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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 14:19
N70,000 Minimum Wage: NYSC Waiting On Nigerian Govt’s Directive
The Management of the National Youth Service Corps has stated that it is waiting for the go-ahead for the implementation of new minimum wage for corpers.
NYSC said the decision on the N70,000 for workers, will be determined by the Federal Government.
The acting Director of the Information and Public Relations unit of the NYSC, Caroline Embu, made this known to our correspondent on Tuesday.
Recall that President Tinubu signed the new minimum wage bill of N70,000 into law on July 29, 2024, following weeks of negotiations with the leadership of the organised labour.
Following the approval of the minimum wage, speculations had risen about the new pay for corps members, with some claiming to have received a directive to increase the capacity of their bank accounts to be able to receive above N50,000.
The supposed message read: “Most of the corps members’ accounts opened in the camp cannot take more than N50,000 at once. All corps members are advised to visit their various banks and confirm that their account can take or receive more than N70,000.”
However, the NYSC had released a statement stating that the purported message was “absolutely falsehood.”
“The attention of National Youth Service Corps management has been drawn to misleading information circulating in the media regarding payment of N70,000 minimum wage to corps members and the directive to upgrade their accounts. This is an absolute falsehood which is far from the truth.
“Corps members, parents and members of the public should note that no directive has been received from the relevant sector of government responsible for wages matters. It is, therefore, impossible for the NYSC to issue any information on such,” a statement, signed by the former Director Information and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, read.
However, asked on Tuesday if the scheme was currently negotiating a new pay for corps members, the acting spokesperson reiterated that the review of the allowance was in the hands of the Federal Government, and not the NYSC, noting that there was currently no change in corps members’ allowances.
“I don’t know how much the Federal Government will pay the corps members, I cannot tell you that for sure right now, because it is a decision of the Federal Government, not the NYSC. The only thing I can tell you now is that when the Federal Government increases the minimum wage, the corps members are expected to enjoy an increase in their allowance too, just like the DG said,” she said.
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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 14:17
Abure Transferred Campaign Money To Wife, Brother, Staff’s Accounts – LP Former National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara
A former National Treasurer of the Labour Party, Oluchi Opara has made an allegation against embattled party chairman, Julius Abure.
She alleged that Abure forged the party’s late chairman’s signature and transferred money to his wife, siblings, staff and his personal company’s accounts.
Oluchi Opara said the party had no money by the time Abure took over from late A.A. Salam, as national chairman of the party. She explained that two months after Salami’s death Abure cleared every money in the party’s account.
According to her, LP came into relevance through the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi. She added that Abure cannot point fingers at Obi as he was the one who revived the party and the money the party came to have.
Speaking in an interview with News Central on Tuesday, Mrs. Oluchi said, “I know I came out sometime in February, like you said, to say that the former national chairman of our party, Barrister Julius Abure has to come out clean to explain what had happened to the finances of the Labour Party, allegations of embezzlement, misappropriation, misapplication of power, and a whole lot of things that I came out to say that time, including the forging of the late national chairman’s signature to withdraw money from an account after he is dead.
“I was thinking that he should have come out to explain to Nigerians or even allow an external auditor to audit the accounts of the Labour Party, but he has refused to do the needful instead and he is trying to do a campaign against the man, Mr. Peter Obi, who gave him life, because before now, there was no Abure. Before now, the Labour Party was nowhere.”
Mrs Opara further accused Abure of being ungrateful. She maintained that the factional chairman of LP was trying to divert attention of Nigerians from the campaign fund looting allegation. She challenged him to allow independent auditors to audit the party’s account.
The former national treasurer also stated that contrary to Abure’s claim the party was not in charge of the last campaign fund, the party actually was in charge.
According to her, the account number, a former member of Obi/Datti campaign council, Aisha Yesufu shared on her X account, was the account the party used to receive campaign funds from Nigerians.
“So I think he is ungrateful on his part, on his side, to come out to want to damage the image of an icon, political icon that is known to the world, not just to Nigeria. Abure should come out because I say he who must go to equity must come with clean hands.
“He should not divert attention. He should come out to collect allegations on his head. I think this story is not new to Nigeria because I came out shouting from pillar to post, telling Nigerians that we have to live by example, because you can’t be saying that the government of the day is not doing the right thing, whereas we have corruption, it is under us.
“Let’s even start with Abure. Let’s allow an independent auditor to audit the accounts first. Let’s start with ourselves first before pointing an accusative finger. And again, we did have a campaign account for the Labour Party. So I don’t know why he is coming out to say that we never had a campaign account. We did, we have. Aisha Yesufu mentioned the account number yesterday (Monday). We did have an account. So he should stop peddling lies. To me, it’s an attempt to cover whatever he has done. And that shouldn’t be,” she stated.
When asked to reconfirm that Abure allegedly looted campaign funds of the party, Opara repeated.
