtaghi Rajabi Mashhadi, Surgeon, Iran

Dr MohammadJafar Modabber Azizi, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Mohammadreza Behrouz, Iran

Dr Mohammadreza Javdani, Family Medicine Resident, Iran

Dr Mohammadali Kiani, Gastroenterologist, Iran

Dr Mahmoud Jozhaghani, Cornea Specialist, Iran

Dr Mahmoud Fatemi, Radiology Resident, Iran

Dr Mahya Yargholi, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Iran

Dr Morteza Amiri Soleimani, Orthopedic Surgeon, Iran

Dr Morteza Tajaddodi, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Maryam Sadat Paknezhad, Iranian Traditional Medicine Specialist, Iran

Dr Maryam Rezaeian, Dentist, Afghanistan

Dr Maryam Yargholi, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Iran

Dr Mozhgan Mahmoudian, Radiology Resident, Iran

Dr Masoud Maleki, Dermatologist, Iran

Dr Masoud Mahdavi, Radiologist, Iran

Dr Mostafa Jafari, Internist, Iran

Dr Malihe Akbari, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Malihe Hatefipour, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Mahdi Oughli, Internist, Iran

Dr Mahdi Mokhtari, Ophtalmologist, Iran

Dr Mahdieh Pouryazdanpanah, Nutritionist, Iran

Dr Mahdi Miri, Internist, Iran

Dr Mahsa Kia, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Milad Hadadi, Dentist, Iran

Dr Najmeh Khodadadi, Iran

Dr Najmeh Zamani, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Narjes Khatoun Movahedi Rad, General Practitioner, Iran

De Narges Salehi, Cardiologist, Iran

Dr Narges Arabzadeh, Internist, Iran

Dr Nasrollah Hamraz, Internist, Afghanistan

Dr Nafiseh Kazemi Rad, Radiology Resident, Iran

Dr Nafiseh Aliabadi, Pediatric Resident, Iran

Dr Nayerreh Khadem Ghayebi, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Iran

Dr Hadi Hasanzadeh, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Hadi Sherouni, Otorhinolaryngologist, Iran

Dr Hadi Jalali, General Practitioner, Iran

Dr Rezaei, Interventional Cardiologist, Afghanistan”

PRESS STATEMENT: RIVERS STATE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Rivers State Governor and Visitor of the Rivers  State University, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has relieved the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University , Prof Blessing  Chimezie Didia of his appointment  with immediate effect.

Also relieved of his appointment is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Magnus Oruwari.

Accordingly, Governor Wike has approved the appointment of Professor Opuenebo B. Owei,  Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University.

The Statement added that Governor Wike has suspended the ongoing employment exercise at the university.

Furthermore, a committee has been set up to investigate the employment exercise and report to the Rivers State Governor in two weeks.

Sign:
Dagogo Adonye  Hart,
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Education,
Rivers State.

FINALLY, AAC EXPELS EZENWA, REAFFIRMS SOWORE AS NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

The African Action Congress (AAC) has reaffirmed Mr. Omoyele Sowore as its National Chairman, while expelling Mr. Leonard Ezenwa, former Treasurer and Secretary of the party.

Mr. Joshua Adeoye, AAC Deputy National Secretary, read the resolution after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party on Saturday in Abuja.

Sowore is the National Chairman and the 2019 Presidential candidate of AAC, while Malcolm Fabiyi is the Deputy National Chairman of the party and both were suspended.

Adeoye said allegations against Sowore leading to his purported expulsion from the party were manufactured, adding that there was no case of financial impropriety against him.

Adeoye noted that Sowore as a candidate declared campaign money, adding that the he carried the people along as money was being spent to the end of the campaign.

“The NEC outrightly rejects, cancels, reverses and totally repudiates the purported suspension of Sowore and Fabiyi from their offices.

“The NEC hereby affirms and reinstate Sowore as the one and only national chairman of AAC and Fabiyi as the deputy national chairman of the party.

He said that all actions carried out by Nzenwa in the name of AAC including documents signed or authored by him” are dismissed, set aside and nullified forthwith”.

According to him, Ezenwa’s expulsion followed his failure to appear before the NEC to defend himself in line with article 80 of AAC constitution which found him guilty of the alleged offence.

