Welcome to Electronic News: May 2016

Saturday, 21 May 2016

First lady mets the recued chibok girl and her baby

Wife of the President of the Federal republic of Nigeria Her Excellency Aisha Muhammadu Buhari also met with the missing but now rescued Chibok girl Amina, her baby Sadiya and her parents

Develop yourself or get sacked, FG tells teachers

The Federal Government says it is currently working on a new regulation that will enable teachers to update their skills in relevant areas of teaching every two years.

The Minister of State for Education, Anthony Onwukah, disclosed this in Abuja while speaking during the annual conference of the Nigerian Academy of Education.

Ambode Inspects Mile 2-Badagry Road Expansion and Light Rail project

Lagos State Government, says it had procured four single Electric Multiple Unit, EMU car train coaches, expected to operate on the Lagos Urban Rail Network, LURN, especially on the blue and red lines which are under construction in the state.

Ambode Inspects Mile 2-Badagry Road Expansion and Light Rail project Ambode Inspects Mile 2-Badagry Road Expansion and Light Rail project The state Government under the previous administration had in 2014 approved $14.6 million to Messrs.

National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, stormed Labour House, the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to beg the leadership of the union, led by Ayuba Wabba, to suspend the ongoing strike it embarked over increment in the fuel pump by the federal government.

After taking the plea from the politician, the factional NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, who said he was open to resume negotiation with the government,vowed that the strike would continue.

Tinubu The APC national leader, who arrived Labour House in company of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State,senators Kabir Marafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi among some members of the party, appealed to the union to call off the strike and resume negotiation with government on the contending issues.

Tinubu, who attributed misunderstanding between government and the people to dearth of teaching of history in schools, tasked senators to urgently initiate bill on compulsory teaching of the subject.

He insisted that the National Assembly must initiate the bill on history because according to him, “the problem now is that political history is no longer being taught.

NATIONAL leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, stormed Labour House, the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to beg the leadership of the union, led by Ayuba Wabba, to suspend the ongoing strike it embarked over increment in the fuel pump by the federal government. But after taking the plea from the politician, the factional NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, who said he was open to resume negotiation with the government,vowed that the strike would continue. tinubu The APC national leader, who arrived Labour House in company of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State,senators Kabir Marafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi among some members of the party, appealed to the union to call off the strike and resume negotiation with government on the contending issues. “I am here to appeal to you to understand that whatever you are doing now and whatever this government, led by Buhari is doing is for the development of all Nigerians. “I have come to appeal to you to suspend the action you have embarked upon and return to the negotiating table,” he said. He added: “I came to appeal to you to go back to history that we worked very hard to bring Nigeria to progressive path. Tinubu, who attributed misunderstanding between government and the people to dearth of teaching of history in schools,tasked senators to urgently initiate bill on compulsory teaching of the subject. He insisted that the National Assembly must initiate the bill on history because according to him, “the problem now is that political history is no longer being taught.” Pleading for the Buhari administration,he said: “I can guarantee that this government is the government of honesty and integrity. “Whatever is the anger,we must apply anger management.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/strike-tinubu-begs-wabba-led-nlc/

Ekweremadu reiterates call for decentralised Nigerian Police force

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has reiterated his call for the decentralisation of the Nigerian Police force.

According to Ekweremadu, this has become imperative to move away from the federal structure of policing because unitary police system was out of sinc with a federal arrangement, just as he called for the reinforcement of the federal police to help combat the nation’s security challenges.

Speaking in Abuja while decorating one of his newly promoted security aides, Uchenna Igwebuike, with the rank of Deputy Supretendent of Police, Ekweremadu, who commended the Police for rewarding hardwork through the promotion, adding that Nigeria could no longer afford to do the same thing continually and expect a different result.

He States that, local governments, and possibly other major institutions should be able to have their own police that is well coordinated.

Senate number two man adds that there is need to ensure that Nigerian police are equipped, trained, and motivated to do the work they have been constitutionally empowered to do, while we explore modalities to work out the decentralised policing system for our country in tandem with all federal institutions all over the world”.