“I came out that February I said that the late national chairman’s signature was forged two months after his death. Before the passing of the late national chairman A. A. Salam of blessed memory, the party didn’t have any money in the accounts. Then two months after his death monies were cleared by Julius Abure.
“Abure never bothered what the family was going through at that time. And again at that time when I came out I noticed that he was transferring money to his wife’s accounts, to his brother’s account, to his company’s accounts, to everybody even down to the staff of the office.
“He will use the staff’s accounts to siphon money; at the end of the day, this same staff will send that money to an account that will get to Barrister Abure.
“A lawyer that he claims to be, forged a signature of a late man like the national chairman of our party. He didn’t care what the outcome was going to be.
“If he is saying I’m lying he should let that account to be reactivated so the Nigerians can actually see, to even question him how on earth did the man after his death came out to sign a check for him to clear money from the account. He should stop pointing accusing finger to Mr Peter Obi,” Mrs Opara explained.
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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 14:16
I Don’t Know Why My Native Bullet Proof Vest Failed Me – Teenage Robber Confesses
Sodiq Oyedokun, a teenager suspected of armed robbery, has expressed frustration over how his traditional bulletproof and anti-arrest vest, intended to help him evade crime scenes, failed to protect him.
Oyedokun was arrested and paraded alongside 20 other suspected criminals by the Ondo state security outfit codenamed Amotekun in Akure, the state capital.
In an interview, the suspect, said that he inherited it from his late father who was a herbalist.
According to him, ”my father gave the vest to me. I kept it in our house since it was given to me.
He said it was the first time he had put the vest on during an operation, but he usually goes out with it when going out for an operation.
”The bullet proof vest failed me because I ought to have disappeared from the scene of the operation.
”I don’t know why the vest failed me. I was expected to have disappeared and not arrested at the scene when the Amotekun personnel stormed the venue of the operation.
Meanwhile, also paraded include suspected kidnappers, armed robbers and specialised Okada snatchers said to have been terrorizing the people of the state in recent time.
Adeleye who said that they have been profiled, added that they would be charged to court after thorough investigation.
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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 14:12
Hit-And-Run Driver Crushes Assistant Superintendent Of Police To Death At Checkpoint in Ekiti
An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who was attached to the Ekiti State Police Command, has been killed by a hit-and-run driver.
The officer identified as ASP Idris Lawal was crushed to death at a checkpoint along Iworoko Road in Ado-Ekiti, state capital, SaharaReporters reports.
The incident happened on Monday night, a police internal memo obtained exclusively by SaharaReporters read.
The signal further revealed that the body of the deceased police officer has been deposited in the morgue.
It read, “Sitrep From Oke-Ila Division; Fatal Motor Accident; Grateful Be Informed That Today Being 10/09/2024 X At About 0023hrs X An Information Received X From Inspr. Segun Adedeji Attached To Patrol Mine X While They Were On Stop And Search Duty X At Ayemi Garage X Along Iworoko Road Ado-Ekiti X A Hit And Run X Unregistered Mecediz Benz Vehicle X White Colour X Knocked Down Ap/No 145800 Asp Idris Lawal X P&G1 Mine X Was Rushed To Ekiti State Teaching Hospital Ado-Ekiti X For Medical Treatment X Was Later Confirmed Dead By Medical Doctor.
“Corpse Had Been Deposited At Eksuth Mortuary For Autopsy X Meanwhile Effort Is On Top Gear To Arrest The Culprit X Above For Your Information Please X Dpo Oke-Ila.”
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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 14:10
Transfer: You Dive Too Much – Mourinho Slams Osimhen
Jose Mourinho, the Fenerbahce manager, has claimed that Victor Osimhen “dives too much”.
Osimhen has joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan deal from Napoli.
This means the striker and his new teammates will fight directly with Fenerbahce for the Turkish League title.
Mourinho joined Fenerbahce in June, months after he was sacked at AS Roma, where he came up against Napoli a few times.
“The last time we played against him during Roma vs Napoli, I had this conversation with him, ” Mourinho told HT Spor.
“I told Osimhen, ‘you are one of the best players in Africa along with Salah. Before there were Drogba, Eto’o and Weah. You can’t be diving.’
“He dives too much, and that’s my problem with him, but after 10 minutes, we are fine.”
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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 14:07
AFCONQ 2025: Why I Substituted Chukwueze Against Rwanda - Eguavoen
Augustine Eguavoen, the interim Super Eagles coach, has opened up on why he substituted Samuel Chukwueze during the second half of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifying match against Rwanda on Tuesday.
Chukwueze was brought off at halftime, with Moses Simon taking his place.
Speaking at his post-match interview, Eguavoen said the AC Milan winger had to be replaced because he had a yellow card and was tormenting the hosts.
“He [Chukwueze] is very good, he’s one of our good players. Today, we came up with a strategy, he got a yellow card and he was tormenting you [Rwanda] guys,” Eguavoen told reporters.