The highest decision making body of the party called for immediate arrest and prosecution of Ezenwa for alleged forgery and perjury among others criminal acts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AAC had been involved in leadership crisis leading to the removal of its presidential candidate by a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged financial impropriety.

Mr. Inibehe Effiong, the National Legal Adviser of the party, however, said the party was not joined in the case filed by Ezenwa, adding that the person, who also filed the case at the FCT High court was still unknown.

Mr. Murtala Adamu, Niger state Chairman moved for adoption of the resolution of the NEC, while Mr Rotimi Ogunlana, Chairman, Oyo state seconded the resolution.

KWARA STATE REVOKES ACQUISITION OF ALIMI CHALET BY BUKOLA SARAKI

The Kwara State House of Assembly has revoked the acquisition of a four-bedroomed government challet (Alimi Chalet) by the immediate past Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who is a former governor of the state.

The revocation followed the void of the acquisition, valuation and certification of Land title (Right of Occupancy) in respect of the chalet in the personal name of Dr Bukola Saraki for non-compliance with the provisions of Pensions Law 2010.

These was part of the resolutions of the House at its plenary on Tuesday following the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development by its Chairman, Omotayo Awodiji.

Reading the resolutions of the House, the Speaker of the Assembly, Yakubu Danladi, said the revocation became expedient to ensure an enduring end to all forms of illegalities and abnormalities and to pave the way for meaningful development of the state.

The House then urged the state government to explore every available legal process to recover the chalet from the former governor.

Awodiji had, while presenting his report, observed among other things that the Alimi Chalet was purposely built by the state government as a guest chalet for governors and not transferable as exit package.

A source close to Saraki said, “What is the big deal about this bungalow? The government has  broken into the house and the Deputy Governor has been living there. Did their report state that the property was illegally acquired? No. The governor and his people are interested in the house and they can have it if it makes them feel better.”

PRESIDENT BUHARI APPROVES THE SACK OF 2,525 N-POWER BENEFICIARIES

The President Muhammadu Buhari government has approved the disengagement of 2,525 beneficiaries of the N-Power programme for absconding from their primary place of assignment.

The N-Power programme was introduced in Nigeria as a job enhancement scheme aimed at imbibing the learn-work-entrepreneurship culture in Nigerian youths between the ages of 18 and 35 for graduates and non-graduates.

About 500,000 youth, spread across the 774 local government areas of the country are currently enrolled in the programme and have since been deployed to teach in public schools, act as health workers in primary health centres, as agricultural extension advisors to smallholder farmers in the communities and also as community tax liaison officers.

Beneficiaries under the graduate category take home N30,000 monthly for their services.

Confirming the development to The Punch, the Communications Manager, National Social Investment Office, Justice Bibiye, said 18,674 other beneficiaries of the initiative have voluntarily resigned, having secured permanent employment.

He said, “It had earlier come to the notice of the federal team that some of the N-Power beneficiaries had either absconded from their primary places of assignment or gained permanent employment subsequent to their commencement on the programme.

“The federal team has continued to encourage feedback from the states from existing monitors, whistle-blowers and members of the public through its existing call centre and has acted swiftly by initially placing such beneficiaries on suspension for a period of 45 days.

“Unless such beneficiaries are able to provide proof from their primary place of assignment and the state focal person that they were actually present, or absent with reason, their participation in the programme is terminated after the period of suspension.

“So far, 2,525 beneficiaries have been delisted, following reports garnered from the various avenues, whilst 18,674 have voluntarily resigned, having secured permanent employment.”

He said in a statement that reports from a few states, however, showed that some beneficiaries of the programme have stayed away for long periods of time from their primary places of assignment, adding that this has led to the need for continued action against those who are seen to be undermining the smooth implementation of the social intervention initiative.

N8.5 MILLION WE RECEIVE MONTHLY IS TOO SMALL – NIGERIAN LAWMAKER

The N8.5 million monthly running cost that members of the House of Representatives receive is insufficient, a lawmaker has said.

Oluwole Oke, who represents Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, stated this in an interview with Punch Newspaper.

The lawmaker admitted that the running cost is different from the N606,000 he earns as monthly salary as a federal lawmaker.

In comparison, a civil servant on the N30,000 minimum wage will have to work for 24 years to earn what an House of Representatives member earns as running cost monthly.