DEPUTY Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has reiterated his call for the decentralisation of the Nigerian Police force. According to Ekweremadu, this has become imperative to move away from the federal structure of policing because unitary police system was out of sinc with a federal arrangement, just as he called for the reinforcement of the federal police to help combat the nation’s security challenges. Speaking yesterday in Abuja while decorating one of his newly promoted security aides, Mr. Uchenna Igwebuike, with the rank of Deputy Supretendent of Police, Ekweremadu, who commended the Police for rewarding hardwork through the promotion, adding that Nigeria could no longer afford to do the same thing continually and expect a different result. He said: “First of all, let me say that I am happy with this promotion. It shows that hard work pays and this is the reward for hard work. The officer has showed exemplary dedication to his work; he has been a true professional. So, he deserves this promotion and I also believe that the sky is his limit in his chosen profession. “All the same, I still hold my view that in addition to the central police, which we have today, we need other levels of policing. States, local governments, and possibly other major institutions should be able to have their own police that is well coordinated. “But, in the interim, we need to ensure efficiency in the central policing we have. We need to ensure that they are equipped, trained, and motivated to do the work they have been constitutionally empowered to do, while we explore modalities to work out the decentralised policing system for our country in tandem with all federal institutions all over the world”.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/ekweremadu-reiterates-call-for-decentralised-policing/

Ex-PDP govs, ministers reject Sheriff’s aircraft

Former Peoples Democratic Party governors and ex-ministers rejects an aircraft sent to them by the embattled National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to convey them from Abuja to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

One of our correspondents gathered that the plane was sent to the former governors and other anti-Sheriff with the aim of truncating the parallel national convention they planned for Abuja today.

Assassination: IG probes Edo deputy gov’s claim

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has taken over the investigation of an alleged assassination attempt on the Edo State Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu, in the Etsako-West Local Government Area of Auchi, Edo State.

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Itse Sagay (SAN), says a special court to try special offences, including corruption, would soon be established.

Sagay while highlighting the roles of the PCAC and its mandate in the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, said his committee had completed a draft for the establishment of special court.

He also said had the former President Goodluck Jonathan been re-elected last year, Nigeria could have either been facing the economic crisis similar to that of Zimbabwe or disintegrated.

He spoke at the Abuja Anti-Corruption Summit organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice in conjunction with the Open Society Initiative for West Africa and ONE Africa.

The summit was organised to propose and harmonise various anti-corruption positions which the Nigerian delegation to be led by President Buhari should canvass at the forthcoming 2016 International Anti-Corruption Conference billed to hold in London on May 12.

The conference which is to be attended by some world leaders is to be hosted by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Speaking at the pre-conference summit held in Abuja Sagay said the draft for the establishment of special court to try special offences such as corruption and kidnapping had been completed but still needed to pass through the required legal processes.

According to Sagay, after the draft is subjected to all the legal processes, the courts that will be established will deal with the special cases speedily.

In his presentation, the representative of the British government at the event, who is also the Head of the Department of International Development in Nigeria, Ben Mellor, urged Nigerians to “have high ambition” at the conference, adding that the United Kingdom was already making efforts to ensure that it no longer served as a safe haven for looters.

Thursday, 5 May 2016

Anger at the police hospital in lagos

Anger have pop out at the Police Hospital, Falomo, Ikoyi, and the Police Cottage Hospital, Ikeja, in Lagos State, over six-year allowances that are allegedly owed the rank and file medical policemen by the police authorities.

Information reaching Enewz247 is that the non-payment of the allowances, which were to come with promotion, affected about 50 policemen serving in the hospitals.

It was gathered that the policemen, who finished their Ordinary Diploma and Higher National Diploma training from the Nigerian Army School of Medical Sciences since 2008 and 2009, were still in the rank and file.

Our correspondent was told that the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Medicals, in 2009, Dax Uzu, had compiled the names of the policemen for promotion to Assistant Superintendents of Police based on their educational qualifications.

In the promotion list,18 of the policemen had been detailed for the promotion and payment of allowances. However, it was learnt that the promotion had yet to be carried out.

In another signal, CB:4001/NPMS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.4/18, sent in February 2014 and obtained by our correspondent, the policemen serving in the hospitals were asked to produce evidence of their qualifications for promotion and for the payment of their allowances.

However, no action had yet to be taken on the signal.

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Ranieri is ‘King of England’, says mum

Claudio Ranieri’s triumph with Leicester City in England has more than made amends for his unsuccessful time at Roma, according to the Italian’s 96-year-old mother.

claudio-ranieri-leicester-football_3327603

LagosLagos State Government has announced its plans to commence the construction of world class Medical Park under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, just as it restated its commitment to improve healthcare experience and promote medical tourism and excellent healthcare services of international standard in the State.