“We had three players on yellow cards so it’s kind of a risk also. We have to make some substitutions and we have players who can go forward also.
“We thought Chukwueze should rest not because he’s not playing well but because of the risk of getting a second yellow card.”
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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 13:55
55-year-old Woman Slumps, Dies While Sharing Testimony in Lagos Church
A 55-year-old woman, Ifeoma, collapsed and died while giving a testimony during a church service at the Zonal Accountant Ministry Church in Ejigbo, Lagos.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:48 a.m. on September 8th during the testimony hour.
According to witnesses, Ifeoma came forward singing to share her testimony when she suddenly collapsed. Immediate efforts were made to rush her to a nearby hospital, but she was later referred to the General Hospital in Isolo, where doctors confirmed her death.
Lagos State Police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, stating that police detectives were dispatched to the hospital but were informed that Ifeoma’s husband and family had already taken her body to Anambra State for burial.
The exact cause of her sudden death remains unclear, and authorities have not yet announced whether an investigation will be launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 13:45
Treason Charges: Court grants N10m bail each to 10 #EndBadGovernance and hunger protesters
The Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to 10 protesters charged with treason-related offenses connected to last month’s #EndBadGovernance protests.
Justice Emeka Nwite set the bail at N10 million for each defendant, requiring a surety with property in Abuja worth the bail amount. The sureties must also submit their passports to the court.
The defendants, who were arraigned on September 2, pleaded not guilty to six charges, including plotting war and attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. Their lawyers argued that the evidence did not support the treason allegations.
The charges against the defendants include inciting mutiny, destabilizing Nigeria, and waging war against the state. They were also accused of attacking police officers, burning police stations, and destroying other properties.
Counsel for the 1st-4th defendants, Abubakar Marshal, urged the Federal Government to reconsider the charges, highlighting that 49 additional protesters remain detained at Kuje Correctional Centre under court order.
The case has been adjourned to September 27 for trial commencement.
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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 13:42
Peter Obi Nigerian version of Donald Trump – Presidency
The Presidency has described the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, as the Nigerian version of former US President and Republican candidate for the US 2024 election, Donald Trump.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, Temitope Ajayi, drew the comparison in a post on social media platform, X on Wednesday.
This comes following the US presidential debate between Trump and Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Peter Obi is the Nigeria version of Donald Trump. Like Obi, Trump will use the most negative epithets imaginable to describe a country he wants to lead again just to make a point and rile up his base,” he wrote.
During the debate, Harris and Trump clashed on many issues ranging from abortion rights to immigration, as both candidates sought to sway voters in a tightly contested race.
Ajayi added, “Kamala Harris prosecuted Trump very well in their first face to face debate yesterday night. Kamala convincingly won the debate and left no one in doubt about his capacity.
“Vice President Harris knew Trump’s weakness and set traps for him. Trump fell for her baits. Both candidates have been fact-checked on their claims in the debate. While Harris was reported to have made just one incorrect claim, Trump made 33 false claims in the same 90 minutes debate.”
Media reports revealed that Trump often responded to Harris’s provocations by repeating conspiracy theories and making false statements regarding the 2020 election and immigration.
Despite being fact-checked by debate moderators, the former president stood by his controversial claims, including the assertion that immigrants were consuming the pets of U.S. residents.
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs — the people that came in — they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country,” Trump said, contradicting the Springfield city manager, who said such accusations had no basis in fact.
The 2024 US elections are slated to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 13:20
19-year-old allegedly stabs friend to death in Lagos
A 19-year-old girl, Fatimo Agboke, has allegedly stabbed her friend Faruk Azeez to death following a heated argument in the Ijegun area of Lagos on Monday night.
The incident occurred around 9:20 PM, and despite efforts to rush the 20-year-old victim, Faruk Azeez, to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
According to the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the father of the deceased, reported the incident to the Isheri Oshun Division shortly after receiving a distressing call from a neighbour.
“The complainant from Ijegun informed us that his son, Azeez, had a disagreement with a female friend, Fatimo Agboke, which escalated into a physical altercation. During the fight, Fatimo allegedly stabbed Faruk in the neck with a broken bottle, causing serious injuries,” Hundeyin stated.
“Upon receiving the report, police detectives swiftly responded and arrived at the scene, where they discovered Azeez lying lifeless in a pool of blood with a deep cut on his neck. The body has since been transported to Mainland General Hospital, Yaba, for an autopsy.
SP Hundeyin confirmed that the suspect, Fatimo Agboke, was immediately apprehended and is currently in police custody. He assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the full circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
“This is a deeply unfortunate incident, and we want to reassure the public that justice will be pursued,” Hundeyin added. “The suspect is in our custody, and we are investigating all angles to ensure that the truth is uncovered.”
The case has sent shockwaves through the Ijegun community, where neighbours and friends are grappling with the sudden loss of Azeez, who was described by many as a vibrant young man with a promising future.
As the investigation continues, police are urging members of the public with any additional information to come forward.
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