It is even worse in the case of senators who earn N13.5 million monthly as running cost. In that case, a civil servant on the minimum wage would have to work for 37 years to earn what a senator earns monthly.

The N30,000 minimum wage only came into place in April. Before then, the minimum wage was N18,000.

Despite the huge discrepancy between what lawmakers earn and what other public officials earn, Mr Oke still belives the running cost is too low.

“How much is N8.5 million to me as a person?” he said.

“If you have to embark on research, looking at all the bills that I have sponsored in the House, you will see that those bills that I sponsored are not ones you can just come by anyhow.

“I remember when I promoted the National Pension Commission Act, it took me out to Chile and other countries like Argentina, the United Kingdom and India.”

“If you give me N8.5 million and I have to go and find out what is happening aside from the information that I get from the Internet.”

“Look at the tickets and see the flight costs even if I am flying economy class. So, how much is that?”

“If I have to engage lawyers and professionals to prepare bills for me, to work on motions for me; and get researchers also,” he said.

However, hiring legislative aides such as research assistants is taken care of separately. Each member of the House of Representatives is entitled to at least five aides paid by the government monthly. Presiding officers are entitled to more aides.

Mr Oke then made claims about the pay of U.S. lawmakers.

“Do you know how much their running costs are? It is $1 million. Do you know how much their salary is? It is $14,000 per month. Yet, you pay me $2,000 as salary,” he said.

Like Oke, like Shehu Sani

Mr Oke’s revelation is coming over one year after a former senator, Shehu Sani, while serving in the 8th Senate, revealed the monthly running cost of Nigerian senators.

The senator who represented Kaduna Central revealed that he and his colleagues receive N13.5 million monthly as “running cost.”

Mr Sani said that the running cost does not include the N700,000 monthly salary a senator earns.

In further justifying the running costs, Mr Oke alluded to the societal pressure on lawmakers.

“Besides whatever you get here in the form of salary or allowances, you have constituents with their numerous problems waiting (for you). Do you know how many scholarships and school fees that I am responsible for? Do you know how many constituents of mine who are ill; people who want to put to bed, people who have to undergo operations (surgeries) or need support? Do you know how many community projects that I have to support or celebrations and events that I have to support” he said.

Many Nigerian activists have, however, expressed disgust at the allowances which are fixed by the lawmakers themselves and are not approved by the revenue allocation agency, RMAFC.

Activists Condemn Pay

An activist and convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, while reacting to the comments by Mr. Oke said if judges do not earn up to that amount, there is no justification for any lawmaker to complain about it.

“If judges do not earn up to N2 million, why should legislators earn as much as N8.5 million?”

“This is fundamentally why there is corruption almost at every level and stage of our National lives.”

“A situation where judges compromise is because of inequality, inequality is the mother of all forms of social vices in the country. University lecturers and professors don’t earn up to that so why should legislators earn this much and still complain that the runing cost is not enough?”

“It goes to the root of the matter that most of the problems we are facing as a people in this country is about the inequality,” Mr. Adeyanju said.

Another activist, Lanre Suraj, also condemned the statement by the lawmaker.

“That is the more reason why I say most people who go there do not know why they are there,” Mr Suraj, an anti-corruption crusader, said.

“He should be given a calculator for him to calculate his running cost and the minimum wage of an average citizen Nigeria, then he won’t call it peanuts.

“I’m of the strong opinion that we should not just review the allowances of the legislators, we should also scrutinize those people who go there to represent us,” Mr Suraj said.

CHUKWUEZE JOINS DE LIGT, OTHERS ON 80-MAN GOLDEN BOY NOMINATION

Nigeria youngster Samuel Chukwueze is on the 80-man nomination list for the 2019 Golden boy Award after his exploits with the Super Eagles and his Spanish club, Villarreal.

The 20-year-old enjoyed a good campaign for Villarreal last season and he was part of the Nigerian team that finished to third in the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Chukwueze was voted man of the match in Nigeria win over South Africa where he scored to help the team reached the semi-final.

He is joined on the list by former Flying Eagles captain, Ikouwem Udoh-Utin who impressed at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland last month.

Utin moved from Nigeria professional football league champions Enyimba to Israeli side Maccabi Haifa.

The list is dominated by Europeans players.

Among them are Matthijs De Ligt, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Philip Walter Foden.

