The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has stated that the labour union would have disowned the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, if he had adopted the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank had he been elected Nigeria’s President.

During his appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast programme, Ajaero described the NLC’s stance on the removal of petrol and electricity subsidies as “fixated.”

 

He added that the labour union would have it tough with any LP President who implements the policies of Bretton Woods institutions which support the removal of subsidies on electricity tariff and petrol.

The NLC President emphasized that while Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, he does not own the NLC or the party itself.

He urged a clear separation between the two entities and emphasized that any Labour Party candidate must align with the NLC’s projects and ideologies.

The NLC President asserted that anyone attempting to implement policies contrary to the NLC’s stance, such as those of the IMF and World Bank, would face opposition and disownment from the party.

The NLC President said, “He (Obi) is the presidential candidate of Labour Party but does he own NLC or the Labour Party? Why can’t you separate them? Whosoever is the presidential candidate or official of the Labour Party must buy into our projects. If he says he was going to undertake those policies, let him be elected and try such policies.

“Whether a presidential candidate of a party that Labour forms would dictate for Labour? The answer is known to everybody. The policies of Labour, the ideologies of Labour are clear and we are going to pursue it. If anybody is coming with another ideology, he is going to have it tough with us because that is not what we stand for.

“It (our approach) would have been worst for anybody flying the flag of Labour Party to come and implement these policies, to come and adopt the policies of the IMF and the World Bank. It would have been worst for the person. In fact, we would disown the person, he would be on his own. We have to make this distinction clear.”

[NaijaNews]

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has revealed plans by the Federal Government to offer N200 monthly health insurance to 37,000 women in the country in a bid to enhance their access to healthcare services.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Kennedy-Ohanenye highlighted that the initiative aims to support women’s well-being and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She emphasized that the health insurance scheme, totaling N2,400 yearly, will be facilitated in partnership with a microfinance bank, PLUG.

 

Proposed women empowerment programs by the ministry

Kennedy-Ohanenye detailed  the approach taken by the government is geared towards empowering women economically. She said the distribution of 37,000 point of sale (POS) machines is aimed to facilitate financial transactions and uplift economic status of women.

“Also, any woman that gets this POS is entitled to almost free health insurance, where you pay just N200 per month, making it N2,400 yearly for health insurance guaranteed by the same microfinance bank, PLUG,’’ she said.

She emphasized the importance of reaching out to various stakeholders, including traditional and community leaders, legislators, governors, state ministries for women affairs, and market leaders, to ensure the effective distribution of resources, particularly in rural areas.

“We are going to traditional and community leaders, legislators, governors, states ministries for women affairs and market leaders to distribute these things.

“In that way, the right people that can manage the business, even in the villages,,will be included in what we are doing.”

Furthermore, the minister announced plans to distribute 300 laptops to women and People with Disabilities (PWDs) as part of job creation initiatives and efforts to boost women entrepreneurship.

  • These beneficiaries will receive training in Information Technology (IT) and will be provided with online job opportunities to generate income.
  • Kennedy-Ohanenye also shed light on the Pink Riders Initiative, which is set to commence in army barracks to ensure the safety of women operators before expanding to other parts of the country.
  • This initiative aims to empower women by providing them with tricycles to support their livelihoods, with the goal of eventual financial independence.
  • Moreover, the minister highlighted the collaboration between the Ministry of Women Affairs and the army in agricultural programs to enhance food security and production at subsidized rates.
  • She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of women and children, emphasizing the enforcement of mobile courts for speedy prosecution of offenders and ensuring justice for survivors.

[Nairametrics]

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has again lamented the dissolution of the Federal Universities’ Governing Councils by President Bola Tinubu.

ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said federal universities are being run illegally without their Councils.

Osodeke stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, while giving a goodwill message during a sensitisation workshop for Heads of Beneficiary Institutions on Career Service Centres, Teaching Practice, Beneficiary Identity Management Service (BIMS) and Hostel Development, organised by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

LEADERSHIP earlier reported that President Tinubu’s administration had in June 2023 dissolved all the governing councils of federal universities in the country.

Federal Universities have being running without Governing Councils for the past eleven months and that has led to crisis in some institutions.

Osodeke also charged TETFund to consider punishment for universities that are not utilising the Fund’s projects, while emphasising the need for a proper assessment of how the funds are utilised.

 

“No university in the whole world can be allowed to run for a whole year without governing councils that are saddled with the responsibility of managing the funds of such University,” he said.

[Leadership]

 

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have invaded a State High Court sitting in Ilaro, Ogun State, arresting two defendants.

Our correspondent reports that the development has generated outrage.

The defendants , Alhaji Isiaka Fatai and Samuel Oyero, were trial in a suit marked HCP/IC/2023 between the State vs Awode Oladosu & 13 others.

The court was presided over by Justice A.A. Shobayo.

The case bordered on an allegation of arson reported by one Chief Akeem Adigun (aka Socopao) against Alhaji Isiaka Fatai, Oyero and 12 others.