Buhari tells security agencies to Clamp down on rampaging herdsmen

President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration’s resolve to deal decisively and expeditiously with reported cases of continued attacks on communities across the country by armed herdsmen.

The president spoke on Monday night at a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria CBCN held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari confirmed that heads of national security agencies had been ordered to take all necessary action to apprehend and expose those behind the heinous attacks.

The President expressed his personal condolences to the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, the people of Ukpabi Nimbo and all other communities that had suffered fatalities and other losses from the recent attacks.

Speaking on other national issues, the statement quoted the President as assuring the Bishops that he was acting with deliberation and moving methodically to implement his Change Agenda for the good of the country.

The President assured them that his administration was working very hard to fulfill all the promises it had made to Nigerians.

According to him, his greatest motivating factor now is the desire to bring positive change to Nigeria.
On behalf of the bishops, Kaigama expressed the solidarity of the CBCN with the President.

The bishops pledged continued prayers for Nigeria and the government, expressing their conviction that “current hardships are temporary, and Nigeria will soon overcome its present difficulties.

Bayelsa State Government and 14 other States Governors own workers for months.

following the inability of some states in the country to pay up their workers salaries after receiving bail out from the Federal Govvernment.

Here is a graphical presentation of states that are owing workers salaries and those that have been able to meet their statutory obligations as at the end of April, 2016.

This also lead to the low turn out of workers at the May Day celebration in some states.

Over 15,000 fans watch former stars and celebs at Upton as Germany legends thrashed England legends 7 - 2

Germany's Michael Ballack and England's Darren Anderton

Germany ran out comfortable 7-2 winners as they took the spoils in the 'legends' match at Upton Park against England.

The match, set up to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Three Lions' World Cup win in 1966, attracted a crowd of over 15,000 at the Boleyn Ground.

Former Bayer Leverkusen striker Oliver Neuville starred for the visitors, netting twice as they romped to victory.

Ex-Chelsea star Michael Ballack led the Germans, who took the lead through Hanna Balitsch after former Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann made a smart stop from Darren Anderton.

Germany's Hanno Balitsch scores a goal

England's David Jame

Mark Rehmer, who used to play as a defender for Hertha Berlin, doubled the advantage before Balitsch made it 3-0 before the break.

Former Borussia Dortmund winger David Odonkor headed past David James to continue the rout in the second half, with Neuville and Reich adding to the scoreline shortly afterwards.

Germany's David Odonkor scores their fourth goal

Football freestyler Jeremie Lynch and Germany's Jens Lehmann

England's Ben Cohen celebrates a goal

That forced England boss Ray Winstone in to some changes, including the inspired introduction of former Rugby Union World Cup winner Ben Cohen, who netted a brace to give some respectability to the scoreline.

A host of celebrities starred for the England side captained by Rio Ferdinand, including actor Damien Lewis, comedians Jack Whitehall, Russell Howard and Jon Richardson, along with social media influencers Spencer Owen (famed for his FIFA 16 prowess) and Jeremy Lynch, one half of the popular F2 freestylers, who was arguably England's best player on the afternoon.

Neuville capped the German performance with the final goal of the game late on.

Football freestyler Jeremy Lynch and comedian Jack Whitehall attempt to unsettle Germany's Jens Lehmann

England legends manager Ray Winstone gives a pep talk to Trevor Sinclair

Commedian Lee Mack enjoyed himself in front of 15,000 fans at Upton Park


England's Rio Ferdinand, David James, Anton Ferdinand and Steve Howey before the game

Germany's Micheal Ballack

Stories goten from: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/england-legends-thrashed-germany-15000-7881250

Monday, 2 May 2016

May Day: FG ignores N56, 000 minimum wage proposal

The Federal Government on Sunday kept mum over the recent demand by the organised labour for a new minimum wage of N56,000.

The issue of the minimum wage was not mentioned by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, at the May Day rally in Abuja.

Officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress expressed disappointment at the failure of the President to personally attend the annual event which would have given him the opportunity to address some of the issues raised by the workers.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Ibrahim Khaleel, who doubles as the National Treasurer of the NLC, said that the President’s absence was a minus as he missed the opportunity to hear directly from the workers.