The award is the brainchild of Italian sports daily Tuttosport and is given to players under 21 years that play in any of the top leagues in Europe.

MINIMUM WAGE: LABOUR TELLS WORKERS TO PREPARE FOR TOTAL STRIKE

The organised Labour has directed its members in all the 36 states and Abuja to get ready for a total showdown with government should the negotiation on the adjustment from the new national minimum wage break down.

The Trade Union side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council (JNPSNC) after her meeting also reviewed downward her demands from 66.66 percent to 30 percent for officers on grade levels 07-14 and 25 percent for officers on grade levels 15-17.

On its part, the government side is insisting on 9.5 percent salary adjustment for officers on grade levels 07-14 and 5 percent for those on grade levels 15-17.

The workers expressed concern that rather than presenting the two positions to technical subcommittee as agreed, but “Surprisingly, when the Technical Sub-Committee reconvened, the Government Side introduced a strange clause to the discussion insisting that the Term of Reference of the Committee was to work out the consequential adjustment of salaries of Public Servants based on the subhead provided for salaries in the 2019 Budget.”

“All efforts by the Trade Union Side to persuade the Government Side to return to the right track of negotiation and agree on a realistic percentage increase proved abortive.”

“Thus, the Government Side deliberately created a stalemate and thereafter adjoined the meeting of the Technical Committee sine die.”

According to a communiqué, a copy of which was issued to newsmen, the workers said the downward review by labour was due to a promise by government to undertake a general salary review in no distance time.

The communiqué was jointly signed by the acting chairman and Secretary, Comrades Anchaver Simon and Alade Bashir Lawal. The communiqué reads in part, “The Trade Union Side of JNPSNC has now resolved that the Federal Government should reconvene the meeting of the Technical Committee on Consequential Adjustment immediately so that it can conclude its deliberations and ensure that all Public Service Employees benefit adequately from the N30,000 new monthly National Minimum Wage signed into Law by Mr. President since April, 2019.”

WORKERS EARNING BELOW N30,000 TO START ENJOYING MINIMUM WAGE —PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate implementation of the N30,000 new national wage for Federal Public Service workers currently earning below the minimum wage.

The Chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule said this while addressing a news conference on the implementation of the new national minimum wage on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the commencement of the approved payment would be determined by the office of the Accountant-General and backdated to when the President signed the agreement.

According to Egbule, the approval takes effect from April 18, 2018 and will affect the salary of government agencies under five salary structures.

This includes the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure, CONPSS, Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS and the  Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure, CONRAISS.

Also,  the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure, CONTISS II and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure, CONTEDISS would be affected.

“The negotiations between the Federal Government and the joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on the consequential adjustment arising from the new minimum wage for officers who earn above N30,000 would continue.

“The outcome of such negotiations will be implemented with effect from the date an agreement is reached,” he said.

Egbule assured the public that the Federal  Government was totally committed to the implementation of the new minimum wage as agreed with key stakeholders.

He said that any enquiry relating to the implementation of the new minimum wage should be directed to the commission.

(NAN)

NOA WARNS AGAINST POLITICISING KILLING OF AFENIFERE LEADER’S DAUGHTER

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned Nigerians against politicising the murder of Mrs. Funke Olakunri, daughter of Afenifere leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

Director General of NOA Dr. Garba Abari said every Nigerian has a role in the process of resolving the spate of criminal activities through our civic and patriotic duties.

He noted, however, that security agencies are mandated, primarily, to investigate and prosecute offenders.

Head, Press Unit NOA Paul Odenyi, in a statement, quoted the DG as condoling with the family of late Olakunri on behalf of the agency.

He stated: “As Nigerians continue to condemn the rising incidence of crime in the land, the NOA has appealed to Nigerians to allow security agencies the space to deal with the disturbing cases of banditry and armed robbery, rather than resorting to peddling political narratives and stereotypes.

“While condoling with the family of late Olakunri on behalf of the agency, the director-general said every Nigerian has a role in the process of resolving the spate of criminal activities through our civic and patriotic duties, noting however, that security agencies are mandated, primarily, to investigate and prosecute offenders.

“Abari urged political players to stop the dangerous name calling and stigmatisation and, as leaders, show more understanding and tolerance of the diverse people in the country in the spirit of shared humanity and a united nation.”