NGIGE GIVES UPDATE ON NEW MINIMUM WAGE, SAYS STATES MUST PAY NEW MINIMUM WAGE WHEN IT IS READY THIS YEAR..

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has said that all states of the federation and the FCT would abide by the new minimum wage, which is already in the works.

Some states have been demanding that they be allowed to negotiate with their workers on the minimum wage to enable them come up with what they could afford to pay.

Ngige who spoke after flagging off the proposed skills acquisition center being constructed at Ifitedunu in Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State at the weekend, said the minimum wage is a national matter and as such, only the federal government could legislate on it as provided in the Nigerian constitution.

The former Anambra Governor said the tripartite committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to work out a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers had already swung into action.

He said, “We had our inaugural meeting on December 14 and we did a framework for our work. We will finish our job before the third quarter of this year, but we may finish earlier and then submit its report to enable the Federal Government Issue a white paper and subsequently transmit the content to the National Assembly.

“That is why the President is not over flogging the issue, but he is monitoring the work of the committee. One thing that is clear is that the states will abide by whatever will be the outcome of the work of the committee because they (governors) have nominees there.

“The Governors’ Forum is represented in the committee and the Federal Government component is represented by five Ministers and the Head of Service of the Federation. It will therefore be against the spirit of the constitution for the states to have their own minimum wage.”

The ex-lawmaker insisted that the national minimum wage would be the baseline, adding that states that could afford it could pay more, but not below the national minimum wage.

“We will fix a minimum wage, but states can pay more than that. I give you an example, today minimum wage is N18,500, but Adams Oshiomhole was paying N25,000 before he left office.

“Minimum wage is just to set the baseline, but states can pay more.”

On what Nigerians should expect as the minimum wage, Ngige said he would not reveal that , but that he would rather table it before the committee and back it up “with productivity indices.”

He said one of the cardinal principle of negotiating wages as stipulated by the International Labour Organisation was  ability to pay.

BREAKING: JUDGE HANDLING SEN. MELAYE’S ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION CASE IS DEAD

Justice Aromeh Benson Akogu, the Kabba Resident High Court Judge in Kogi who is currently handling the case of attempted assassination of Sen. Dino Melaye is reported dead.

It was gathered that the judge died in Anyigba on the 31st of Dec, 2017 at about 11:40pm during a cross-over service to 2018.

According to a reliable source close to the family, Akogu who had vowed not to sleep before the cross-over to 2018, was neither sick nor show any symptoms of ill health.

Sen. Dino Melaye

His wife, Mrs Vicky Akogu, who confirmed the death, said the late judge and one-time Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state, was hale and hearty before his sudden death.

She said that she watched her husband’s death like a movie and could hardly believe herself.

Commenting on the incident from Akogu family house in Idah, Chief Registrar of the State High Court, Yahaya Ademu, said the body had been deposited at the Grimmard Hospital Mortuary, Anyigba.

The late judge, in his late 50s, was until his death, handling the case of attempted assassination of Sen. Dino Melaye.

According to report, the Ijumu Local Government Administrator, Taofiq Isah and four others are also being tried in the matter.

-NAN.

BREAKING: SCORES REPORTEDLY KILLED AS GUNMEN ATTACK OMOKU COMMUNITY IN RIVERS STATE (PHOTOS)

Reports have it that no fewer than 15 persons have been reportedly shot dead and scores injured/hospitalized in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State by a group of gunmen on Monday.

This was posted by a Facebook user, who is also from the area, Osiah Chinedu in his facebook handle and later verified from the Rivers state police command.

The State Police Command told correspondents that they are already aware of the development but however, couldn't give details as at press time.

Eyewitnesses further revealed that the  gunmen that raided the town in the early hours of New Year Day, 1st January, 2018, were suspected to be working for a wanted kidnap kingpin/ militant leader, Don Nwanee.

Below are pictorial evidences of the Omoku incidence....(viewer discretion advised).

 We shall give you updates as they unfold...

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NIGERIAN HOSPITALS NOW TO TREAT GUNSHOT WOUNDS WITHOUT POLICE REPORT - SEN. ITA ENANG

 
Physicians and medical workers in Nigerian Hospitals across the country can now treat gun shot wounds without first requesting for a police report before commencing treatment on any victim.

This was made known by Senator Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate). He made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday while stating that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 into law alongside other five bills.

The five other bills are

The Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment) Amendment Act, 2017;

The Anti-Torture Act 2017;

The Federal Capital Appropriation Act;

The Federal Capital Territory Water Board (Establishment) Act 2017;

and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (Establishment) Act 2017.

Senator Enang stated that the Gunshot Act specifically stipulates that a person with gunshot shall be received for immediate and adequate treatment by any hospital in Nigeria with or without initial monetary deposit. A person with gunshot wound shall not be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment or torture by any person or authority, including the police and other security agencies,” he explained.

On Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment) Amendment Act, 2017, Enang said the NDDC Act also included the gas producing and gas processing companies in the list of agencies that were contributing to the Niger Delta Development Commission, in addition to oil companies to increase funding of the commission for effective discharge of its duties.
He added that “previously, the NDDC Act excluded gas companies. The Act makes it explicit that gas companies have to be included. “This is to diversify sources of funding for the NDDC for the economic wellbeing of the region.’’

On the Anti-Torture Act, he said it makes comprehensive provisions for penalising acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, and prescribes penalties for the commission of such acts.

On the Federal Capital Appropriation Act, the president’s aide explained that the Act authourised the Federal Capital Territory Administration to legally and legitimately provide funds out of its Statutory Revenue Fund for recurrent and capital expenditure.

On the Federal Capital Territory Water Board Establishment Act, he noted that the act was charged with the responsibility of providing safe, adequate and affordable water to FCT residents.

The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (Establishment) Act, 2017, he said is to provide national direction in cancer research, control and treatment; guide scientific improvements to cancer prevention, treatment and care, coordinate and liaise between the wide range of groups and health care providers with an interest in cancer.

“The six Acts have come into effect as laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’

Source: http://headline.com.ng/doctors-now-treat-gunshot-wounds-without-police-report/amp/

WHATSAPP TO STOP WORKING ON BlackBerry OS AND SOME OTHER SMART PHONES FROM 2018

WhatsApp, the leading chat app/ messenger in the world is about to stop working on a range of old smartphones from the 1st of January 2018. This is because these range of mobile devices don’t offer the kind of capabilities needed to expand and accommodate latest technologies that would be the major features in the future of upgrades in WhatsApp.

This means owners of these once famous/old mobile phones will have to buy newer gadgets if they want to continue using WhatsApp.

Last year, WhatsApp dropped its support for Nokia Symbian S60 phones. It will do the same for Nokia S40 handsets on December 31 2018 and then devices running Android 2.3.7 and older after 1 February, 2020.

On New Year’s Day, WhatsApp will ‘remove support’ for a number of devices – which updated versions of the software can no longer be installed on them.

From January 1, 2018, anyone still using phones which run BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10 or Windows Phone 8.0 will no longer be able to update their WhatsApp software.

In a blog post, WhatsApp wrote: “While these mobile devices have been an important part of our story, they don’t offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app’s features in the future.

“This was a tough decision for us to make, but the right one in order to give people better ways to keep in touch with friends, family, and loved ones using WhatsApp.

“If you use one of these affected mobile devices, we recommend upgrading to a newer Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone.”

OKOROCHA & NEW LIBERIAN PRESIDENT PICTURED TOGETHER (PHOTO)

 

This pic says a lot....