He said that Buhari would have had the opportunity to directly respond to the workers who believed in his cause as President.

The last time the President openly identified with labour unions was at the 11th delegates’ conference of the NLC in February, 2015, shortly before his election.

When asked that both the President did not mention the issue of the new proposed minimum wage, he said that the President’s absence caused it.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige says the reasons behind the government side not to say anything about it adding thst nothing comes to the working class in the history of struggle free of charge. He equally stress that his administration is ready to pursue its agenda to achieve its cause.

There were high expectations that the Federal Government would comment on the issue of the minimum wage during the event.

The expectations of the President’s personal presence at the even reflected in the address read by the President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, who expressed gratitude to the “President for accepting our invitation to personally grace this May Day celebrations.”

NLC’s Deputy Director in charge of Press, Samuel Olowookere, had told our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Saturday to wait for the response of the Federal Government on the issue of the proposed new minimum wage on May Day.

In an address read on his behalf by Ngige, the President called on the workers to collaborate with the government in the fight against corruption in the public service.

Ekiti shuts seven Catholic schools, church sues govt

Ekiti State Government has shut seven schools run by the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti for failure to pay the Education Development Levy.

Under a new tax regime in the state, pupils in primary and secondary schools are to pay N500 and N1,000 respectively.

The Catholic schools had sought an exclusion from the payment, a request the state government rejected.

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, who broke the news in Ado Ekiti, accused the state government of being insensitive, especially shutting the schools when pupils were preparing for their National Examination Council examinations.

The diocese operates 15 primary and seven secondary schools in the state.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Jide Egunjobi, has confirmed the closure of schools.

Ina related development, the church has sued the state government for imposing levies on pupils.

In a suit at the state high court by the Incorporated Trustees of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, the plaintiff asked the court to declare the imposition of such levies as illegal and unconstitutional.

The plaintiff noted that the action violated Section 2 of Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004 and Section 19 of the state Universal Basic Education Board Law.

The defendants are the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the Commissioner for Education.

The church asked the court to determine “whether every child of primary school and junior secondary school age in the state is not entitled to free and compulsory basic education under Section 2 of Compulsory Free Universal Education Act, 2004 and Section 19 of Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board Law.”

Sunday, 1 May 2016

Christian leaders dare Northern govs on preaching licence •We will resist the move —CAN

Following the agreement by 19 Northern governors to commence the issuance of licences to all religious organisations and preachers in all states of the region, as a way of addressing the proliferation of sects and preachers, clerics across the country have reacted to the move.

The governors, who agreed to “establish a regulatory mechanism to consistently monitor activities of newly registered and unregistered religious organisations, ascertain the sources of their funds, both locally and internationally,” among other issues, issued a seven-page communiqué.

The Coordinating Chaplain of the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, and Bishop of the African Church, Right Reverend Peter Ogunmuyiwa, speaking with Enewz, stated that “my reaction is not different from the position of CAN and we have made our position known to the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai earlier, stating our opposition to such decision.

It is unfortunate that the Northern governors have come to endorse it and we will rise against such move. By the grace of God, it will not see the light of day because the church’s mandate is to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ and Nigeria’s constitution recognises freedom of speech and association.

Archbishop Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin of Ibadan Catholic archdiocese, who also expressed displeasure at the development stated that “sometimes, some people in government forget that those in the church are also Nigerians. Any member of the church can also become a governor.

Affairs have been mismanaged by political leaders and that is why things like taxing the church has come in. We shall resist these moves to the last. The church shall not accept it. The church is not given to violence but by our own reaction, even those who support them will begin to have a rethink.”

Bishop Moyinoluwalogo Ibikunle of Okun Diocese, Methodist Church Nigeria, Kogi State, noted that his diocese is in a predominantly Christian community and thus it would be wrong for the governors to adopt such a position.

An executive member of the Christian Youth Network for Better Nigeria, with headquarters in Kaduna State, Simon Topa Ozigagu, stated that “That is a very terrible thing.

Why must preachers be licensed? It is a calling and a spiritual thing. If they ask preachers to be licensed, even dubious characters could be given licences. Why should government regulate religious activities? Even in the Hausa climes, it doesn’t work like that. We understand that churches are registered but licensing preachers is wrong and we frown on such a move.”

Super Eagles coach to understudy Guardiola

Super Eagles interim coach Salisu Yusuf has disclosed that he plans to return overseas to understudy new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola when the new English Premier League season.