Agosasa community in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state was recently enmeshed in crisis, with property worth billions of naira destroyed and one life lost over an Obaship tussle in the town.

But there was a pandemonium when operatives of DSS stormed the court premises and took away the suspects.

Counsel to Alhaji Isiaka, Kehinde Bamiwola, in a statement , alleged that men of the DSS operatives used weapons on the two, stressing that “Alhaji Isiaka Fatai was beaten, slapped, man-handled, rough-handled and molested.”

 

The Principal Registrar of the High Court and Sectional Head of High Court, Ilaro, Comrade Omololu Olusanya, who confirmed the incident, described it as shocking and disrespectful to the rule of law.

He noted that even after the judge had ordered the operatives not to make any arrest within the court premises, they still proceeded to arrest the two persons.

“They still went ahead and did the act to the extent that they assaulted one of our staff members, Mrs. Fadina, while doing that act. It’s a very sad issue that caused a lot of noise within the court premises.

“It was from the source that we heard they were DSS agents. If anybody sees them, one would think they were armed robbers.

“They did not wear anything that identified them as DSS, but they came to my lord this morning and said they had some people to arrest. That was when we knew they were DSS officers.

“They approached the judge before the court session began. The honorable judge advised them that if they wanted to make an arrest, it must not be done within the court premises.

“They could stay outside and do whatever they wanted, but they refused that advice and carried out the arrest within the premises.” he said.

Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, did not answer calls or reply a text message sent at the time of filing this report.

[DailyTrust]

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, on Tuesday, said it looks like a tragedy to be a citizen of Rivers State.

Amadi said it would be resurrection if sanity returned to Rivers State.

Posting on X, the public affairs analyst wrote: “It looks like a tragedy to be a citizen of Rivers State for at least the last 10 years. The clowning is heartbreaking. Everyday thanksgiving service, rally & press conference.

“The day sanity is restored in Rivers will be a resurrection day. Cry for the beleaguered state.”

This is coming amid the continued cold war between Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Since October 30, 2023, Rivers State has been embroiled in a political crisis. The crisis became public knowledge following an explosion that shook the hallowed chamber of the State Assembly complex on the night of October 29, 2023.

Following the fire incident, the state lawmakers initiated an impeachment process against Fubara and suspended four lawmakers.

This incident has left the state Assembly deeply divided, with 27 lawmakers aligning with Wike while three remained loyal to Governor Fubara, after the resignation of one, Edison Ehie, who now serves as the Chief-of-Staff to him.

In an attempt to quell the crisis, President Bola Tinubu had in December 2023, intervened in the crisis, leading to the formulation of an eight-point resolution signed by Fubara and Wike.

As the peace pact had failed to quell the unrest in the state, Fubara noted that there might be no end in sight over the continued face-off in the state.

On Monday, the governor hinted that the political disagreement in the state might not be resolved amicably because there was evidence of a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration.

[DailyPost]

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) told Civil Society Organisations on Tuesday, May 14, that their continued participation in the electoral process will depend on their submission of reports from elections monitored by them.

Speaking at a quarterly consultative meeting with CSOs involved in monitoring elections in the country, the chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said CSOs that fail to submit reports from previous exercises may not be accredited to participate in future elections.

He, however, asked them to submit their applications for accreditation as election observers for the September 21 Governorship elections in Edo state.

The INEC chairman said: “As we inch closer to Election Day in Edo State, it is also imperative to remind CSOs of the need to submit your applications for election observation in earnest along with the required supporting documents and a realistic number of individual observers.

“Doing so will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the identity cards for observers in good time. The Commission will not entertain requests outside the deadline for the receipt of applications from interested observer groups or process applications that do not meet the criteria.

“For emphasis, submission of reports from previous accreditation in the manner required by the Commission is mandatory for continuous participation in election observation.

“Since our last meeting two months ago, many accredited observers have submitted their reports but a few are yet to do so. We urge you to do the needful. Your reports are important for us in reviewing and improving our processes and procedures”.

He also announced the existence of vacancies in National and State Assemblies caused by either the death or resignation of Members involving three State Assembly constituencies and one Federal Constituency in four States across the country.

He said: “As soon as preparations are concluded, the Commission will announce the dates for bye-elections in Khana 2 State Constituency of Rivers State, the Bagwai/Shanono State constituency of Kano State, the Zaria Kewaye State Constituency of Kaduna State and the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.”

The INEC chairman informed the CSOs of the resumption of the Continuous Voter registration exercise in Edo and Ondo state. He appealed to join us in mobilising prospective registrants for the exercise, particularly on the need to register early and not wait until the deadline approaches when eleventh-hour registrants will inundate the registration centres.

He also disclosed that in addition to the registration of voters in the two states, the Commission will make available uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for collection during the CVR.

He said: “In the coming days, the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in our offices in the two States and simultaneously uploaded to our website. We believe doing so will make it easier for voters to collect their PVCs.