Yusuf was recently at Scottish club Hearts to understudy their workings.

“I hope to understudy Pep (Guardiola) by the time he resumes at Manchester City. I was scheduled to do that when I finished at Hearts in Scotland, but I shifted it because I wanted to attend the CAF A license in Abuja,” the coach said.

“My visit to Scotland was eye-opening and it showed to me again why cubs in Europe are very prepared because they have experts for all aspects of their preparations – from fitness conditioning to dieting.”

Guardiola will replace Manuel Pellegrini at The Etihad for the new season when Yusuf then hopes to visit.

Former Kano Pillars and Enyimba coach Yusuf, who has assisted Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh and

Samson Siasia, will lead Nigeria for two friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg in the new month.

Super Eagles interim coach Salisu Yusuf has disclosed that he plans to return overseas to understudy new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola when the new English Premier League season. Yusuf was recently at Scottish club Hearts to understudy their workings. “I hope to understudy Pep (Guardiola) by the time he resumes at Manchester City. I was scheduled to do that when I finished at Hearts in Scotland, but I shifted it because I wanted to attend the CAF A license in Abuja,” the coach said. “My visit to Scotland was eye-opening and it showed to me again why cubs in Europe are very prepared because they have experts for all aspects of their preparations – from fitness conditioning to dieting.” Guardiola will replace Manuel Pellegrini at The Etihad for the new season when Yusuf then hopes to visit. Former Kano Pillars and Enyimba coach Yusuf, who has assisted Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh and Samson Siasia, will lead Nigeria for two friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg in the new month.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/eagles-coach-understudy-guardiola/

Crisis hits Ogun, Osun PDP Ward congresse

Following the just concluded congress meeting, there was crisis and confusion at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State on Saturday over the conduct of the ward congresses.

Delegates elected at the state congresses will eventually elect the state executives of the party.

One of the ward chairmanship aspirants of the PDP, Bayo Faforiji, and thousands of his supporters had stormed the party’s secretariat as early as 8:30am to protest the alleged hoarding of forms by the state PDP Chairman, Gani Olaoluwa.

Faforiji’s supporters almost lynched a supporter of Soji Adagunodo, who is also a chairmanship aspirant, but for the timely intervention of security men at the scene.

Faforiji, who is said to be supported by Iyiola Omisore, accused Olaoluwa of not giving forms to his supporters in order to disenfranchise them in the election despite that he paid the stipulated amount of money for the forms and fulfilled other requirements.

But Adagunodo, who is said to be enjoying the backing of the National Secretary of the PDP, Wale Oladipo, debunked the allegation against his camp, saying his opponent was not prepared for the congress.

Adagunodo said Faforiji’s camp paid late for the forms and decided to disrupt the congress because they knew defeat was staring them in the face.

In Ogun, three different factions of the state chapter of the PDP on Saturday held parallel ward congresses in the 236 wards in the state.

The three factions are those led by the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and a member of House Representatives, representing Remo Federal Constituency, Ladi Adebutu.

In a media briefing held on Friday in Abeokuta, nine members of the 14-man State Executive Council of the party had threatened to organise a parallel congress, alleging that both the state chairman and the secretary of the party, Bayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo respectively, had sidelined other executives.

The nine members, led by the state Organising Secretary, PDP, Folashade Filani, alleged that Dayo and Sodipo did not carry them along in the affairs of the party.

The faction made real its threat by having their congresses separately alongside that of the Dayo-led executive.

Our correspondent, who monitored the process in Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Sagamu and Ikenne Local Government Areas, observed that different groups were at different areas within the same ward conducting their elections.

While speaking with journalists at the party’s secretariat, the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Muhammed El-Yakubu, said he was not aware of any other PDP faction other than the one recognized by the National Working Committee of the party.

He said he was satisfied with the conduct of the congresses having visited some wards in Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Ilaro and Ifo, among others.

Ogun PDP chairman, corroborated the congress committee chairman, stated that “there is only one recognised ward congress and that is the one recognised by the party at the national level.”

But Filani told our correspondent that the congress held by her group believed to be loyal to Adebutu was the valid exercise.

Also, a former member of Ogun State House of Assembly, Johnson Olu-Fatoki, who is said to be loyal to the Bankole-led faction, told our correspondent that his group held the exercise at the designated venue by the PDP national leadership.

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