“However, no PVCs will be collected by proxy. Registered voters should come in person to collect their cards. Again, we seek the support of CSOs in encouraging voters to locate and pick up their PVCs as was done in the past.”

[TheNation]

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has begun moves to stop the plan by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, from marrying off 100 orphaned girls.

She said on Monday that she had reported the case to the police by petitioning the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and sought a court injunction to stop the plan pending the completion of investigations.

Mr Sarkindaji announced his plan to marry off the orphaned girls, who lost their parents due to banditry attacks in Mariga Local Government Area.

The official, who slated the mass wedding to take place on 24 May, said the plan was part of his constituency projects.

He said the gesture was “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished,” pledging to pay the dowries for the bridegrooms and have procured materials for the mass marriage.

Full scale investigation

 

But the women affairs minister, Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye, while briefing journalists in Abuja, described the plans as “unacceptable” emphasising that a full-scale investigation has commenced on the issue.

“I want to let the honorable Speaker of the House of Assembly in Niger State to know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government. Totally unacceptable!

“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the outset, that is, no more business as usual.

“These children must be considered. Their future must be considered. The future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.

“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG (Inspector General) of Police.

”And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th (May), until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them,” she said.

Girl child education

The minister also emphasised the need to ensure girl-child education.

“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially.

“The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make-up her mind who and when to get married.

”If for any reason the Speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs,” she said.

The minister further emphasised within the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected from harm, violence or anything that will infringe on their rights.

(NAN)

The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulamlik Sarkindaji, has stopped the planned hosting of the wedding of 100 orphan girls in his constituency, saying he would not grace the occasion.

Sarkindaji took the decision following the action of the Women Affairs Minister, Uju Ohannaya, who dragged the Speaker to court to halt the wedding.

The Speaker made this known on Tuesday during a media briefing in which he said the minister had overstepped her bounds.

He said the minister should take over the sponsorship of the wedding ceremony.

The Speaker disclosed that he had already made funds available to the girls’ parents through the traditional leaders and clerics of his constituency, noting that he would not withdraw the funds.

Abdulmalik also pointed out that his motive for wanting to sponsor the wedding was the state of poverty of the girls’ parents and not the constituency project, as reported in the media.

Details later…

[Punch]

The ministry of aviation and Aerospace Development says the introduction of helicopter landing levies is to sustain surveillance and is in line with global best practices.

On April 26, the federal government granted exclusive rights to Messrs NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Limited, an aviation consulting firm, to collect helicopter landing levies across the country.

In a statement on Monday, Odutayo Oluseyi, head, press and public affairs of the ministry, said the federal government acknowledges the importance of helicopter operations in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Oluseyi said the collection of helicopter landing levies is standard practice in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and several other countries worldwide.

 

He said the Tallahassee International Airport in Florida began implementing helicopter landing levies “under vector airport systems, since October 1, 2022”.

Oluseyi added that helicopter landing levies were common across airfields in the United Kingdom — ranging from major commercial ones to small general aviation fields.

He said depending on the location and services rendered, helicopter levies usually equal or surpass those for fixed-wing aircraft.

 

“The Federal Government has granted NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Ltd., exclusive rights to collect helicopter landing levies in line with the MoU between NAEBI Concept and NAMA (focal Agency), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),” Oluseyi said.

“It is instructive to note that NAMA, under the Act as amended in 2022, is empowered to collect aeronautical revenues in both the upper and lower airspace to support her self-sustainability.

“However, over the years, NAMA has predominantly relied on the upper airspace for her revenue generation.”

Oluseyi said the government wisely identified a gap in the lower airspace where helicopter activities are predominant and instructed NAMA to fulfil its obligations to generate sufficient resources.

 

He said the collection of the levies is to “sustain their aeronautical architecture, enhance security and surveillance and improve the overall quality of helicopter operations in Nigeria”. 

According to the spokesperson, the ministry is confident that the move will improve capacity, efficiency, safety, and security and attract more investment in the aviation industry.

Oluseyi urged all parties to be committed to initiative and embrace the new normal, which has followed due processes and protocols.

[TheCable]

Says employees on same level can earn different wages

 

THE Federal Government yesterday hinted that formulation of an innovative wage system that would be based on employee’s productivity in the civil service was underway.

Director-General of the National Productivity Centre, NPC, Dr. Nasir Raji-Mustapha, dropped the hint in Abuja, while enlightening Nigerians on what the agency stood for and its mandate.

The DG explained that with the system, workers on the same level could earn different salaries, adding that the decision was being taken because it realised that productivity was a key factor in the growth of the country’s economy.

“We are in the process of developing a productivity-led wage system that will ensure that those who are productive are rewarded for their efforts irrespective of their grade level. Under the proposed system, employees on the same salary scale can earn different wages,” he said.

Fielding question on whether the proposal had the support and input of organised labour, he said such a policy couldn’t be carried out without the input of organised labour.

He said: “Of course, labour as a critical stakeholder is being carried along in this exercise. As researchers, we don’t just do things without considering the recipient of the reports.